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Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project Phase 2

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: February 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 28)]
[Notices]
[Page 6660-6663]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe07-145]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project Phase 2

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Exposition
Metro Line Construction Authority (Authority), in cooperation with the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA),
intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the
proposed Phase 2 of the Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit Project.
Phase 2 would extend from the current planned terminus of the
Exposition Corridor Light Rail Transit

[[Page 6661]]

Project Phase 1 in Culver City, California, approximately 6 to 8 miles
to an end-of-line station near 5th Street and Colorado Boulevard in
Santa Monica, California. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
its implementing regulations. The purpose of this notice is to alert
interested parties regarding the intent to prepare the EIS, to provide
information on the nature of the proposed project and possible
alternatives, to invite public participation in the EIS process,
including comments on the scope of the EIS proposed in this notice, to
announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted, and to
identify participating agency contacts.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, including the
alternatives to be considered and the impacts to be assessed, should be
sent to the Authority on or before April 2, 2007. See ADDRESSES below
for the address to which written comments may be sent. Public scoping
meetings to accept comments on the scope of the EIS will be held on the
following dates:
    ? Tuesday, February 27, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Culver City
Senior Center, Room B45, 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232.
    ? Wednesday, February 28, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Hamilton High School Cafeteria, 2955 South Robertson Blvd., Los
Angeles, CA 90034.
    ? Tuesday, March 6, 2007, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Santa
Monica Civic Auditorium, East Wing Meeting Room, 1855 Main Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401.
    The project's purpose and need and the initial set of alternatives
proposed for study will be presented at these meetings. The buildings
used for the scoping meetings are accessible to persons with
disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance, such as a
sign language interpreter, to participate in a scoping meeting should
contact Ms. Genetha Eddins, Exposition Metro Line Construction
Authority at (213) 243-5506 or geddins@exporail.net.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and are
available by clicking on the Phase 2 tab on the project's Web site at
http://www.buildexpo.org. Exit Disclaimer Hard copies of the scoping materials 
are available from Mr. Joel Sandberg whose contact information is given in
ADDRESSES below. An interagency scoping meeting or conference call will
be scheduled after agencies with an interest in the proposed project
have been identified.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. Joel Sandberg, P.E.,
Project Manager, Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority, 707
Wilshire Blvd., Suite 3400, Los Angeles, California 90017, phone (213)
922-3976, fax (213) 243-5553, e-mail jsandberg@exporail.net. The
locations of the public scoping meetings are given above under DATES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ray Tellis, Federal Transit
Administration, 888 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA
90017, phone (312) 202-3950, e-mail ray.tellis@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Scoping

    The FTA and the Authority invite all interested individuals and
organizations, public agencies, and Native American Tribes to comment
on the scope of the EIS, including the project's purpose and need, the
alternative to be studies, and the impacts to be evaluated. Comments
should focus on the purpose and need for the proposed project;
alternatives that may be less costly or have less environmental or
community impacts while achieving similar transportation objectives;
and the identification of any significant social, economic, or
environmental issues relating to the alternatives.

Purpose and Need for the Project

    The project purpose is to improve public transit service in the
Exposition Corridor between Culver City and Santa Monica. The overall
goal of the proposed project is to improve mobility in the Exposition
Corridor between downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica by extending the
mobility benefits of the Phase 1 project beyond the currently planned
terminus in Culver City. Mobility issues in this corridor have been
well documented in the many studies that have analyzed transportation
on the Westside and in the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan.
Additional considerations supporting the project's need include:
    ? The major concentration of activity centers and
destinations in the Exposition corridor.
    ? The ``Centers Concept'' Land Use Policy in the Los Angeles
Basin supporting the development of high capacity transit corridors
connecting the Centers including Santa Monica, Culver City and downtown
Los Angeles.
    ? The existing concentration of transit-supportive land use
in the Exposition corridor.
    ? The high population and employment densities in the
Exposition corridor.
    ? Local redevelopment plans that are highly supportive of,
and dependent on, high capacity transit in the Exposition corridor.
    ? History of strong patronage of the currently available
transit service in the Exposition corridor.
    ? Significant transit-dependent population in the Exposition corridor.
    ? Significant planned future population and employment
growth in the Exposition corridor.
    ? Existing and future travel demand patterns demonstrating a strong
and growing demand for high-capacity transit in the Exposition corridor.
    ? Local policy direction oriented toward travel demand
management and transit solutions rather than the expansion of the
roadway network.
    The public and participating agencies are invited to consider and
comment on this preliminary statement of the purpose and need for the
proposed project. Comments will be given serious consideration.

Alternatives

    The Exposition Light Rail Corridor Project Phase 2 proposes to
extend transit from the terminus of the Exposition Light Rail Corridor
Project Phase 1 at the Venice/Robertson station to a terminus in Santa
Monica. The project generally follows an abandoned railroad right-of-
way (ROW) that was purchased by LACMTA in 1990.

There Are Two Primary Alignment Alternatives Being Considered

    The Exposition ROW Alignment alternative follows the ROW for the
full distance from the current terminus of the Exposition Light Rail
Transit Project Phase 1 at Venice/Robertson Station in the City of
Culver City to 5th and Colorado in the City of Santa Monica, except for
a one-mile segment at the western end where the right-of-way ends and
the alignment would follow existing city streets and the edge of the I-
10 Santa Monica Freeway to reach the proposed terminus station in Santa
Monica. The alignment is approximately 6.9 miles in length.
    The Exposition ROW/Venice/Sepulveda Alignment alternative diverts
from the rail right-of-way at the Venice/Robertson station (the
terminus of Phase 1) and follows Venice Boulevard to Sepulveda
Boulevard where it turns north to rejoin the Rail ROW at approximately
the I-405 San Diego

[[Page 6662]]

Freeway. This alternative alignment also diverts from the ROW for one-
mile segment at the western end where the right-of-way ends and the
alignment would follow existing city streets and the edge of the I-10
Santa Monica Freeway to reach the proposed terminus station in Santa
Monica. This alignment is approximately 7.8 miles in length.

Transit Alternatives To Be Considered Include

    Light Rail Transit in the Exposition ROW Alignment--This
alternative proposes light rail transit in the Exposition ROW as
described above. Possible station sites have been identified at Motor,
Overland, Sepulveda, Pico/Sawtelle, Bundy, 26th/Cloverfield and 5th/
Colorado.
    Light Rail Transit in the Exposition ROW/Venice/Sepulveda
Alignment--This alternative proposes light trail transit in the
Exposition ROW/Venice/Sepulveda alignment as described above. Possible
station sites have been identified at, Venice/Overland, Venice/
Sepulveda, Sepulveda/National, Pico/Sawtelle, Bundy, 26th Cloverfield
and 5th/Colorado.
    Bus Rapid Transit in the Exposition ROW Alignment--This alternative
would utilize bus rapid transit in the Exposition ROW alignment as
described above. The busway would be located within an abandoned rail
right-of-way. At the end of the exclusive right-of-way at Olympic
Boulevard in Santa Monica the bus service would operate along Olympic
Boulevard, 17th Street, and Colorado Boulevard until reaching its
terminus at 5th and Colorado in the City of Santa Monica. Possible
station sites have been identified at Motor, Overland, Sepulveda, Pico/
Sawtelle, Bundy, 26th/ Cloverfield and 5th/Colorado.
    No-Build Alternative--This alternative includes only ``committed''
improvements--typically those in the annual element of the
Transportation Improvement Program or local capital programs--together
with minor transit service expansions and/or adjustments that reflects
a continuation of existing service policies. This alternative will
include committed transportation improvements such as the completion of
the Metro Rapid Bus Program by 2008 and possible additional feeder bus
networks to serve major activity centers on the Westside.
    Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM)--The TSM
alternative enhances the No-Build Alternative and emphasizes
transportation system upgrade such as intersection improvements, minor
road widening, traffic engineering actions, bus route restructuring,
shortened bus headways, expanded use of articulated buses, reserved bus
lanes, contra-flow lanes for buses and High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs)
on freeways, special bus ramps on freeways, expanded park/ride
facilities, express and limited-stop service, signalization
improvements, and timed-transfer operations.
    In addition to the above described alternatives, others identified
through the scoping process will be evaluated for potential inclusion
in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Because of the sensitive
adjacent land uses located in many parts of this corridor, all
alternatives will need to consider a full range of design and
mitigation solutions to enlist the support of local communities for the
completion of this line.

Probable Effects

    The purpose of the EIS process is to explore in a public setting
the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives on the
physical, human, and natural environment. The FTA and the Authority
will evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic
impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed project.
Impact areas to be addressed include: The transportation impacts; land
use, zoning, and economic development; secondary development; land
acquisition, displacements, and relocations; cultural resource impacts,
including impacts on historical and archaeological resources and
parklands/recreation areas; neighborhood compatibility and
environmental justice; natural resource impacts including air quality,
wetlands, water resources, noise, vibration; energy use; safety and
security; wildlife and ecosystems, including endangered species.
Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate all adverse impacts will be
identified and evaluated.

FTA Procedures

    The regulations implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), call for public involvement in the EIS
process. Section 6002 of SAFETEAU-LU requires that FTA and the
Authority do the following: (1) Extend an invitation to other Federal
and non-Federal agencies and Indian tribes that may have an interest in
the proposed project to become ``participating agencies,'' (2) provide
an opportunity for involvement by participating agencies and the public
in helping to define the purpose and need for a proposed project, as
well as the range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS, and (3)
establish a plan for coordinating public and agency participation in,
and comment on, the environmental review process. An invitation to
become a participating agency, with the scoping materials appended,
will be extended to other Federal and non-Federal agencies and Native
American tribes that may have an interest in the proposed project. It
is possible that FTA and the Authority will not be able to identify all
Federal and non-Federal agencies and tribes that may have such an
interest. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or tribe interested in the
proposed project that does not receive an invitation to become a
participating agency should notify at the earliest opportunity the
Project Manager identified above under ADDRESSES.
    A comprehensive public involvement program will be developed and a
Coordination Plan for public and interagency involvement will be
created and posted under the Phase 2 tab on the project Web site at
http://www.buildexpo.org. Exit Disclaimer The public involvement program includes
a full range of involvement activities including a project Web site;
outreach to local officials, community and civic groups, and the
public; and development and distribution of project newsletters.
Specific mechanisms for involvement will be detailed in the public
involvement program.
     The Authority may seek New Starts funding for the proposed under
49 U.S.C. 5309 and will therefore be subject to New Starts regulations
(49 CFR Part 611). The New Starts regulation requires a planning
Alternatives Analysis that leads to the selection of a locally
preferred alternative and the inclusion of the locally preferred
alternative as part of the long-range transportation plan adopted by
the Southern California Association of Governments. The Authority plans
to use the Draft EIS as the planning Alternatives Analysis. The New
Starts regulation also requires the submission of certain project-
justification information in support of a request to initiate
preliminary engineering, and this information is normally developed in
conjunction with the NEPA process. Pertinent New Starts evaluation
criteria will be included in the Final EIS.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with NEPA and its
implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and with the FTA/Federal Highway
Administration regulations ``Environmental Impact and Related
Procedures'' (23 CFR part 771). In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a)

[[Page 6663]]

and 771.133, FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws,
regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project
during the environmental review process to the maximum extent
practicable. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the
environmental and public hearing provisions of Federal transit laws (49
U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324), the project-level air quality
conformity regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
(40 CFR part 93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part
230), the regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), the regulation implementing section
7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402), Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders
12898 on environmental justice, 11988 on floodplain management, and
11990 on wetlands.

    Issued on February 5, 2007.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator, Region IX, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 07-609 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M

 
 

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