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Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M–30, recipients in urbanized areas of 200,000 County, and Tenafly, Bergen County. West Building, Ground Floor, Room persons or greater to reduce barriers to The EIS will be prepared in accordance W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. transportation services and expand the with the National Environmental Policy 4. Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of transportation mobility options Act (NEPA: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey available to people with disabilities 1969 and the regulations implementing Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M–30, beyond the requirements of the NEPA set forth in 40 CFR Parts 1500– West Building, Ground Floor, Room Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1508 and 23 CFR Part 771, as well as W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001 of 1990. Grant recipients are required to provisions of the recently enacted Safe, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday make information available to the public Accountable, Flexible, Efficient through Friday, except Federal holidays. and to publish a program of projects Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Instructions: You must include the which identifies the subrecipients and Users (SAFETEA–LU). The purpose of agency name and docket number for this projects for which the State or this Notice is to alert interested parties notice at the beginning of your designated recipient is applying for regarding the plan to prepare the EIS, to comments. Submit two copies of your financial assistance. FTA uses the provide information on the nature of the comments if you submit them by mail. information to determine eligibility for proposed transit project, to invite For confirmation that FTA has received funding and to monitor the grantees’ participation in the EIS process, your comments, include a self- progress in implementing and including comments on the scope of the addressed stamped postcard. Note that completing project activities. FTA EIS proposed in this notice, and to all comments received, including any collects performance information from announce that public scoping meetings personal information, will be posted designated recipients in rural areas, will be conducted. This notice and will be available to Internet users, small urbanized areas and other direct supersedes the FTA notice of June 18, without change, to recipients for small urbanized areas 2001 entitled ‘‘Major Investment Study/ www.regulations.gov. You may review annually and collects performance Draft Environmental Impact Statement DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement information from designated recipients for the Northern Branch Corridor, in the Federal Register published April in large urbanized areas on a quarterly Bergen County, New Jersey.’’ 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477), or you may basis. The information submitted DATES: Written comments on the scope visit www.regulations.gov. Docket: For ensures FTA’s compliance with of the EIS should be sent to Linda A. access to the docket to read background applicable federal laws and OMB Mosch, P.E., NJ TRANSIT Project documents and comments received, go Circular A–102. Manager, by November 7, 2007. Public to www.regulations.gov at any time. Respondents: State & local scoping meetings will be held on Background documents and comments government, private non-profit Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 3 to 5 received may also be viewed at the U.S. organizations and public transportation p.m. and at 7 to 9 p.m. at locations Department of Transportation, 1200 authorities. indicated under ADDRESSES below. An New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Estimated Annual Burden on interagency scoping meeting will be Operations, M–30, West Building, Respondents: 251 hours for each of the scheduled after agencies with an Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 206 respondents. interest in the proposed project have Washington, DC 20590–0001 between 9 Estimated Total Annual Burden: been identified. a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 122,374 hours. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Friday, except Federal holidays. Frequency: Annual and quarterly. scope of the EIS should be sent to Linda FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Issued: September 26, 2007. A. Mosch, P.E, Project Director— David Schneider, FTA Office of Program Ann Linnertz, Northern Branch EIS, NJ TRANSIT, One Management 202–493–0175, fax: 202– Associate Administrator for Administration. Penn Plaza East, Newark, NJ 07105– 366–3475, or e-mail: [FR Doc. E7–19420 Filed 10–1–07; 8:45 am] 2246. Comments may also be offered at the public scoping meetings. The [email protected]. BILLING CODE 4910–57–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested address for the public scoping meeting parties are invited to send comments is as follows: Crowne Plaza Englewood regarding any aspect of this information DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Hotel, 401 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, collection, including: (1) The necessity NJ 07631. This location is accessible by persons and utility of the information collection Federal Transit Administration with disabilities. If special translation or for the proper performance of the Intent To Prepare an Environmental signing services or other special functions of the FTA; (2) the accuracy Impact Statement on the Restoration of accommodations are needed, please of the estimated burden; (3) ways to Rail Service in the Northern Branch contact the Project Director, Linda A. enhance the quality, utility, and clarity Corridor, Bergen and Hudson Mosch, P.E., at (973) 491–8481 least 48 of the collected information; and (4) Counties, NJ hours before the meeting. A scoping ways to minimize the collection burden information packet is available on the without reducing the quality of the AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration NJ TRANSIT Web site at http:// collected information. Comments (FTA). NorthernBranchCorridor.com or by submitted in response to this notice will ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an calling the Project Director, Linda A. be summarized and/or included in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Mosch, P.E., at (973) 491–8481. Copies request for OMB approval of this will also be available at the scoping information collection. SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Title: 49 U.S.C. 5317, New Freedom Administration (FTA) and the New meetings. Program. Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. (OMB Number: 2132–NEW) TRANSIT) intend to prepare an Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, Community Background: 49 U.S.C. 5317, the New Environmental Impact Statement to Planner, Federal Transit Freedom Program, authorizes the study the restoration of rail passenger Administration, One Bowling Green, Secretary of Transportation to make service on the Northern Branch rail Room 429, New York, New York, grants to states and designated corridor between North Bergen, Hudson 10004–1415, telephone (212) 668–2203.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Scoping The growth in households and the time, and are looking for travel options In accordance with Section 6002 of diversification of the economy have that will improve their travel time and SAFETEA–LU, FTA and NJT invite caused an increase in travel in the reliability. comment on the scope of the EIS, project area in recent years. The • Improve convenience. Travelers are specifically on project’s purpose and increases have been during the peak looking for new travel options that will need, the alternatives to be evaluated travel periods, the off-peak weekday make traveling in the region more that may address the purpose and need, periods, and the weekend periods. convenient. They are looking for and the impacts of the alternatives Congestion on the roads is a growing frequent service, adequate parking at considered. To ensure that these issues problem, which is reducing overall stations, competitive travel times, and are identified, the scoping meetings will mobility in the area and could constrain convenient connections to other transit begin with a formal presentation future economic growth, and may affect services, such as ferries, PATH, and followed by the opportunity for the the area’s very high standard of living. feeder services. public to comment on the scope of the While the transportation system • Provide more options for travelers. EIS. Oral and written comments may be continues to provide a fairly high level Today, travelers are severely limited in given at the scoping meetings; a of mobility for some residents and their travel options. Transit can be used stenographer will record all comments. businesses, many parts of the system are for only a very small portion of the Those wishing to speak are required to straining to accommodate the new area’s travel needs. Travelers want more register at the meeting location. demands caused by a growing economy. travel options to meet their diverse Registration to speak will begin at 2:30 The area’s roadways provide the best travel needs. Options could include p.m. and will remain open until 4:30 evidence of the strains on the system. service to many destinations, including p.m. for the afternoon session; While more roads are congested for Midtown, Lower Manhattan, the registration to speak will begin at 6:30 longer periods, there are few Hudson River Waterfront, Newark, and p.m. and will remain open until 8:30 opportunities to expand local or recreational areas, such as the Sports p.m. for the evening session. Written regional roadway capacity. The project Complex and the Jersey Shore, comments may be submitted at the area has a substantial transit system. especially on weekends and at night. • meeting or may be mailed to the project However, there is evidence that the Improve services for the low- manager at the address in ADDRESSES system is not providing service for all of income/minority/transit dependent above. the markets that could be served. travelers. Transit dependent residents in the project area need good transit II. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Further investments in transit would options to more of the region’s jobs, not Project improve mobility in Bergen County, alleviating some traffic congestion, and only the jobs in Manhattan, but growing The purpose of the Northern Branch supporting continued economic growth. employment centers in New Jersey, like project is to address the transportation Provision of new transportation service the Hudson River Waterfront area, needs of the Northern Branch Corridor in the Northern Branch Corridor would Newark, the Meadowlands, and Bergen through the re-introduction of rail address: and Rockland employment centers. transit service. The project area is • Commuting to New York City heavily populated and is centrally Goal 2: Advance Cost-Effective Transit (trans-Hudson) from Bergen County; Solutions located in the New York/New Jersey • Inter- and intra-corridor metropolitan area. The area is directly Objectives: commuting, both to employment centers • west of the Hudson River, in close within the project corridor, and from the Support favorable farebox recovery. proximity to Manhattan. The area’s project corridor to employment For the vast majority of transit systems, location relative to New York City has locations in other areas of New Jersey; fare revenue does not cover the cost of played an important role in its and, providing service. However, higher development and continues to be an • Non-work trips including business, farebox recovery ratios allow transit important factor in the economy of the shopping, recreational, and education to agencies to maximize the amount of area. New York City, within the corridor, and service that can be provided for the Most of the transportation problems to destinations outside the corridor in same dollar of public operating subsidy. in the project area are the result of the New Jersey. One of the goals of the Northern Branch great changes that have taken place Based on the needs identified in the project is to introduce rail transit to the during the past 30 years. While Bergen project area, goals and objectives in the corridor in a manner that is sensitive to County’s population had not changed Northern Branch Corridor were the need to minimize the operating significantly until 1990, there have been identified in the early planning studies subsidy required to run the service. This other significant changes. The number and are as follows. will help ensure that the provision of of households has grown, resulting in transit service in the corridor is smaller households and more workers Goal 1: Meet the Needs of Travelers in financially sustainable. per household than in the past. Even the Project Area • Advance cost-effective transit more significant has been the growth in Objectives: solutions. The objective is to advance a employment from 1960 to today. The • Attract riders to transit. A central project that, from a cost-benefit number of jobs only tells part of the goal of the project is to attract more perspective, provides the greatest story about the project area’s economy. riders to rail transit in the Northern overall benefit at the lowest capital cost. The economy is diversifying. A growing Branch corridor. In spite of its proximity • Support future expansion, number of the jobs are now service to New York, eastern Bergen County scalability and affordability. The oriented, with fewer in the continues to have high single occupancy Northern Branch project should allow manufacturing sector. This shift has vehicle commutation. The goal of re- for future transit expansion while at the contributed to the area’s transportation introducing rail transit is to encourage same time provide a solution that is problems because service sector a greater transit ridership both on affordable to construct. With limited businesses generate more trips than opening day and into the future. capital funds, the ability to advance manufacturing businesses, especially • Improve travel time. Travelers in projects in phases helps to keep the during the off-peak travel periods. the project area put a high value on their projects affordable. Project scalability

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allows projects to be constructed which is likely to become more serious Northern Branch Corridor right-of-way. without precluding future expansion in the future. Transit strategies are Terminal stations would be located at projects. One of the criteria on which unlikely to substantially reduce Tenafly, in the vicinity of Hudson the Northern Branch project will be congestion, but can provide useful new Avenue; or at NJ Route 4 in Englewood. evaluated is the degree to which one travel alternatives for travelers trying to Light rail vehicle: These alternatives phase of a project integrates into a more avoid congestion. would involve time-separated operation of rail passenger and freight operations global planning effort for transportation Goal 6: Enhance the Transit Network improvement in the region. using the Northern Branch Corridor Objectives: right-of-way. Rail passenger service Goal 3: Encourage Economic Growth • Eliminate gaps in the rail network. would operate between 5:30 a.m. and Objectives: Bergen County’s transit share for trips to 10:30 p.m. with freight operations • Provide transportation capacity to Manhattan is lower than any other part between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Terminal support growth. Population and of northern New Jersey. This is due to stations would be located at Tenafly, in employment growth in and around several gaps in the transit network the vicinity of Hudson Avenue; or at NJ Bergen County and Hudson County is serving the area. For example, there is Route 4 in Englewood. In order to expected to continue in the future. no rail service in eastern Bergen County. accommodate the shift of freight service Additional transportation capacity and The closest rail line is the Pascack to nighttime operation, corridor new travel options will be needed to Valley Line, which is west of the improvements would be constructed support this growth, providing access Hackensack River. This inconvenient between Tenafly and Northvale. between the jobs in the counties and and capacity-constrained line is not an The build alternatives will involve surrounding residential communities. option for most residents of eastern construction of new transportation Growing congestion will continue to Bergen County. Also, rail service is infrastructure, including tracks, stations have negative impacts on the area’s infrequent during off-peak periods. Rail and yards. As many as 11 station economy in the future. service is best to Lower Manhattan, via locations will be evaluated. Any • Help attract new businesses. PATH and ferry, less effective to the additional reasonable alternatives that Companies looking to locate new Valley, between Canal Street and 34th come to light during the scoping process facilities, or expand existing facilities in Street, via PATH, and most difficult to will also be evaluated. Bergen County and Hudson County, will Midtown. IV. Probable Effects be looking for assurances that steps are • Eliminate gaps in the bus network. being taken to provide the area with The bus network in eastern Bergen The FTA and NJ TRANSIT will new travel alternatives. One of the major County also has some gaps. First, the evaluate both project-specific and assets of this area is its proximity to network only serves Midtown cumulative changes to the social, New York City and its role in sustaining Manhattan. Also, in the eastern most economic and physical environment— the strength of the State Plan’s parts of the county, there is little or no including land use and socioeconomic Metropolitan Planning Area. New bus service. In the more central parts of conditions, ecology, water resources, transportation choices that improve the study area there are many bus historic and archaeological resources, access to New York and the rest of the routes. However, these routes are visual character and aesthetics, region will help Bergen County and generally slow because they travel on contaminated and hazardous materials, Hudson County to maintain its local roads and make many stops along transportation, air quality, noise and competitive advantage in the region. the route to pick up passengers. vibration, and environmental justice effects. Mitigation of all adverse impacts Goal 4: Improve regional access III. Alternatives Proposed for will be considered. Consideration Objectives: V. FTA Procedures • Provide connections to a variety of It is proposed that the EIS evaluate a locations within the region. With the Future No Build Alternative and Build In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) one exception of Manhattan, Bergen alternatives of two modes: diesel- and 771.133, FTA will comply with all County’s access to the rest of the region multiple-unit service from North Bergen Federal environmental laws, is almost entirely by auto, on highways to Tenafly, with a connection to the regulations, and executive orders that are becoming increasingly Hudson-Bergen Light Rail at Tonnelle applicable to the proposed project congested. With the completion of the Avenue in North Bergen; and an during the environmental review Secaucus Transfer, the areas served by extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light process to the maximum extent the Main, Bergen, and Pascack Valley Rail from its existing terminus at practicable. These requirements lines now benefit from rail access to the Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen to include, but are not limited to, the growing Hudson River Waterfront area, Tenafly. Additionally, the EIS will regulations of the Council on to Newark, to Trenton, and to the major evaluate both modal alternatives with a Environmental Quality and FTA recreational attractions, like the terminus at NJ Route 4 in Englewood. implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts Meadowlands and the New Jersey Future No Build Alternative: the 1500–1508, and 23 CFR Part 771), the Shore. Future No Build consists of the project-level air quality conformity transportation system expected to be in regulation of the U.S. Environmental Goal 5: Reduce Roadway Congestion place in the project design year if the Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part Objectives: proposed project were not built. It 93), the section 404(b)(1) guidelines of • Provide more travel options for includes all other projects currently in EPA (40 CFR part 230), the regulation travelers trying to avoid highway the North Jersey Transportation implementing section 106 of the congestion. Major regional highways in Authority’s 20-year metropolitan National Historic Preservation Act (36 the project area are heavily congested. transportation plan. CFR Part 800), the regulation There are a limited number of major Diesel-multiple-unit vehicle: These implementing section 7 of the highways, each serving intra-county and alternatives would involve Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part regional travel needs. Congestion in simultaneous operation of rail passenger 402), section 4(f) of the DOT Act (23 Bergen County is a growing problem, and freight operations using the CFR 771.135), and Executive Orders

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12898 on environmental justice, 11988 which requires an Environmental ADDRESSES: Written comments should on floodplain management, and 11990 Impact Report (EIR). The purpose of this be sent to Mr. Alan Patashnick, Project on wetlands. notice is to alert interested parties Manager and Director of South Bay Area Issued on: September 24, 2007. regarding the intent to prepare the EIS, Team, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Brigid Hynes-Cherin, to provide information on the nature of Transportation Authority, One Gateway the proposed project and possible Plaza, Mail Stop: 99–22–3, Los Angeles, Regional Administrator, FTA Region 2. alternatives, to invite public California 90012, e-mail address [FR Doc. E7–19434 Filed 10–1–07; 8:45 am] participation in the EIS process [email protected]. The BILLING CODE 4910–57–P (including providing comments on the locations of the public scoping meetings scope of the Alternatives Analysis/Draft are given above under DATES. Environmental Impact Statement (AA/ DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. DEIS), to announce that public scoping Ray Tellis, Team Leader, Los Angeles meetings will be conducted, and to Federal Transit Administration Metropolitan Office, Federal Transit identify participating and cooperating Administration, 888 South Figueroa agency contacts. Intent To Prepare an Environmental Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA Impact Statement for Proposed Transit DATES: Written comments on the scope 90017, phone (213) 202–3950, e-mail Improvements in the Crenshaw-Prairie of the EIS, including the project’s [email protected]. Transit Corridor, Los Angeles, CA purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, the impacts to be evaluated, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, and the methodologies to be used in the Scoping DOT. evaluations should be sent to LACMTA ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an on or before November 5, 2007 at the The FTA and LACMTA invite all environmental impact statement. address below. See ADDRESSES below for interested individuals and the address to which written public SUMMARY: The Federal Transit organizations, public agencies, and comments may be sent. Public scoping Administration (FTA) and the Los Native American Tribes to comment on meetings to accept comments on the Angeles County Metropolitan the scope of the EIS, including the scope of the EIS/EIR will be held on the Transportation Authority (LACMTA) project’s purpose and need, the following dates: alternatives to be studied, the impacts to intend to prepare an Environmental • Monday, October 15, 2007, from 6 Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed be evaluated, and the evaluation p.m. to 8 p.m., at Darby Park, 3400 W. methods to be used. Comments should Crenshaw-Prairie Transit Corridor Arbor Vitae Street, Inglewood, CA Project. The proposed project would focus on: Alternatives that may be less 90305. costly or have less environmental or provide for transit improvements within • Wednesday, October 17, 2007, from community impacts while achieving the Crenshaw-Prairie Corridor, which 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Nate Holden extends approximately 10 miles from similar transportation objectives, and Performing Arts Center, 4718 W. the identification of any significant Wilshire Boulevard on the north to El Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA Segundo Boulevard on the south. social, economic, or environmental 90016. issues relating to the alternatives. The study area for the project • Saturday, October 20, 2007, from 9 includes portions of five jurisdictions: a.m. to 11 a.m., at Audubon Middle Purpose and Need for the Project the Cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, School, 4120 11th Avenue, Los Angeles, The project purpose is to improve Hawthorne, El Segundo, as well as CA 90008. portions of unincorporated Los Angeles The project’s purpose and need, and public transit service and mobility in County, California. The study area is the initial set of alternatives proposed the Crenshaw-Prairie Corridor between generally defined as the area extending for study will be presented at these Wilshire and El Segundo Boulevards. north to Wilshire Boulevard, east to meetings. The buildings used for the The overall goal of the proposed project Arlington Avenue, south to El Segundo scoping meetings are accessible to is to improve mobility in the corridor by Boulevard, and west to Sepulveda and persons with disabilities. Any connecting with existing lines such as La Tijera Boulevards. A variety of land individual who requires special the Metro Green Line or approved uses exist within the study area assistance, such as a sign language transit lines, such as the Exposition including single- and multi-family interpreter, to participate in a scoping Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line (under residences and commercial uses north meeting should contact Ms. Susan construction). The proposed project is of the Interstate 10 (I–10) freeway and Gilmore, Los Angeles County included in the current LACMTA Long- south of Slauson Avenue, commercial Metropolitan Transportation Authority Range Transportation Plan and in the uses along Crenshaw Boulevard and in (LACMTA) at 213–922–7287, or Southern California Association of Hawthorne, industrial and public land [email protected]. Governments’ 2004 Regional uses in Inglewood and El Segundo, as Scoping materials will be available at Transportation Plan (http:// well as redevelopment areas in Los the meetings and are available on the www.scag.ca.gov/rtp2004/2004/Final/ Angeles, Inglewood, and Hawthorne. LACMTA Web site (www.metro.net/ 07RTPProjectList.xls). The EIS will be prepared in crenshaw). Hard copies of the scoping Mobility issues in this corridor have accordance with the requirements of the materials may also be obtained from Ms. been well documented in many studies, National Environmental Policy Act Susan Gilmore, Los Angeles County including the Crenshaw-Prairie Corridor (NEPA) and its implementing Metropolitan Transportation Authority Preliminary Planning Study (1994), the regulations. The Draft EIS will be (LACMTA) at 213–922–7287, or Route Refinement Study (2000), and the combined with the planning [email protected]. An interagency Major Investment Study (MIS) (2003). Alternatives Analysis required by 49 scoping meeting will be held on These reports are available for review on U.S.C. 5309 for New Starts-funded Tuesday, October 16, 2007 from 1 p.m. the LACMTA Web site (http:// projects. LACMTA will also use the EIS to 3 p.m. at LACMTA, One Gateway www.metro.net/crenshaw). Additional document to comply with the California Plaza (Gateway Conference Room, 3rd considerations supporting the project’s Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Floor), Los Angeles, CA 90012. need include:

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