Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 1 / Monday, January 3, 2011 / Notices 207 the SPR funds apportioned annually CTA operates the rapid transit system in a.m. at CTA Headquarters, in must be used for research, development, Cook County, Illinois. The proposed Conference Room 2A, 567 W. Lake and technology transfer activities. In project, described more completely Street, Chicago, IL 60661. accordance with government-wide grant within, would bring the North Red and Representatives of Native American management procedures, a grant Purple lines up to a state of good repair Tribal governments and Federal, State, application must be submitted for these from the track structure immediately regional, and local agencies that may funds. In addition, recipients must north of Belmont Station in Chicago, have an interest in any aspect of the submit periodic progress and financial Illinois to the Linden terminal in project will be invited to be reports. In lieu of Standard Form 424, Wilmette, Illinois. The purpose of this participating or cooperating agencies, as Application for Federal Assistance, the Notice of Intent is to (1) alert interested appropriate. FHWA uses a work program as the grant parties regarding the intent to prepare ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted application. The information contained the EIS, (2) to provide information on at the public scoping meetings or they in the work program includes task the nature of the proposed project and may be sent to Mr. Steve Hands, descriptions, assignments of possible alternatives, and (3) to invite Strategic Planning and Policy, Chicago responsibility for conducting the work public participation in the EIS process. Transit Authority, P.O. Box 7602, effort, and estimated costs for the tasks. DATES: Written comments on the scope Chicago, IL 60680–7602, or via e-mail at This information is necessary to of the EIS, including the project’s [email protected]. determine how FHWA planning and purpose and need, the alternatives to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. research funds will be utilized by the considered, the impacts to be evaluated, Reginald Arkell, Community Planner, State Transportation Departments and if and the methodologies to be used in the Federal Transit Administration, Region the proposed work is eligible for Federal evaluations should be sent to CTA on or V, 200 West Adams Street, Suite 320, participation. The content and before February 18, 2011. See Chicago, IL 60606, phone 312–886– frequency of submission of progress and ADDRESSES below for the address to 3704, e-mail [email protected]. which written public comments may be financial reports specified in 23 CFR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: part 420 are specified in OMB Circular sent. Four public scoping meetings to A–102 and the companion common accept comments on the scope of the Scoping grant management regulations. EIS will be held on the following dates: The FTA and CTA invite all • Monday, January 24, 2011; 6 p.m. to Respondents: 52 State Transportation interested individuals and 8:30 p.m.; at St. Augustine College, 1345 Departments, including the District of organizations, public agencies, and Columbia and Puerto Rico. West Argyle Street, Chicago, IL 60640. • Tuesday, January 25, 2011; 6 p.m. Native American Tribes to comment on Frequency: Annual. the scope of the Tier 1 EIS, including Estimated Average Annual Burden to 8:30 p.m.; at the Nicholas Senn High the project’s purpose and need, the per Response: 560 hours per School, 5900 North Glenwood Avenue, alternatives to be studied, the impacts to respondent. Chicago, IL 60660. be evaluated, and the evaluation Estimated Total Annual Burden • Wednesday, January 26, 2011; 6 methods to be used. The Tier 1 EIS will Hours: 29,120 hours. p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at the New Field Primary School, 1707 West Morse be a planning level EIS that will allow Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626. the CTA and FTA to use the National of 1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; • Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 49 CFR 1.48. Thursday, January 27, 2011; 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; at the Fleetwood-Jourdain process as a tool to involve agencies and Issued On: December 22, 2010. Community Center, 1655 Foster Street, the public in the decision making Judith Kane, Evanston, IL 60201. process for the project as well as to Acting Chief, Management Programs and The buildings to be used for the capture any associated or cumulative Analysis Division. scoping meetings are accessible to impacts on the environment. This [FR Doc. 2010–32721 Filed 12–30–10; 8:45 am] persons with disabilities. Any process will ensure that: the complete BILLING CODE P individual who requires special 9.5-mile RPM corridor is analyzed; the assistance or language translation, such EIS is used to help refine and prioritize as a sign language interpreter, to design concepts, and; related DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION participate in the scoping meeting components of the project are grouped should contact Mr. Jeff Wilson, together for future analysis. After this Federal Transit Administration Government and Community Relations Tier 1 EIS process is complete, component projects can each be Intent To Prepare an Environmental Officer, Chicago Transit Authority, at evaluated more specifically with a Impact Statement for Proposed Transit 312–681–2712 or second-tier EIS and/or other NEPA Improvements to the North Red and [email protected], five days environmental documentation as Purple Lines, Cook County, IL prior to the meeting. Scoping materials describing the needed. These ensuing NEPA AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, project purpose and need and the documents can reference and U.S. Department of Transportation. alternatives proposed for analysis will summarize information from the Tier 1 ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an be available at the meetings and on the EIS and concentrate on the issues Environmental Impact Statement. CTA Web site http:// specific to the subsequent actions (40 www.transitchicago.com/rpmproject. CFR 1502.20). Comments should SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Paper copies of the scoping materials address (1) the project’s priorities and Administration (FTA), as the lead may also be obtained from Mr. Jeff appropriate cost-effective alternatives Federal agency, and the Chicago Transit Wilson, Government and Community and components, and (2) any significant Authority (CTA) intend to prepare a Relations Officer, Chicago Transit environmental impacts relating to the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement Authority, at 312–681–2712 or alternatives. (Tier 1 EIS) for the North Red and [email protected]. NEPA ‘‘scoping’’ (40 CFR 1501.7) has Purple Line Modernization (RPM) An interagency scoping meeting will specific and fairly limited objectives, Project in Cook County, Illinois. The be held on Monday, January 24 at 10:30 one of which is to identify the VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:48 Dec 30, 2010 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00127 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03JAN1.SGM 03JAN1 jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES 208 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 1 / Monday, January 3, 2011 / Notices significant issues associated with over 19% of all weekday and 23% of all into a minimal state of good repair. It alternatives that will be examined in weekend CTA rail trips, could not be would provide adequate service for the detail in the Tier 1 EIS, while accommodated either on the currently next 20 years. The stations, viaducts, simultaneously limiting consideration congested road network or through bus and other structural elements would not and development of issues that are not transportation alternatives; and the be brought up to modern standards and truly significant. It is in the NEPA project area population is growing, would only meet minimal ADA scoping process that potentially highly transit-reliant, and diverse. requirements. Upgrades would be made significant environmental impacts— to signals and communication systems. Project Location and Environmental those that give rise to the need to The number of stations and station Setting prepare an environmental impact entrances would remain at 21 and 23, statement—should be identified; The project area extends from the respectively. impacts that are deemed not to be track structure immediately north of Evanston Branch: The Evanston significant need not be developed Belmont station to Linden station, Branch, between Linden Terminal and extensively in the context of the impact which is approximately 9.5 miles and Howard Station, is the northern section statement, thereby keeping the includes 21 stations and two rail yards, of the study area and is approximately statement focused on impacts of the Howard Yard and the Linden Yard. 3.8 miles long. This segment currently consequence. Transit projects may also Currently, the Red and Purple Lines has 2 operating tracks with 8 stations generate environmental benefits; these operate beside each other on 4 tracks for (not including Howard). Only one should be highlighted as well—the 5.7 miles from north of Belmont station station would be renovated to impact statement process should draw to Howard station, of which 1.9 miles is accommodate 8 car trains; two stations attention to positive impacts, not just located on steel elevated structure and which are already accessible would negative impacts. 3.8 miles on earthen embankment. The receive minor repairs; the other six Once the scoping process is Purple Line operates alone on 2 tracks stations would be renovated to meet completed,