Draper Transit Corridor Project

Chapter 7: Coordination

This chapter describes the public and agency coordination efforts for the Draper Transit Corridor EIS. The Draper Transit Corridor EIS process was initiated on November 26, 2007, when a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register formally announcing that FTA and UTA were jointly preparing an EIS for the Draper Transit Corridor Project. The notice included a brief description of the proposed improvements and alternatives under consideration.

7.1 Public and Agency Involvement

Public and agency involvement is critical to the success of any What members of the project that could affect the community. The planning for the Draper community were invited to participate in the Draper Transit Corridor EIS has involved extensive coordination and Transit Corridor process? consultation with the affected community and agencies. The affected The public involvement process for the community includes not only the residents in the Draper Transit Draper Transit Corridor Project Corridor study area but also individuals, businesses, groups, and involved coordination and consultation others interested in the study area. The planning process was with not only the residents in the Draper Transit Corridor study area but structured and implemented to ensure that all relevant factors were also individuals, businesses, groups, considered, including the affected community’s concerns and issues and others interested in the study area.

related to the project’s purpose and need, engineering solutions, social impacts, environmental impacts, economic effects, financing, and other items of concern to the community.

7.1.1 Public Outreach Activities and Information Exchange

The goal of the public and agency involvement program and process What is the goal of the public as a part of NEPA is to have an informed local community and and agency involvement program and process? government leadership to help make decisions regarding the impacts The goal of the public and agency and implementation of a Preferred Alternative. The public and involvement program and process is to agency involvement process is open to ensure that interested parties have an informed local community and have an opportunity to be involved in planning. Stakeholders had an government leadership to help make opportunity to direct, review, and comment on the EIS analysis and decisions regarding the impacts and results at major milestones reached during the course of the study. implementation of a Preferred Alternative.

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7.1.2 SAFETEA-LU Section 6002

The public and agency involvement program was conducted in a manner consistent with NEPA and Section 106 regulations. This program has been designed to be consistent with the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) of 1998 and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) of 2005. This EIS meets the intent of these laws by reaching out to the agencies and giving the agencies an opportunity to provide input into and collaborate on the processes of defining the project purpose and identifying the alternatives.

7.2 Initial Coordination

7.2.1 Notice of Intent

Within the first month of the project, UTA and FTA prepared a What is scoping? Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS. The Notice of Intent is a Scoping is the formal early coordina- requirement of the CEQ regulation 40 CFR 1501.7. The Notice of tion process required by the Council on Intent initiates the mandated scoping process for all EISs. The Notice Environmental Quality’s 1979 of Intent provides a short description of the project, the proposed regulations (40 CFR 1501.7). It’s an early and open process for determining action, and preliminary alternatives. The Notice of Intent also the scope of issues to be addressed and describes the scoping process, identifies any upcoming formal public for identifying the significant issues meetings that are associated with the project, and includes the name, related to a proposed action. address, and phone number of a contact person. Once the Notice of Intent text was approved, FTA sent the Notice of Intent to FTA’s Washington, DC, office for submittal to the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent was included in the November 26, 2007, Federal Register.

7.2.2 Initial Coordination Package

An initial coordination packet was prepared and distributed in conjunction with the publication of the Notice of Intent. This packet contained a transmittal letter, a Coordination Plan, and exhibits that showed the project area. The packet was distributed to the agencies, organizations, and individuals that were anticipated to have an interest in the project. The information obtained through the early coordination (scoping) process was used to help determine the purpose of and need for the project, the alternatives to be evaluated, the methods of analysis, and the range of issues to be examined in the EIS.

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7.2.3 Initiation Letter

In July 2008, UTA submitted the New Starts Initiation Notice to the FTA Regional Administrator to start the process of applying for federal funding. The Initiation Notice identified the type of work, termini, length, and general location of the proposed project. The notice further described the project background, the EIS scoping process, the purpose of and need for the project, and the project alternatives including the alternatives evaluation methodology and screening process.

7.3 Agency Coordination

Throughout the EIS process, UTA has coordinated with local, state, How have the lead agencies and federal agencies that oversee the management of natural coordinated with local, state, and federal agencies during resources in the project area. Since these agencies oversee impacts the Draper Transit Corridor and issue permits regarding their resource areas, it is important to Project? include them from the initial scoping activities throughout the Agency coordination during the project project’s development. In this way, issues are identified early so that included a Coordination Plan, identification of participating and they can be properly considered and, if necessary, avoided, cooperating agencies, agency scoping, minimized, or mitigated as the project progresses. and other coordination. The agencies were notified of the requirements of SAFETEA-LU Section 6002 at the agency scoping meetings. This EIS meets the intent of this law by reaching out to agencies and giving them an opportunity to provide input into and collaborate on the processes of defining the project purpose and identifying the alternatives.

7.3.1 Coordination Plan

The purpose of the Draper Transit Corridor Coordination Plan was to identify the coordination that FTA and UTA would undertake with the federal, state, and local agencies who agreed to be participating or cooperating agencies during the NEPA process for the Draper Transit Corridor EIS in accordance with SAFETEA-LU. The Coordination Plan defined the roles and expectations of the participating and cooperating agencies and established a commitment to review the EIS at specific milestones. The public was notified of the availability of the Coordination Plan at the public scoping meeting.

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7.3.2 Identification of Participating and Cooperating Agencies

Agencies that would have permitting or other authority for the Which agencies were invited to project were invited to participate in the project planning process as be cooperating or participating agencies? NEPA cooperating agencies. Agencies that would have permitting or In addition, SAFETEA-LU has created a new category called other authority for the project were participating agencies. These are federal and non-federal agencies invited to participate in the project that might have an interest in the project. These agencies must be planning process as cooperating agencies. In addition, federal and non- invited to become participating agencies in the environmental review federal agencies that might have an process according to Section 6002, Section 139, of SAFETEA-LU. interest in the project were invited to become participating agencies. The roles and responsibilities of participating agencies include but are not limited to:

• Participating in the NEPA process starting at the earliest possible time, especially with regard to the development of the purpose and need statement, range of alternatives, methodologies, and the Preferred Alternative.

• Identifying, as early as practicable, any issues of concern regarding the project’s potential environmental or socioeconomic impacts. Participating agencies are also allowed to participate in an issue-resolution process.

• Providing meaningful and timely input on unresolved issues.

• Participating in the scoping process. Other local, state, and federal agencies and organizations (referred to as non-participating agencies and organizations) were contacted as necessary to obtain information about the project area.

7.3.2.1 Cooperating Agencies

A cooperating agency is defined in 40 CFR 1508 of CEQ’s NEPA What are cooperating regulations as a federal agency other than a lead agency that has agencies? jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to environmental A cooperating agency is any federal impacts involved in an EIS project. Their selection and agency, other than a lead agency, that has jurisdiction by law or special responsibilities are defined in 40 CFR 1501.6. All cooperating expertise with respect to any agencies are participating agencies by definition. environmental impact involved in a proposed project or project alternative. Invitation letters were sent to four agencies (Federal Highway There are no cooperating agencies on Administration, Utah Department of Transportation, U.S. Army the Draper Transit Corridor Project. Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) on

November 26, 2007, inviting them to participate in the

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environmental review process. Although no agencies were directly asked to be full cooperating agencies, the agencies noted above were invited to be participating agencies and were given the option to be cooperating agencies if they chose. The decision is the responsibility of the agency. No agency accepted the invitation to be a cooperating agency for this project.

7.3.2.2 Participating Agencies

A participating agency is defined in Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU What are participating as a federal or non-federal agency “that might have an interest in the agencies? project.” The selection and responsibilities for participating agencies Participating agencies are federal, are also defined in Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU and differ from state, or local agencies or organizations that might have an interest in the those defined for cooperating agencies. For instance, participating Draper Transit Corridor Project. agencies are given an opportunity to help develop the project’s purpose and need and the range of alternatives considered as well as the Coordination Plan and the schedule for the project. Participating agencies are not necessarily also cooperating agencies. Invitation letters were sent to 12 agencies on November 26, 2007, inviting them to participate in the environmental review process. Of the 12 agencies, 10 accepted the invitation. The participating agencies are:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Federal Highway Administration • Utah Department of Transportation • Utah State Historic Preservation Office • Wasatch Front Regional Council • Draper City • Sandy City • Bluffdale City The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation declined the invitation, and the Federal Railroad Administration never responded, despite several written invitations.

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7.3.2.3 Tribes

The project area doesn’t include any tribal lands, but the following How have the lead agencies Native American tribes could have interests regarding natural and coordinated with Native American tribes? cultural resources: Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, FTA initiated consultation with Native Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians, Northwestern Band of American tribes, invited them to be Shoshone Nation, Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation, and participating agencies, and invited them Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. to attend the agency scoping meeting. FTA and UTA will continue to consult FTA initiated government-to-government consultation with the tribes with the tribes as required by Section and invited them to become participating agencies. The tribes were 106 of the National Historic Preserva- invited to attend the agency scoping meeting. Communications and tion Act. agreements with the tribes will be documented. Although no tribes agreed to be participating agencies, FTA and UTA will continue to consult with the tribes as required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, regarding potential cultural resource impacts of concern to the tribes throughout project development.

7.3.3 Agency Scoping

Letters of notification for an agency scoping meeting were mailed on What were the purposes of the November 21, 2007, to about 29 agencies representing interests in agency scoping meeting? the Draper Transit Corridor study area. These letters invited agency The purposes of the agency scoping representatives to attend the meeting, requested agency involvement meeting were to provide the attendees with an understanding of the project’s as a cooperating or participating agency for the Draper Transit purpose and to obtain agency input on Corridor EIS, and solicited agency comments on the resources in the the project.

corridor. Nine project and agency representatives attended the meeting. The meeting minutes, a summary of the comments received, and the meeting notification materials are included in the Draper Transit Corridor Scoping Summary Report, which is available at www.rideuta.com/mediaroom/projects/draperlr/ publications.aspx. This report can also be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626. The agency scoping meeting was held on December 11, 2007, at UTA’s Meadowbrook Office (3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah) with members of the project team and key regulatory representatives interested in the project. The purpose of the meeting was to provide the attendees with an understanding of the project’s purpose and to obtain agency input on the project. The agency representatives were invited to comment on issues of special concern in the Draper Transit Corridor study area.

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7.3.4 Additional Agency Coordination

The agency comments received during the scoping period were used, along with other transportation and environmental data and the analysis collected during the environmental studies, to help identify the purpose of the project, refine alternatives, and make decisions regarding the methodology for the alternative analysis.

7.3.4.1 Opportunities for the Participating Agencies To Help Develop the Project Purpose

SAFETEA-LU requires an opportunity for participating agencies to help develop the project’s purpose and need statements. For the Draper Transit Corridor Project, this opportunity occurred during the scoping process. The meeting minutes, a summary of the comments received, and the meeting notification materials are included in the Draper Transit Corridor Scoping Summary Report, which is available at www.rideuta.com/mediaroom/projects/draperlr/ publications.aspx. This report can also be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626.

7.3.4.2 Opportunities for the Participating Agencies To Help Define the Range of Alternatives

SAFETEA-LU requires the lead agencies to provide an opportunity for participating agencies to help define the range of alternatives. In addition, the lead agencies must determine, in collaboration with the participating agencies, the appropriate methodologies to be used and the level of detail required in the analysis of alternatives. Accordingly, the lead agencies must work cooperatively and interactively with the relevant participating agencies on the methodology and level of detail to be used in a particular analysis. The participating agencies attended a meeting on June 12, 2008, at UTA’s headquarters (669 West 200 South, Salt Lake City, Utah) to discuss the methodology for the alternatives analysis and the level of detail for this analysis. Participating agency representatives were given three reports for review: a Universe of Alternatives Report, a Definition of Alternatives Report, and an Alternatives Evaluation Methodology Report. Together, the group dismissed alternatives and decided which alternatives would be carried forward for detailed study in this EIS. For more information on the discussion of the alternatives screening process, see Chapter 2, Alternatives

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Considered, and the meeting summaries found in the Alternatives Analysis Report. This report can be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626.

7.4 Public Coordination

In addition to agency coordination, public participation is important How is public participation to developing sound recommendations and selecting transit important to the Draper Transit Corridor Project? alternatives that are supported by the community. UTA’s Public participation is important to commitment at the beginning of this environmental review process developing sound recommendations was to proactively involve the public so decisions could be made that and selecting transit alternatives that reflect the goals of those who live, work, and travel in the study area. are supported by the community. The Throughout this process, the project team will keep the public project team will keep the public informed, incorporate their feedback, and help identify issues and informed, incorporate their feedback, and help identify issues and develop develop solutions to improve transportation in the corridor. solutions to improve transportation in The public was notified of the requirements of SAFETEA-LU the corridor. Section 6002 at the public scoping meetings. This EIS meets the intent of this law by reaching out to the public and giving the public an opportunity to provide input into and collaborate on the processes of defining the project purpose and identifying the alternatives.

7.4.1 Public Involvement Plan

The Draper Transit Corridor Project Public Involvement Plan, which is included in the overall project Coordination Plan, introduced several strategies to inform the public about the project, develop community consensus around a preferred alignment, and address agency and public issues during the course of the Draper Transit Corridor EIS process. The goals of this plan are to:

• Provide a way for stakeholder agencies and the public to have direct and meaningful impacts on the project.

• Develop and implement a communication strategy that includes the public in the decision-making process and provides an early opportunity to comment and raise issues throughout the project’s different phases and milestones.

• Identify stakeholder issues and concerns early and throughout the study process to avoid potential delaying issues.

• Increase awareness about the Draper Transit Corridor EIS.

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The Draper Transit Corridor Project Public Involvement Plan ensures that UTA and FTA will work with the public to address their concerns and suggestions and see that they are directly reflected in the alternatives developed. The plan also ensures that UTA and FTA will provide feedback on how the public’s input influenced the decisions made during the EIS process. A copy of the Draper Transit Corridor Project Public Involvement Plan is included in the Draper Transit Corridor Scoping Summary Report, which is available at www.rideuta.com/mediaroom/projects/draperlr/publications.aspx. This report can also be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626.

7.4.2 Public Scoping

As the first step in the NEPA process, scoping uses public and What is the purpose of the agency participation to develop possible solutions and identify issues scoping phase of a NEPA project? regarding a proposed project. Scoping also helps determine the Scoping uses public and agency needs, objectives, resources, constraints, potential alternatives, and participation to develop possible any additional requirements for screening criteria used to screen the solutions and identify issues regarding preliminary alternatives. a proposed project. Scoping also helps determine the needs, objectives, UTA relies on public comments made during scoping to help resources, constraints, potential identify issues as well as to gauge public sentiment about the alternatives, and any additional proposed improvements. A total of 931 comments were received requirements for screening criteria used from 176 people during this project’s scoping period. Comments to screen the preliminary alternatives. regarding alignment alternatives were most prevalent, followed by comments about environmental issues and statements of preference. Many comments were received regarding ridership/travel demand and the EIS process. There were also many comments concerning safety, property values, and cost.

7.4.2.1 Public Scoping Meeting

The Draper Transit Corridor scoping period was initiated with the Federal Register notice on November 26, 2007. UTA held a public scoping meeting on December 12, 2007, at Sprucewood Elementary School at 12025 South 10000 East, Sandy, Utah. The meeting was held in an open-house format from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. More than 130 Draper and Sandy residents, business owners, and other stakeholders participated in this open house. This was the first of several formal opportunities for the public to raise issues related to

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Public Scoping Meeting Notifications

The following methods were used to notify the general public about What methods were used to the public scoping meeting and scoping activities: inform the public of the public scoping meeting? • Legal notice display advertisements were placed in the following UTA used display advertisements, publications: press releases, public service announcements, individually addressed o The Salt Lake Tribune (November 27, 2007, Sunday edition, invitations, and announcements on the circulation 168,000) UTA and Sandy City Web sites to promote the public scoping meeting. Deseret Morning News (November 27, 2007, Sunday o edition, circulation 73,601)

o Sandy Journal (December 2007, circulation 36,000) o Draper Journal (December 2007, circulation 12,097) o South Valley Journal (December 2007, circulation 30,793) o Mundo Hispano (December 2007, circulation 10,000) o Draper Paper (December 2007, circulation 11,880) • Press releases and public service announcements were prepared and distributed to local news outlets.

• Individually addressed invitations were sent to owners and occupants within 300 feet of both the UTA-owned right-of-way alignment and the State Street alignment. Letters were sent to 2,048 property owners or occupants in the study area. The mailing list was derived from a GIS database of all the parcels located within the 300-foot buffer of both alternatives. The GIS- derived mailing list was then sent to a local direct-mail company, where it was processed for address standardization and where it underwent internet matching and CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) to evaluate the accuracy of addresses. In addition, duplicate names and addresses were purged.

• Invitations were posted on the UTA and Sandy City Web sites. The primary issues raised by the public at the scoping open house included alignment options, UTA right-of-way issues, public involvement questions, cost issues, station locations, air quality issues, congestion and ridership questions, regional system issues, questions regarding impacts to individual properties, and questions about the project schedule. Copies of the scoping materials listed

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above and comments received are included in the Scoping Summary Report, which is available at www.rideuta.com/mediaroom/projects/ draperlr/publications.aspx. This report can also be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626.

Public Scoping Meeting Format

The following is the general format of the public scoping meeting. What was the format of the The public scoping meeting was an open-house format. public scoping meeting? The public scoping meeting was an Public Scoping Meeting open-house format and included presentations by project managers and • The public was greeted by two project representatives at the displays that explained various aspects registration area. Attendees were asked to fill out a sign-in sheet of the project. and a name tag and were then given an information packet that included a project fact sheet, a map of the Locally Preferred Alternative, a map of the study area, and a comment sheet.

• At the registration area, attendees were given a brief overview of the open-house format. Those bringing children were told about a children’s table that included crayons and other items for children. The attendees were also told that refreshments were available.

• In addition to having a display board that welcomed the public, the registration area also included a display board that included the following points regarding what the project team wanted to learn from the public:

o Help define the transit project. o Discuss transit project alternatives. o Discuss the environmental analysis process. o Explore the need for and purpose of the project. o Educate the project team about community issues. • Also located at the registration area was a display board that announced two formal project presentations to be given at different times throughout the evening by the project team. About 75 people attended the first presentation and about 25 people attended the second presentation. The presentations were timed to give the largest number of people the opportunity to attend.

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• These 30-minute project presentations welcomed and thanked the public; introduced the project’s process, purpose, and need; and briefly described the project’s history. The presentation also invited attendees to apply to be a part of the project’s community advisory group, called the Community Involvement Committee. At the end of each presentation, attendees were invited to visit each of the five workstations staffed by project representatives and were encouraged to ask questions and provide comments.

Workstations

• The five open-house workstations were placed around the room. Each station was staffed by a project team member who was qualified to answer project questions and listen to public input. Each station also included a large easel pad or study area map on which people were encouraged to write their comments.

• The first workstation was titled, “What is the purpose of scoping?” This workstation’s objective was to facilitate an open discussion with attendees regarding the purpose of scoping, the definition of an EIS, and information regarding where the project team was in the process. At this workstation, project staff used three display boards to discuss the purpose of scoping, and the public was encouraged to write any comments they had on a large easel pad.

• The second workstation was titled, “What is the project’s purpose and need?” The objective of this workstation was to facilitate an open discussion with attendees regarding the project’s purpose and need. Project staff used five display boards that discussed the following items:

o Purpose and need o 2001 traffic congestion versus 2030 traffic congestion o Population growth in Sandy and Draper from 2002 to 2030 o Map of the Locally Preferred Alternative that was previously identified in the Draper Transit Alternatives Study

o Map of the study area Project team members engaged attendees in conversation and invited them to write their comments on an easel pad.

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• The third workstation was titled, “What are the alternatives?” What workstations were This workstation proved to be the most engaging station of the available at the public scoping meeting? evening, and project team members were given much The public scoping meeting had five information by those who attended. The objective of this workstations that covered the following workstation was to gather public input regarding potential topics: alignment and station locations and to facilitate open discussion • What is the purpose of scoping? between the public and team members regarding the corridor • study. Project staff invited attendees to gather around a table and What is the project’s purpose and need? mark up study-area maps with their suggestions for potential station locations. Project staff also used the following display • What are the alternatives? boards: • How will the alternatives be evaluated? A display board that asked the questions: What are the o • alternatives? Where should stations be located? Why? Request for public comments

o A display board that listed the alternatives: No-Action, Transportation Systems Management, Locally Preferred Alternative, and other alternatives identified in the scoping meeting

o A map of the Locally Preferred Alternative that was previously identified in the Draper Transit Alternatives Study and the study area

• The fourth workstation was titled, “How will the alternatives be evaluated?” The objective of this workstation was to facilitate an open discussion with attendees regarding how alternatives will be evaluated and the project schedule. Project staff used display boards discussing issue topics and the project’s schedule and also provided a large easel pad for attendees to write their comments.

• The fifth workstation was the public comment workstation. This workstation provided tables for attendees to write comments on the comment sheet provided in the information packet. Project staff at this workstation used a display board that repeated what the project team wanted to learn from the public, the project comment period, and other ways to get project information.

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7.4.2.2 Scoping Summary Report

UTA prepared a Scoping Summary Report that summarized the public and agency input that was gathered during the project scoping period, which ran from November 26, 2007, through January 15, 2008 (Scoping Summary Report, UTA, February 2008). The Scoping Summary Report is a tool to ensure that the analyses in the EIS are focused on the appropriate issues. The Scoping Summary Report summarizes the agency and public scoping activities and comments received, and the report appendices contain all scoping materials. A copy of the Draper Transit Corridor Project Public Involvement Plan is included in the Draper Transit Corridor Scoping Summary Report, which is available at www.rideuta.com/mediaroom/projects/draperlr/ publications.aspx. This report can be obtained by contacting the Utah Transit Authority at 200 South 669 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101 or (801) 262-5626.

7.4.3 Adoption of the Locally Preferred Alternative by the Wasatch Front Regional Council

UTA presented the UTA-owned right-of-way alternatives to WFRC as the build alternatives to be carried forward for more detailed technical and environmental analysis in this EIS. At its public meeting in August 2008, WFRC adopted both build alternatives to be constructed in phases with Alternative C – MOS constructed first as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Subsequently, the LPA was presented to the Community Involvement Committee at its meeting in September 2008 and to the public at an October 15, 2008, open house (see Section 7.4.4 below). The LPA adopted by WFRC is also being advanced as the Preferred Alternative in this Draft EIS; however, formal adoption of a Preferred Alternative by the UTA Board of Trustees will not occur until after the Draft EIS comment period.

7.4.4 Public Information Meeting

UTA held a public information meeting on October 15, 2008, at the Skaggs Catholic Center (St. John the Baptist Elementary School cafeteria) at 300 East 11800 South in Draper, Utah. The meeting was held in an open-house format from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.

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About 50 residents, business owners, and stakeholders attended the open house. The meeting encouraged interaction between the public and project representatives and included a formal presentation.

Public Information Meeting Notifications

The following methods were used to notify the public about the What methods were used to public information meeting. inform the public of the public information meeting? • Legal notice display advertisements were placed in the following UTA used display advertisements, publications: press releases, public service announcements, individually addressed o The Salt Lake Tribune (October 10, 2008, circulation postcards, an announcement on the 168,000) UTA Web site, and e-mail to promote the public information meeting. o Deseret Morning News (October 10, 2008, circulation 73,601) o Mundo Hispano (October 10, 2008, circulation 10,000) • Display advertisements were placed in the following publications:

o The Salt Lake Tribune (October 10, 2008, circulation 168,000) o Deseret Morning News (October 10, 2008, circulation 73,601)

• Press releases and public service announcements were prepared and distributed to local news outlets.

• Individually addressed postcards were sent to owners and occupants within 300 feet of two of the initial alternatives: Alternative B (State Street) and Alternative C (UTA-owned right-of-way) (see Section 2.3.2.1, First-Tier Screening of the Initial Build Alternatives). Postcards were sent to about 1,600 property owners or occupants in the study area.

• The invitation was posted on the UTA Web site and e-mailed to all subscribers to the project e-mail list.

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Public Information Meeting Format

The following is the general format of the public information meeting.

• The public was greeted by two project representatives at the registration area. Attendees were asked to fill out a sign-in sheet and a name tag and were given an information packet. The information packet included maps of the three alignments, a map of the minimum operable segment, and copies of the evaluation matrix detailing screening criteria performance measures for the three alternatives and the minimum operable segment.

• At the registration area, attendees were given a brief overview of the open-house format. Those bringing children were told about a children’s table that included crayons and other items for children. The attendees were also told that refreshments were available. Two formal project presentations were given at 5:30 PM and 6:30 PM by the project team. The 30-minute presentation included a welcome and introduction, an overview of the project’s purpose and need, and a review of the project timeline. Additionally, the presentation included information on proposed station locations, how the UTA-owned right-of-way was chosen as the Preferred Alternative, and evaluation criteria used throughout the selection process. The term minimum operable segment was discussed. The minimum operable segment is referred to as the first section of the project from 10000 South in Sandy to 12400 South (Pioneer Road) in Draper that will be constructed prior to 2015. At the end of each presentation, attendees were invited to visit the display boards staffed by project representatives and were encouraged to ask questions. The display boards provided information on the purpose of and need for the project, evaluation criteria, timeline, and the Community Involvement Committee.

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7.4.5 Community Involvement Committee Workshops

The Draper Transit Corridor Project Community Involvement What is the Community Committee (CIC) provides another means for the project team to Involvement Committee (CIC)? gather public input and to identify, discuss, and address important The Community Involvement issues related to the project so decisions can be made that reflect the Committee provides another means for the project team to gather public input goals of those who live, work, and travel in the area. All stakeholder and to identify, discuss, and address agencies are invited to attend and participate in CIC meeting. The important issues related to the project purposes of the CIC are to: so decisions can be made that reflect the goals of those who live, work, and • Provide a way for the community to share concerns and issues travel in the area.

with project team members. • Provide a way for the project team to share information with the CIC members, who then educate others in their communities. The CIC consists of seven people who volunteer their time and have a shared focus on the Draper Transit Corridor Project and a commitment to present and discuss significant issues specifically related to the project. The CIC members all live in the project study area, are from Draper and Sandy, and represent a broad range of perspectives with a commitment to focus on community-based issues rather than personal agendas. CIC members were found by asking those who attended the project scoping open house if they wanted to apply and also by asking the mayors’ offices of Salt Lake County, Draper City, and Sandy City for their recommendations. Once a list of potential members was gathered, UTA conducted inter- views to gather further background information in the following areas:

• Residency – how long in the area, family ties to the area • Community and civic involvement • Professional background • Prior committee experience • Transit experience and interest • Overall thoughts about the project • Time availability – ability to attend at least six quarterly meetings The seven CIC members who were ultimately selected came from a wide range of backgrounds and interests. Two of the committee members were initially in favor of the project, two initially opposed the project, and three were neutral about the project.

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CIC Meeting #1

The first CIC meeting was held March 14, 2008, at the Draper City What were the purposes of CIC Hall Council Chambers. The purposes of the first CIC meeting were Meeting #1? to introduce the committee members to the project team and to talk The purposes of the first CIC meeting about roles and expectations. The roles and expectations of the were to introduce the committee members to the project team and to talk committee were discussed, and the members were encouraged to stay about roles and expectations. informed on community issues, speak up during the meetings, and provide the team members with any issues that might arise. CIC members were also encouraged to talk to their neighbors and convey any findings to the committee. The roles and expectations of the project team were also discussed and centered around listening to committee members and considering their input, providing timely information, scheduling meetings, and sharing meeting minutes. The project team gave a presentation that provided a general overview of the project. This presentation explained the project’s background and timeline, the issues related to project’s purpose and need, and the alternatives analysis. An overview of the EIS process was also given that focused on how project decisions would be made, what environmental issues would be studied, and how these issues would be addressed. This meeting also included a discussion about the screening methodology to be implemented to evaluate all of the impacts for each alternative. The first meeting also included a question-and-answer period, and a committee chair was chosen by the CIC members.

CIC Meeting #2

The second CIC meeting was held May 9, 2008, at the Draper City What were the purposes of CIC Hall Council Chambers. The purposes of the second CIC meeting Meeting #2? were to provide the committee with a summary of the scoping report The purposes of the second CIC and to discuss the screening methodology and definition of meeting were to provide the committee with a summary of the scoping report alternatives report. Part of the second meeting was set aside to and to discuss the screening encourage members to provide input and to discuss community methodology and definition of issues. A new member was also welcomed during the second alternatives report. meeting as a replacement for a member who resigned due to personal reasons. During the meeting, the project team addressed issues brought up by the CIC members that centered around park-and-ride lot sizes, noise and security, ridership numbers, station structures, and the EIS study area. Detailed progress reports were given that defined the potential alternatives for extending light rail through Sandy and Draper and

7-18 | Chapter 7: Coordination Draft Environmental Impact Statement Draper Transit Corridor Project showed the methodology that was used to screen the alternatives. The CIC members asked that, at the next meeting, a definition of the alternatives including capital costs and ridership figures be presented.

CIC Meeting #3

The third CIC meeting was held on July 11, 2008, at the Draper City What was the purpose of CIC Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss Meeting #3? the results of the screening process. The purpose of the third CIC meeting was to discuss the results of the CIC Meeting #4 screening process.

The fourth CIC meeting was held on September 12, 2008, at the Draper City Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss proposed station locations and the minimum operable segment. Staff from Draper City and Sandy City also attended the meeting. Project team members gave a presentation that included the What was the purpose of CIC Meeting #4? progress to date, the minimum operable segment, proposed station The purpose of the fourth CIC meeting locations, station selection criteria, and sample stations from around was to discuss proposed station the nation. locations and the minimum operable segment. Mike Coulam with Sandy City gave a presentation on Sandy City master planning and zoning. David Dobbins with Draper City gave a presentation on Draper City master planning and zoning. Attendees were encouraged to visit and comment on display boards that showed the proposed station locations.

CIC Meeting #5

The fifth CIC meeting was held on November 7, 2008, at the Draper What was the purpose of CIC City Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting was to Meeting #5? discuss potential noise disturbances associated with the project. The purpose of the fifth CIC meeting Project team members gave a presentation titled “Noise Analysis: was to discuss potential noise disturbances associated with the Procedures for Conducting Noise Impact Analysis and Noise project. Mitigation Approaches.”

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CIC Meeting #6

The sixth CIC meeting was held on January 16, 2009, at the Draper What was the purpose of CIC City Hall Council Chambers. The purpose of the meeting was to Meeting #6? update the CIC members on the status of the Draft EIS. In addition, The purpose of the sixth CIC meeting team members updated the CIC on the noise and vibration impact was to update the CIC members on the status of the Draft EIS. findings and proposed mitigation and discussed the feasibility of transit-oriented development at the Draper Town Center Station location.

7.4.6 Other Public Outreach Activities

Additional outreach activities have been occurring throughout the project EIS process. Project staff have been available to meet with individual groups as requested, with some examples listed below.

• On May 14, 2008, the Draper Transit Corridor Project team gave a presentation to the South Mountain Homeowners Association Annual Meeting at Draper City Hall. About 50 people attended this meeting.

• On December 16, 2008, the Draper Transit Corridor Project team gave a presentation to a neighborhood group of Sandy City residents at Draper City Hall. The presentation was organized by a CIC member. About 20 people attended this presentation, which focused on potential noise impacts and other potential environmental impact mitigation measures.

• On February 4, 2009, Draper Transit Corridor Project team members met with residents who live near the proposed 11400 South Station in Sandy. The meeting was held at 11256 S. Glen Croft Lane in Sandy, and about 45 residents attended.

• On July 15, 2009, the Draper Transit Corridor Project team gave a presentation to residents at Crescentwood Village. Crescentwood Village is a manufactured and mobile-home community located at about 11352 South just north of 300 East in Sandy. About 10 residents attended this presentation, which focused on the overall project and included a discussion of potential station locations at 10600 South and 11400 South in Sandy.

• The Draper Transit Corridor Project Team set up a booth at the Draper Days festival on July 17 and 18, 2009. Team members were available at the booth to answer questions regarding the project.

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The project team also coordinated directly with stakeholders along the UTA-owned right-of-way using various methods. The list below describes some of the other outreach methods used for this project:

• Project Update. A project update newsletter was sent to about 1,600 residents and businesses in Draper and Sandy in March 2008. A second newsletter was mailed to about 1,600 residents and businesses in Draper and Sandy in December 2008.

7.4.7 Project Web Site

The Draper Transit Corridor Project Web site, www.rideuta.com/ What information is available projects/draperLightRail, is accessible through the navigation menu on the project Web site? on the UTA home page. This Web site allows the public to view The Draper Transit Corridor Project current Draper Transit Corridor Project information. The Web site Web site provides all project-related materials and is updated periodically as provides all project-related materials and is updated periodically as new information becomes available. new information becomes available. Comments can be submitted to

the project public involvement coordinator through the site at any time.

7.5 Next Steps

FTA and UTA are issuing this Draft EIS for review and comment by the public and agencies for a period of 45 days, beginning on December 18, 2009. Comments should be submitted in written form by February 5, 2010, using one of the following methods:

• On the project Web site at www.rideuta.com/projects/ draperLightRail/submitComment.aspx

• By e-mail to [email protected]

• By fax to (801) 741-8892 (write “Attention Draper Transit Corridor Project” on the fax)

• By postal mail to: Draper Transit Corridor Project Aaron Mentzer Community Involvement Specialist Utah Transit Authority 669 West 200 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

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Copies of this Draft EIS are available on UTA’s Web site, www.rideuta.com, and are available for review at the following locations:

• UTA FrontLines Headquarters, 669 West 200 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101

• UTA Meadowbrook Office, 3600 South 700 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84119

• Salt Lake City Main Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84111

• Sandy Library, 10100 S. Petunia Way (1405 East), Sandy, Utah, 84092

• Draper Library, 1136 E. Pioneer Road (12400 South), Draper, Utah, 84020 CD copies of the Draft EIS are being distributed to the agencies and individuals identified in Chapter 11, Distribution. Two public hearing/open-house meetings will be scheduled in order to receive comments on the Draft EIS. The public hearings will be held in mid-January 2010. Details on the public hearings will be posted on UTA’s Web site and in local newspapers. All comments received will be considered by FTA and UTA. Responses to comments will be included in the Final EIS, which is expected to be released in the spring of 2010. The Final EIS could also include supplemental information regarding the definition of specific project elements (such as station locations), environmental effects, or refined mitigation measures. At the conclusion of the 30- day public notice period for the Final EIS, UTA will prepare a decision document for the project that identifies the selected action, the expected impacts from the project, and the mitigation measures that UTA will implement to address those impacts. UTA will conduct additional public outreach and stakeholder coordination during the final design and construction stages of the project as design options and refinements are made.

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7.6 Conclusion

The project team has received input from the agency representatives, city and county officials, residents, and businesses in the Draper Transit Corridor Project study area. Most stakeholders have agreed that light-rail transit on the UTA-owned right-of-way is the best option for meeting the growing congestion and mobility needs projected for the future. However, the public has identified alignment alternatives followed by environmental issues, safety, property values, and cost as their primary concerns. The project alternatives carried forward through the alternatives analysis process and into the NEPA process were shaped by comments from the public during scoping meetings, through informal outreach at public informational meetings, and through the Community Involvement Committee (CIC). For example, the West of I-15 and State Street Alternatives examined during alternatives screening were revised several times by public comments and were confirmed through CIC informational meetings. Various design options were discussed until consensus on an optimal design option was achieved that could then be advanced to the alternatives analysis. The need for preserving recreational and equestrian trails is cited in public comments. The emphasis on quiet zones at grade crossings and on train noise mitigation is a direct result of UTA’s sensitivity to community concerns. Workshops with the CIC and other concerned citizens and feedback from public comments shaped the station area planning for the Draper Town Center Station at 12400 South (Pioneer Road). In addition, the station at 11800 South was located to serve the Skaggs Catholic Center based on community support that emerged from the scoping and other public informational meetings. Public input has helped the project team balance and prioritize the alternatives to meet the needs of the public as a whole. The public has also provided the necessary support for the action alternatives. All substantive comments on the Draft EIS will be considered before UTA and FTA issue a decision on the project.

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