Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices 12445

received into any of our dockets by the public participation in the EIS process ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted name of the individual submitting the (including providing comments on the at the public scoping meetings or they comment (or signing the comment, if scope of the Draft Environmental Impact may be sent to Ms. Dolores Roybal submitted on behalf of an association, Statement (DEIS), to announce that Saltarelli, AICP, Project Manager, Los business, labor union, etc.). You may public scoping meetings will be Angeles County Metropolitan review DOT’s complete Privacy Act conducted, and to identify participating Transportation Authority, One Gateway Statement in the Federal Register and cooperating agency contacts. Plaza, Mail Stop? Los Angeles, CA published on April 11, 2000 (Volume DATES: Written comments on the scope 90012, or via e-mail at 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–78). of the EIS, including the project’s [email protected]. The locations of the Issued in Washington, DC on March 18, purpose and need, the alternatives to be public scoping meetings are given above 2009. considered, the impacts to be evaluated, under DATES. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., and the methodologies to be used in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety evaluations should be sent to LACMTA Ray Tellis, Team Leader, Los Angeles Standards and Program Development. on or before May 11, 2009 at the address Metropolitan Office, Federal Transit ADDRESSES [FR Doc. E9–6400 Filed 3–23–09; 8:45 am] below. See below for the Administration, 888 South Figueroa address to which written public BILLING CODE 4910–06–P Street, Suite 1850, Los Angeles, CA comments may be sent. Public scoping 90017, phone (213) 202–3950, e-mail meetings to accept comments on the [email protected]. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION scope of the EIS/EIR will be held on the following dates: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: • Federal Transit Administration Monday, March 30, 2009; 4:30 p.m. Scoping to 6 p.m.; at the University of Southern Intent To Prepare an Environmental California (USC), Alumni Room, The FTA and LACMTA invite all Impact Statement for Proposed Transit Davidson Conference Center, 3415 S interested individuals and Improvements in the Regional Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90007. organizations, public agencies, and Connector Transit Corridor, Los • Tuesday, March 31, 2009; 6:30 p.m. Native American Tribes to comment on Angeles, CA to 8 p.m.; at the Lake Avenue Church, the scope of the EIS, including the 393 N Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA project’s purpose and need, the AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, 91101. alternatives to be studied, the impacts to DOT. • Wednesday, April 1, 2009; 6:30 be evaluated, and the evaluation ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an p.m. to 8 p.m.; at the Japanese American methods to be used. Comments should environmental impact statement. National Museum (JANM), 369 E 1st focus on: Alternatives that may be less Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. costly or have less environmental or SUMMARY: The Federal Transit • Thursday, April 2, 2009; Noon to community impacts while achieving Administration (FTA) and the Los 1:30 p.m.; at the Los Angeles Central similar transportation objectives, and Angeles County Metropolitan Library, Board Room, 630 W 5th Street, the identification of any significant Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Los Angeles, CA 90071. social, economic, or environmental intends to prepare an environmental The project’s purpose and need and issues relating to the alternatives. impact statement (EIS) for the Regional the description of alternatives for the Project Initiation Connector Transit Corridor Project in proposed project will be presented at Los Angeles County, California. these meetings. The buildings used for The FTA and LACMTA will prepare LACMTA operates the Metro transit the scoping meetings are accessible to an Environmental Impact Statement/ system in Los Angeles County. The persons with disabilities. Any Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) proposed project would provide a direct individual who requires special for the Regional Connector Transit link connecting several light rail service assistance, such as a sign language Corridor pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 139 and lines in operation or in construction interpreter, to participate in the scoping the California Environmental Quality through downtown Los Angeles, CA. meeting should contact Ms. Ann Act (CEQA). LACMTA is serving as the The project area lies entirely within Kerman, Community Relations Manager, local lead agency for purposes of CEQA the City of Los Angeles and is within LACMTA, at (213) 922–7671, or environmental clearance, and FTA is the densely developed downtown core [email protected]. serving as the federal lead agency for that includes multi-family residences, Scoping materials will be available at purposes of National Environmental industrial and public lands, commercial the meetings and on the LACMTA Web Policy Act (NEPA) environmental and retail establishments, government site (http://www.metro.net/ clearance. This notice shall alert office buildings, and private high-rise regionalconnector). Paper copies of the interested parties to the preparation of office towers. scoping materials may also be obtained the EIS/EIR, describe the alternatives The EIS will be prepared in from Ms. Ann Kerman, Community under consideration, invite public accordance with the requirements of the Relations Manager, LACMTA, at (213) participation in the EIS/EIR process, National Environmental Policy Act 922–7671, or [email protected]. An and announce the public scoping (NEPA) and its implementing interagency scoping meeting will be meetings. FTA and LACMTA will invite regulations. LACMTA will also use the held on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at interested Federal, State, tribal, regional EIS document to comply with the 1:30 p.m. at LACMTA, in the Gateway and local government agencies to be California Environmental Quality Act Plaza Room, One Gateway Plaza, Los participating agencies under the (CEQA), which requires an Angeles, CA 90012. Representatives of provisions of section 6002 of Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The Native American tribal governments and SAFETEA–LU. purpose of this notice is to alert of all Federal, State, regional and local interested parties regarding the intent to agencies that may have an interest in Purpose and Need for the Project prepare the EIS, to provide information any aspect of the project will be invited The purpose of this project is to on the nature of the proposed project to be participating or cooperating improve the region’s public transit and possible alternatives, to invite agencies, as appropriate. service and mobility. The overall goal of

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the project is to improve mobility Flower Street) to the Metro Gold Line few blocks so as to provide full coverage within the corridor by connecting to the (Pasadena and Eastside) at the Little of the area. Each shuttle route would be light rail service of the Metro Gold Line Tokyo/Arts District Station at 1st Street one and one-half to two miles in length. to Pasadena, the Metro Gold Line and Alameda Street. This connection At-Grade Emphasis LRT Alternative: Eastside Extension, the Metro Blue Line, would provide through service between This alternative would extend from the and the Metro Expo Line. This link the Metro Blue Line to Long Beach, the underground 7th Street/Metro Center would serve communities across the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena and East Station, head north under Flower Street, region, allowing greater accessibility Los Angeles, and the Metro Expo Line surface to at-grade north of 5th Street, while serving population and to Culver City. With the implementation cross 3rd Street, enter Bunker Hill, and employment growth in downtown Los of the Regional Connector project, these turn northeast through a new entrance Angeles. Mobility issues throughout the four lines would share tracks and to the existing 2nd Street tunnel. The region and the identified need to join stations in downtown Los Angeles. alignment would continue along 2nd the unconnected segments of the light The various alternatives to be Street where it would split into an at- rail system have been documented in considered for the Regional Connector grade couplet configuration on Main several past studies, including the project generally traverse Flower Street and Los Angeles Streets (one track on Pasadena—Los Angeles Light Rail north from 7th Street, 2nd Street each roadway) to Temple Street. Then it Transit Project Environmental Impact between Flower and Alameda, Main and would head east on Temple Street and Report (1993), the Blue Line Connection Los Angeles Streets between Temple realign into a dual track configuration Preliminary Planning Study (1993), and Street and 2nd Street, Temple Street just north of the Metro Gold Line Little the Regional Light Rail Connector Study between City Hall and Alameda Street, Tokyo/Arts District Station on Alameda (2004). and Alameda Street between U.S. Street. Due to the high volume of trains Additional considerations supporting Highway 101 and 2nd Street. that would traverse the Regional the need for the Regional Connector Connector, an automobile underpass Alternatives Transit Corridor project include: and pedestrian overpass would be Increased travel times and station The Regional Connector Transit constructed at the intersection of overcrowding occurring due to multiple Corridor Final Alternatives Analysis Temple and Alameda Streets to transfers required to traverse the project Report (2009) prepared by LACMTA eliminate pedestrian-train and area; a project area that has many transit identified four alternatives for further automobile-train conflicts. dependent residents; poor system consideration in the EIS/EIR. The four There are two options for the connectivity that results in reduced alternatives include: A No-Build configuration on Flower Street. For system schedule reliability as current Alternative, Transportation System Option A, trains would transition to system expansions are completed; and Management (TSM) Alternative, At- underground tracks after crossing 3rd investments within the project area Grade Emphasis LRT Alternative, and Street and continue to a new could improve system-wide operations Underground Emphasis LRT underground station just south of 5th in regards to travel times and safety Alternative. Street, then proceed to the 7th Street/ issues. No-Build Alternative: The No Build Metro Center Station and arrive at the Alternative would maintain existing existing Metro Blue Line platform. For Project Location and Environmental transit service through the year 2030. No Option B, trains would arrive at an at- Setting new transportation infrastructure would grade station after crossing 3rd Street, The proposed light rail transit (LRT) be built within the project area aside then transition to underground tracks project lies entirely within the City of from projects currently under near 4th Street to reach the existing Los Angeles and is generally bounded construction, or funded for construction Metro Blue Line platform at 7th Street/ by U.S. Highway 101 on the north, 7th and operation by 2030 by recently Metro Center station. In total, the At- and 9th Streets on the south, Alameda approved Measure R sales tax. Bus Grade Emphasis LRT Alternative would Street on the east, and State Route 110 transit service under the No Build add 1.8 miles of new double track to the on the west. Project length is just under Alternative would be focused on the light rail system. two miles and the LRT alternatives preservation of existing services and In addition to the Option A and would have up to four stations plus projects. By the projection year of 2030, Option B Station configurations, other ancillary facilities including power some bus service would have been station locations would include a substations. The project area is the reorganized and expanded to provide station adjacent to Bunker Hill, south of largest regional employment center in connections with the new rail lines; 2nd Street and Hope Street, and a split Los Angeles County, and is densely however, the transit network within the station using Main and Los Angeles developed with multi-family residences, project area would largely be the same Streets between 1st and Temple Streets. industrial and public lands, commercial as it is now. A fourth optional station on 2nd Street and retail establishments, government Transportation Systems Management between Broadway and Los Angeles office buildings, and private high-rise (TSM) Alternative: The TSM Alternative Street will be analyzed. office towers. would include the provisions of the No Underground Emphasis LRT The proposed Regional Connector Build Alternative and add two shuttle Alternative: From the 7th Street/Metro project would provide a direct link bus routes from 7th Street/Metro Center Center Station, this alternative would connecting several light rail service station to Union Station providing a link extend north along Flower Street with a lines in operation or in construction between the region’s unconnected LRT new underground station north of 5th (i.e., the Metro Gold Line to Pasadena, services, one along Grand Ave. and 1st Street. At 2nd Street, the underground the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, St., and one along Figueroa, Flower, tunnel would extend east with new the Metro Blue Line, and the Metro 2nd, and 3rd Streets. The shuttle buses underground stations to provide access Expo Line). The proposed project would would use existing bus-only lanes, to Bunker Hill and to the area between create a connection in downtown Los where available, and would be fitted Los Angeles Street and Broadway. The Angeles that would link the Metro Blue with transit-priority signalization tunnel would emerge to at-grade and Expo Lines termini at 7th Street/ devices similar to those used on Metro connections just southwest of the Metro Center Station (7th Street and Rapid. Stops would be located every intersection of 1st and Alameda Streets.

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At 1st and Alameda Streets, a new participation in, and comment on, the include, but are not limited to, the underpass would carry car and truck environmental review process. An environmental and public hearing traffic along Alameda Street below the invitation to become a participating or provisions of Federal transit laws (49 rail junction, and a new overhead cooperating agency, with scoping U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324); the pedestrian bridge structure would materials appended, will be extended to project-level air quality conformity eliminate most conflicts between other Federal and non-Federal agencies regulation of the U.S. Environmental pedestrians and trains. This Alternative and Native American tribes that may Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part would have a single at-grade crossing at have an interest in the proposed project. 93); the section 404(b)(1) guidelines of the intersection of 1st and Alameda It is possible that FTA and LACMTA EPA (40 CFR part 230); the regulation Streets. The rest of the route would be will not be able to identify all Federal implementing section 106 of the underground. The length of this and non-Federal agencies and Native National Historic Preservation Act (36 proposed route would be 1.6 miles. American tribes that may have such an CFR part 800); the regulation Station locations for this alternative interest. Any Federal or non-Federal implementing section 7 of the would all be underground and include agency or Native American tribe Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part the area north of 5th Street on Flower interested in the proposed project that 402); section 4(f) of the Department of Street, adjacent to Bunker Hill just south does not receive an invitation to become Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135); of 2nd Street and 2nd Street between a participating agency should notify at and Executive Orders 12898 on Los Angeles and Main Streets. the earliest opportunity the Project environmental justice, 11988 on Probable Effects Manager identified above under floodplain management, and 11990 on ADDRESSES. wetlands. The purpose of this EIS/EIR process is A comprehensive public involvement Issued on: March 19, 2009. to study, in a public setting, the effects program and a Coordination Plan for of the proposed project and its public and interagency involvement Leslie T. Rogers, alternatives on the physical, human, will be developed for the project and Regional Administrator, Region IX, Federal and natural environment. The FTA and posted on LACMTA’s Web site Transit Administration. LACMTA will evaluate all significant (Regional Connector Transit Corridor [FR Doc. E9–6421 Filed 3–23–09; 8:45 am] environmental, social, and economic Project Web page: http:// BILLING CODE 4910–57–P impacts of the construction and www.metro.net/regionalconnector). The operation of the proposed project. public involvement program includes a Impact areas to be addressed include: full range of activities including the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION transportation, land use, zoning and project Web page on the LACMTA Web Federal Transit Administration economic development, secondary site, development and distribution of development, land acquisition, project newsletters, and outreach to Solicitation of Comments and Notice of displacements and relocations, cultural local officials, community and civic Availability of Fiscal Year 2009 resources (including historical, groups, and the public. Specific Funding for Transit Investments for archaeological, and paleontological activities or events for involvement will Greenhouse Gas and Energy resources), parklands/recreational be detailed in the public involvement Reduction Grants facilities, neighborhood compatibility program. and environmental justice, visual and LACMTA may seek New Starts AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, aesthetic impacts, natural resources funding for the proposed project under DOT. (including air quality, noise and 49 United States Code 5309 and will, ACTION: Interim notice of funding vibration, wetlands, water resources, therefore, be subject to New Starts availability, request for comments. geology/soils, and hazardous materials), regulations (49 Code of Federal energy use, safety and security, wildlife, Regulations (CFR) part 611). The New SUMMARY: The American Recovery and and ecosystems. Measures to avoid, Starts regulations also require the Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts submission of certain project- appropriated $100 million for a new will be identified and evaluated. justification information to support a discretionary grant program for public request to initiate preliminary transportation projects that reduce a FTA Procedures engineering. This information is transit system’s greenhouse gas The regulations implementing NEPA, normally developed in conjunction with emissions or result in a decrease in a as well as provisions of the Safe, the NEPA process. Pertinent New Starts transit system’s energy use. Because of Accountable, Flexible, Efficient evaluation criteria will be included in time limitations in ARRA funding, this Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for the EIS. notice announces the availability of the Users (SAFETEA–LU), call for public The EIS will be prepared in new grant program, application involvement in the EIS process. Section accordance with NEPA and its requirements, and deadlines for 6002 of SAFETEA–LU requires that FTA implementing regulations issued by the submitting grant proposals for funding. and LACMTA do the following: (1) Council on Environmental Quality (40 However, because the Transit Extend an invitation to other Federal CFR parts 1500–1508) and with the Investments for Greenhouse Gas and and non-Federal agencies and Native FTA/Federal Highway Administration Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program is American tribes that may have an regulations ‘‘Environmental Impact and a new grant program, FTA also is interest in the proposed project to Related Procedures’’ (23 CFR part 771). accepting comments on the program’s become ‘‘participating agencies;’’ (2) In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) provisions and may alter some of the provide an opportunity for involvement and 771.133, FTA will comply with all requirements in response to comments. by participating agencies and the public Federal environmental laws, DATES: Comments must be received by to help define the purpose and need for regulations, and executive orders April 7, 2009. Late-filed comments will a proposed project, as well as the range applicable to the proposed project be considered to the extent practicable. of alternatives for consideration in the during the environmental review Complete proposals for the TIGGER EIS; and (3) establish a plan for process to the maximum extent Grant Program must be submitted by coordinating public and agency practicable. These requirements May 22, 2009.

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