Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Assessment for the I-20 East Transit Initiative in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County, GA, 52128-52131 [2012-21222]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 167 / Tuesday, August 28, 2012 / Notices
have already been addressed in the
chapters in which the requirements are
described. Some commenters asked that
FTA be consistent between what is
described in the chapter and what is
provided in the appendices; we have
taken a very careful look and made sure
that the information is consistent. A
couple of commenters suggested that
FTA include a fictitious agency’s Title
VI Program in the appendix; we have
included examples of almost every item
in a Title VI Program, and we believe
the information we have provided
should be very beneficial to recipients
as they put their Title VI Programs
together.
To begin, in Appendix A we added
checklists for the elements recipients
must include in their Title VI Programs.
Recipients can literally ‘‘check the box’’
as they assemble the elements of their
Title VI Program.
Appendices B, C and D contain
sample procedures and forms that
recipients may use as provided, or that
they may modify. Appendix B contains
a sample Title VI Notice to the public.
Appendix C contains a sample Title VI
complaint procedure, and Appendix D
contains a sample Title VI Complaint
Form. All of these documents are ‘‘vital
documents’’ for LEP purposes, and each
appendix provides information about
providing the information in other
languages as appropriate.
Appendix E provides a sample form
recipients may use for tracking transitrelated Title VI investigations, lawsuits
and complaints. Appendix F contains a
sample table depicting the racial
breakdown of the membership of
various non-elected bodies, the
membership of which is selected by the
recipient.
Appendix G contains samples for
reporting service standards (vehicle
load, vehicle headway, on-time
performance, service availability) and
Appendix H contains samples for
reporting service policies (vehicle
assignment and transit amenities). For
the service standards for vehicle load
and vehicle headway, we have provided
two methods of expressing the standard:
In writing and in table format.
Recipients should provide both the
written description and the table when
they submit the information in their
Title VI Program. The service standards
for on-time performance and service
availability, as well as the service
policies, require a written explanation
only.
Appendix I provides sample
demographic and service profile maps
and charts. Appendix J provides
information on reporting the
requirement to monitor transit service.
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The appendix provides tables and maps
as examples of how to assess the
performance of service on minority and
non-minority transit routes for each of
the recipient’s service standards and
service policies. The appendix provides
sample tables and written explanations
for each of the service standards and
policies. These tables are examples of
what recipients should submit with
their Title VI Programs. Unless
requested to verify the information, FTA
does not need the raw data generated
through the monitoring process.
Appendix K provides checklists for a
major service change policy, disparate
impact policy, the considerations for a
service equity analysis, and
considerations for a fare equity analysis.
Use of these checklists will assist transit
providers in ensuring they have met the
requirements of analyzing major service
changes and fare changes.
Appendix L provides information on
the various types of recipients and the
reporting requirements for each type of
recipient. There are five flow charts that
provide a pictorial representation of the
reporting requirements. Finally,
Appendix M contains the same content
as Appendix D in the current Circular.
This appendix provides technical
assistance resources for Title VI and
Limited English Proficiency.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 22nd day
of August, 2012.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–21167 Filed 8–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement and Environmental
Assessment for the I–20 East Transit
Initiative in the City of Atlanta and
DeKalb County, GA
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and Environmental Assessment (EA).
AGENCY:
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) and the
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority (MARTA) intend to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for MARTA’s I–20 East Transit
Initiative project, which would extend
the existing east-west rail line from the
Indian Creek Station to the Mall at
Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County
and an Environmental Assessment (EA)
SUMMARY:
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for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
service along I–20 between downtown
Atlanta and a new station at Wesley
Chapel Road, east of I–285 in DeKalb
County. The EIS and EA will be
prepared in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), provisions of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA–LU), and will also
address the requirements of other
federal and state environmental laws.
The extension of the existing MARTA
east-west rail line and the new BRT
service along I–20 were selected as the
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
based on a two year Detailed Corridor
Analysis (DCA) completed in April
2012. The DCA revisited the analysis
and conclusions of the I–20 East
Corridor Study Alternatives Analysis
(AA) completed in 2004 and complied
with FTA’s New Starts project
development process.
The purpose of this Notice of Intent
(NOI) is to advise interested agencies
and the public regarding the plan to
prepare the EIS and EA, to provide
information on the nature of the
proposed transit project, to invite
participation in the NEPA process,
including comments on the scope of the
EIS and EA proposed in this notice, and
to announce where and when public
scoping meetings will be conducted.
Scoping meetings are an opportunity for
government agencies, affected
stakeholders, and the general public to
provide input and feedback on the
project Purpose and Need, the
alternatives to be studied, as well as to
identify any significant physical,
cultural, natural, and social
environmental issues within the study
area.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written
comments on the scope of the EIS and
EA must be sent to Janide Sidifall,
Project Manager, MARTA by October
15, 2012.
Scoping Meetings: Public scoping
meetings will be held on September 10,
11, and 13 at locations within the study
area. These meetings will be the fourth
round of public outreach meetings held
for the I–20 East Transit Initiative, and
are an opportunity for MARTA to
present the I–20 East LPA to the public.
The times and locations of these
meetings are indicated under ADDRESSES
below. Interagency scoping meetings
will be held in September, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written Comments: Written
comments on the scope of the EIS and
EA, including the project’s Purpose and
Need, the impacts to be evaluated, and
methodologies to be used in the
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evaluations, must be sent to Janide
Sidifall, Project Manager, MARTA, 2424
Piedmont Road NE., Atlanta, GA 30324–
3330. Comments may also be offered at
the public scoping meetings. Written
comments should be submitted within
two weeks of the final scoping meeting
or 30 days within the publication of the
final NOI, whichever is later.
Scoping Meetings: The dates, times,
and locations for the public scoping
meetings are:
Meeting 1: Monday, September 10,
2012, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Trees Atlanta
225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316
Meeting 2: Tuesday, September 11,
2012, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Porter
Sanford III Performing Arts Center, 3181
Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30034
Meeting 3: Thursday, September 13,
2012, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Lou Walker
Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road,
Lithonia, GA 30058
The appropriate federal, state, and
local agencies will be notified
individually about the time and location
of the interagency scoping meeting.
The locations of the public scoping
meetings are accessible to persons with
disabilities. If translation, signing
services, or other special
accommodations are needed, please
contact Jen Price at (404) 377–9147 or
for hearing impaired TTY 404–848–
5665 at least 48 hours before the
meeting. A scoping information booklet
will be available one week prior to the
meetings on the project web site at:
https://www.itsmarta.com/120-eastcorr.aspx. Copies will also be available
at the scoping meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian C. Smart, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Federal Transit
Administration—Region IV, 230
Peachtree Street, NW—Suite 800,
Atlanta, GA 30303, Telephone: (404)
865–5607; Facsimile: (404) 865–5490;
Email: brian.smart@dot.gov; or Janide
Sidifall, Office of Transit Systems
Planning, MARTA, 2424 Piedmont
Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324–3330,
Telephone: (404) 848–5828; Facsimile
(404) 848–5132; Email:
jsidifall@itsmarta.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Scoping
FTA and MARTA will undertake a
scoping process that will allow the
public and interested agencies to
comment on the scope of the
environmental review process. Scoping
is the process of determining the scope,
focus, and content of the EIS and EA.
NEPA scoping has specific objectives,
identifying the significant issues that
will be examined in detail during the
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EIS and EA, while simultaneously
limiting consideration and development
of issues that are not truly significant.
FTA and MARTA invite all interested
individuals and organizations, public
agencies, and Native American tribes to
comment on the scope of the EIS and
EA. To facilitate public and agency
comment, a Scoping Information Packet
will be prepared for review. Included in
this packet will be descriptions of: the
Purpose and Need for the project; the
alternatives to be studied; the impacts to
be assessed; and the draft public
outreach and agency coordination plan.
Description of Proposed Projects and
Study Areas
The first phase of the I–20 East
Transit Initiative was a two year long
DCA. This DCA built upon the transit
studies previously completed in the
corridor and conformed with FTA’s
New Starts project development
process. The DCA identified and
evaluated transit improvements in the I–
20 East Corridor from downtown
Atlanta to the Mall at Stonecrest, in
eastern DeKalb County. The result of the
DCA was an LPA which includes the
extension of the existing east-west
heavy rail transit (HRT) line from the
Indian Creek Station to the Mall at
Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County
and a new BRT service along I–20
between downtown Atlanta and a new
station at Wesley Chapel Road, east of
I–285 in DeKalb County.
The EIS, which will focus on the HRT
extension, has a study area that extends
from the MARTA Indian Creek Station
south for 3.5 miles along I–285, then
east for approximately 8.5 miles to the
Mall at Stonecrest. The EA, which will
focus on the new BRT service, has a
study area that extends from the
MARTA Five Points Station in
downtown Atlanta, south along surface
streets to I–20, then east along I–20 for
approximately 11.5 miles to Wesley
Chapel Road in DeKalb County. Both
study areas will extend up to 1⁄2 mile on
each side of the alignment in order to
evaluate the direct, indirect, and
cumulative impacts associated with the
implementation of transit in the
corridor.
Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed project
is to enhance east-west mobility and
improve transit accessibility to
residential areas and employment
centers within the corridor. The existing
and future roadway congestion in the I–
20 East corridor will have an
increasingly detrimental effect on
automobile and bus transit travel in the
corridor. The proposed transit
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52129
investments are intended to improve
travel times and travel reliability by
providing a rapid transit service for
commuters traveling to and from central
Atlanta.
The need for the proposed project is
based on the following considerations of
the I–20 East Corridor. There is a need
for improved mobility and accessibility
in the corridor, as traffic congestion
causes delay and slow travel times and
there is inadequate access to downtown
Atlanta and other employment centers;
there is a need for additional travel
options in the corridor, which has
limited east-west roadways, making I–
20 the primary choice for east-west
travel in the corridor, and only a limited
number of roadway transportation
projects or capacity improvements are
planned in the corridor to accommodate
growth; there is a need for improved
transit service in the corridor, which is
insufficient for a growing demand, as it
consists primarily of local and express
buses operating in normal traffic, and
which provides limited transportation
options for traditionally underserved
populations such as minority, low
income, transit dependent, and elderly
populations; and finally, there is a need
to support land use and land and
economic development goals within the
corridor, areas of which are in need of
revitalization.
Study Alternatives
MARTA recently completed a two
year long DCA that evaluated potential
alignments and transit technologies for
transit improvements in the I–20 East
Corridor. From multiple alignment and
transit technology alternatives, an LPA
was selected and adopted by the
MARTA Board of Directors in April
2012. The EIS and EA will evaluate
vertical and horizontal alternatives of
the adopted LPA as well as a No-Build
alternative. These LPA and No-Build
alternatives are described as follows:
1. No Build Alternative: This
alternative reflects the existing
transportation system plus any
committed transportation projects. This
alternative does not include a major
transit investment in the I–20 East
Corridor as proposed in the LPA. The
No Build Alternative includes only
existing or committed MARTA and
GRTA local and express bus service in
the corridor and any other
transportation investment included in
the Atlanta Regional Commission’s
(ARC) long-range transportation plan.
ARC is the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO) for the Atlanta
urbanized area. NEPA requires the
consideration of a No Build Alternative
as a means of comparing and evaluating
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the impacts and benefits of the Build
Alternative.
2. Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA):
The LPA, as adopted by the MARTA
Board of Directors, includes two
projects:
a. (1) The extension of the existing
east-west heavy rail transit (HRT) line
from the Indian Creek Station to the
Mall at Stonecrest in southeast DeKalb
County and
b. (2) New BRT service along I–20
between downtown Atlanta and a new
BRT station at Wesley Chapel Road, east
of I–285 in DeKalb County. While the
HRT and BRT portions of the LPA both
address the need for improved mobility
and transit service in the I–20 East
Corridor, they represent significantly
different transit investments and modes.
For this reason, the HRT extension
will be evaluated as the Build
Alternative in the EIS and the BRT
service will be evaluated as the Build
Alternative in the EA. However, since
the adopted LPA is a combination of
both HRT and BRT, the EIS and EA will
be undertaken concurrently with all
public outreach presenting information
and analysis for both.
The Build Alternative to be evaluated
in the EIS is the extension of the
existing MARTA east-west HRT line
from the Indian Creek Station, south
parallel to I–285, then east parallel to I–
20 to the Mall at Stonecrest in eastern
DeKalb County. The HRT service would
include new stations at Covington
Highway, Wesley Chapel Road, Panola
Road, Lithonia Industrial Blvd., and the
Mall at Stonecrest. The HRT alignment
would generally be located adjacent to
the interstate and would utilize Georgia
Department of Transportation (GDOT)
right-of-way wherever possible.
The Build Alternative to be evaluated
in the EA is a new BRT service between
downtown Atlanta and Wesley Chapel
Road, operating in HOV lanes on I–20
as much as possible and utilizing
surface streets within downtown
Atlanta. The BRT service would be a
fixed-route, branded, high frequency, all
day service utilizing transit stations
rather than typical bus stops. From east
to west, the BRT service would start at
the proposed Wesley Chapel Road HRT/
BRT station and utilize the HOV lanes
and transit/HOV interchanges to access
stations at Candler Road and Gresham
Road, then serve stations at Glenwood
Avenue, Moreland Avenue, and Bill
Kennedy Way/Atlanta BeltLine before
terminating at the Five Points Station in
downtown Atlanta. The service would
utilize arterial BRT enhancements such
as Transit Signal Priority (TSP) and
queue jumper lanes to maximize the
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efficiency of surface street operations
where necessary.
Scope of Environmental Analysis
FTA and MARTA will evaluate both
project-specific and secondary and
cumulative effects to the physical,
cultural, natural, and social
environment in the I–20 East Corridor.
The permanent, long-term effects to the
region could include effects to traffic
and transportation; land use and
socioeconomics; visual character and
aesthetics; noise and vibration;
historical and archaeological resources;
community impacts; and natural
resources. Temporary impacts during
construction of the project could
include effects to air quality; noise and
vibration; natural resources; and
contaminated and hazardous materials.
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, FTA
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), and 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) and Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transportation Act (23
CFR 771.135)), the regulation
implementing Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part
402) Executive Orders 12898 regarding
minority and low-income populations,
11988 on floodplain management, and
11990 on wetlands, the Clean Water Act
and the Clean Air Act of 1970, along
with other applicable Federal and State
regulations. Opportunities for comment
on the potential effects to be studied
will be provided to the public, and
comments received will be considered
in the development of the final scope
and content of the environmental
documents.
Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA,
as well as provisions of SAFETEA–LU,
call for public involvement in the NEPA
process. In accordance with Section
6002 of SAFETEA–LU, FTA and
MARTA will: (1) Extend an invitation to
other Federal and non-Federal agencies
and Native American Tribes that may
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have an interest in the proposed project
to become ‘‘participating agencies’’ (any
interested party that does not receive an
invitation to become a participating
agency can notify any of the contact
persons listed earlier in this NOI); (2)
Provide opportunity for involvement by
participating agencies and the public to
help define the Purpose and Need for
the proposed project, as well as the
range of alternatives for consideration in
the EIS and EA; and (3) Establish a plan
for coordinating public and agency
participation in, and comment on, the
environmental review process.
It is possible that we may not be able
to identify all Federal and non-federal
agencies and Indian tribes that may
have an interest in the proposed project.
Any Federal or non-Federal agency or
Indian tribe interested in the proposed
project that does not receive an
invitation to become a participating
agency should notify at the earliest
opportunity the Project Manager
identified above under ADDRESSES.
A Public Involvement Plan and an
Agency Coordination Plan will be
developed outlining public and agency
involvement for the project. These will
be available on the project Web site or
through written request. Opportunities
for comment will be provided
throughout the NEPA process, including
public and agency meetings, the project
Web site https://www.itsmarta.com/120east-corr.aspx, a mailing address
(identified above under ADDRESSES), and
project newsletters. Comments received
from any of these sources will be
considered in the development of the
final scope and content of the
environmental documents.
With the publication of this NOI, the
scoping process for the project begins.
After the publication of the Draft
Scoping Document, a public comment
period will begin, allowing the public to
offer input on the scope of the EIS and
EA until October 15, 2012. Public
comments will be received through
those methods explained earlier in this
NOI and will be incorporated into a
Final Scoping Document. This
document will detail the scope of the
EIS and EA as well as the potential
environmental effects that will be
considered during the study period.
After the completion of the Draft EIS
and EA, another public commenting
period will allow for input on the EIS
and EA, and these comments will be
incorporated into the Final EIS and EA/
Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) reports before publication.
FTA may identify a locally preferred
alternative in the DEIS when made
available for public and agency
comments. Public hearings on the DEIS
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will be held in DeKalb County. On the
basis of the DEIS and the public and
agency comments received, FTA will
identify the locally preferred alternative
in the FEIS. The FEIS will serve as the
basis for Federal and State
environmental findings and
determinations needed to conclude the
environmental review process.
Issued on: August 15, 2012.
Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012–21222 Filed 8–27–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY 2012 Discretionary Funding
Opportunity: Paul S. Sarbanes Transit
in Parks Program
Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Availability:
Solicitation of Project Proposals
AGENCY:
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces the
availability of approximately $12
million in Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in
Parks Program (Transit in Parks
Program) discretionary funds in Fiscal
Year (FY) 2012. FTA announced the
allocation of $13.5 million in FY 2012
Transit in Parks Program funds in the
Federal Register on February 3, 2012.
This notice solicits proposals to
compete for program funds that have
been appropriated since that date and
may include additional funds made
available after this notice is published.
The Transit in Parks Program was
established by Section 3021 of
SAFETEA–LU, as amended (49 U.S.C.
5320), and was repealed, effective
October 1, 2012, by the most recent
transportation authorization, Moving
Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
(MAP–21). This announcement solicits
proposals for the final allocation of
program funding, as defined above. The
program is administered by FTA in
partnership with the Department of the
Interior and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The Transit in Parks Program funds
capital and planning expenses for
alternative transportation systems such
as buses, trams and non-motorized trails
in federally managed parks and public
lands. Federal land management
agencies, as well as State, tribal and
local governments, acting with the
consent of a Federal land management
agency, are eligible to apply. DOI, after
consultation with and in cooperation
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with FTA, will determine the final
selection and funding of projects.
Geographic diversity will be considered
when allocating funds.
This announcement is available on
the FTA Web site at: https://
www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce
final selections on the Web site and in
the Federal Register. A synopsis of this
funding opportunity will be posted in
the FIND module of the governmentwide electronic grants Web site at
https://www.grants.gov.
DATES: Complete proposals must be
received by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Friday,
September 28, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Project proposals
originating from State, Tribal or local
government entities must be submitted
electronically through the
GRANTS.GOV Web site. Project
proposals originating from units of
Federal land management agencies must
be submitted directly to their agency
points of contact, as listed at the end of
this notice, or to specific regional
agency coordinators as directed by each
agency. Federal land management
agency units may propose projects in
cooperation with other eligible funding
recipients, including projects where an
eligible partner is the intended funding
recipient.
Applicants required to use
GRANTS.GOV must be properly
registered prior to submitting an
application, and should initiate the
process of registering on the
GRANTS.GOV site immediately to
ensure completion of registration before
the deadline for submission.
GRANTS.GOV applicants should
receive two confirmation emails. The
first will confirm that the application
was received and a subsequent email
will be sent within 24–48 hours
indicating whether the application was
validated or rejected by the system. If
interested parties experience difficulties
at any point during the registration or
application process, please call the
GRANTS.GOV Customer Support
Hotline at 1–800–518–4726, Monday–
Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EST. The
required electronic project proposal
template as well as guidance on
completing a proposal can be found on
GRANTS.GOV or on the program Web
site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/
transitinparks.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The
appropriate FTA Regional Office
(https://fta.dot.gov/12317_1119.html) or
the appropriate land management
agency (Appendix A) for proposalspecific information. For general
program information, contact Adam
Schildge, Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in
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52131
Parks Program, at (202) 366–0778,
Adam.Schildge@dot.gov. A TDD is
available at 1–800–877–8339 (TDD/
FIRS). For technical assistance or
general inquiries regarding alternative
transportation in federal lands, contact
the Transit in Parks Technical
Assistance Center at https://
www.triptac.org, (877) 704–5292, or
helpdesk@triptac.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Table of Contents
I. Overview
II. Program Purpose
III. Program Information
A. Eligible Applicants
B. Eligible Projects
C. Financial Limitations and Cost Sharing
D. Application Content
E. Evaluation Criteria
IV. Technical Assistance and Other Program
Information
Appendix A Land Management Agency
Contacts
I. Overview
Section 3021 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act—A Legacy for Users of 2005
(SAFETEA–LU), as amended,
established the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit
in Parks Program (Transit in Parks
Program) (49 U.S.C. 5320). On July 7,
2012, Moving Ahead for Progress in the
21st Century (MAP–21) was enacted,
repealing the Transit in Parks Program
effective on October 1, 2012. This notice
solicits project proposals for the
allocation of approximately $12 million
in remaining program funding. The
program is administered by the Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) in
partnership with the Department of the
Interior (DOI) and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
Congestion in and around our
national parks and public lands causes
traffic delays, creates pollution, and can
detract from the visitor experience and
the protection of sensitive natural and
cultural resources. Since 2006, the
Transit in Parks Program has allocated
approximately $160 million to
competitively selected alternative
transportation projects that provide
improved mobility and accessibility
within our public lands, reduce the
environmental impacts of automobile
traffic congestion, improve the safety
and recreational experience of visitors,
and provide sustainable and costefficient solutions for transportation
challenges on our nation’s parks,
refuges, forests and other public lands.
As with other types of transportation
infrastructure, alternative transportation
systems on public lands require
continued capital investment. In
addition, planning studies funded
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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52128-52131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21222]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
Environmental Assessment for the I-20 East Transit Initiative in the
City of Atlanta and DeKalb County, GA
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and Environmental Assessment (EA).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) intend to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for MARTA's I-20 East Transit
Initiative project, which would extend the existing east-west rail line
from the Indian Creek Station to the Mall at Stonecrest in eastern
DeKalb County and an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new Bus Rapid
Transit (BRT) service along I-20 between downtown Atlanta and a new
station at Wesley Chapel Road, east of I-285 in DeKalb County. The EIS
and EA will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), provisions of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU),
and will also address the requirements of other federal and state
environmental laws. The extension of the existing MARTA east-west rail
line and the new BRT service along I-20 were selected as the Locally
Preferred Alternative (LPA) based on a two year Detailed Corridor
Analysis (DCA) completed in April 2012. The DCA revisited the analysis
and conclusions of the I-20 East Corridor Study Alternatives Analysis
(AA) completed in 2004 and complied with FTA's New Starts project
development process.
The purpose of this Notice of Intent (NOI) is to advise interested
agencies and the public regarding the plan to prepare the EIS and EA,
to provide information on the nature of the proposed transit project,
to invite participation in the NEPA process, including comments on the
scope of the EIS and EA proposed in this notice, and to announce where
and when public scoping meetings will be conducted. Scoping meetings
are an opportunity for government agencies, affected stakeholders, and
the general public to provide input and feedback on the project Purpose
and Need, the alternatives to be studied, as well as to identify any
significant physical, cultural, natural, and social environmental
issues within the study area.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the EIS and
EA must be sent to Janide Sidifall, Project Manager, MARTA by October
15, 2012.
Scoping Meetings: Public scoping meetings will be held on September
10, 11, and 13 at locations within the study area. These meetings will
be the fourth round of public outreach meetings held for the I-20 East
Transit Initiative, and are an opportunity for MARTA to present the I-
20 East LPA to the public. The times and locations of these meetings
are indicated under ADDRESSES below. Interagency scoping meetings will
be held in September, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written Comments: Written comments on the scope of the EIS
and EA, including the project's Purpose and Need, the impacts to be
evaluated, and methodologies to be used in the
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evaluations, must be sent to Janide Sidifall, Project Manager, MARTA,
2424 Piedmont Road NE., Atlanta, GA 30324-3330. Comments may also be
offered at the public scoping meetings. Written comments should be
submitted within two weeks of the final scoping meeting or 30 days
within the publication of the final NOI, whichever is later.
Scoping Meetings: The dates, times, and locations for the public
scoping meetings are:
Meeting 1: Monday, September 10, 2012, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Trees
Atlanta 225 Chester Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30316
Meeting 2: Tuesday, September 11, 2012, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Porter
Sanford III Performing Arts Center, 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur,
Georgia 30034
Meeting 3: Thursday, September 13, 2012, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Lou
Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road, Lithonia, GA 30058
The appropriate federal, state, and local agencies will be notified
individually about the time and location of the interagency scoping
meeting.
The locations of the public scoping meetings are accessible to
persons with disabilities. If translation, signing services, or other
special accommodations are needed, please contact Jen Price at (404)
377-9147 or for hearing impaired TTY 404-848-5665 at least 48 hours
before the meeting. A scoping information booklet will be available one
week prior to the meetings on the project web site at: https://www.itsmarta.com/120-east-corr.aspx. Copies will also be available at
the scoping meetings.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian C. Smart, Environmental
Protection Specialist, Federal Transit Administration--Region IV, 230
Peachtree Street, NW--Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Telephone: (404)
865-5607; Facsimile: (404) 865-5490; Email: brian.smart@dot.gov; or
Janide Sidifall, Office of Transit Systems Planning, MARTA, 2424
Piedmont Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324-3330, Telephone: (404) 848-5828;
Facsimile (404) 848-5132; Email: jsidifall@itsmarta.com.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping
FTA and MARTA will undertake a scoping process that will allow the
public and interested agencies to comment on the scope of the
environmental review process. Scoping is the process of determining the
scope, focus, and content of the EIS and EA. NEPA scoping has specific
objectives, identifying the significant issues that will be examined in
detail during the EIS and EA, while simultaneously limiting
consideration and development of issues that are not truly significant.
FTA and MARTA invite all interested individuals and organizations,
public agencies, and Native American tribes to comment on the scope of
the EIS and EA. To facilitate public and agency comment, a Scoping
Information Packet will be prepared for review. Included in this packet
will be descriptions of: the Purpose and Need for the project; the
alternatives to be studied; the impacts to be assessed; and the draft
public outreach and agency coordination plan.
Description of Proposed Projects and Study Areas
The first phase of the I-20 East Transit Initiative was a two year
long DCA. This DCA built upon the transit studies previously completed
in the corridor and conformed with FTA's New Starts project development
process. The DCA identified and evaluated transit improvements in the
I-20 East Corridor from downtown Atlanta to the Mall at Stonecrest, in
eastern DeKalb County. The result of the DCA was an LPA which includes
the extension of the existing east-west heavy rail transit (HRT) line
from the Indian Creek Station to the Mall at Stonecrest in eastern
DeKalb County and a new BRT service along I-20 between downtown Atlanta
and a new station at Wesley Chapel Road, east of I-285 in DeKalb
County.
The EIS, which will focus on the HRT extension, has a study area
that extends from the MARTA Indian Creek Station south for 3.5 miles
along I-285, then east for approximately 8.5 miles to the Mall at
Stonecrest. The EA, which will focus on the new BRT service, has a
study area that extends from the MARTA Five Points Station in downtown
Atlanta, south along surface streets to I-20, then east along I-20 for
approximately 11.5 miles to Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb County. Both
study areas will extend up to \1/2\ mile on each side of the alignment
in order to evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts
associated with the implementation of transit in the corridor.
Project Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance east-west
mobility and improve transit accessibility to residential areas and
employment centers within the corridor. The existing and future roadway
congestion in the I-20 East corridor will have an increasingly
detrimental effect on automobile and bus transit travel in the
corridor. The proposed transit investments are intended to improve
travel times and travel reliability by providing a rapid transit
service for commuters traveling to and from central Atlanta.
The need for the proposed project is based on the following
considerations of the I-20 East Corridor. There is a need for improved
mobility and accessibility in the corridor, as traffic congestion
causes delay and slow travel times and there is inadequate access to
downtown Atlanta and other employment centers; there is a need for
additional travel options in the corridor, which has limited east-west
roadways, making I-20 the primary choice for east-west travel in the
corridor, and only a limited number of roadway transportation projects
or capacity improvements are planned in the corridor to accommodate
growth; there is a need for improved transit service in the corridor,
which is insufficient for a growing demand, as it consists primarily of
local and express buses operating in normal traffic, and which provides
limited transportation options for traditionally underserved
populations such as minority, low income, transit dependent, and
elderly populations; and finally, there is a need to support land use
and land and economic development goals within the corridor, areas of
which are in need of revitalization.
Study Alternatives
MARTA recently completed a two year long DCA that evaluated
potential alignments and transit technologies for transit improvements
in the I-20 East Corridor. From multiple alignment and transit
technology alternatives, an LPA was selected and adopted by the MARTA
Board of Directors in April 2012. The EIS and EA will evaluate vertical
and horizontal alternatives of the adopted LPA as well as a No-Build
alternative. These LPA and No-Build alternatives are described as
follows:
1. No Build Alternative: This alternative reflects the existing
transportation system plus any committed transportation projects. This
alternative does not include a major transit investment in the I-20
East Corridor as proposed in the LPA. The No Build Alternative includes
only existing or committed MARTA and GRTA local and express bus service
in the corridor and any other transportation investment included in the
Atlanta Regional Commission's (ARC) long-range transportation plan. ARC
is the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Atlanta
urbanized area. NEPA requires the consideration of a No Build
Alternative as a means of comparing and evaluating
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the impacts and benefits of the Build Alternative.
2. Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA): The LPA, as adopted by the
MARTA Board of Directors, includes two projects:
a. (1) The extension of the existing east-west heavy rail transit
(HRT) line from the Indian Creek Station to the Mall at Stonecrest in
southeast DeKalb County and
b. (2) New BRT service along I-20 between downtown Atlanta and a
new BRT station at Wesley Chapel Road, east of I-285 in DeKalb County.
While the HRT and BRT portions of the LPA both address the need for
improved mobility and transit service in the I-20 East Corridor, they
represent significantly different transit investments and modes.
For this reason, the HRT extension will be evaluated as the Build
Alternative in the EIS and the BRT service will be evaluated as the
Build Alternative in the EA. However, since the adopted LPA is a
combination of both HRT and BRT, the EIS and EA will be undertaken
concurrently with all public outreach presenting information and
analysis for both.
The Build Alternative to be evaluated in the EIS is the extension
of the existing MARTA east-west HRT line from the Indian Creek Station,
south parallel to I-285, then east parallel to I-20 to the Mall at
Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County. The HRT service would include new
stations at Covington Highway, Wesley Chapel Road, Panola Road,
Lithonia Industrial Blvd., and the Mall at Stonecrest. The HRT
alignment would generally be located adjacent to the interstate and
would utilize Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) right-of-way
wherever possible.
The Build Alternative to be evaluated in the EA is a new BRT
service between downtown Atlanta and Wesley Chapel Road, operating in
HOV lanes on I-20 as much as possible and utilizing surface streets
within downtown Atlanta. The BRT service would be a fixed-route,
branded, high frequency, all day service utilizing transit stations
rather than typical bus stops. From east to west, the BRT service would
start at the proposed Wesley Chapel Road HRT/BRT station and utilize
the HOV lanes and transit/HOV interchanges to access stations at
Candler Road and Gresham Road, then serve stations at Glenwood Avenue,
Moreland Avenue, and Bill Kennedy Way/Atlanta BeltLine before
terminating at the Five Points Station in downtown Atlanta. The service
would utilize arterial BRT enhancements such as Transit Signal Priority
(TSP) and queue jumper lanes to maximize the efficiency of surface
street operations where necessary.
Scope of Environmental Analysis
FTA and MARTA will evaluate both project-specific and secondary and
cumulative effects to the physical, cultural, natural, and social
environment in the I-20 East Corridor. The permanent, long-term effects
to the region could include effects to traffic and transportation; land
use and socioeconomics; visual character and aesthetics; noise and
vibration; historical and archaeological resources; community impacts;
and natural resources. Temporary impacts during construction of the
project could include effects to air quality; noise and vibration;
natural resources; and contaminated and hazardous materials.
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, FTA 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), and 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) and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act
(23 CFR 771.135)), the regulation implementing Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402) Executive Orders 12898
regarding minority and low-income populations, 11988 on floodplain
management, and 11990 on wetlands, the Clean Water Act and the Clean
Air Act of 1970, along with other applicable Federal and State
regulations. Opportunities for comment on the potential effects to be
studied will be provided to the public, and comments received will be
considered in the development of the final scope and content of the
environmental documents.
Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of
SAFETEA-LU, call for public involvement in the NEPA process. In
accordance with Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU, FTA and MARTA will: (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'' (any interested party that
does not receive an invitation to become a participating agency can
notify any of the contact persons listed earlier in this NOI); (2)
Provide opportunity for involvement by participating agencies and the
public to help define the Purpose and Need for the proposed project, as
well as the range of alternatives for consideration in the EIS and EA;
and (3) Establish a plan for coordinating public and agency
participation in, and comment on, the environmental review process.
It is possible that we may not be able to identify all Federal and
non-federal agencies and Indian tribes that may have an interest in the
proposed project. Any Federal or non-Federal agency or Indian tribe
interested in the proposed project that does not receive an invitation
to become a participating agency should notify at the earliest
opportunity the Project Manager identified above under ADDRESSES.
A Public Involvement Plan and an Agency Coordination Plan will be
developed outlining public and agency involvement for the project.
These will be available on the project Web site or through written
request. Opportunities for comment will be provided throughout the NEPA
process, including public and agency meetings, the project Web site
https://www.itsmarta.com/120-east-corr.aspx, a mailing address
(identified above under ADDRESSES), and project newsletters. Comments
received from any of these sources will be considered in the
development of the final scope and content of the environmental
documents.
With the publication of this NOI, the scoping process for the
project begins. After the publication of the Draft Scoping Document, a
public comment period will begin, allowing the public to offer input on
the scope of the EIS and EA until October 15, 2012. Public comments
will be received through those methods explained earlier in this NOI
and will be incorporated into a Final Scoping Document. This document
will detail the scope of the EIS and EA as well as the potential
environmental effects that will be considered during the study period.
After the completion of the Draft EIS and EA, another public commenting
period will allow for input on the EIS and EA, and these comments will
be incorporated into the Final EIS and EA/Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) reports before publication.
FTA may identify a locally preferred alternative in the DEIS when
made available for public and agency comments. Public hearings on the
DEIS
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will be held in DeKalb County. On the basis of the DEIS and the public
and agency comments received, FTA will identify the locally preferred
alternative in the FEIS. The FEIS will serve as the basis for Federal
and State environmental findings and determinations needed to conclude
the environmental review process.
Issued on: August 15, 2012.
Yvette G. Taylor,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2012-21222 Filed 8-27-12; 8:45 am]
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