Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement for Rapid Transit in Utah County, UT, 72813-72815 [E7-24861]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices with respect to quotations for and transactions in securities. Quotations for and last-sale information regarding the Shares are disseminated through the facilities of the CTA and the Consolidated Quotation System. In addition, Amex will calculate and disseminate the IIV per Share for each Fund through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association at least every 15 seconds throughout the trading hours for the Shares. The value of each Underlying Index will also be updated intra-day on a real-time basis as its individual component securities change in price and will be disseminated at least every 15 seconds throughout the trading hours for the Shares. Finally, the Trust’s Web site provides various information for each Fund’s Shares. The Commission also believes that the proposal appears reasonably designed to preclude trading of the Shares when transparency is impaired. Trading in the Shares will be subject to Nasdaq Rule 4120(b), which provides that, if the listing market halts trading when the IIV or value of the underlying index is not being calculated or disseminated, the Exchange also would halt trading. In support of this proposal, the Exchange has made the following additional representations: 1. The Exchange’s surveillance procedures are adequate to properly monitor Exchange trading of the Shares in all trading sessions and to deter and detect violations of Exchange rules. 2. Prior to the commencement of trading, the Exchange would inform its members in an Information Bulletin of the special characteristics and risks associated with trading the Shares. 3. The Information Bulletin also would discuss the requirement that members deliver a prospectus to investors purchasing newly issued Shares prior to or concurrently with the confirmation of a transaction. This approval order is based on the Exchange’s representations. The Commission notes that, if the Shares should be delisted by the listing exchange, the Exchange would no longer have authority to trade the Shares pursuant to this order. The Commission finds good cause for approving this proposal before the thirtieth day after the publication of notice thereof in the Federal Register. As noted above, the Commission previously found that the listing and trading of the Shares on Amex is consistent with the Act. The Commission presently is not aware of any regulatory issue that should cause it to revisit that finding or would preclude the trading of the Shares on the VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:37 Dec 20, 2007 Jkt 214001 Exchange pursuant to UTP. Therefore, accelerating approval of this proposal should benefit investors by creating, without undue delay, additional competition in the market for the Shares. V. Conclusion It is therefore ordered, pursuant to section 19(b)(2) of the Act,21 that the proposed rule change (SR–NASDAQ– 2007–097) be, and it hereby is, approved on anaccelerated basis. For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.22 Florence E. Harmon, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. E7–24789 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8011–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of the Secretary Application of Taga Air Charter Service, Inc. for Commuter Air Carrier Authorization Department of Transportation. Notice of Order to Show Cause (Order 2007–12–11), Docket DOT–OST– 2006–25577. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation is directing all interested persons to show cause why it should not issue an order finding that Taga Air Charter Service, Inc., is not a U.S. citizen, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 40102(a)(15), and that its application for Commuter Air Carrier Authorization under section 41738 of the Statute is denied. In addition, we propose to cancel its existing air taxi registration pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 40109(f) and 14 CFR part 298. DATES: Persons wishing to file objections should do so no later than January 22, 2008. ADDRESSES: Objections and answers to objections should be filed in Docket DOT–OST–2006–25577, and addressed to U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, West Building Ground Floor, (M–30, Room W12–140) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, and should be served upon the parties listed in Attachment A to the order. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ˆ Ronale Taylor, Air Carrier Fitness Division (X–56, West Building, 8th Floor), U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 21 15 22 17 PO 00000 U.S.C. 78s(b)(2). CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Frm 00149 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72813 Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366–9721. Dated: December 17, 2007. Andrew B. Steinberg, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. [FR Doc. E7–24868 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–62–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement for Rapid Transit in Utah County, UT Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Utah Transit Authority (UTA), and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) intend to prepare an Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement (AA/EIS) for potential highcapacity fixed-guideway transit improvements and roadway infrastructure improvements in Utah County, Utah. The project’s purposes are to serve transit markets along the corridor including two universities (Brigham Young University and Utah Valley State College), existing and planned student housing, retail malls, several employment centers, historic downtown Provo, and two major regional intermodal centers; provide circulation and distribution for future transit projects including commuter rail; and to accommodate future travel demand while maintaining efficient traffic flow. The project termini are the planned Orem intermodal center near Utah Valley State College (UVSC) on the north and a location near the Provo Towne Center Mall and East Bay Business Complex (Novell Campus) on the south. The general location of the corridor is on or near University Parkway and University Avenue in Utah County and length of the project is approximately 9 miles. The timeframe for the environmental review process is from January 2008 to January 2010. The AA/EIS will be prepared in accordance with section 102(2)c of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and pursuant to the Council on the Environmental Quality’s regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), FTA/FHWA joint regulations (23 CFR 771) as well as provisions of the Safe, E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 72814 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Accountable, Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU). The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties regarding the intent to prepare the AA/ EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed project and possible alternatives, to invite public participation in the NEPA process (including providing comments on the scope of the AA/EIS), and to announce that a public scoping meeting will be conducted. The AA/EIS will examine and evaluate a number of transit alternatives in the corridor. Any additional alternatives generated by the scoping process as well as the proposed station locations for the Build alternatives will also be considered. The alternatives will be compared to a No-Action Alternative for evaluation purposes. Scoping for the AA/EIS will be accomplished through a public meeting; e-mail and hard copy correspondence with interested individuals and organizations, Federal, State, and local agencies, and Native American Tribes; and through a meeting with cooperating and participating public agencies. Interested parties may comment by: (1) E-mailing provooremrapidtransit@hwlochner.com; (2) visiting the project Web site at https:// www.provo-oremrapidtransit.info; (3) mailing written comments to the address below, or (4) attending the public scoping meeting, described below under Meeting Dates. A scoping information packet will be posted on the project Web site at https://www.provooremrapidtransit.info and hard copies of the packet will be distributed on request. Meeting Dates Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Provo City Library (550 N University Ave, Provo). The project’s purpose and need, and the initial set of alternatives proposed for study will be presented at this meeting. Comments may be given verbally or in writing at the scoping meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet special needs. The meeting location will be accessible to persons with disabilities. Individuals who require special accommodations, such as sign language interpreter, to participate in the meeting should contact Ms. Sherry L. Repscher, ADA Compliance Officer, Utah Transit Authority, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119–0810 or by telephone at (801) 262–5626 or TDD at (801) 287–4657. VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:37 Dec 20, 2007 Jkt 214001 Agency Scoping Meeting: An agency scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, from 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Provo City Library (Bullock Room 309), 550 North University Ave, Provo, Utah. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project, to allow agencies to determine their level of interest in the project, and to allow agencies to help identify the proposed project’s level of impact on environmental, social, and economic resources. The scoping meeting will include a bus tour of the project study area. The bus tour will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Provo City Library parking lot. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the following address by February 28, 2008: Laynee Jones, HW Lochner, 310 East 4500 South, Murray, Utah 84107 or provooremrapidtransit@hwlochner.com. The location of the public scoping meeting is given above under Meeting Dates. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charmaine Knighton, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region VIII, Federal Transit Administration, 12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80228. Telephone: 720–963–3327. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Scoping The FTA, UTA, and MAG invite all interested individuals and organizations, public agencies, and Native American Tribes to comment on the scope of the AA/EIS including the project’s purpose and need, alternatives, impacts to be evaluated, and evaluation methods to be used. Comments should focus on refining the purpose and need statement, developing alternatives to meet the purpose and need, and on identifying specific social, economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated. The scoping period will end February 28, 2008. A scoping information packet will be posted on the project Web site at https://www.provooremrapidtransit.info and hard copies of the packet will be distributed on request. II. Description of Project Study Area and Its Purpose and Need Known as the Provo-Orem Rapid Transit AA/EIS, this project consists of increasing transit opportunities and maintaining efficient traffic flow in an area that contains two universities, retail malls, employment centers, a historic downtown, and two major regional intermodal centers. The proposed project originated from the Inter-Regional Corridor Alternatives PO 00000 Frm 00150 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Analysis (IRCAA) completed in 2002 and the Provo/Orem Rapid Transit Corridor Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study) completed in 2005. The Feasibility Study selected Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the solution for the increasing transportation demand in Utah County. The BRT project is included in the Mountainland Association of Government’s fiscally constrained Long Range Transportation Plan. Preliminary statement of purpose of and need for the proposed project: The purpose of the project is to serve transit markets along the corridor; provide circulation and distribution for future transit projects including commuter rail; and to accommodate future travel demand while maintaining efficient traffic flow. The needs identified in the previous studies include: enhancing community character, accommodating the ultimate cross-section of the road, meeting traffic demand on the travel lanes, encouraging economic development, and providing a system that is safe, easy, and convenient to use. The public and participating and cooperating agencies are invited to consider and comment on this preliminary statement of the purpose and need for the proposed project. Projected Ridership. According to preliminary estimates in the Feasibility Study, the project is anticipated to serve 17,000 boardings per day. Brigham Young University is located near the center of the study area and has an enrollment of over 35,000. Most of its students live within 3.5 miles of campus and the feasibility study indicates that 67 percent of students walk to campus. The project area has a strong local ridership base; an on-board survey of UTA bus routes serving Utah County concluded that approximately 52 percent of riders live in Provo and 19 percent live in Orem. Approximately 35 percent of riders were students. Local Land Use and Economic Development. Provo and Orem are the two largest cities in Utah County. Based on a comparison of Census data from 1990 to 2000, Provo was shown to be the fourth fastest-growing metropolitan area for job creation and the tenth fastest-growing for population. By 2030, Provo is expected to grow to a population of almost 137,000 and Orem is expected to grow to a population of over 107,000. Although the entire study area is growing, population and employment growth are dispersed in different densities along the project corridor. Employment density is projected to increase in particular along University Avenue. E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 245 / Friday, December 21, 2007 / Notices Environmental Process: In accordance with NEPA, SAFETEA–LU section 6002 and FTA’s section 5309 New Starts requirements, the project’s environmental process has been divided into three general phases: (1) Scoping; (2) Alternatives Analysis/ EIS, selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA); selection of the Preferred Alternative and (3) Final EIS. III. Alternatives The Feasibility Study conducted in 2005 recommended Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) along University Parkway and University Avenue with a detour off University Avenue to serve Brigham Young University (BYU). Because population and employment densities have changed in the study area since 2005, the AA/EIS will evaluate a wide range of fixed guideway alternatives including light rail and Bus Rapid Transit. Bus Rapid Transit includes exclusive transit lanes (either centerrunning or side-running) and queue jump lanes. The preliminary alternatives will be narrowed to a locally preferred alternative based on updated ridership forecasts. The locally preferred alternative and a No-Action alternative will be evaluated in detail in the EIS resulting in the selection of a Preferred Alternative. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES IV. Probable Effects NEPA requires FTA and UTA to evaluate the significant impacts of the alternatives selected for study in the AA/EIS. Primary issues identified thus far include additional right-of-way takes, business impacts, potential impacts to historic properties, and traffic and accessibility impacts. The impacts will be evaluated for both the construction period and for the longterm period of operation. Measures to mitigate adverse impacts will be developed. V. FTA Procedures The regulation 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 NEPA process. Section 6002 of SAFETEA–LU requires that the lead agencies (FTA, UTA, and MAG) do the following: (1) Extend an invitation to other Federal and nonFederal agencies and Native American 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 to help define the purpose and need for a proposed project, as well as the range of VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:37 Dec 20, 2007 Jkt 214001 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 or cooperating agency, with scoping materials appended, will be extended to other Federal and nonFederal agencies and Native American tribes that may have an interest in the proposed project. It is possible that the lead agencies will not be able to identify all Federal and non-Federal agencies and Native American tribes that may have such an interest. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or Native American tribe interested in the proposed project that does not receive an invitation to become a participating agency should notify Pat Rothacher, Utah Transit Authority, at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 or prothacher@rideuta.com. UTA is seeking federal assistance from the FTA to fund the proposed project under 49 United States Code 5309 and will, therefore, be subject to regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 611) related to New Starts projects. The AA/EIS will be prepared in accordance with NEPA and its implementing regulation 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) 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. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00151 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72815 Issued on: December 14, 2007. Charmaine Knighton, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region VIII. [FR Doc. E7–24861 Filed 12–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration [Docket No. PHMSA–2006–24058] Pipeline Safety: Grant of Special Permit; TransCanada Pipelines Limited Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA); DOT. ACTION: Notice; Grant of Special Permit. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is granting TransCanada Pipelines Limited (TransCanada) a special permit waiving compliance from the Federal pipeline safety regulation in 49 CFR 192.611 for two pipeline segments in the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System, described below under ‘‘Pipeline System Affected.’’ The regulation requires natural gas pipeline operators to confirm or revise the maximum allowable operating pressure of a pipeline after a change in class location. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Mayberry at (202) 366–5124, or by e-mail at Alan.Mayberry @dot.gov; or Wayne Lemoi at (404) 832–1160 or by e-mail at Wayne.Lemoi@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Special Permit Request Pipeline Operator: TransCanada petitioned PHMSA on April 8, 2005, for a special permit to waive compliance from the Federal pipeline safety regulation in 49 CFR § 192.611 for two pipeline segments of the Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS) 24-inch mainline operated by TransCanada and described below under ‘‘Pipeline System Affected.’’ The regulation requires natural gas pipeline operators to confirm or revise the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of a pipeline after a change in class location. Pipeline System Affected: This special permit request covers two segments of a single 24-inch pipeline known as the PNGTS pipeline in and near the town of North Windham, Maine. Special permit segment 1 includes 615 feet that changed from a Class 1 location to a Class 3 location on March 1, 2004, and an additional 2,298 feet that E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 245 (Friday, December 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72813-72815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24861]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement for Rapid 
Transit in Utah County, UT

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an Alternatives Analysis/
Environmental Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Utah Transit 
Authority (UTA), and Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) 
intend to prepare an Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact 
Statement (AA/EIS) for potential high-capacity fixed-guideway transit 
improvements and roadway infrastructure improvements in Utah County, 
Utah. The project's purposes are to serve transit markets along the 
corridor including two universities (Brigham Young University and Utah 
Valley State College), existing and planned student housing, retail 
malls, several employment centers, historic downtown Provo, and two 
major regional intermodal centers; provide circulation and distribution 
for future transit projects including commuter rail; and to accommodate 
future travel demand while maintaining efficient traffic flow. The 
project termini are the planned Orem intermodal center near Utah Valley 
State College (UVSC) on the north and a location near the Provo Towne 
Center Mall and East Bay Business Complex (Novell Campus) on the south. 
The general location of the corridor is on or near University Parkway 
and University Avenue in Utah County and length of the project is 
approximately 9 miles. The timeframe for the environmental review 
process is from January 2008 to January 2010.
    The AA/EIS will be prepared in accordance with section 102(2)c of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and pursuant to 
the Council on the Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508), FTA/FHWA joint regulations (23 CFR 771) as well as 
provisions of the Safe,

[[Page 72814]]

Accountable, Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 
Users (SAFETEA-LU). The purpose of this notice is to alert interested 
parties regarding the intent to prepare the AA/EIS, to provide 
information on the nature of the proposed project and possible 
alternatives, to invite public participation in the NEPA process 
(including providing comments on the scope of the AA/EIS), and to 
announce that a public scoping meeting will be conducted.
    The AA/EIS will examine and evaluate a number of transit 
alternatives in the corridor. Any additional alternatives generated by 
the scoping process as well as the proposed station locations for the 
Build alternatives will also be considered. The alternatives will be 
compared to a No-Action Alternative for evaluation purposes.
    Scoping for the AA/EIS will be accomplished through a public 
meeting; e-mail and hard copy correspondence with interested 
individuals and organizations, Federal, State, and local agencies, and 
Native American Tribes; and through a meeting with cooperating and 
participating public agencies. Interested parties may comment by: (1) 
E-mailing provo-oremrapidtransit@hwlochner.com; (2) visiting the 
project Web site at https://www.provo-oremrapidtransit.info; (3) mailing 
written comments to the address below, or (4) attending the public 
scoping meeting, described below under Meeting Dates. A scoping 
information packet will be posted on the project Web site at https://
www.provo-oremrapidtransit.info and hard copies of the packet will be 
distributed on request.

Meeting Dates

    Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held 
Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Provo City 
Library (550 N University Ave, Provo).
    The project's purpose and need, and the initial set of alternatives 
proposed for study will be presented at this meeting. Comments may be 
given verbally or in writing at the scoping meeting. Every reasonable 
effort will be made to meet special needs. The meeting location will be 
accessible to persons with disabilities. Individuals who require 
special accommodations, such as sign language interpreter, to 
participate in the meeting should contact Ms. Sherry L. Repscher, ADA 
Compliance Officer, Utah Transit Authority, 3600 South 700 West, Salt 
Lake City, UT 84119-0810 or by telephone at (801) 262-5626 or TDD at 
(801) 287-4657.
    Agency Scoping Meeting: An agency scoping meeting will be held on 
Wednesday, January 23, 2008, from 9:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Provo 
City Library (Bullock Room 309), 550 North University Ave, Provo, Utah. 
The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the project, to 
allow agencies to determine their level of interest in the project, and 
to allow agencies to help identify the proposed project's level of 
impact on environmental, social, and economic resources. The scoping 
meeting will include a bus tour of the project study area. The bus tour 
will depart at 9:30 a.m. from the Provo City Library parking lot.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the following address by 
February 28, 2008: Laynee Jones, HW Lochner, 310 East 4500 South, 
Murray, Utah 84107 or provo-oremrapidtransit@hwlochner.com. The 
location of the public scoping meeting is given above under Meeting 
Dates.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charmaine Knighton, Deputy Regional 
Administrator, Region VIII, Federal Transit Administration, 12300 West 
Dakota Avenue, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80228. Telephone: 720-963-3327.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Scoping

    The FTA, UTA, and MAG invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, public agencies, and Native American Tribes to comment 
on the scope of the AA/EIS including the project's purpose and need, 
alternatives, impacts to be evaluated, and evaluation methods to be 
used. Comments should focus on refining the purpose and need statement, 
developing alternatives to meet the purpose and need, and on 
identifying specific social, economic, or environmental impacts to be 
evaluated. The scoping period will end February 28, 2008. A scoping 
information packet will be posted on the project Web site at https://
www.provo-oremrapidtransit.info and hard copies of the packet will be 
distributed on request.

II. Description of Project Study Area and Its Purpose and Need

    Known as the Provo-Orem Rapid Transit AA/EIS, this project consists 
of increasing transit opportunities and maintaining efficient traffic 
flow in an area that contains two universities, retail malls, 
employment centers, a historic downtown, and two major regional 
intermodal centers. The proposed project originated from the Inter-
Regional Corridor Alternatives Analysis (IRCAA) completed in 2002 and 
the Provo/Orem Rapid Transit Corridor Feasibility Study (Feasibility 
Study) completed in 2005. The Feasibility Study selected Bus Rapid 
Transit (BRT) as the solution for the increasing transportation demand 
in Utah County. The BRT project is included in the Mountainland 
Association of Government's fiscally constrained Long Range 
Transportation Plan.
    Preliminary statement of purpose of and need for the proposed 
project: The purpose of the project is to serve transit markets along 
the corridor; provide circulation and distribution for future transit 
projects including commuter rail; and to accommodate future travel 
demand while maintaining efficient traffic flow. The needs identified 
in the previous studies include: enhancing community character, 
accommodating the ultimate cross-section of the road, meeting traffic 
demand on the travel lanes, encouraging economic development, and 
providing a system that is safe, easy, and convenient to use. The 
public and participating and cooperating agencies are invited to 
consider and comment on this preliminary statement of the purpose and 
need for the proposed project.
    Projected Ridership. According to preliminary estimates in the 
Feasibility Study, the project is anticipated to serve 17,000 boardings 
per day. Brigham Young University is located near the center of the 
study area and has an enrollment of over 35,000. Most of its students 
live within 3.5 miles of campus and the feasibility study indicates 
that 67 percent of students walk to campus. The project area has a 
strong local ridership base; an on-board survey of UTA bus routes 
serving Utah County concluded that approximately 52 percent of riders 
live in Provo and 19 percent live in Orem. Approximately 35 percent of 
riders were students.
    Local Land Use and Economic Development. Provo and Orem are the two 
largest cities in Utah County. Based on a comparison of Census data 
from 1990 to 2000, Provo was shown to be the fourth fastest-growing 
metropolitan area for job creation and the tenth fastest-growing for 
population. By 2030, Provo is expected to grow to a population of 
almost 137,000 and Orem is expected to grow to a population of over 
107,000. Although the entire study area is growing, population and 
employment growth are dispersed in different densities along the 
project corridor. Employment density is projected to increase in 
particular along University Avenue.

[[Page 72815]]

    Environmental Process: In accordance with NEPA, SAFETEA-LU section 
6002 and FTA's section 5309 New Starts requirements, the project's 
environmental process has been divided into three general phases: (1) 
Scoping; (2) Alternatives Analysis/ EIS, selection of the Locally 
Preferred Alternative (LPA); selection of the Preferred Alternative and 
(3) Final EIS.

III. Alternatives

    The Feasibility Study conducted in 2005 recommended Bus Rapid 
Transit (BRT) along University Parkway and University Avenue with a 
detour off University Avenue to serve Brigham Young University (BYU). 
Because population and employment densities have changed in the study 
area since 2005, the AA/EIS will evaluate a wide range of fixed 
guideway alternatives including light rail and Bus Rapid Transit. Bus 
Rapid Transit includes exclusive transit lanes (either center-running 
or side-running) and queue jump lanes. The preliminary alternatives 
will be narrowed to a locally preferred alternative based on updated 
ridership forecasts. The locally preferred alternative and a No-Action 
alternative will be evaluated in detail in the EIS resulting in the 
selection of a Preferred Alternative.

IV. Probable Effects

    NEPA requires FTA and UTA to evaluate the significant impacts of 
the alternatives selected for study in the AA/EIS. Primary issues 
identified thus far include additional right-of-way takes, business 
impacts, potential impacts to historic properties, and traffic and 
accessibility impacts. The impacts will be evaluated for both the 
construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures 
to mitigate adverse impacts will be developed.

V. FTA Procedures

    The regulation 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 NEPA 
process. Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU requires that the lead agencies 
(FTA, UTA, and MAG) do the following: (1) Extend an invitation to other 
Federal and non-Federal agencies and Native American 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 to help 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 or cooperating 
agency, with 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 the lead 
agencies will not be able to identify all Federal and non-Federal 
agencies and Native American tribes that may have such an interest. Any 
Federal or non-Federal agency or Native American tribe interested in 
the proposed project that does not receive an invitation to become a 
participating agency should notify Pat Rothacher, Utah Transit 
Authority, at 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 or 
prothacher@rideuta.com.
    UTA is seeking federal assistance from the FTA to fund the proposed 
project under 49 United States Code 5309 and will, therefore, be 
subject to regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 611) 
related to New Starts projects.
    The AA/EIS will be prepared in accordance with NEPA and its 
implementing regulation 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) 
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. 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: December 14, 2007.
Charmaine Knighton,
Deputy Regional Administrator, Region VIII.
[FR Doc. E7-24861 Filed 12-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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