10796 Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 46 / Friday, March 8, 2002 / Notices
published on December 31, 2001 (66 FR Type of Request: Extension of a DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 67621). currently approved collection. Federal Transit Administration DATES: Comments must be submitted on Affected Public: Businesses. or before April 8, 2002. Form(s): N/A. Preparation of Environmental Impact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Abstract: The information gained Statement on North Shore Transit Robert Brogan, Office of Planning and from daily inspections is used to detect Improvements Between Revere and Evaluation Division, RRS–21, Federal Salem, MA and correct equipment problems so as to Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont prevent collisions, derailments, and AGENCY: Ave., NW., Mail Stop 17, Washington, Federal Transit Administration DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6292), other occurrences involving railroad (FTA), U.S. Department of or Dian Deal, Office of Information passenger equipment that cause injury Transportation (DOT). Technology and Productivity or death to railroad employees, railroad ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Improvement, RAD–20, Federal passengers, or to the general public; and environmental impact statement. to mitigate the consequences of any Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont SUMMARY: The Federal Transit such occurrences, to the extent that they Ave., NW., Mail Stop 35, Washington, Administration (FTA) is issuing this can not be prevented. The information DC 20590 (telephone: (202) 493–6133). notice to advise agencies and the public (These telephone numbers are not toll- provided promotes passenger train that, in accordance with the National free.) safety by ensuring requirements are met Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FTA SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The for railroad passenger equipment design and the Massachusetts Bay Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and performance; fire safety; emergency Transportation Authority (MBTA), will (PRA), Public Law 104–13, § 2, 109 Stat. systems; the inspection, testing, and prepare an environmental impact 163 (1995) (codified as revised at 44 maintenance of passenger equipment; statement (EIS) to evaluate transit U.S.C. 3501–3520), and its and other provisions for the safe improvements, including a potential implementing regulations, 5 CFR part operation of railroad passenger rapid transit service extension, in the 1320, require Federal agencies to issue equipment. North Shore Corridor from Revere to two notices seeking public comment on Annual Estimated Burden Hours: Salem, Massachusetts. information collection activities before 84,060. DATES: One public scoping meeting in OMB may approve paperwork packages. the City of Lynn will be held in April, 44 U.S.C. 3506, 3507; 5 CFR 1320.5, ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding 2002. Details as to the specific location, 1320.8(d)(1), 1320.12. On December 31, these information collections to the date, and time of the public scoping 2001, FRA published a 60-day notice in Office of Information and Regulatory meeting will be advertised in local the Federal Register soliciting comment Affairs, Office of Management and newspapers and other media. An on ICRs that the agency was seeking Budget, 725 Seventeenth Street, NW., interagency scoping meeting will be OMB approval. 66 FR 67621. FRA Washington, DC, 20503; Attention: FRA held on March 27, 2002 in the Volpe received no comments in response to Desk Officer. National Transportation Systems Center. this notice. Comments are invited on the See ADDRESSES below. Written Before OMB decides whether to following: Whether the proposed comments on the scope of the EIS, approve these proposed collections of collections of information are necessary including the alternatives to be considered and the impacts to be information, it must provide 30 days for for the proper performance of the studied, may be sent to Stephen M. public comment. 44 U.S.C. 3507(b); 5 functions of FRA, including whether the Woelfel, Project Manager, MBTA, by CFR 1320.12(d). Federal law requires information will have practical utility; OMB to approve or disapprove April 19, 2002. See ADDRESSES below. the accuracy of FRA’s estimates of the paperwork packages between 30 and 60 burden of the proposed information ADDRESSES: Written comments on the days after the 30 day notice is collections; ways to enhance the quality, project scope should be sent to Stephen published. 44 U.S.C. 3507 (b)–(c); 5 CFR Woelfel, Project Manager, Planning 1320.12(d); see also 60 FR 44978, 44983, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the Department, Massachusetts Bay Aug. 29, 1995. OMB believes that the 30 Transportation Authority, burden of the collections of information day notice informs the regulated Massachusetts Transportation Building, on respondents, including the use of community to file relevant comments 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116. and affords the agency adequate time to automated collection techniques or Telephone: (617) 222–5237; fax: (617) digest public comments before it other forms of information technology. 222–6181. The interagency scoping renders a decision. 60 FR 44983, Aug. A comment to OMB is best assured of meeting will be held on March 27, 2002 29, 1995. Therefore, respondents should having its full effect if OMB receives it at 10 a.m. in the Volpe National submit their respective comments to within 30 days of publication of this Transportation Systems Center, Kendall OMB within 30 days of publication to notice in the Federal Register. Square, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA best ensure having their full effect. 5 Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520. 02142. All scoping meetings will be CFR 1320.12(c); see also 60 FR 44983, held in wheelchair-accessible locations. Aug. 29, 1995. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 1, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. The summaries below describe the 2002. Peter S. Butler, Federal Transit nature of the information collection Kathy A. Weiner, Administration, (617) 494–2729. requirements (ICRs) and the expected Director, Office of Information Technology, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: burden. The revised requirements are and Support Systems, Federal Railroad being submitted for clearance by OMB Administration. I. Scoping as required by the PRA. [FR Doc. 02–5519 Filed 3–7–02; 8:45 am] FTA and MBTA will establish the Title: Passenger Equipment Safety BILLING CODE 4910–06–P scope of the EIS for the North Shore Standards. Corridor after consulting with Federal, OMB Control Number: 2130–0544. State, and local resource and regulatory
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agencies through meetings and Wonderland Connector Feasibility Alternative 1: No-Action correspondence, and after hearing from Study. In the MIS process, a steering This Alternative consists of no change the general public. Interested committee of municipalities and interest to existing facilities in the North Shore individuals, organizations, and agencies groups has reaffirmed the need, which Corridor. It serves as the NEPA baseline are invited to participate in defining the was identified in these previous studies, against which the transportation, alternatives to be evaluated and related for greater access to Boston and the environmental, and community impacts issues of concern. Written comments on employment centers on the North Shore. of the other alternatives are compared. the alternatives and potential impacts to Particular attention has focused on the Existing transportation facilities consist be considered should be sent to Stephen inadequacy of existing services to meet of the MBTA Blue Line and various Woelfel at the MBTA. the demand for access to the cities of local and express bus routes. II. Description of Corridor and Lynn and Salem, which are important Additionally, the Rockport and Transportation Needs destination centers within the Corridor. Newburyport Commuter Rail Lines In the case of commuter rail, the current The existing transportation system in provide commuter-oriented service to the Boston-Salem Corridor consists of a system cannot support higher frequency seventeen stations in the North Shore. network of limited-access highways, service, and various bus options may Principle highway facilities in the study arterials, and local streets as well as not overcome congestion on the area include Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1, various transit services provided by the Corridor’s roadway network. The State Route 128, and State Route 1A. MBTA. MBTA’s experience with express bus The No Action Alternative further service in the Corridor suggests that consists of the transportation network Roadway Network commuters are looking for more contained in the Regional There are no major highways that frequent and quicker service. Transportation Plan for the year 2010 in service two primary business Consequently, these cities have the absence of any other transportation communities in this corridor, Lynn and identified rapid transit investment as improvements in the study corridor. Salem. The local roadways provide poor the way to address their transportation Alternative 2: Transportation System levels of service. Prior planning efforts limitations and to promote greater Management to address these accessibility issues economic development opportunities. have included possible highway The rapid transit investment that has This alternative consists of all reasonable cost-effective transit service connections to the cities of Lynn and been favored is an extension of Blue improvements not requiring major new Salem. This work has failed to produce Line service from the existing terminus construction. This alternative includes viable highway alternatives because of in Revere. It is recognized that the improvements such as reduced community, environmental, and possible rapid transit routes for a Blue commuter rail headways in off-peak financial constraints. Limited access to Line extension would result in these cities has impacted the ability of hours, extended service hours and significant environmental impacts, and residents to reach employment reduced headways for express and local as such, would require the preparation opportunities in Boston, and it has bus service, and other low-cost traffic of an EIS. The EIS will focus on prevented these business centers from and transit system upgrades on available extending rapid transit into the Corridor reaching their full potential. streets and highways. between Boston and Salem. Transit Network Accordingly, the study area will be Alternative 3: Blue Line extension to The MBTA is the primary provider of comprised of the following Salem via the Eastern Route Main Line mass transit service in this area. This communities: The City of Boston and This alternative involves the Corridor is serviced by commuter rail nine other cities/town including extension of the Blue Line from the City along the Eastern Route Main Line that Chelsea, Lynn, Marblehead, Nahant, of Revere to the City of Salem along the extends from Boston to Newburyport Revere, Salem, Saugus, Swampscott, Eastern Route Main Line with a shared and Rockport. Rapid transit service is and Winthrop. use for MBTA commuter rail service. provided on the Blue Line between The MIS, which is currently expected Alternative 4: Blue Line Extension to Bowdoin Station in downtown Boston to be completed in June of 2002, will Salem via the Narrow Gauge and and Wonderland Station in Revere (Blue continue to address issues of a regional Eastern Route Main Line Alignment Line terminus). The MBTA also operates nature that encompass the entire 32 local and express bus routes in this community study area and all modes of This Alternative involves the Corridor. transit. The EIS process is an integral extension of the Blue Line from the City Over the past several years, the MBTA part of the MIS process because it will of Revere to the City of Salem utilizing has made a substantial investment in provide additional detail regarding the the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn the rehabilitation of the commuter and Blue Line extension options, which Narrow Gauge Alignment and the Blue Line systems. Despite these received high ratings and support in the Eastern Route Main Line with a shared improvements, public transit has not initial MIS screening phases. use for MBTA commuter rail service; sufficiently improved mobility within this Corridor, and it holds limited III. Alternatives Alternative 5: Blue Line and Commuter potential to fully address this issue. Rail Intermodal Facility Further public transportation A preferred alternative has not been In lieu of a Blue Line extension north improvements have been considered selected at this point. The public to Salem, this alternative involves the through several different planning comment process will provide input construction of a new intermodal efforts including the MBTA’s current into the selection and a preferred facility that would provide a passenger Major Investment Study (MIS). The MIS alternative will be identified in the connection between the Blue Line and has been developed around the findings Final EIS. commuter rail service in the vicinity of of studies that were completed in the For consideration in the Draft EIS, the the existing Blue Line terminus at 1990’s including the North Shore FTA and the MBTA propose that the Wonderland Station in the City of Transportation Study and the following five alternatives be evaluated: Revere.
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All of the alternatives listed above, as the MBTA seeks § 5309 New Starts Auberry. In agreement with FTA, RT well as other alternatives suggested funding for the project and will planned to build the LPA in phases. during scoping, will be considered therefore be subject to the FTA New Phase 1 is currently under construction during the development of the draft EIS. Starts regulation (49 CFR part 611) and extends light rail from downtown Prior to the completion of the draft EIS, which was published in the Federal Sacramento for 6.5 miles to it is expected that a screening process Register on December 7, 2000 (65 FR Meadowview Road, with seven stations will consider each alternative’s 76864) and became effective on April 6, at Broadway, 4th Avenue/Wayne potential benefits, costs, and impacts. 2001. This New Starts regulation Hultgren, City College, Fruitridge, 47th The EIS will also consider any requires the submission of certain Avenue, Florin, and Meadowview. additional reasonable alternatives specified information to FTA to support Revenue service for Phase 1 is identified during scoping that provide an MBTA request to initiate preliminary anticipated to begin in September 2003. similar transportation benefits while engineering, which is normally done in The proposed Phase 2 would extend reducing or avoiding adverse impacts. conjunction with the NEPA process. light rail approximately five miles from Meadowview Road to Calvine/Auberry. Issued on: March 4, 2002. IV. Public Involvement To date, five stations have been A comprehensive public involvement Richard H. Doyle, identified at Franklin Boulevard, Center program has been developed. The FTA Regional Administrator. Parkway (optional), Cosumnes River program includes: Outreach to local and [FR Doc. 02–5637 Filed 3–7–02; 8:45 am] College/College Square, Power Inn Road county officials and community and BILLING CODE 4910–57–P (optional), and Calvine/Auberry. The civic groups; a public scoping process to proposed Phase 2 light rail extension define the issues of concern among all would follow the Union Pacific Railroad parties interested in the project; a public DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (UPRR) right-of-way south from hearing on release of the draft EIS; and Meadowview Road, turn east along the Federal Transit Administration development and distribution of project proposed extension of Cosumnes River newsletters. Environmental Impact Statement: Boulevard, follow the Boulevard to V. Probable Effects and Potential South Corridor Phase 2 in Sacramento, Bruceville Road, turn south along Impacts for Analysis CA Bruceville Road to serve Cosumnes River College/College Square The FTA and the MBTA will evaluate AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, development, turn east to cross State all environmental, social, and economic DOT. Route 99, and terminate at a station at impacts of the alternatives analyzed in ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Calvine/Auberry. the EIS. The impact areas to be Supplemental Environmental Impact The SEIS/SEIR will evaluate a No- addressed include: noise and vibration; Statement (SEIS). Action Alternative, a future ‘‘New land use; visual/aesthetic values; Starts’’ Baseline Alternative, the Phase 2 ecosystems; cultural and historical SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Light Rail Extension Alternative, and resources; water quality, floodplains, Administration (FTA) and the additional alternatives that emerge from and drainage; air quality; traffic and Sacramento Regional Transit District the scoping process. Scoping will be parking; hazardous materials; utilities; (RT) intend to prepare a Supplemental accomplished through correspondence energy use and conservation; public Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and discussions with interested persons; safety and security; and community and in accordance with the National community organizations; federal, state economic impacts. The EIS will Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a and local agencies; and through public evaluate potential environmental justice Subsequent Environmental Impact meetings. issues as well as secondary, cumulative, Report (SEIR) in accordance with the DATES: Comment Due Date: Written and construction-related impacts. The California Environmental Quality Act comments on the scope of alternatives need for right-of-way acquisitions and (CEQA) for a proposed light rail and impacts to be considered in the relocations will also be evaluated. extension in the South Sacramento SEIS/SEIR must be received no later Alternative alignments, designs, station Corridor from Meadowview Road to than May 15, 2002, and must be sent to locations, and other measures to avoid, Calvine Road at Auberry Road (Calvine/ RT at the address indicated below. minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts Auberry). will be developed and evaluated. The proposed light rail transit mode Scoping Meetings and alignment were selected in 1995 by Public scoping meetings will be held VI. FTA Procedures the RT Board of Directors as the Locally on: (1) March 25, 2002 from 5:30 p.m. In accordance with FTA policy, all Preferred Alternative (LPA) following to 8:00 p.m. at Cosumnes River College Federal laws, regulations, and executive completion in 1994 of an Alternatives Recital Hall, 8401 Center Parkway, orders affecting project development, Analysis/Draft EIS/Draft EIR (AA/DEIS/ Sacramento, CA 95823 and (2) April 11, including but not limited to the DEIR) for the South Sacramento 2002 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the regulations of the Council on Corridor. Seven transit alternatives Pannell Center located at 2450 Environmental Quality and FTA (including bus, high-occupancy vehicle, Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts and rail modes) with various alignment 95832. The formal scoping meetings 1500–1508, and 23 CFR part 771), the and station locations were evaluated in will be preceded by an open house (5:30 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the AA/DEIS/DEIR). The LPA was to 6:30 pm), allowing for the public to section 404 of the Clean Water Act, included in the Sacramento Area discuss the SEIS/SEIR work scope, Executive Order 12898 regarding Council of Government’s Metropolitan process, proposed project, and environmental justice, the National Transportation Plan. alternatives with RT staff and Historic Preservation Act, the The LPA (called the Low/UPRR consultants. A brief presentation will be Endangered Species Act, and section Alignment in the AA/DEIS/DEIR) is an given at 6:30 p.m., beginning the formal 4(f) of the DOT Act, will be addressed 11.5-mile extension to the existing light scoping meeting. Graphic presentations to the maximum extent practicable rail system beginning in downtown and scoping materials will be provided during the NEPA process. In addition, Sacramento and extending to Calvine/ to assist the public in understanding the
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