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Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Caltrain Downtown Extension Project in San Francisco, CA
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: March 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 16974-16975]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr01-99]
[[Page 16974]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for the San Francisco Transbay
Terminal and Caltrain Downtown Extension Project in San Francisco, CA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with
the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB), the City and County of
San Francisco, and the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency will prepare
a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report
(EIS/EIR) for the San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Caltrain Downtown
Extension Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The
EIS/EIR will address alternatives for: (1) A new, multi-modal
transportation facility at the site of the current Transbay Terminal at
First and Mission Streets, and (2) an extension of Caltrain commuter
rail service from its current San Francisco terminus at 4th and
Townsend to the new Transbay Terminal along with establishment of a
redevelopment area and development of a mix of new transit-oriented
uses on publicly-owned property in the vicinity of the new terminal to
help defray project costs. Other project features include: an off-site
bus storage facility, new bus ramps connecting to the Bay Bridge,
construction and operation of a temporary bus facility for the
construction period, and a reconfigured Caltrain layover yard. The EIS/
EIR will evaluate the following alternatives: (1) A No-Build
Alternative, (2) a Build Alternative with design options, and (3) any
additional reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping
process.
Previous studies relevant to this action include: the recently
completed Transbay Terminal Study (Metropolitan Transportation
Commission, 2001); associated technical reports regarding such subjects
as Transbay Terminal design options, joint development options, and
terminal operations; and the original Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/DEIR) for the
Caltrain San Francisco Downtown Extension Project (FTA-U.S. DOT/
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, 1997). Although the 1997 DEIS/
DEIR contributed to the planning history of the proposed project, this
new EIS/EIR will completely replace the 1997 document.
Scoping will be accomplished through meetings and correspondence
with interested persons, organizations, the general public, and
federal, state, and local agencies. Letters describing the proposed
action and soliciting comments have been sent to the appropriate
federal, state, and local agencies, and to private organizations and
citizens who have expressed or are known to have interest in this
proposal.
DATES: Comment Due Date--Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered must be postmarked no later than April 18,
2001 and should be sent to the San Francisco Planning Department at the
address below. Scoping Meetings--Two public scoping meetings will be
held: April 4, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the San Francisco City Hall, Room
400, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett, Jr. Place, San Francisco, California
94102; and April 11, from 6 until 8 pm at the Peninsula Corridor Joint
Powers Board, 2nd Floor Auditorium, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos,
California 94070. The first hour (6-7 p.m.) will be an open house. A
brief presentation of the project purpose and alternatives will be
provided at 7 p.m., and project staff will be present to receive formal
agency and public input regarding the scope of the environmental
studies, key issues, and other suggestions.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Joan Kugler, AICP, EIR
Project Manager, San Francisco Planning Department, 1660 Mission
Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103-2414. The addresses for the
scoping meetings are given above in the DATES section.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Wiggins, Federal Transit
Administration, Office of Program Development at (415) 744-3116.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is located in the
central business district of the City of San Francisco in the South of
Market Area. The project area includes the existing Transbay Terminal
(built in 1939) generally located between Mission and Natoma and Beale
and Second Streets. The New Transbay Terminal is proposed to be
constructed at the same site as the existing Terminal it would replace.
The project includes the proposed underground right-of-way linking the
existing Caltrain Terminal at 4th and Townsend to the new proposed
terminal. Development, including transit-oriented development, is
proposed for parcels under public ownership within the boundaries of
the proposed Redevelopment Plan Area.
Purpose and Need of Proposed Action: The primary objectives of the
San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Caltrain Downtown Extension Project
include: improving public access to bus and rail services; modernizing
the Transbay Terminal and improving service; reducing non-transit
vehicle usage; and revitalizing the Transbay Terminal area.
Improve public access to bus and rail services: A multi-
modal transportation facility would provide a centralized location for
bus (AC Transit, MUNI, Golden Gate, SamTrans, Greyhound), paratransit,
and rail (Caltrain) services in San Francisco's growing Financial
District/South of Market Area and would enhance transit access for
passengers arriving in and departing San Francisco. The extension of
the Caltrain system from its current terminus at 4th and Townsend to a
new Transbay Terminal at First and Missions Streets would improve
access for residents and workers in San Francisco's high-density
financial district and improve connections to other local and regional
transit providers. Additionally, a multi-modal terminal facility and
Caltrain extension would facilitate future expansion of regional
express train service and potential statewide high-speed rail service.
Modernize the Transbay Terminal and improve service: The
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), State of California, City
of San Francisco, and area transit providers (AC Transit, MUNI, Golden
Gate, SamTrans, and JPB) have evaluated options for replacement of the
1939 Transbay Terminal facility, due to its age, need for seismic
upgrade, and inadequate facility layout. A properly designed, new
terminal would improve space utilization, passenger circulation,
signage, security, safety, and the overall transit-rider experience.
Reduce non-transit vehicle usage: Provision of a multi-
modal transportation facility would increase transit ridership, thus
reducing the number of non-transit vehicles traveling on area streets,
highways, and bridges. Reduction in automobile vehicle miles of travel
would result in reduced vehicular air emissions and an improvement in
air quality.
Revitalize the Transbay Terminal area: The current
Transbay Terminal and associated ramps and the now-removed Embarcadero
Freeway contributed to deterioration and underutilization of land in
the Transbay Terminal area. An opportunity exists to provide for more
efficient and enhanced use of land in the area, including
[[Page 16975]]
provision of transit-oriented development and badly needed housing.
Alternatives: Alternatives to be reviewed in the EIS/EIR include a
No-Project Alternative, a Build Alternative, and any additional
reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping process. Design
options will be evaluated for the Build Alternative. The No-Project
Alternative assumes a 2020 baseline condition of programmed land use,
low-capital-cost transportation improvements, and a seismic retrofit of
the existing Transbay Terminal. The Build Alternative includes the
following elements: (1) A new Transbay Terminal, (2) extension of
Caltrain service into or near the basement of the new Terminal, (3)
related development of publicly-owned properties in the vicinity of the
Transbay Terminal, and (4) adoption of a redevelopment plan for a
portion of the terminal vicinity.
A new Transbay Terminal would consist of an approximate 600,000
square-foot multi-modal transit facility with 50 bus bays on two levels
served by ramps directly connected to the Bay Bridge. The basement
would accommodate train platforms and tracks. The facility would
include transit passenger service areas and an estimated 150,000-
225,000 square feet of retail, entertainment, conference, educational,
and cultural space. During MTC's Transbay Terminal Study, this concept
(known as ``Great Expectations'') was adopted by the Transbay Panel and
Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) following a review of multiple design
options.
Two preliminary design options are proposed for the Caltrain
Downtown Extension. Key criteria used in developing the two design
options include: (1) Ability to provide efficient and effective rail
operations and accommodate high-speed rail, (2) potential impacts to
land use and proposed developments, (3) potential for a future rail
connection to the East Bay, (4) relationship of rail services to
Transbay Terminal and transit operations, and (5) anticipated community
impacts. Option 1 for the Caltrain Extension would follow the 1997
DEIS/DEIR ``long-radius, short mined tunnel'' alignment from 4th and
Townsend to Essex Street. From there, the alignment would continue
northward underground as cut-and-cover construction to a station
generally oriented north-south, terminating at Minna Street just to the
west of the new Transbay Terminal. Option 2 for the Caltrain Extension
would curve northeasterly from Townsend Street to a cut-and-cover
alignment under Second Street. As the alignment approaches Howard
Street, it would curve eastward into the basement of the new Transbay
Terminal. This option includes additional tracks in a cut-and-cover
section passing through the east end of the new Terminal and curving
south under Main Street. This track would be used for temporary train
storage and could ultimately be extended as a San Francisco to Oakland
cross-bay alignment.
Development of publicly-owned property along in the vicinity of the
Transbay Terminal, including transit-oriented uses would enhance the
Transbay Terminal area. Revenues or tax increments could be used to
defray a portion of the costs for the new Transbay Terminal and
Caltrain downtown extension. Two development scenarios will be
evaluated in the EIS/EIR. The ``full build'' development scenario
assumes about 7.7 million square feet of residential/office/retail/
hotel development, including approximately 4,500 residential units
(including affordable housing), 1.1 million square feet of office,
400,000 square feet of retail, and 475,000 square feet of hotel. A
``reduced scope'' development scenario that assumes a lesser amount of
commercial and retail development and that is weighted toward housing
will also be evaluated.
The adoption of a redevelopment plan for a portion of the terminal
vicinity in the area between Mission, Main, Folsom, and Second streets
is proposed to allow City assistance in the revitalization and
enhancement of the Transbay Terminal area.
Probable Effects: The Build Alternative is expected to increase bus
and rail transit ridership and improve the overall character of the
Transbay Terminal area. Environmental impacts are anticipated in the
following areas: visual and aesthetic, air emissions (related to
development), traffic, transit operations, pedestrian and bicycle
operations, noise, vibration, impacts to historic and cultural
resources, property acquisitions, impacts of pre-existing hazardous
wastes, and temporary construction-phase impacts. Mitigation measures
will be identified and explored for avoiding and reducing adverse
effects.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action is addressed and all significant issues identified, comments and
suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS/EIR should be
directed to the San Francisco Planning Department's EIR Project Manager
at the address provided above.
Issued on: March 21, 2001.
Leslie Rogers,
FTA Region IX Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-7615 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
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