Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project in the Southern Portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, 64332-64334 [E6-18393]
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64332
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 211 / Wednesday, November 1, 2006 / Notices
Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C.
109].
2. Air: Clean Air Act, as amended [42
U.S.C. 7401–7671(q)].
3. Land: Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act of
1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]; Landscaping and
Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23
U.S.C. 319].
4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act
[16 U.S.C. 1531–1544]; Anadromous
Fish Conservation Act [16 U.S.C.
757(a)–757(g)]; Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act [16 U.S.C. 661–
667(d)]; Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery
Conservation and Management Act of
1976, as amended [16 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.].
5. Historic and Cultural Resources:
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended
[16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.]; Archaeological
Resources Protection Act of 1977 [16
U.S.C. 470(aa)–11]; Archaeological and
Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C.
469–469(c)]; Native American Grave
Protection and Repatriation Act [25
U.S.C. 3001–3013].
6. Social and Economic: Civil Rights
Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)–
2000(d)(1)]; American Indian Religious
Freedom Act [42 U.S.C. 1996]; Farmland
Protection Policy Act [7 U.S.C. 4201–
4209]; the Uniform Relocation
Assistance and Real Property
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as
amended [42 U.S.C. 61].
7. Wetlands and Water Resources:
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251–1377
(Section 404, Section 401, Section 319);
Coastal Zone Management Act [16
U.S.C. 1451–1465]; Land and Water
Conservation Fund [16 U.S.C. 4601–
4604]; Safe Drinking Water Act [42
U.S.C. 300(f)–300(j)(6)]; Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 [33 U.S.C. 401–
406]; TEA–21 Wetlands Mitigation [23
U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(m), 133(b)(11)]; Flood
Disaster Protection Act [42 U.S.C. 4001–
4128].
8. Hazardous Materials:
Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act [42 U.S.C. 9601–9675]; Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act
of 1986 [PL 99–499]; Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act [42
U.S.C. 6901–6992(k)].
9. Executive Orders: E.O. 11990
Protection of Wetlands; E.O. 11988
Floodplain Management; E.O. 12898,
Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority
Populations and Low Income
Populations; E.O. 11593 Protection and
Enhancement of Cultural Resources;
E.O. 13007 Indian Sacred Sites; E.O.
13287 Preserve America; E.O. 13175
Consultation and Coordination with
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:36 Oct 31, 2006
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Indian Tribal Governments; E.O. 11514
Protection and Enhancement of
Environmental Quality; E.O. 13112
Invasive Species.
The projects subject to this notice are:
1. Project Location: Tukwila, Renton,
Newcastle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell,
and Lynnwood; King and Snohomish
Counties; I–405. Project Reference
Number: STP 4053(840). Project type:
The ‘‘I–405 Corridor Program’’ consists
of multi-modal improvements along the
approximate 30-mile corridor of I–405.
NEPA document: Corridor-level FEIS,
June 2002; Record of Decision (ROD),
October 9, 2002.
2. Project Location: Bellevue,
Kirkland and Bothell; King County; I–
405. Project Reference Number: Since
federal funding is not currently
available for this project, an FHWA
project number has not been
established. Project type: The ‘‘I–405 SR
520 to SR 522—Kirkland Nickel Project’’
is located along a 7.6-mile section of I–
405 between SR 520 and SR 522. It
consists of a new northbound generalpurpose lane on I–405 from the NE 70th
Street interchange to the NE 124th
Street interchange, a new southbound
general-purpose lane from just south of
the SR 522 interchange to just north of
the SR 520 interchange, and
reconfiguration of the interchange at NE
116th Street to improve traffic
operations. NEPA document: EA,
February 2005; Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI), signed
April 14, 2005.
3. Project Location: Bellevue, King
County, I–405. Project Reference
Number: Since federal funding is not
currently available for this project, an
FHWA project number has not been
established. Project type: The ‘‘I–405
Bellevue Nickel Improvement Project—
I–90 to Southeast 8th Street’’ extends
along a 2-mile section of I–405 between
I–90 and SE 8th Street. It consists of one
new general-purpose lane in each
direction along I–405 and extends the
existing outside southbound HOV lane
north from I–90 near the Wilburton
tunnel to SE 8th Street. NEPA
document: EA, January 2006; Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI), signed
August 11, 2006.
4. Project Location: Bellevue, King
County, I–405. Project Reference
Number: Since federal funding is not
currently available for this project, an
FHWA project number has not been
established. Project type: The ‘‘I–405,
112th Ave SE to I–90 Widening Project’’
extends along a 2-mile section of I–405
starting at the I–405 and 112th Ave SE
interchange and extending to just north
of the I–90 and I–405 interchange. It
consists of one new northbound
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auxiliary lane, a new three-lane
southbound structure over I–90 and
converting the existing southbound
structure to a northbound HOV lane.
NEPA document: DCE, signed June 9,
2006.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning
and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372
regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this
program.)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1)–(2).
Issued on: October 26, 2006.
Stephen P. Boch,
Major Project Oversight Manager, Seattle,
Washington.
[FR Doc. E6–18369 Filed 10–31–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–RY–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Dumbarton
Rail Corridor Project in the Southern
Portion of the San Francisco Bay Area,
CA
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit
Administration and the Peninsula
Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB) are
planning to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report for the Dumbarton Rail
Corridor (DRC) Project, an
approximately 21-mile commuter rail
extension on existing rail alignment to
provide commuter rail service between
the Peninsula and the East Bay across
the southern part of the San Francisco
Bay. The EIS will be prepared in
accordance with regulations
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as
well as provisions of the recently
enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users. The purpose of this
Notice of Intent is to alert interested
parties regarding the plan to prepare the
EIS, to provide information on the
proposed transit project, to invite
participation in the EIS process,
including comments on the scope of the
EIS proposed in this notice, and to
announce that public scoping meetings
will be conducted.
DATES: Written comments on the scope
of the EIS should be sent to Marie Pang,
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 211 / Wednesday, November 1, 2006 / Notices
PCJPB Environmental Manager, by
November 30, 2006. Public scoping
meetings will be held on November 15,
2006 and November 16, 2006 from 6:30
p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at locations indicated
under ADDRESSES below. An interagency
scoping meeting for agencies with an
interest in the proposed project will be
held on November 16, 2006 from 3 p.m.
to 5 p.m. at the West Bay location listed
below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope of the EIS should be sent to Marie
Pang, Environmental Manager,
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board,
P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070–
1306. Comments may also be offered at
the public scoping meetings. The
addresses for the public scoping
meetings are as follows:
East Bay Location: Wednesday,
November 15, 2006, Newark
Community Center, 35501 Cedar
Blvd, Newark, CA 94560.
West Bay Location: Thursday,
November 16, 2006, City of Menlo
Park Senior Center, 110 Terminal
Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
The meeting facilities will be
accessible to persons with disabilities. If
special translation or signing services or
other special accommodations are
needed, please contact Beth Altshuler at
510–845–7549, ext. 165 at least 48 hours
before the scoping meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerome Wiggins, Transportation Program
Specialist, of the Federal Transit
Administration’s San Francisco
Regional Office at (415) 744–3115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Proposed Project: The Dumbarton
Rail Corridor Project proposes to
provide east-west commuter rail service
across the southern section of the S.F.
Bay. This would be accomplished by
primarily rehabilitating and
reconstructing rail facilities on existing
alignment and right-of-way. The
alignment consists of two parts. The
first part is an existing 11-mile rail
corridor extending east along the former
Southern Pacific Centerville line from
Redwood Junction in San Mateo County
across the Dumbarton and Newark
Slough Railroad Bridges to the Newark
Junction in Alameda County. It is
owned by the San Mateo County Transit
District (Samtrans). The second part is
an existing 10-mile rail corridor owned
by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR),
extending from Newark Junction east
along the Niles subdivision through
Union City to the UPRR Oakland
subdivision rail corridor at Industrial
Parkway. The project also includes the
construction of a train layover yard on
the east side and three new stations:
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Jkt 211001
Willow Road Station (Menlo Park/East
Palo Alto), Newark Station, and the
Union City Intermodal Station.
Service will consist of six daily trains
originating from Union City in the
morning peak period and traveling
westward across the Dumbarton Rail
Corridor, The trains converge with the
existing Caltrain line in the West Bay.
From the Caltrain line, three of the
trains will travel north to San Francisco
while the other three trains will travel
south to San Jose. During the afternoon
peak period, all trains will travel
eastbound back to Union City. The three
new stations plus the Centerville Station
in Fremont would be directly served by
DRC trains. The Capitol Corridor trains
would also be served by the Union City
Intermodal, Newark and Centerville
stations. The ACE trains would be
served by the Newark and Centerville
stations.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Project: In March 2004, the voters of the
Bay Area counties passed the Regional
Traffic Relief Plan, also known as
Regional Measure 2 (RM2) to fund a
variety of transportation improvements
to help relieve traffic congestion and
enhance the convenience and reliability
of the region’s public transit system by
raising bridge tolls. RM2 includes
funding for the proposed DRC Project.
This project is included in the 2007
Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP) adopted by the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) on
October 2, 2006.
A connection is needed to address
transportation issues and deficiencies
related to highway congestion, transit,
population and employment, and air
quality in the corridor. The purpose of
the proposed Dumbarton Rail Corridor
Project is to use existing rail
infrastructure to provide an east-west
rail connection in the southern portion
of the San Francisco Bay, connecting the
communities of the East Bay and the
West Bay.
Alternatives: In addition to the No
Action Alternative, two rail alternatives
and one bus alternative are proposed to
be evaluated in the EIS. An Alternatives
Analysis was conducted to identify the
most feasible rail and bus alternatives to
be carried forward into detailed
environmental studies. The Alternatives
Analysis study process was directed and
guided by a Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) and a Policy Advisory
Committee (PAC). These committees
consisted of representatives from state,
regional and county transportation/
transit agencies, as well as the affected
cities on both sides of the Bay. The
Alternatives Analysis report was
approved by the Policy Advisory
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64333
Committee on June 20, 2006. The final
report is available on the official
Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project Web
site at www.caltrain.com/
dumbartonrail.
The alternatives under consideration
are:
(1) No Action—The Dumbarton
Express bus service will continue to be
the only commuter transit between the
East Bay and the Peninsula that crosses
the southern portion of the Bay.
(2) Alternative A—DRC trackage,
connecting to the existing Caltrain
Corridor on the Peninsula at Redwood
Junction, will cross the San Francisco
Bay via the Dumbarton Railroad Bridge,
run through Newark and connect to
existing tracks that run north to Union
City. The track improvements will
include the Shinn Connection and the
Industrial Parkway Connection, which
will connect the DRC with ACE and
Capitol Corridor trains in Fremont and
Union City in the East Bay. A train
storage and layover yard will be
constructed. Two locations are under
consideration. Three new stations will
be constructed at Union City, Newark
and Menlo Park. The Centerville Station
in Fremont would be upgraded.
Reconstruction of the marine bridges
crossing the San Francisco Bay includes
replacement of the Dumbarton and the
Newark Slough moveable bridges and
the modification of the Henderson
Underpass. New railroad signals and a
Centralized Traffic Control system will
be provided to control movements onto
and through the Dumbarton Rail
Corridor.
(3) Alternative B—The same as
Alternative A, with the addition of the
Niles Junction Connection. The freight
traffic through the Fremont Centerville
station will be decreased by re-routing
freight trains between the Oakland
Subdivision and the Niles Subdivision
over the new Niles Junction Connection.
(4) Bus Alternative—This alternative
proposes a new bus route that originates
in Union City, crosses the Dumbarton
Highway Bridge (Route 84), and travels
to Redwood Shores.
This alternative could serve as the
initial start-up phase of an expanded
bus service across the Dumbarton
Highway Bridge. The expanded service
would extend northward to Foster City,
Millbrae, Oyster Point and Brisbane on
the Peninsula.
The EIS Process and the Role of
Participating Agencies and the Public:
The purpose of the EIS process is to
explore in a public setting potentially
significant effects of implementing the
proposed action and alternatives on the
physical, human, and natural
environment. Areas of investigation
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sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
64334
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 211 / Wednesday, November 1, 2006 / Notices
include, but are not limited to, land use,
environmental justice, historic
resources, visual and aesthetic qualities,
air quality, noise and vibration, energy
use, traffic, safety and security,
wetlands, threatened and endangered
species, and hazardous materials.
Regulations implementing NEPA, as
well as provisions of the recently
enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU), call
for public involvement in the EIS
process. Section 6002 of SAFETEA–LU
requires that FTA and PCJPB 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 impact statement,
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
information packet appended, will be
extended to other Federal and nonFederal agencies and Indian tribes that
may have an interest in the proposed
project. It is possible that we may not be
able to identify all Federal and nonFederal agencies and Indian tribes that
may have such an interest. Any Federal
or non-Federal agency or Indian tribe
interested in the proposed project that
does not receive an invitation to become
a participating agency should notify, at
the earliest opportunity, the
Environmental Manager identified
above under ADDRESSES.
A comprehensive public involvement
program has been developed. A Policy
Advisory Committee (PAC) consisting of
local and county officials and a Project
Development Team consisting of
representatives of state, regional and
local agencies are already in place. A
Community Advisory Committee will be
established. The program also includes
a public scoping process, public
hearings on release of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS),
development of project newsletters and
their distribution and posting on the
project Web site.
We invite the public and participating
agencies to consider the preliminary
statement of purposes of and need for
the proposed project, as well as the
alternatives proposed for consideration.
Comments on potential significant
environmental impacts that may be
associated with the proposed project are
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:36 Oct 31, 2006
Jkt 211001
also welcomed. All comments and
suggestions will be given serious
consideration.
In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a)
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 regulations of the Council
on Environmental Quality
implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts
1500–1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the
project-level air quality conformity
regulation of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part
93), section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA
(40 CFR part 230), Executive Orders
11988, 11990 and 12898 regarding
floodplains, wetlands, and
environmental justice, respectively,
Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800),
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
(50 CFR part 402), and section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act (23
CFR 771.135).
Issued on: October 26, 2006.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 9.
[FR Doc. E6–18393 Filed 10–31–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Request for Applications for the IRS
Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt
and Government Entities
Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) is requesting applications for
membership to serve on the Advisory
Committee on Tax Exempt and
Government Entities (ACT).
Applications will be accepted for
several vacancies which will occur in
June 2007: At least two (2) employee
plans; at least two (2) exempt
organizations; at least one (1) Indian
tribal governments; and at least one (1)
tax exempt bonds. (There are currently
no vacancies for federal, state and local
governments.) To ensure appropriate
balance of membership, final selection
from qualified candidates will be
determined based on experience,
qualifications, and other expertise.
DATES: Written applications or
nominations must be received on or
before December 1, 2006.
PO 00000
Frm 00098
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Application: Applicants may use the
ACT Application Form on the IRS Web
site (https://www.irs.gov/ep; https://
www.irs.gov.eo; https://www.irs.gov/
bonds; or https://www.irs.gov/govts) or
may send an application by letter with
the following information: Name; Other
Name(s) Used and Date(s) (required for
FBI check); Date of Birth (required for
FBI check); City and State of Birth
(required for FBI check); Current
Address; Telephone and Fax Numbers;
and E-mail address, if any. Applications
should also describe and document the
proposed member’s qualifications for
membership on the ACT. Applicants
should also specify the vacancy for
which they wish to be considered.
ADDRESSES: Send all applications and
nominations to: Steven Pyrek; Director,
TE/GE Communications and Liaison;
1111 Constitution Ave., NW.—SE:T:CL,
Penn Bldg; Washington, DC 20224; Fax:
(202) 283–9956 (not a toll-free number);
E-mail: steve.j.pyrek@irs.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Pyrek (202) 283–9966 (not a tollfree number), or by e-mail.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Advisory Committee on Tax Exempt
and Government Entities (ACT),
governed by the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, Public Law No. 92–463,
is an organized public forum for
discussion of relevant employee plans,
exempt organizations, tax-exempt
bonds, and Federal, State, local and
Indian tribal government issues between
officials of the IRS and representatives
of the above communities. The ACT also
enables the IRS to receive regular input
with respect to the development and
implementation of IRS policy
concerning these communities. ACT
members present the interested public’s
observations about current or proposed
IRS policies, programs, and procedures,
as well as suggest improvements.
ACT members shall be appointed by
the Secretary of the Treasury and shall
serve a two-year term. Terms can be
extended for an additional year. ACT
members will not be paid for their time
or services. ACT members will be
reimbursed for their travel-related
expenses to attend working sessions and
public meetings, in accordance with 5
U.S.C. 5703.
The Secretary of the Treasury invites
those individuals, organizations, and
groups affiliated with employee plans,
exempt organizations, tax-exempt
bonds, and federal, state, local or Indian
tribal governments, to nominate
individuals for membership on the ACT.
Nominations should describe and
document the proposed member’s
qualifications for membership on the
E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64332-64334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18393]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project in the Southern Portion of the San
Francisco Bay Area, CA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration and the Peninsula Corridor
Joint Powers Board (PCJPB) are planning to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Dumbarton Rail
Corridor (DRC) Project, an approximately 21-mile commuter rail
extension on existing rail alignment to provide commuter rail service
between the Peninsula and the East Bay across the southern part of the
San Francisco Bay. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
as well as provisions of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The
purpose of this Notice of Intent is to alert interested parties
regarding the plan to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the
proposed transit project, to invite participation in the EIS process,
including comments on the scope of the EIS proposed in this notice, and
to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to Marie
Pang,
[[Page 64333]]
PCJPB Environmental Manager, by November 30, 2006. Public scoping
meetings will be held on November 15, 2006 and November 16, 2006 from
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at locations indicated under ADDRESSES below. An
interagency scoping meeting for agencies with an interest in the
proposed project will be held on November 16, 2006 from 3 p.m. to 5
p.m. at the West Bay location listed below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be sent to
Marie Pang, Environmental Manager, Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers
Board, P.O. Box 3006, San Carlos, CA 94070-1306. Comments may also be
offered at the public scoping meetings. The addresses for the public
scoping meetings are as follows:
East Bay Location: Wednesday, November 15, 2006, Newark Community
Center, 35501 Cedar Blvd, Newark, CA 94560.
West Bay Location: Thursday, November 16, 2006, City of Menlo Park
Senior Center, 110 Terminal Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
The meeting facilities will be accessible to persons with
disabilities. If special translation or signing services or other
special accommodations are needed, please contact Beth Altshuler at
510-845-7549, ext. 165 at least 48 hours before the scoping meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Wiggins, Transportation Program
Specialist, of the Federal Transit Administration's San Francisco
Regional Office at (415) 744-3115.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Proposed Project: The Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project proposes
to provide east-west commuter rail service across the southern section
of the S.F. Bay. This would be accomplished by primarily rehabilitating
and reconstructing rail facilities on existing alignment and right-of-
way. The alignment consists of two parts. The first part is an existing
11-mile rail corridor extending east along the former Southern Pacific
Centerville line from Redwood Junction in San Mateo County across the
Dumbarton and Newark Slough Railroad Bridges to the Newark Junction in
Alameda County. It is owned by the San Mateo County Transit District
(Samtrans). The second part is an existing 10-mile rail corridor owned
by the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), extending from Newark Junction
east along the Niles subdivision through Union City to the UPRR Oakland
subdivision rail corridor at Industrial Parkway. The project also
includes the construction of a train layover yard on the east side and
three new stations: Willow Road Station (Menlo Park/East Palo Alto),
Newark Station, and the Union City Intermodal Station.
Service will consist of six daily trains originating from Union
City in the morning peak period and traveling westward across the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor, The trains converge with the existing Caltrain
line in the West Bay. From the Caltrain line, three of the trains will
travel north to San Francisco while the other three trains will travel
south to San Jose. During the afternoon peak period, all trains will
travel eastbound back to Union City. The three new stations plus the
Centerville Station in Fremont would be directly served by DRC trains.
The Capitol Corridor trains would also be served by the Union City
Intermodal, Newark and Centerville stations. The ACE trains would be
served by the Newark and Centerville stations.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Project: In March 2004, the
voters of the Bay Area counties passed the Regional Traffic Relief
Plan, also known as Regional Measure 2 (RM2) to fund a variety of
transportation improvements to help relieve traffic congestion and
enhance the convenience and reliability of the region's public transit
system by raising bridge tolls. RM2 includes funding for the proposed
DRC Project. This project is included in the 2007 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP) adopted by the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC) on October 2, 2006.
A connection is needed to address transportation issues and
deficiencies related to highway congestion, transit, population and
employment, and air quality in the corridor. The purpose of the
proposed Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project is to use existing rail
infrastructure to provide an east-west rail connection in the southern
portion of the San Francisco Bay, connecting the communities of the
East Bay and the West Bay.
Alternatives: In addition to the No Action Alternative, two rail
alternatives and one bus alternative are proposed to be evaluated in
the EIS. An Alternatives Analysis was conducted to identify the most
feasible rail and bus alternatives to be carried forward into detailed
environmental studies. The Alternatives Analysis study process was
directed and guided by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a
Policy Advisory Committee (PAC). These committees consisted of
representatives from state, regional and county transportation/transit
agencies, as well as the affected cities on both sides of the Bay. The
Alternatives Analysis report was approved by the Policy Advisory
Committee on June 20, 2006. The final report is available on the
official Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project Web site at www.caltrain.com/
dumbartonrail.
The alternatives under consideration are:
(1) No Action--The Dumbarton Express bus service will continue to
be the only commuter transit between the East Bay and the Peninsula
that crosses the southern portion of the Bay.
(2) Alternative A--DRC trackage, connecting to the existing
Caltrain Corridor on the Peninsula at Redwood Junction, will cross the
San Francisco Bay via the Dumbarton Railroad Bridge, run through Newark
and connect to existing tracks that run north to Union City. The track
improvements will include the Shinn Connection and the Industrial
Parkway Connection, which will connect the DRC with ACE and Capitol
Corridor trains in Fremont and Union City in the East Bay. A train
storage and layover yard will be constructed. Two locations are under
consideration. Three new stations will be constructed at Union City,
Newark and Menlo Park. The Centerville Station in Fremont would be
upgraded. Reconstruction of the marine bridges crossing the San
Francisco Bay includes replacement of the Dumbarton and the Newark
Slough moveable bridges and the modification of the Henderson
Underpass. New railroad signals and a Centralized Traffic Control
system will be provided to control movements onto and through the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor.
(3) Alternative B--The same as Alternative A, with the addition of
the Niles Junction Connection. The freight traffic through the Fremont
Centerville station will be decreased by re-routing freight trains
between the Oakland Subdivision and the Niles Subdivision over the new
Niles Junction Connection.
(4) Bus Alternative--This alternative proposes a new bus route that
originates in Union City, crosses the Dumbarton Highway Bridge (Route
84), and travels to Redwood Shores.
This alternative could serve as the initial start-up phase of an
expanded bus service across the Dumbarton Highway Bridge. The expanded
service would extend northward to Foster City, Millbrae, Oyster Point
and Brisbane on the Peninsula.
The EIS Process and the Role of Participating Agencies and the
Public: The purpose of the EIS process is to explore in a public
setting potentially significant effects of implementing the proposed
action and alternatives on the physical, human, and natural
environment. Areas of investigation
[[Page 64334]]
include, but are not limited to, land use, environmental justice,
historic resources, visual and aesthetic qualities, air quality, noise
and vibration, energy use, traffic, safety and security, wetlands,
threatened and endangered species, and hazardous materials. Regulations
implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of the recently enacted Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy
for Users (SAFETEA-LU), call for public involvement in the EIS process.
Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU requires that FTA and PCJPB 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 impact statement,
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
information packet appended, will be extended to other Federal and non-
Federal agencies and Indian tribes that may have an interest in the
proposed project. It is possible that we may not be able to identify
all Federal and non-Federal agencies and Indian tribes that may have
such an interest. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or Indian tribe
interested in the proposed project that does not receive an invitation
to become a participating agency should notify, at the earliest
opportunity, the Environmental Manager identified above under
ADDRESSES.
A comprehensive public involvement program has been developed. A
Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) consisting of local and county
officials and a Project Development Team consisting of representatives
of state, regional and local agencies are already in place. A Community
Advisory Committee will be established. The program also includes a
public scoping process, public hearings on release of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), development of project
newsletters and their distribution and posting on the project Web site.
We invite the public and participating agencies to consider the
preliminary statement of purposes of and need for the proposed project,
as well as the alternatives proposed for consideration. Comments on
potential significant environmental impacts that may be associated with
the proposed project are also welcomed. All comments and suggestions
will be given serious consideration.
In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) 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 regulations of the Council on Environmental
Quality implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and 23 CFR part 771),
the project-level air quality conformity regulation of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part 93), section
404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230), Executive Orders 11988,
11990 and 12898 regarding floodplains, wetlands, and environmental
justice, respectively, Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800), Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act (50 CFR part 402), and section 4(f) of the Department of
Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135).
Issued on: October 26, 2006.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 9.
[FR Doc. E6-18393 Filed 10-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
