Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Transit Improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor, Los Angeles, CA, 13507-13510 [E9-6917]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices involved and must be received on or before April 16, 2009. ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number FAA– 2009–0041 using any of the following methods: • Government-Wide Rulemaking Web Site: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically. • Mail: Send comments to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. • Fax: Fax comments to the Docket Management Facility at 202–493–2251. • Hand Delivery: Bring comments to the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Privacy: We post all comments we receive, without change, to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. Using the search function of our docket Web site, anyone can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, including the name of the individual sending the comment (or signing the comment for an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477–78). Docket: To read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or to the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Forseth, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM–113, Federal Aviation Administration, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356, fax 425–227– 1320, telephone 425–227–2796. This notice is published pursuant to 14 CFR 11.85. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Issued in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2009. Pamela Hamilton-Powell, Director, Office of Rulemaking. Petition for Exemption Docket No.: FAA–2009–0041. Petitioner: International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). Description of Relief Sought: ILFC requests relief from the requirements of VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 Special Conditions No. 25–367–SC, for seat installations on two Boeing Model 777 Series airplanes. Due to seat-weight constraints, the seats contain composite handrails that may not comply with the heat-release and smoke-emission testing requirements. [FR Doc. E9–6893 Filed 3–26–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration Safety Advisory 2009–01 AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of safety advisory; side sill failure of ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars. SUMMARY: FRA is recommending inspection and, when necessary, repair of American Car and Foundry (ACF) Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars, when appropriate. These cars have a history of side sill failure. On April 16, 2008, FRA was notified that car CSXT 254526, an ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Car, experienced a catastrophic side sill failure. Both sides of the side sill, the side sheet, and the roof fractured. As a result, the A-end of the car was pulled away from the rest of the car body. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Blankenship, Mechanical Engineer, MP&E Division (RRS–14); FRA Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, telephone: (202) 493–6446. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars have a history of side sill failures. Records from 1999 indicate ACF has constructed approximately 120,000 center flow cars since 1978 using this side sill design. On May 14, 1979, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued Circular Letterc–5162 notifying railroads that a number of ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars were discovered with side sill cracks, and recommended that the cars be inspected. ACF issued Procedure Number P064, ‘‘Maintenance of Side Sills-Body Bolster Area,’’ in 1989, providing detailed instructions for inspection and repair of all ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars. On February 19, 1999, AAR issued Maintenance Advisory MA–53, (c– 8991), advising the industry of additional side sill failures on ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars. As a result of the above-referenced incident that occurred on April 16, PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13507 2008, CSX Transportation, Inc., (CSXT) has recently taken additional action by issuing inspection and repair instructions for its cars (CSXT Car Maintenance Instruction 13–1004, dated April 28, 2008). The instructions provide guidance on how to properly inspect and handle the ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars. Recommended Action: Recognizing the need to ensure safety, FRA recommends that railroads and car owners that operate the ACF Center Flow® Covered Hopper Cars inspect, and when necessary, repair and reinforce the side sills (at four locations) using ACF Procedure Number P064 (dated January 31, 1994). This ACF Procedure Number P063 may be obtained by contacting Mr. Roger Dalske,Manager–Product Engineering, American Railcar Industries, at (636) 940–6185;e-mail: rdalske@americanrailcar.com. FRA may modify this Safety Advisory (2009–01), issue additional safety advisories, or take other appropriate action it deems necessary to ensure the highest level of safety on the Nation’s railroads. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2009. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Acting Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety/Chief Safety Officer. [FR Doc. E9–6919 Filed 3–26–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Transit Improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor, Los Angeles, CA AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed transit improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor in Los Angeles County, California. The proposed project would provide for transit improvements within the Westside Extension Transit Corridor. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 13508 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices (NEPA) and its implementing regulations, as well as provisions of the recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. LACMTA will also use the EIS document to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). 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 providing comments on the scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted, and to identify participating and cooperating agency contacts. DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, should be sent to LACMTA on or before May 7, 2009 at the address below. Public scoping meetings to accept comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR will be held on the following dates: • Monday, April 13, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. • Tuesday, April 14, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046. • Thursday, April 16, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. • Monday, April 20, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Westwood Presbyterian Church, 10822 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. • Thursday, April 23, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401. The project’s purpose and need, and the description of alternatives for the proposed project 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. Jody Litvak, Community Relations Manager, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) at 213–922–1240, or litvakj@metro.net. Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and on the LACMTA Web site (https://www.metro.net/westside). Paper copies of the scoping materials may also be obtained from Ms. Jody Litvak, Community Relations Manager, VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 LACMTA, at 213–922–1240, or litvakj@metro.net. An interagency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the LACMTA, in the Windsor Conference Room, 15th Floor, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Representatives of Native American tribal governments and of all Federal, State, regional and local agencies that may have an interest in any aspect of the project will be invited to be participating or cooperating agencies, as appropriate. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. David Mieger, AICP, Project Director and Deputy Executive Officer, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, phone 213–922– 3040, e-mail address miegerd@metro.net. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ray Tellis, Team Leader, Los Angeles Metropolitan Office, Federal Transit Administration, 888 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA 90017, phone 213–202–3950, e-mail ray.tellis@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Project The proposed subway extension project is in western Los Angeles County and includes portions of five jurisdictions: the Cities of Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, as well as portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County. The project is generally bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains along Hollywood, Sunset and San Vicente Boulevards, east to the Metro Rail stations at Hollywood/Highland and Wilshire/Western, south to Pico Boulevard, and west to the Pacific Ocean. Project length for the Wilshire Boulevard Subway Alignment Heavy Rail (Alternative 1) is 12.5 miles extending from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica and would include 10 stations and 1 optional station. Wilshire/Santa Monica Boulevards Combined HRT Subway (Alternatives 11) includes the full Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway and adds a second line extending west from the Metro Red Line Hollywood/ Highland Station via Santa Monica Boulevard to join the Wilshire Line in Beverly Hills. The total combined line is 17 miles long and includes 14 stations and 1 optional station. Population and employment densities in the Project area are among the highest in the metropolitan region, averaging PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 approximately 13,100 persons per square mile and 12,500 jobs per square mile. These high population and employment concentrations make the Project Area one of the densest places to live and work in the county. The proposed Westside Extension project would offer a viable alternative to driving in the heavily congested Project Area. The mobility improvements offered by such a system will improve job accessibility for transitdependent residents within, as well as outside, the Project Area, as well as greater Los Angeles, and improve transportation equity for all population groups. The high-quality transit solution will complement existing transitsupporting land uses and present new opportunities for mixed-use and highdensity development in the Project Area. The various alternatives to be considered for the Westside Extension project generally traverse Wilshire Boulevard from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica (Alternative 1), and a second line extending west from the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station via Santa Monica Boulevard to join the Wilshire Line in Beverly Hills (Alternative 11). Purpose and Need for the Project The purpose of the project is to address the mobility needs of residents, workers, and visitors traveling to, from, and within the highly congested Westside Extension Study Area by providing faster and more reliable highcapacity public transportation than existing services which operate in mixed-flow traffic. This proposed subway improvement will bring about a significant increase in east-west capacity and improvement in personmobility by reducing transit travel time. On a county-wide level, the project will strengthen regional access by connecting Metro bus, Metro rail, and Metrolink networks to a high-capacity transit serving the Study Area. The overall goal of the project is to improve mobility in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor by extending the benefits of the existing Metro Red/Metro Purple Line rail and bus services beyond their current termini near Highland Avenue and/or Western Avenue in Los Angeles as far as Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Mobility problems and the need for improvements in this corridor have been well documented in many studies, including the numerous Metro Red Line planning studies, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES planning studies, the Mid-City/Westside Transit Corridor Re-Evaluation/Major Investment Study (2000), the Metro Rapid Demonstration Project (2000), the Mid-City/Westside Transit Corridor Draft EIS/EIR (2001), the American Public Transit Association Review of Wilshire Corridor Tunneling (2005), and in the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Transportation Plan (2008). Most recently, an Alternatives Analysis Study for the Westside Extension Transit Corridor as required by 49 U.S.C. 5309 for New Starts-funded projects, was completed and, was adopted by the LACMTA Board of Directors on January 22, 2009, and is available for review on the project Web site at https://www.metro.net/westside. The public and participating and cooperating agencies are invited to consider and comment on this statement of the purpose and need for the proposed subway project. Alternatives The Westside Extension proposes to extend the Metro Rail heavy rail technology westward from the terminus of the Metro Purple Line at the Wilshire/Western station and potentially a second leg from the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland station. The Alternatives Analysis (AA) Study was completed in January 2009. The process began with the identification of initial conceptual alternatives and early public and agency scoping. Then a set of 17 initial conceptual alternatives was identified, screened, and narrowed down to a most promising set of five alternatives. These five alternatives were then evaluated at a more detailed level and as a result, the following two subway alignment alternatives plus the No Build and Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternatives were recommended to be carried forward for analysis in the EIS: Wilshire Boulevard Alignment Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) Subway: This alternative alignment extends underground from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. It has 10 stations and 1 optional station. The alignment is generally under Wilshire Boulevard with various route alignments between Century City and Santa Monica. Wilshire/Santa Monica Boulevard Combined HRT Subway: This alignment alternative extends underground from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western station and from the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 Monica. It has 14 stations and 1 optional station. This alternative has two alignment options in the Beverly Center area. One option follows San Vicente Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard to La Cienega Boulevard, where it curves south and then west to meet the Wilshire Boulevard alignment. The second option follows La Cienega Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard, past the Beverly Center, and curves west at Wilshire Boulevard. Minimum Operable Segments: A total of four Minimum Operable Segment Alternatives will be included for analysis including the following: (1) Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from Wilshire/Western to Fairfax (3 miles); (2) Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from Wilshire/Western to Century City (6.5 miles); (3) Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from Wilshire/Western to Westwood/UCLA vicinity (8 to 9.5 miles); and (4) MOS #3 plus Metro Red Line HRT Subway from Hollywood/ Highland via Santa Monica Boulevard (12.5 to 14 miles). No Build Alternative: This EIS will also consider the No Build Alternative that includes all existing highway and transit services and facilities and the committed highway and transit projects in the current LACMTA Long Range Transportation Plan and the current 2008 Southern California Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan. No new infrastructure would be built within the Study Area, aside from projects currently under construction, or funded for construction and operation by 2030 by the recently approved Measure R and identified in the LACMTA Long Range Transportation Plan. Proposed major highway improvements affecting the Westside Extension Transit Corridor between now and 2030 include completing missing segments of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 405 (I–405) Freeway. From a rail transit perspective, the No Build Alternative includes the Metro Purple and Metro Red Lines along the eastern and northeastern edges of the study area. This alternative also includes a rich network of local, express, and Metro Rapid bus routes that will continue to be provided, with both bus route and additions and modifications proposed. Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative: The EIS will also consider the TSM Alternative which enhances the No Build Alternative and improves upon the existing Metro Rapid Bus service and local bus service in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor study area. This alternative emphasizes more frequent service and low cost PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13509 capital and operations improvements to reduce delay and enhance mobility. Although the frequency of service is already very good, this alternative considers improved bus services during peak periods on selected routes. In addition to the alternatives described above, other transit alternatives not previously considered in the Alternatives Analysis Study and brought forward during the public and agency scoping process will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the EIS. 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, the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives on the physical, human, and natural environment. The FTA and LACMTA will evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed subway project. Impact areas to be addressed include: transportation, land use and development, land acquisition, displacements and relocations, cultural resources (including historical, archaeological and paleontological resources and parklands/recreation areas), community and neighborhood compatibility and environmental justice, visual and aesthetic impacts, natural resources (including air quality, wetlands, water resources, noise, vibration), climate change and energy use, safety and security, geotechnical factors (including subsurface and seismic hazards) and hazardous materials, and wildlife and ecosystems (including endangered species). Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate all adverse impacts will be identified and evaluated. The regulations implementing NEPA, including the 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 SAFETEA–LU requires that FTA and LACMTA 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 E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 13510 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 58 / Friday, March 27, 2009 / Notices 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 FTA and LACMTA 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 at the earliest opportunity the Project Manager identified above under ADDRESSES. A comprehensive public involvement program and a Coordination Plan for public and interagency involvement will be developed for the project and posted by LACMTA on the project Web page at https://www.metro.net/westside. The public involvement program includes a full range of activities including a public scoping process to define the issues of concern among all parties interested in the project: a project Web page on the LACMTA Web site, development and distribution of project newsletters, and other information pieces: outreach to local officials, community and civic groups, periodic meetings with various local agencies, organizations, and committees, the general public, and a public hearing on release of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Specific activities or events for involvement will be detailed in the public involvement program. LACMTA may seek New Starts funding for the proposed project under 49 United States Code 5309 and will, therefore, be subject to New Starts regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations (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 this alternative in the long-range transportation plan adopted by the LACMTA and Southern California Association of Governments. LACMTA has completed the planning Alternatives Analysis Study in January 2009. The New Starts regulations also require the submission of certain projectjustification information to support a request to initiate preliminary engineering. This information is normally developed in conjunction with the NEPA process. Pertinent New Starts evaluation criteria will be included in the EIS. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:13 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 217001 Environmental Policy Act 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) 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: March 24, 2009. Leslie T. Rogers, Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region IX. [FR Doc. E9–6917 Filed 3–26–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–57–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Notice of Limitation on Claims Against a Proposed Public Transportation Project AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims. SUMMARY: This notice announces final environmental action taken by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Mid-City/Exposition Transit Corridor Light Rail Transit Project in Los Angeles, California. The purpose of this notice is to announce the decision by FTA to not perform supplemental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the subject project and to activate the limitation on any claims that may challenge this final agency action. This notice does not alter or extend the PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 limitation period of 180 days for challenge of project decisions subject to a previous notice published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2006. DATES: By this notice, FTA is advising the public of final agency action subject to Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), section 139(l). A claim seeking judicial review of the FTA action announced herein for the listed public transportation project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before September 23, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Zelasko, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Planning and Environment, 202–366–0244, or Christopher Van Wyk, AttorneyAdvisor, Office of Chief Counsel, 202– 366–1733. FTA is located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that FTA has taken final agency action by issuing certain approvals for the public transportation project listed below. This notice applies to all FTA decisions on the listed project since FTA published its notice concerning this project in the Federal Register on August 17, 2006, and all laws under which such actions were taken, including, but not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321–4375], Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303], Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 470f], and the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401–7671q]. This notice describes the discrete action taken for which the 180-day statute of limitations will apply. Nothing in this notice affects FTA’s previous decisions, or notice thereof, for this project. The final agency environmental decision documents—the Record of Decision (ROD) and the ROD Addendum—for the listed project are available online at https:// www.fta.dot.gov/planning/environment/ planning_environment_documents.html or may be obtained by contacting the FTA Regional Office for the metropolitan area where the project is located. Contact information for the FTA Regional Offices may be found at https://www.fta.dot.gov. The project and action that are the subject of this notice are: Project name and location: Mid-City/ Exposition Transit Corridor Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project, Los Angeles, California. Project sponsor: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). Project E:\FR\FM\27MRN1.SGM 27MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (Friday, March 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13507-13510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6917]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Transit 
Improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor, Los Angeles, 
CA

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles 
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) intend to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed transit 
improvements in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor in Los Angeles 
County, California. The proposed project would provide for transit 
improvements within the Westside Extension Transit Corridor.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act

[[Page 13508]]

(NEPA) and its implementing regulations, as well as provisions of the 
recently enacted Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation 
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. LACMTA will also use the EIS document 
to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which 
requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). 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 providing comments on the scope of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), to announce that public scoping 
meetings will be conducted, and to identify participating and 
cooperating agency contacts.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, should be sent to 
LACMTA on or before May 7, 2009 at the address below. Public scoping 
meetings to accept comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR will be held on 
the following dates:
     Monday, April 13, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Los 
Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 
90036.
     Tuesday, April 14, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Plummer 
Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046.
     Thursday, April 16, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 
Beverly Hills Public Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 
90210.
     Monday, April 20, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Westwood 
Presbyterian Church, 10822 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
     Thursday, April 23, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Santa 
Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 
90401.
    The project's purpose and need, and the description of alternatives 
for the proposed project 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. Jody Litvak, Community Relations Manager, Los Angeles 
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) at 213-922-1240, 
or litvakj@metro.net.
    Scoping materials will be available at the meetings and on the 
LACMTA Web site (https://www.metro.net/westside). Paper copies of the 
scoping materials may also be obtained from Ms. Jody Litvak, Community 
Relations Manager, LACMTA, at 213-922-1240, or litvakj@metro.net. An 
interagency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the LACMTA, in the Windsor Conference Room, 15th 
Floor, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Representatives of 
Native American tribal governments and of all Federal, State, regional 
and local agencies that may have an interest in any aspect of the 
project will be invited to be participating or cooperating agencies, as 
appropriate.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Mr. David Mieger, AICP, 
Project Director and Deputy Executive Officer, Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), One Gateway Plaza, Los 
Angeles, CA 90012, phone 213-922-3040, e-mail address 
miegerd@metro.net.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ray Tellis, Team Leader, Los 
Angeles Metropolitan Office, Federal Transit Administration, 888 South 
Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA 90017, phone 213-202-3950, 
e-mail ray.tellis@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Proposed Project

    The proposed subway extension project is in western Los Angeles 
County and includes portions of five jurisdictions: the Cities of Los 
Angeles, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, as well as 
portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County. The project is generally 
bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains along Hollywood, Sunset and San 
Vicente Boulevards, east to the Metro Rail stations at Hollywood/
Highland and Wilshire/Western, south to Pico Boulevard, and west to the 
Pacific Ocean. Project length for the Wilshire Boulevard Subway 
Alignment Heavy Rail (Alternative 1) is 12.5 miles extending from the 
Metro Purple Line Wilshire/Western Station to 4th Street and Wilshire 
Boulevard in Santa Monica and would include 10 stations and 1 optional 
station. Wilshire/Santa Monica Boulevards Combined HRT Subway 
(Alternatives 11) includes the full Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway and 
adds a second line extending west from the Metro Red Line Hollywood/
Highland Station via Santa Monica Boulevard to join the Wilshire Line 
in Beverly Hills. The total combined line is 17 miles long and includes 
14 stations and 1 optional station. Population and employment densities 
in the Project area are among the highest in the metropolitan region, 
averaging approximately 13,100 persons per square mile and 12,500 jobs 
per square mile. These high population and employment concentrations 
make the Project Area one of the densest places to live and work in the 
county.
    The proposed Westside Extension project would offer a viable 
alternative to driving in the heavily congested Project Area. The 
mobility improvements offered by such a system will improve job 
accessibility for transit-dependent residents within, as well as 
outside, the Project Area, as well as greater Los Angeles, and improve 
transportation equity for all population groups. The high-quality 
transit solution will complement existing transit-supporting land uses 
and present new opportunities for mixed-use and high-density 
development in the Project Area.
    The various alternatives to be considered for the Westside 
Extension project generally traverse Wilshire Boulevard from the Metro 
Purple Line Wilshire/Western station to 4th Street and Wilshire 
Boulevard in Santa Monica (Alternative 1), and a second line extending 
west from the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Highland Station via Santa 
Monica Boulevard to join the Wilshire Line in Beverly Hills 
(Alternative 11).

Purpose and Need for the Project

    The purpose of the project is to address the mobility needs of 
residents, workers, and visitors traveling to, from, and within the 
highly congested Westside Extension Study Area by providing faster and 
more reliable high-capacity public transportation than existing 
services which operate in mixed-flow traffic. This proposed subway 
improvement will bring about a significant increase in east-west 
capacity and improvement in person-mobility by reducing transit travel 
time. On a county-wide level, the project will strengthen regional 
access by connecting Metro bus, Metro rail, and Metrolink networks to a 
high-capacity transit serving the Study Area. The overall goal of the 
project is to improve mobility in the Westside Extension Transit 
Corridor by extending the benefits of the existing Metro Red/Metro 
Purple Line rail and bus services beyond their current termini near 
Highland Avenue and/or Western Avenue in Los Angeles as far as Ocean 
Avenue in Santa Monica.
    Mobility problems and the need for improvements in this corridor 
have been well documented in many studies, including the numerous Metro 
Red Line planning studies, Southern California Association of 
Governments (SCAG)

[[Page 13509]]

planning studies, the Mid-City/Westside Transit Corridor Re-Evaluation/
Major Investment Study (2000), the Metro Rapid Demonstration Project 
(2000), the Mid-City/Westside Transit Corridor Draft EIS/EIR (2001), 
the American Public Transit Association Review of Wilshire Corridor 
Tunneling (2005), and in the Southern California Association of 
Governments Regional Transportation Plan (2008).
    Most recently, an Alternatives Analysis Study for the Westside 
Extension Transit Corridor as required by 49 U.S.C. 5309 for New 
Starts-funded projects, was completed and, was adopted by the LACMTA 
Board of Directors on January 22, 2009, and is available for review on 
the project Web site at https://www.metro.net/westside. The public and 
participating and cooperating agencies are invited to consider and 
comment on this statement of the purpose and need for the proposed 
subway project.

Alternatives

    The Westside Extension proposes to extend the Metro Rail heavy rail 
technology westward from the terminus of the Metro Purple Line at the 
Wilshire/Western station and potentially a second leg from the Metro 
Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland station. The Alternatives Analysis 
(AA) Study was completed in January 2009. The process began with the 
identification of initial conceptual alternatives and early public and 
agency scoping. Then a set of 17 initial conceptual alternatives was 
identified, screened, and narrowed down to a most promising set of five 
alternatives. These five alternatives were then evaluated at a more 
detailed level and as a result, the following two subway alignment 
alternatives plus the No Build and Transportation Systems Management 
(TSM) alternatives were recommended to be carried forward for analysis 
in the EIS:
    Wilshire Boulevard Alignment Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) Subway: This 
alternative alignment extends underground from the Metro Purple Line 
Wilshire/Western station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa 
Monica. It has 10 stations and 1 optional station. The alignment is 
generally under Wilshire Boulevard with various route alignments 
between Century City and Santa Monica.
    Wilshire/Santa Monica Boulevard Combined HRT Subway: This alignment 
alternative extends underground from the Metro Purple Line Wilshire/
Western station and from the Metro Red Line at the Hollywood/Highland 
station to 4th Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. It has 14 
stations and 1 optional station.
    This alternative has two alignment options in the Beverly Center 
area. One option follows San Vicente Boulevard from Santa Monica 
Boulevard to La Cienega Boulevard, where it curves south and then west 
to meet the Wilshire Boulevard alignment. The second option follows La 
Cienega Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard, past the Beverly Center, 
and curves west at Wilshire Boulevard.
    Minimum Operable Segments: A total of four Minimum Operable Segment 
Alternatives will be included for analysis including the following: (1) 
Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from Wilshire/Western to Fairfax (3 
miles); (2) Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from Wilshire/Western to 
Century City (6.5 miles); (3) Wilshire Boulevard HRT Subway from 
Wilshire/Western to Westwood/UCLA vicinity (8 to 9.5 miles); and (4) 
MOS 3 plus Metro Red Line HRT Subway from Hollywood/Highland 
via Santa Monica Boulevard (12.5 to 14 miles).
    No Build Alternative: This EIS will also consider the No Build 
Alternative that includes all existing highway and transit services and 
facilities and the committed highway and transit projects in the 
current LACMTA Long Range Transportation Plan and the current 2008 
Southern California Association of Governments' Regional Transportation 
Plan. No new infrastructure would be built within the Study Area, aside 
from projects currently under construction, or funded for construction 
and operation by 2030 by the recently approved Measure R and identified 
in the LACMTA Long Range Transportation Plan. Proposed major highway 
improvements affecting the Westside Extension Transit Corridor between 
now and 2030 include completing missing segments of high occupancy 
vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 405 (I-405) Freeway. From a rail 
transit perspective, the No Build Alternative includes the Metro Purple 
and Metro Red Lines along the eastern and northeastern edges of the 
study area. This alternative also includes a rich network of local, 
express, and Metro Rapid bus routes that will continue to be provided, 
with both bus route and additions and modifications proposed.
    Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative: The EIS will 
also consider the TSM Alternative which enhances the No Build 
Alternative and improves upon the existing Metro Rapid Bus service and 
local bus service in the Westside Extension Transit Corridor study 
area. This alternative emphasizes more frequent service and low cost 
capital and operations improvements to reduce delay and enhance 
mobility. Although the frequency of service is already very good, this 
alternative considers improved bus services during peak periods on 
selected routes.
    In addition to the alternatives described above, other transit 
alternatives not previously considered in the Alternatives Analysis 
Study and brought forward during the public and agency scoping process 
will be evaluated for potential inclusion in the EIS.

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, 
the effects of the proposed project and its alternatives on the 
physical, human, and natural environment. The FTA and LACMTA will 
evaluate all significant environmental, social, and economic impacts of 
the construction and operation of the proposed subway project. Impact 
areas to be addressed include: transportation, land use and 
development, land acquisition, displacements and relocations, cultural 
resources (including historical, archaeological and paleontological 
resources and parklands/recreation areas), community and neighborhood 
compatibility and environmental justice, visual and aesthetic impacts, 
natural resources (including air quality, wetlands, water resources, 
noise, vibration), climate change and energy use, safety and security, 
geotechnical factors (including subsurface and seismic hazards) and 
hazardous materials, and wildlife and ecosystems (including endangered 
species). Measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate all adverse impacts 
will be identified and evaluated.
    The regulations implementing NEPA, including the 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 SAFETEA-LU requires that FTA and LACMTA 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

[[Page 13510]]

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 FTA and LACMTA 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 at the earliest opportunity the Project Manager 
identified above under ADDRESSES.
    A comprehensive public involvement program and a Coordination Plan 
for public and interagency involvement will be developed for the 
project and posted by LACMTA on the project Web page at https://www.metro.net/westside. The public involvement program includes a full 
range of activities including a public scoping process to define the 
issues of concern among all parties interested in the project: a 
project Web page on the LACMTA Web site, development and distribution 
of project newsletters, and other information pieces: outreach to local 
officials, community and civic groups, periodic meetings with various 
local agencies, organizations, and committees, the general public, and 
a public hearing on release of the draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS). Specific activities or events for involvement will be detailed 
in the public involvement program.
    LACMTA may seek New Starts funding for the proposed project under 
49 United States Code 5309 and will, therefore, be subject to New 
Starts regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations (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 this alternative in the long-range transportation plan 
adopted by the LACMTA and Southern California Association of 
Governments. LACMTA has completed the planning Alternatives Analysis 
Study in January 2009. The New Starts regulations also require the 
submission of certain project-justification information to support a 
request to initiate preliminary engineering. This information is 
normally developed in conjunction with the NEPA process. Pertinent New 
Starts evaluation criteria will be included in the EIS.
    The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act 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) 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: March 24, 2009.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region IX.
 [FR Doc. E9-6917 Filed 3-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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