[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70257-70260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24597]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Coachella 
Valley--San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service: Riverside, San 
Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties, CA

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: Through this NOI, FRA announces it will prepare a Programmatic 
EIS and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) jointly with the Riverside 
County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and the California Department 
of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio 
Pass Rail Corridor Service (Project). FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will 
develop the Programmatic EIS/EIR in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). FRA invites the public and Federal, 
state, and local agencies to provide input into the scope of the EIS/
EIR and will consider all information from outreach activities when 
preparing the EIS/EIR. The Project will study options for providing 
intercity passenger rail service between the cities of Los Angeles and 
Indio, California also known as the Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio Pass 
Corridor (the Corridor).

DATES: Persons interested in providing written comments on the scope of 
the Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio Pass

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Rail Corridor Service Project must do so by November 10, 2016.
    Three public scoping meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, October 
12, 2016; Thursday, October 13, 2016; and Monday, October 17, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should send written comments to FRA's 
Office of Program Delivery, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. (Mail Stop 20), 
Washington, DC 20590, or Riverside County Transportation Commission 
(RCTC), 4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, California 92501, or 
via email to Robert Yates, Multimodal Services Director, 
[email protected]. Comments should include 
``Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service--NOI 
Scoping Comments'' in the subject line.
    Interested persons may also provide comments orally or in writing 
at the following scoping meetings:
     Springbrook Club House at Reid Park: 1101 N. Orange Street 
Riverside, CA 92501, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.;
     Indio Senior Center: 45-700 Aladdin Street, Indio, CA 
92201, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; and
     Metro Headquarters, Plaza Level: One Gateway Plaza, Los 
Angeles, California 90012, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
    All scoping meeting locations are Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (ADA) accessible. Spanish language translators will be present. 
You may call (909) 627-2974 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting 
to request other accommodations or translation services.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Stephanie Perez, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. (Mail Stop 20), Washington, 
DC 20590; Telephone: (202) 493-0388, email: [email protected], or 
Robert Yates, Multimodal Services Director, at 
[email protected].
    Scoping materials and information concerning the scoping meeting is 
available through RCTC's Web site: http://rctc.org/projects/rail-projects/coachella-valley-san-gorgonio-pass-corridor-rail-service.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA is an operating administration of DOT 
and is responsible for overseeing the safety of railroad operations, 
including the safety of any proposed rail transportation system. FRA 
also provides financial assistance for intercity passenger rail capital 
investments.
    FRA is the lead agency under NEPA for the Project. FRA will prepare 
the Programmatic EIS/EIR consistent with NEPA, the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), and FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 
FR 28545, May 26, 1999; 78 FR 2713, Jan. 14, 2013) (Environmental 
Procedures). FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will prepare the EIS consistent 
with 23 U.S.C. 139 (titled ``Efficient environmental reviews for 
project decision making''). RCTC and Caltrans will ensure the EIR is 
consistent with CEQA. After release and circulation of a Draft 
Programmatic EIS/EIR for public comment, FRA will issue a single 
document consisting of the Final Programmatic EIS and a Record of 
Decision under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 
114-94, section 1304(n)(2)) unless it determines that statutory 
criteria or practicability considerations prelude issuing a combined 
document.
    The EIS will also document FRA's compliance with other applicable 
Federal, state, and local laws including, Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of 
Transportation Act of 1966, the conformity requirements of the Clean 
Air Act, and Executive Order 12898 and U.S. DOT Order 5610.2(a) on 
Environmental Justice. FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will use a tiered NEPA 
process (e.g. Programmatic EIS/EIR) to complete the environmental 
review of the Project, under 40 CFR 1508.28 (titled ``Tiering'') and 
FRA's Environmental Procedures.
    ``Tiering'' is a staged environmental review process often applied 
to environmental review for complex transportation projects. When used, 
the initial phase of a tiered process addresses broad questions and 
likely environmental effects for the Corridor including, but not 
limited to, the type of service(s) being proposed, major infrastructure 
components, and identification of major facility capacity constraints. 
Based on the decisions made in the Programmatic EIS/EIR, future site-
specific proposals would be analyzed at a greater level of detail and 
addressed in subsequent phases or tiered (e.g. Project-level NEPA and 
CEQA) environmental documents.

Project Description and Background

    The Project would extend from an eastern terminus in Indio, 
California to the western terminus at Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS), 
and is approximately 141 miles long. In 1991, RCTC completed the first 
in a series of studies evaluating the feasibility of operating one or 
two daily intercity rail round trips between Los Angeles and Indio. 
From 1991 to 2013, RCTC completed additional feasibility studies on the 
Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service. In July 
2016, RCTC, in coordination with Caltrans and FRA, prepared and 
completed the Coachella Valley--San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service 
Study Alternatives Analysis Final Report that evaluated a reasonable 
range of alternatives for a new intercity rail service between Los 
Angeles and Indio. The purpose of the Alternatives Analysis was to 
identify an alternative(s) for more detailed evaluation in a subsequent 
Service Development Plan and Programmatic EIS/EIR.

Project Need

    The Corridor currently faces significant mobility challenges that 
are likely to continue as growth in population, employment, and tourism 
activity is expected to increase travel demand. An effective rail 
system will help meet the future mobility needs of residents, 
businesses, and visitors. The Corridor faces continuing transportation 
challenges as evidenced by the following:
    Constrained Travel Options--While a transportation system that 
includes air, highway, and rail modes, serves the Corridor, access and 
capacity are presently constrained along certain segments and may be 
unable to meet future travel demand. Air access is limited for many 
residents due to distance from major airports, frequency, and high cost 
of flights between the Coachella Valley region and Los Angeles. 
Interstate 10 is the only major highway that serves the eastern portion 
of the Corridor. Amtrak offers limited long distance passenger train 
service three times a week with a stop in Palm Springs late at night.
    Significant Highway Congestion--While travel by car is expected to 
meet the majority of future travel demand, increased use will result in 
additional congestion. Congestion along certain highway segments of the 
Corridor is likely to worsen, making travel times unreliable. 
Interstate 10 follows the entirety of the Corridor and experiences 
regular congestion and travel delays. In addition, geographic 
constraints limit the potential expansion of the existing highway 
system.
    Constrained Rail System Capacity--Existing corridor rail service 
could accommodate an increasing portion of projected travel demand 
growth by providing an alternative mode to car travel. However, rail 
service is currently constrained and existing infrastructure would need 
to be upgraded to provide adequate main track capacity for additional 
passenger trains.

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    Increase Travel Capacity Without Impacting Air Quality and Natural 
Resources - Highway capacity improvements can have negative impacts on 
regional and local air quality as well as the efficient use of natural 
resources. Rail system improvements offer the opportunity to achieve 
air quality benefits with fewer potential impacts on natural resources.

Project Purpose and Objectives

    The overall purpose of the Project is to provide a safe, reliable, 
and convenient intercity passenger rail service that would meet the 
future mobility needs of residents, businesses, and visitors within the 
Corridor. The Project would achieve the following objectives:
     Provide travelers between the Coachella Valley and the Los 
Angeles Basin with a public transportation service that offers more 
convenient and competitive trip times, better station access, and more 
frequency, than currently-available public transportation services;
     Provide travelers between the Coachella Valley and the Los 
Angeles Basin with an alternative to driving that offers reliable 
travel schedules;
     Provide travelers between the Coachella Valley and the Los 
Angeles Basin with a transportation service that is affordable;
     Serve a range of trip purposes traveling between the 
Coachella Valley and the Los Angeles Basin, particularly including 
business, social, medical, leisure, and recreational trips;
     Improve regional travel opportunities between the 
Coachella Valley and the Los Angeles Basin for transit dependent 
people;
     Serve the expected population growth in the Coachella 
Valley and the Los Angeles Basin; and
     Not preclude, by choice of alignment or technology, a 
possible future Corridor expansion between the Coachella Valley and 
Phoenix.
    The Project would provide enhanced passenger rail service and is 
consistent with State and regional efforts to reduce mobile source 
emissions associated with highway and truck traffic on parallel 
highways from Los Angeles to Indio. These efforts are anticipated to 
help the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and RCTC 
meet the air pollution and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets 
mandated by California Assembly Bill 32, known as the Global Warming 
Solutions Act of 2006, as amended, and California Senate Bill 375, 
known as the California's Sustainable Communities and Climate 
Protection Act of 2008. These two laws establish the basis for SCAG and 
RCTC to accommodate regional growth through increased and more frequent 
access to alternative modes of transit for local communities.

Proposed Project Alternatives

    In the Programmatic EIS/EIR FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will evaluate 
and analyze a No Build Alternative and at least one Build Alternative 
consisting of multiple improvements between Indio and Los Angeles.
    No Build Alternative--The No Build Alternative provides a baseline 
for comparison to the Build Alternative. This alternative represents 
the existing California transportation system (highway, air, and rail) 
as it would exist after completion of programs or projects currently 
funded or being implemented. The No Build Alternative would draw upon 
the following sources of information:
     State Transportation Improvement Program (2016);
     Regional Transportation Plans for all modes of travel;
     Airport plans; and
     Passenger rail plans.
    Build Alternative--The Build Alternative would include the 
necessary infrastructure improvements to meet the Project's purpose and 
need. The Build Alternative is made up of two components, a route 
alignment and station alternatives.
    FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will consider the July 2016 Alternatives 
Analysis Final Report when identifying the Build Alternative(s) for 
detailed analysis in the Programmatic EIS/EIS. However, additional 
reasonable build alternatives meeting the proposed purpose and need but 
not considered in the July 2016 Alternatives Analysis Final Report may 
be developed during the scoping process. This may also involve refining 
the Build Alternative as more information comes available based on the 
environmental analysis and coordination with stakeholders and the 
public. Additionally, the proposed purpose and need may be updated and/
or refined based on coordination with stakeholders and the public.

Probable Effects

    The Programmatic EIS/EIR will consider the potential environmental 
effects of the Project Alternatives. FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans will 
analyze the following environmental issue areas in the Programmatic 
EIS/EIR: Agricultural Lands; Air Quality and Global Climate Change; 
Biological and Wetland Resources; Cultural and Historic Resources; 
Economic and Fiscal Impacts; Energy; Environmental Justice; 
Floodplains, Hydrology, and Water Quality; Geology, Soils, and 
Seismicity; Hazardous Waste and Materials; Land Use, Planning, and 
Communities; Noise and Vibration; Parklands, Community Services, and 
Other Public Facilities; Safety and Security; Section 4(f) and 6(f) 
Resources; Transportation; and Visual Quality and Aesthetics.

Scoping and Comments

    FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS process during 
scoping and review of the resulting environmental documents. FRA 
invites all interested agencies, Native American Tribes, and the public 
at large to participate in the scoping process to ensure the 
Programmatic EIS/EIR addresses the full range of issues related to the 
proposed action, reasonable alternatives are addressed, and all 
significant issues are identified. FRA requests any public agency 
having jurisdiction over an aspect of the Project identify the agency's 
permit or environmental review requirements and the scope and content 
of the environmental information germane to the agency's jurisdiction 
over the Project. FRA requests public agencies advise FRA if they 
anticipate taking a major action in connection with the proposed 
project and if they wish to cooperate in the preparation of the 
Programmatic EIS/EIR.
    FRA will coordinate with participating agencies during development 
of the Draft Programmatic EIS under 23 U.S.C. 139. FRA will invite all 
Federal and non-Federal agencies and Native American Tribes that may 
have an interest in the Project to become participating agencies for 
the EIS. If an agency or Tribe is not invited and would like to 
participate, please contact FRA at the contact information listed 
above. FRA will develop a Coordination Plan summarizing how it will 
engage the public, agencies, and Tribes in the process. The 
Coordination Plan will be posted to the Project Web site http://rctc.org/projects/rail-projects/coachella-valley-san-gorgonio-pass-corridor-rail-service and to FRA's Web site fra.dot.gov. At various 
milestones during the development of the Programmatic EIS/EIR, FRA, 
RCTC, and Caltrans will provide additional opportunities for public and 
interested party input.
    FRA, RCTC, and Caltrans have scheduled three public scoping 
meetings as an important component of the scoping process for both the 
state and Federal environmental review. The scoping meetings described 
in the ADDRESSES section will also be advertised locally and included 
in

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additional public notification. The format of the meeting will consist 
of a presentation describing the proposed Coachella Valley--San 
Gorgonio Pass Corridor Service Project, objectives, and existing 
conditions. Following the presentation, scoping meeting attendees will 
be able to participate in an open house format that encourages 
questions and comments on the Project from the public.

Felicia Young,
Acting Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2016-24597 Filed 10-6-16; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P