Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Proposed Transit Improvements in the Corridor Between the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) and The Anaheim ResortTM, 55279-55281 [E9-25820]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 27, 2009 / Notices
the INA (8 U.S.C. 1189), shall be
maintained.
This determination shall be published
in the Federal Register.
Dated: October 16, 2009.
James B Steinberg,
Deputy Secretary of State, Department of
State.
[FR Doc. E9–25821 Filed 10–26–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Notice of Application for Approval of
Discontinuance or Modification of a
Railroad Signal System or Relief From
the Requirements of Title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 236
pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES
Pursuant to Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) part 235 and 49
U.S.C. 20502(a), the following railroad
has petitioned the Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) seeking approval
for the discontinuance or modification
of the signal system or relief from the
requirements of 49 CFR part 236, as
detailed below.
Docket Number FRA–2009–0083
Applicant: Union Pacific Railroad
Company, Mr. William E. Van Trump,
SR. AVP Engineering—Signal/Comm./
TCO, 1400 Douglas Street, Stop 0910,
Omaha, Nebraska 68179.
The Union Pacific Railroad Company
(UP) seeks approval of the proposed
discontinuance and removal of the rail
locks on the Conley frogs on the Hudson
Swing Bridge at Milepost 18.6 on the UP
Altoona Subdivision, near Hudson,
Wisconsin.
The reason given for the proposed
changes is that the Hudson Swing
Bridge has Conley frogs, which are selfaligning and require no locking device.
The Hudson Swing Bridge has wedges
with circuit controllers which measure
the required 1″ to determine that the
bridge is properly seated, and circuit
controllers and linkage to measure the
surface of the rail to within the required
3⁄8″.
Any interested party desiring to
protest the granting of an application
shall set forth specifically the grounds
upon which the protest is made, and
include a concise statement of the
interest of the party in the proceeding.
Additionally, one copy of the protest
shall be furnished to the applicant at the
address listed above.
FRA expects to be able to determine
these matters without an oral hearing.
However, if a specific request for an oral
hearing is accompanied by a showing
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16:45 Oct 26, 2009
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that the party is unable to adequately
present his or her position by written
statements, an application may be set
for public hearing.
Interested parties are invited to
participate in these proceedings by
submitting written views, data, or
comments. FRA does not anticipate
scheduling a public hearing in
connection with these proceedings since
the facts do not appear to warrant a
hearing. If any interested party desires
an opportunity for oral comment, they
should notify FRA, in writing, before
the end of the comment period and
specify the basis for their request.
All communications concerning these
proceedings should identify the
appropriate docket number (e.g., Waiver
Petition Docket Number FRA–2009–
0083) and may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• Web site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Operations Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590.
• Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Room W12–140,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Communications received within 45
days of the date of this notice will be
considered by FRA before final action is
taken. Comments received after that
date will be considered as far as
practicable. All written communications
concerning these proceedings are
available for examination during regular
business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the
above facility. All documents in the
public docket are also available for
inspection and copying on the Internet
at the docket facility’s Web site at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Anyone is able to search the
electronic form of any written
communications and comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
document (or signing the document, if
submitted on behalf of 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) or at https://www.dot.gov/
privacy.html.
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55279
Issued in Washington, DC on October 21,
2009.
Grady C. Cothen, Jr.,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety
Standards and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9–25816 Filed 10–26–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for Proposed Transit Improvements in
the Corridor Between the Anaheim
Regional Transportation Intermodal
Center (ARTIC) and The Anaheim
ResortTM in the City of Anaheim,
Orange County, CA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), Department of Transportation
(DOT).
Subject: Notice of Intent (NOI) to
Prepare Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
Project Title: Anaheim FixedGuideway Transit Corridor Study.
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA), in cooperation
with the Orange County Transportation
Authority (OCTA) and the City of
Anaheim, is planning to prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/
EIR) to provide transit service over a
3.5-mile corridor between the future
ARTIC on the east and The Anaheim
Resort on the west. The EIS will be
prepared in accordance with regulations
implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as
well as provisions of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA–LU, 2005). The
purpose of this Notice of Intent is to
alert interested parties regarding the
plan to prepare the DEIS, to provide
information on the proposed transit
project, to invite participation in the EIS
process, including comments on the
scope of the DEIS proposed in this
notice, and to announce that public
scoping meetings will be conducted.
DATES: Written comments on the scope
of the DEIS including the project’s
purpose and need, the alternatives to be
considered, the impacts to be evaluated,
and the methodologies to be used in the
evaluations should be sent to Ms. Jamie
Lai, Transit Manager, by December 1,
2009. A Scoping meeting will be held
on Thursday, November 12, 2009 from
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the location indicated
under ADDRESSES below. Agency
representatives with an interest in the
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55280
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 27, 2009 / Notices
proposed project are encouraged to
attend a 4:30 p.m. presentation at the
location listed below. Representatives of
Native American Tribes and 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 on the
scope of the DEIS should be sent to Ms.
Jamie Lai, Transit Manager, at City of
Anaheim, Public Works Department,
200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 276,
Anaheim, CA 92805. Comments may be
submitted in writing or may be made
orally at the public scoping meetings.
The address for the public scoping
meeting is as follows: Anaheim
Downtown Community Center—
Assembly Hall A, 250 E. Center Street,
Anaheim, CA 92805.
The Scoping Meeting will be held on
Thursday, November 12, 2009 from 4
p.m. to 7 p.m. The project’s purpose and
need and the description of alternatives
under consideration for the proposed
project will be presented at this
meeting. The meeting location will be
accessible to persons with disabilities. If
special translation or signing services or
other special accommodations are
needed, please contact Ms. Jennifer
Labrado (949) 252–1755 or
jlabrado@consensusp.com at least 48
hours before the scoping meeting. Paper
copies of scoping materials may be
obtained from Ms. Labrado. Also,
scoping materials will be available at
the meeting and on the City of Anaheim
Website (https://www.anaheim.net).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Hymie Luden, City and Regional
Planner, of the Federal Transit
Administration’s San Francisco
Regional Office at (415) 744–2732 or
write to FTA Region IX Office, 201
Mission Street, Suite 1650, San
Francisco, CA 94105–1926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping: The FTA, OCTA, and the
City of Anaheim invite all interested
individuals and organizations, public
agencies, and Native American Tribes to
provide comments on the scope of the
DEIS, including the project’s purpose
and need, the alternatives under
consideration, the impacts to be
evaluated, and the evaluation methods
to be used. Comments should focus on:
alternatives that may be less costly or
have fewer environmental or
community impacts while achieving
similar transportation objectives and the
identification of any significant social,
economic or environmental issues
related to alternatives.
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16:45 Oct 26, 2009
Jkt 220001
The Proposed Project: The Anaheim
Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor Study
proposes to provide a new east-west
transit connection between the ARTIC
regional transportation hub in the
Platinum Triangle area of the City of
Anaheim and the general area of The
Anaheim Resort. The project is
envisioned to operate as a high-capacity
system, providing convenient and
efficient transfers to Metrolink, Amtrak,
local fixed-route bus, and future bus
rapid transit and high-speed train
services connecting at ARTIC. This
connection will link Orange County’s
‘‘backbone’’ Metrolink commuter rail
system to Anaheim’s major employment
and activity centers in the Platinum
Triangle and The Anaheim Resort.
Funding for the Anaheim FixedGuideway Transit Corridor study was
awarded to the City of Anaheim through
OCTA’s Go Local Program, which
provides competition-based transit
grants to Orange County cities for
projects intended to improve transit
access to Metrolink (commuter train)
service. OCTA is providing program
management oversight of the Anaheim
Fixed Guideway Transit Corridor study.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Project: The primary purpose of the
Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit
Corridor Study is to provide a safe,
convenient, frequent, and easy-tonavigate transportation connection, in
the heavily-traveled east-west corridor
between the ARTIC and The Anaheim
Resort, for residents, employees, and
visitors to local and regional
destinations. The project is needed to
accommodate existing and projected
future demand for local and regional
travel in a unique visitor/recreational
market in the heart of central Orange
County’s entertainment district.
Connecting Anaheim activity centers
with a new and highly visible transit
option to the proposed ARTIC addresses
deficiencies in Anaheim’s
transportation system. Such a project
would also be expandable to serve local
and region-wide travel needs. In
November 2006, voters in Orange
County approved the renewal of
Measure M (a half-cent local sales tax)
to fund future transportation
investments. The Renewed Measure M
Transportation Investment Plan is a 30year, multi-billion dollar program, with
25 percent of the net revenue to be
dedicated solely to countywide transit
programs. The OCTA created the Go
Local Program that provides funding
through transit grants, so that Orange
County cities can improve transit access
to Metrolink (commuter train) service.
This connection will address
transportation issues and deficiencies
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related to highway congestion, transit,
population and employment, parking
demand and air quality in the corridor.
A Fixed-Guideway project in this
corridor is part of the City of Anaheim’s
2007 Transit Master Plan. In addition,
the proposed project is part of the
Southern California Association of
Governments’ adopted 2008 Regional
Transportation Plan (Strategic Plan List
of Projects).
Alternatives: Project alternatives
currently under consideration include a
No-Build Alternative, a Transportation
System Management Alternative, a Bus
Rapid Transit Alternative, and an
Elevated Fixed-Guideway Alternative,
as follows:
• No-Build Alternative—the No-Build
Alternative includes all programmed
transportation improvements in the
greater project area through the year
2035, excepting all elements of the
Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit
Corridor Study.
• Transportation System
Management (TSM) Alternative—The
TSM Alternative focuses on low-cost
improvements to the project area
transportation system that would
address the project’s purpose and need
without requiring a major capital
investment. The TSM Alternative
includes strategies such as changeable
message signs along freeways and
improved traffic signal timing; transit
service improvements (for example, bus
route restructuring, expanded use of
low-floor, multi-door buses, timed
transfers, signal prioritization for buses,
and simplified fare collection); a new
bus route to serve the study corridor;
and additional marketing to encourage
carpool/vanpool usage.
• Semi-Exclusive At-Grade Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) Alternative—this
alternative consists of a new BRT route
approximating the proposed FixedGuideway alignment and including five
new bus stations. The new BRT service
would operate at grade on local city
streets in exclusive lanes where
sufficient right-of-way exists and in
mixed-flow traffic where existing rightof-way does not allow for a dedicated
lane.
• Elevated Fixed-Guideway-Central
Alignment Alternative—the Elevated
Fixed-Guideway Alternative would
begin at the planned ARTIC
transportation hub and travel westward
along Gene Autry Way, northward along
Haster Street and Anaheim Boulevard,
westward along Disney Way, and
southward along Harbor Boulevard to
terminate at Harbor Boulevard and
Convention Way. A tail track for
operational purposes will be included
south of Convention Way along Harbor
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 206 / Tuesday, October 27, 2009 / Notices
Boulevard and would terminate north of
Orangewood Avenue. The FixedGuideway facility would be completely
elevated. Four station locations and one
transit center/station, as well as four
alternative maintenance facility sites,
will be evaluated for this alternative.
The technology to be used would be
some form of automated guideway
technology. A specific technology
would be selected only if the Elevated
Fixed-Guideway Alternative is
approved after completion of the
environmental evaluation. The Elevated
Fixed-Guideway Alternative has two
alignment variations to the north of
Disney Way in the segment between
Anaheim Boulevard and Harbor
Boulevard. Four pedestrian connectors
linking stations to activity centers are
also proposed as part of the project:
from the station at Gene Autry Way and
State College Boulevard eastward to the
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, from the
station on Disney Way or north of
Disney Way southward to The Shops at
Anaheim GardenWalk, from this same
station westward to the Disney theme
park entrance on Harbor Boulevard, and
from the station at Harbor Boulevard
and Convention Way westward along
Convention Way to the Anaheim
Convention Center entrance.
Station/stop locations for both build
alternatives are proposed to serve major
activity centers in the study area,
including the ARTIC transportation hub,
Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the
Platinum Triangle, the residential area
west of the Interstate 5 Freeway, and
attractions in The Anaheim Resort
district including The Shops at
Anaheim GardenWalk, Disney theme
parks, and the Anaheim Convention
Center.
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
potentially significant effects of
implementing the proposed action and
alternatives on the physical, human,
and natural environment. Areas of
investigation include, but are not
limited to, land use, environmental
justice, cultural resources (including
historical, archaeological, and
paleontological 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
SAFETEA–LU, call for public
involvement in the EIS process. Section
6002 of SAFETEA–LU requires that
FTA, OCTA, and the City of Anaheim
do the following: (1) Extend an
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16:45 Oct 26, 2009
Jkt 220001
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 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 Native American 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 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 the City of
Anaheim Transit Manager identified
above under ADDRESSES, at the earliest
opportunity, but no later than 30 days
following this notice.
A comprehensive public involvement
program has been developed. A
technical advisory committee called the
Project Development Team, consisting
of representatives of state, regional and
local agencies, is in place. The program
also includes a two-part public scoping
process consisting of a combined
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA)/early NEPA scoping process
with a meeting held July 29, 2009 and
a NEPA scoping process, noticed herein;
a public review/comment period and
public hearing on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement;
development and distribution of project
newsletters; and posting of information
on the project website. We invite the
public and participating agencies to
consider the preliminary statement of
purpose 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
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55281
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).
Edward Carranza, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 9.
[FR Doc. E9–25820 Filed 10–26–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions
on an Operational Improvement
Project in Santa Cruz County, CA
AGENCY: Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims
for Judicial Review of Actions by
FHWA, pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327.
SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this
notice to announce actions taken by
FHWA and other Federal agencies that
are final within the meaning of 23
U.S.C. Section 139(l)(1). The actions
relate to the Highway 1 Soquel to
Morrissey Auxiliary Lanes Project in the
City of Santa Cruz, and Santa Cruz
County, California. The project would
include the following: Adding auxiliary
lanes to Highway 1 between the
interchanges of Soquel Avenue and
Morrissey Boulevard for a distance of
less than one mile; replacing the La
Fonda overcrossing while providing
wider sidewalks and new bike lanes;
providing sidewalk improvements at
Rooney Street and Morrissey Boulevard
west of Pacheco Avenue; and installing
a raised crosswalk at the south end of
the La Fonda Bridge near the entrance
to Harbor High School.
DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is
advising the public of final agency
actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A
claim seeking judicial review of the
Federal agency actions on the project
will be barred unless the claim is filed
on or before April 26, 2010. If the
Federal law that authorizes judicial
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55279-55281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25820]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for Proposed Transit Improvements in the Corridor Between the
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) and The
Anaheim ResortTM in the City of Anaheim, Orange County, CA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
Subject: Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
Project Title: Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor Study.
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with
the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the City of
Anaheim, is planning to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (DEIS/EIR) to provide transit service over
a 3.5-mile corridor between the future ARTIC on the east and The
Anaheim Resort on the west. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with
regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
as well as provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, 2005). The
purpose of this Notice of Intent is to alert interested parties
regarding the plan to prepare the DEIS, to provide information on the
proposed transit project, to invite participation in the EIS process,
including comments on the scope of the DEIS proposed in this notice,
and to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the DEIS including the
project's purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, the
impacts to be evaluated, and the methodologies to be used in the
evaluations should be sent to Ms. Jamie Lai, Transit Manager, by
December 1, 2009. A Scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, November
12, 2009 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the location indicated under
ADDRESSES below. Agency representatives with an interest in the
[[Page 55280]]
proposed project are encouraged to attend a 4:30 p.m. presentation at
the location listed below. Representatives of Native American Tribes
and 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 on the scope of the DEIS should be sent to
Ms. Jamie Lai, Transit Manager, at City of Anaheim, Public Works
Department, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 276, Anaheim, CA 92805.
Comments may be submitted in writing or may be made orally at the
public scoping meetings. The address for the public scoping meeting is
as follows: Anaheim Downtown Community Center--Assembly Hall A, 250 E.
Center Street, Anaheim, CA 92805.
The Scoping Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2009
from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The project's purpose and need and the
description of alternatives under consideration for the proposed
project will be presented at this meeting. The meeting location will be
accessible to persons with disabilities. If special translation or
signing services or other special accommodations are needed, please
contact Ms. Jennifer Labrado (949) 252-1755 or jlabrado@consensusp.com
at least 48 hours before the scoping meeting. Paper copies of scoping
materials may be obtained from Ms. Labrado. Also, scoping materials
will be available at the meeting and on the City of Anaheim Website
(https://www.anaheim.net).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hymie Luden, City and Regional
Planner, of the Federal Transit Administration's San Francisco Regional
Office at (415) 744-2732 or write to FTA Region IX Office, 201 Mission
Street, Suite 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105-1926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping: The FTA, OCTA, and the City of Anaheim invite all
interested individuals and organizations, public agencies, and Native
American Tribes to provide comments on the scope of the DEIS, including
the project's purpose and need, the alternatives under consideration,
the impacts to be evaluated, and the evaluation methods to be used.
Comments should focus on: alternatives that may be less costly or have
fewer environmental or community impacts while achieving similar
transportation objectives and the identification of any significant
social, economic or environmental issues related to alternatives.
The Proposed Project: The Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor
Study proposes to provide a new east-west transit connection between
the ARTIC regional transportation hub in the Platinum Triangle area of
the City of Anaheim and the general area of The Anaheim Resort. The
project is envisioned to operate as a high-capacity system, providing
convenient and efficient transfers to Metrolink, Amtrak, local fixed-
route bus, and future bus rapid transit and high-speed train services
connecting at ARTIC. This connection will link Orange County's
``backbone'' Metrolink commuter rail system to Anaheim's major
employment and activity centers in the Platinum Triangle and The
Anaheim Resort.
Funding for the Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor study was
awarded to the City of Anaheim through OCTA's Go Local Program, which
provides competition-based transit grants to Orange County cities for
projects intended to improve transit access to Metrolink (commuter
train) service. OCTA is providing program management oversight of the
Anaheim Fixed Guideway Transit Corridor study.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Project: The primary purpose of
the Anaheim Fixed-Guideway Transit Corridor Study is to provide a safe,
convenient, frequent, and easy-to-navigate transportation connection,
in the heavily-traveled east-west corridor between the ARTIC and The
Anaheim Resort, for residents, employees, and visitors to local and
regional destinations. The project is needed to accommodate existing
and projected future demand for local and regional travel in a unique
visitor/recreational market in the heart of central Orange County's
entertainment district. Connecting Anaheim activity centers with a new
and highly visible transit option to the proposed ARTIC addresses
deficiencies in Anaheim's transportation system. Such a project would
also be expandable to serve local and region-wide travel needs. In
November 2006, voters in Orange County approved the renewal of Measure
M (a half-cent local sales tax) to fund future transportation
investments. The Renewed Measure M Transportation Investment Plan is a
30-year, multi-billion dollar program, with 25 percent of the net
revenue to be dedicated solely to countywide transit programs. The OCTA
created the Go Local Program that provides funding through transit
grants, so that Orange County cities can improve transit access to
Metrolink (commuter train) service. This connection will address
transportation issues and deficiencies related to highway congestion,
transit, population and employment, parking demand and air quality in
the corridor. A Fixed-Guideway project in this corridor is part of the
City of Anaheim's 2007 Transit Master Plan. In addition, the proposed
project is part of the Southern California Association of Governments'
adopted 2008 Regional Transportation Plan (Strategic Plan List of
Projects).
Alternatives: Project alternatives currently under consideration
include a No-Build Alternative, a Transportation System Management
Alternative, a Bus Rapid Transit Alternative, and an Elevated Fixed-
Guideway Alternative, as follows:
No-Build Alternative--the No-Build Alternative includes
all programmed transportation improvements in the greater project area
through the year 2035, excepting all elements of the Anaheim Fixed-
Guideway Transit Corridor Study.
Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative--The
TSM Alternative focuses on low-cost improvements to the project area
transportation system that would address the project's purpose and need
without requiring a major capital investment. The TSM Alternative
includes strategies such as changeable message signs along freeways and
improved traffic signal timing; transit service improvements (for
example, bus route restructuring, expanded use of low-floor, multi-door
buses, timed transfers, signal prioritization for buses, and simplified
fare collection); a new bus route to serve the study corridor; and
additional marketing to encourage carpool/vanpool usage.
Semi-Exclusive At-Grade Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Alternative--this alternative consists of a new BRT route approximating
the proposed Fixed-Guideway alignment and including five new bus
stations. The new BRT service would operate at grade on local city
streets in exclusive lanes where sufficient right-of-way exists and in
mixed-flow traffic where existing right-of-way does not allow for a
dedicated lane.
Elevated Fixed-Guideway-Central Alignment Alternative--the
Elevated Fixed-Guideway Alternative would begin at the planned ARTIC
transportation hub and travel westward along Gene Autry Way, northward
along Haster Street and Anaheim Boulevard, westward along Disney Way,
and southward along Harbor Boulevard to terminate at Harbor Boulevard
and Convention Way. A tail track for operational purposes will be
included south of Convention Way along Harbor
[[Page 55281]]
Boulevard and would terminate north of Orangewood Avenue. The Fixed-
Guideway facility would be completely elevated. Four station locations
and one transit center/station, as well as four alternative maintenance
facility sites, will be evaluated for this alternative. The technology
to be used would be some form of automated guideway technology. A
specific technology would be selected only if the Elevated Fixed-
Guideway Alternative is approved after completion of the environmental
evaluation. The Elevated Fixed-Guideway Alternative has two alignment
variations to the north of Disney Way in the segment between Anaheim
Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard. Four pedestrian connectors linking
stations to activity centers are also proposed as part of the project:
from the station at Gene Autry Way and State College Boulevard eastward
to the Angel Stadium of Anaheim, from the station on Disney Way or
north of Disney Way southward to The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk, from
this same station westward to the Disney theme park entrance on Harbor
Boulevard, and from the station at Harbor Boulevard and Convention Way
westward along Convention Way to the Anaheim Convention Center
entrance.
Station/stop locations for both build alternatives are proposed to
serve major activity centers in the study area, including the ARTIC
transportation hub, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the Platinum Triangle,
the residential area west of the Interstate 5 Freeway, and attractions
in The Anaheim Resort district including The Shops at Anaheim
GardenWalk, Disney theme parks, and the Anaheim Convention Center.
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 potentially significant effects of implementing the
proposed action and alternatives on the physical, human, and natural
environment. Areas of investigation include, but are not limited to,
land use, environmental justice, cultural resources (including
historical, archaeological, and paleontological 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 SAFETEA-LU, call for public involvement in the
EIS process. Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU requires that FTA, OCTA, and
the City of Anaheim 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 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 Native American 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
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 the City of Anaheim Transit Manager identified
above under ADDRESSES, at the earliest opportunity, but no later than
30 days following this notice.
A comprehensive public involvement program has been developed. A
technical advisory committee called the Project Development Team,
consisting of representatives of state, regional and local agencies, is
in place. The program also includes a two-part public scoping process
consisting of a combined California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/
early NEPA scoping process with a meeting held July 29, 2009 and a NEPA
scoping process, noticed herein; a public review/comment period and
public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; development
and distribution of project newsletters; and posting of information on
the project website. We invite the public and participating agencies to
consider the preliminary statement of purpose 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).
Edward Carranza, Jr.,
Regional Administrator, FTA, Region 9.
[FR Doc. E9-25820 Filed 10-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
