[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 9960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3959]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWR-PWRO-1103-8840; 2051-P580-579]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Extension of F-Line
Streetcar Service to Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Extension of F-Line Streetcar Service to Fort Mason
Center, San Francisco, California.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service announces availability of
the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the extension
of the historic streetcar F-line from Fisherman's Wharf to the Fort
Mason Center, in San Francisco, California.
DATES: The National Park Service (NPS) will execute a Record of
Decision (ROD) not sooner than 30 days after publication in the Federal
Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of its notice of
filing of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS is available for public inspection as follows:
at the Office of the Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation
Area (Bldg. 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco, California), and at local
public libraries as noted on the Project Web site http://parkplanning.np.gov/goga. An electronic version may also be accessed at
the Project Web site. For further information, please contact Mr. Steve
Ortega, Bldg. 201 Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94123-0022 (415) 561-
2841 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would extend the
historic streetcar F-line from Fisherman's Wharf to the San Francisco
Maritime National Historical Park (SF Maritime NHP) and to the Fort
Mason Center in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). The
intended effect of the proposed action is to provide park visitors and
transit-dependent residents with high-quality rail transit that
improves transportation access and mobility between existing streetcar
service at Fisherman's Wharf and SF Maritime NHP and the Fort Mason
Center in GGNRA, with connection to the regional transit rail services.
The Final EIS evaluates potential environmental consequences of
implementing the alternatives. Impact topics include the cultural,
natural, and socioeconomic environments.
The proposed action is the culmination of a cooperative effort by
the National Park Service, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation
Agency (SFMTA), and the Federal Transit Administration. Studies from
these agencies identified a need for improved regional and local
transit connectivity between the identified urban national parks and
existing transit infrastructure. Transit improvements between these
parks would help accommodate existing and future visitor demand and
enhance operational effectiveness. Based on the agency studies,
conceptual approaches to address alternative transportation needs were
identified and evaluated against the purpose and need of the project,
park management objectives, and operability constraints.
Through an intensive public review process, two action alternatives
were identified in addition to the No Action Alternative (Alternative
1)--the Preferred Action Alternative has two options for the track
turnaround configuration (Alternatives 2A and 2B). Common elements of
the Preferred Action Alternatives include the extension of
approximately 0.85 mile of new rail track; associated features such as
signals, crossings, wires and poles; approximately 8-9 new platforms;
new designated stops; retrofitting of the historic State Belt Railroad
tunnelFort Mason Tunnel: tunnel (Fort Mason Tunnel). The primary
difference between Alternatives 2A and 2B involves the location in
which the streetcar would turn around at the terminus of the proposed
track extension. Under Alternative 2A, the streetcar would turn around
via a loop in the Fort Mason Center parking lot (North Loop). Under
Alternative 2B, the streetcar would turn around via a loop in the Great
Meadow (South Loop).
The Draft EIS was made available for public review for 60 days
(March 18-May 23, 2011); the full text and graphics were also posted on
the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment Web site. A public
open house on the proposed action was held on April 20, 2011, and
attended by a total of 81 people, during which the Project team
collected oral and written comments. In addition, throughout the review
period, NPS received a total of 98 comment letters on the proposed
action. The majority of those that commented on the Draft EIS supported
the proposed action. The public's primary concerns about the preferred
alternative included mitigating the loss of parking, displacement of
street artist sales spaces, increased traffic congestion, noise and
congestion near the Marina neighborhood, conflicts with other planned
projects, and mitigating impacts to National Historic Landmark
resources. Many also suggested various design ideas and other measures
to help reduce these impacts.
In coordination with other affected agencies, and after considering
all oral and written comments, the NPS prepared the Final EIS. The
analysis revealed Alternative 1 (No Action) to be the Environmentally
Preferred Alternative. Alternative 2 was found to be the superior
alternative with Alternative 2A (North Loop) the preferred option for
the Turnaround, and thus NPS's Final Preferred Action Alternative.
Decision Process: The NPS will prepare a Record of Decision no
sooner than 30 days following EPA's notice in the Federal Register of
filing of the Final EIS. As a delegated EIS, the official responsible
for approval of the extension of F-Line streetcar service from
Fisherman's Wharf to the Fort Mason Center is the Regional Director;
subsequently the officials responsible for implementation will the
Superintendents of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and
Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Dated: December 6, 2012.
Martha J. Lee,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-3959 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
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