TTempeempe StreetcarStreetcar 101 N. 1st Avenue Suite 1300 Phoenix, AZ 85003 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT metrolightrail.org

SCOPING BROCHURE

March 2011 What is Tempe Streetcar? Future High Capacity Transit System LEGEND Tempe Streetcar is a 2.6-mile modern streetcar Beardsley Rd 101 line that will operate in a one-way loop between Rio METRO Light Rail Line Light Rail Extension Salado Parkway and University Drive, going north Bell Rd 17 Phoenix Light Rail Extension (Unfunded) on Mill Avenue and south on Ash Avenue through Thunderbird Rd Streetcar Peoria 2026 2031 Streetcar Extension (Unfunded) downtown Tempe. South of University Drive, the Peoria Ave 2023 Future High Capacity / Light 101 Glendale 51 streetcar would continue in both directions on Mill Paradise Rail Corridors for Further Study Northern Ave Valley Note: Dates indicate calendar year openings Avenue to Southern Avenue. Among the areas that 2026 will be served along the route include: downtown Bethany Home Rd

Tempe, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe High Indian School Rd School, St. Luke’s Hospital, as well as several Avondale Scottsdale McDowell Rd 202 Modern streetcar in Seattle 10 2021 202 neighborhoods and a disabled residential complex. Tolleson McKellips Rd Mesa Buckeye Rd The project is scheduled to begin construction in 17 widening. Streetcar would be powered by over- 143 University Dr 2013 and start operating in 2016. head electric lines. Streetcar vehicles are smaller in Broadway Rd 2016 2016 Southern Ave 60 height and width to light rail vehicles and typically Baseline Rd Tempe Streetcar will operate on tracks in mixed Phoenix Tempe operate with a single car instead of two or more Guadalupe Rd automobile traffi c and will not require roadway Gilbert cars joined together. Streetcar would stop every 10 101 Warner Rd Tempe Streetcar Route few blocks similar to local bus service, but has a Chandler Chandler Blvd greater ability to attract new riders and alter the 202 Germann Rd Rio Salado Pkwy. surrounding land use than local bus. Tempe Street- car will connect into and serve the existing transit network of local bus and Orbit as well as connect Central Ave Central 40th St 67th Ave 67th Alma School Rd to the regional bus and light rail system. Ave 51st 99th Ave 99th Ave 83rd Mesa Dr Vista Dr Val Rural Rd Gilbert Rd Price Rd 35th Ave 35th Ave 19th 24th St Downtown University Dr. 56th St Tempe What is scoping and how can Arizona State you become involved? • National Historic Preservation Act On January 8, 2008, METRO and FTA issued a University Apache Blvd. notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register to Because this project is seeking federal funds, it • Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation prepare an Alternatives Analysis/Environmental St. Luke’s must comply with requirements of the National Act (for protection of historic sites and certain Hospital Impact Statement (AA/EIS) pursuant to NEPA. Tempe Broadway Rd. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Federal publicly owned lands) High Public scoping meetings were held on January 29 School Transit Administration (FTA) to suffi ciently • Clean Water Act (Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines and 30, 2008, and an agency scoping meeting evaluate the project merits and possible for Specifi cation of Disposal Sites for Dredged was held on February 7, 2008 to solicit input on environmental impacts. or Fill Material) the range of alternatives and other issues. The process requires, in part, that the project com- • Executive Orders on environmental justice, As the project proceeded through an AA and com- plies, to the maximum extent practicable, with the fl oodplain management, and wetlands munity outreach continued, the Locally Preferred Southern Ave. following federal environmental laws, regulations, Alternative (LPA) became the Tempe Streetcar on and executive orders, as well as other legislation Scoping is the study process designed to inform Mill Avenue. During the AA, the project’s design that may apply to the proposed project. These the community, businesses, residents, agencies, was refi ned to avoid or minimize potential adverse requirements include, but are not limited to: elected offi cials, and other stakeholders about the Rural Rd. Mill Ave. Ash Ave. project. The scoping process is used to solicit the impacts on the environment. As a result, FTA LEGEND • Environmental and public involvement provisions stakeholders input to help determine the scope advised METRO that an Environmental METRO Light Rail Line / Station of federal transit law of issues to be addressed in the environmental Assessment (EA) is the appropriate level of Tempe Streetcar Tempe Streetcar Phase II (Unfunded) • Project-level air quality conformity regulations of document and for identifying the signifi cant issues NEPA documentation for the proposed project. Potential Future Extension (Unfunded) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to the proposed project. FTA also requested that METRO hold a subse- quent scoping meeting that would focus on the The buildings used for the scoping meetings transit (BRT) line on Rural Road to Chandler, which was a relatively expensive option, largely due adopted LPA. are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any will be implemented as funding becomes available. to the cost to build pedestrian and commuter individual who requires special assistance, such access to an isolated rail line. And, fi nally, the The scoping meetings to learn more about the The three-year study evaluated a variety of as a sign language interpreter, to participate in a UPRR BRT had the potential to cause confl ict Tempe Streetcar and to solicit input on issues to alignments and transit modes in the study area scoping meeting should contact Howard Steere with future commuter rail planning efforts now be addressed in the EA will be held as follows: bounded by the Tempe Branch of the Union Pacifi c at 602-322-4476 or [email protected] being studied by the Maricopa Association of Railroad (UPRR) on the west, Loop 202 (Santan at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting so Governments and the Arizona Department Freeway) on the south, Loop 101 (Price Freeway) METRO and the City of Tempe can make the of Transportation. on the east, and Loop 202 (Red Agency Scoping Meeting necessary arrangements. Mountain Freeway) on the north. Tier 2 Alternatives Wednesday, April 6, 2011 8th St 9 – 10 a.m. Why build a high capacity A two-tiered AA was conducted 202 METRO transit project? that included opportunities for Downtown 101 North 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 The purpose and need for the project as identifi ed community and other stake- Tempe University Dr Phoenix, AZ 85003 through community input from study initiation to holder input throughout. Tier 1 143 ASU Apache Blvd the present time is summarized below: consisted of a qualitative analysis Broadway Rd Public Scoping Meeting of a broad range of alternatives. • Enhance connectivity to existing and planned Through this process, alternatives PHOENIX Wednesday, April 6, 2011 major activity centers like downtown Tempe, were eliminated that had fatal Southern Ave 6 – 8 p.m. ASU, cultural and entertainment destinations, fl aws, clearly did not meet project Tempe Transportation Center and emerging mixed-use centers 60 goals, or lacked community Baseline Rd Don Cassano Room support. This left fi ve alternative • Maximize access to employment opportunities MESA 200 East 5th Street options in three corridors (UPRR, TEMPE throughout the region for residents of Tempe GUADALUPE Guadalupe Rd Tempe, AZ 85281 Mill Avenue/Kyrene Road, and • Facilitate continued development of a compre- Rural Road) to be studied in more hensive and inter-connected regional transit detail in Tier 2. Three differ- Elliot Rd network that is multi-modal, offers a range of ent high capacity transit modes 101 Comment cards will be available at the scoping choices for current and future transit riders, 10 meetings to provide written comments and may were also considered including: Warner Rd and attracts new transit riders to the BRT; Light Rail Transit (LRT); and be submitted to METRO staff at the meeting if regional system desired; or comment cards and other written and Modern Streetcar (MS). Ray Rd • Promote economic development and enhance emailed comments on the scope of the study, After further evaluation and coor- connectivity among developing transit-oriented, purpose and need, and impacts to be assessed dination with the public, agencies, Chandler Blvd high density projects, activity centers, and should be sent to: and local elected offi cials, the Tier CHANDLER Chandler special events in the study area Fashion 2 Alternatives Analysis resulted in Center Howard Steere Pecos Rd • Provide a cost-effective transit service 202 METRO elimination of three alternatives: 101 North 1st Avenue, Suite 1300 How did modern streetcar • UPRR BRT – This alternative Phoenix, AZ 85003 become the preferred project? would have operated within 48th St 56th St Rd Kyrene Rd Rural Price Rd Dobson Rd Email: [email protected] the right-of-way of the Union McClintock Dr Tempe Streetcar is the result of a three-year study Phone: 602-322-4476 Pacifi c Railroad. While achiev- LEGEND that evaluated high capacity transit improvements Fax: 602-262-2682 ing reasonable rider benefi ts, to support Tempe and Chandler and enhance the Light Rail Starter Line / Station BRT the alternative suffered from All comments received by Friday, May 6, 2011 will existing regional transit network. In addition to Study Area LRT a lack of community support. be considered in development of the EA. streetcar, the study also called for a bus rapid City Boundary Modern Streetcar Additionally, this alternative Union Pacific Railroad(UPRR) Commuter Rail High Capacity Transit Modes Considered ments resulted in establishing a loop on Mill and environmental impacts of Tempe Streetcar. When Ash Avenues in the downtown area. The Mill/Ash the Draft EA is completed, it will be released for Transit Technologies Avenue loop is the lowest cost route alternative, public review and comment. METRO and FTA will ƒ Light Rail Transit avoids more utility and parking impacts, pro- review the comments, provide responses, and ƒ Commuter Rail vides operating fl exibility for special events, and incorporate revisions into the Final EA as appropri- ƒ Modern Streetcar minimizes construction on Mill Avenue. It can ate. FTA will then make their decision on the Final ƒ Bus Rapid Transit also help generate development along Mill Avenue EA. Assuming that FTA determines a Finding of No and on the west side of downtown Tempe, in and Signifi cant Impact, the Tempe Streetcar can then Light Rail Transit Commuter Rail Alignment / Route around Ash Avenue. move into fi nal design and eventual construction ƒ Rural Road with operations beginning in 2016. ƒ McClintock Drive The Rural Road BRT Alternative also rated highly in the alternatives evaluation. However, in an effort ƒ Mill Avenue Will there be more opportunities to balance the regional transportation budget, ƒ Kyrene Road for public involvement? funding for the Tempe and Chandler portion of ƒ Tempe Branch the Rural Road BRT has been delayed beyond the METRO and the City of Tempe welcome your Union Pacifi c Railroad 2026 funding program in the Regional Transporta- participation to help identify important issues and Modern Streetcar Bus Rapid Transit tion Plan. The 12-mile Rural Road BRT project has to share ideas and suggestions. We encourage the following benefi ts: you to review the information contained in this booklet. It provides the background information • Mill/Kyrene BRT – This option was eliminated • Connect downtown residents to • Enhances bus service levels that will help you formulate your comments on the due to a lack of existing transit customers neighborhood services proposed project. south of Baseline along Kyrene Road. It was • Relieves Rural Road bus overcrowding • Encourage redevelopment of thought that a major capital investment was underutilized parcels • Improves bus operating speeds in the corridor premature in a corridor without an existing • Attracts a signifi cant number of new local transit market. • Encourage reinvestment in neighborhoods transit riders • Rural Road LRT – This alternative was removed • Promote livable city and green • Provides seamless connections to LRT and from consideration given the cost and neighbor- sustainability initiatives other transit modes hood impacts of constructing a long overpass • Provide seamless connection to LRT at the UPRR crossing between Broadway Road • Better serves ASU, downtown Tempe, and and Apache Boulevard. In addition, to maintain • Support ASU travel demand Chandler Fashion Mall travel destinations the traffi c carrying capacity of Rural Road, • Improve service for special events signifi cant widening would be required causing What happens next? Streetcar has the ability to strengthen the down- further impacts to the neighborhoods adjacent Over the next six months, METRO working closely town core by attracting new riders; strengthening Additional opportunities for community to Rural Road. with the City of Tempe, will further defi ne the proj- and revitalizing existing neighborhoods; enhancing input will occur at important milestones ect. To assist in these efforts, a community work- The Mill Avenue Modern Streetcar (now known the unique character of the area; and creating as the project progresses. For additional ing group has been convened to help technical as Tempe Streetcar) was selected as the LPA. higher density development in a way that information or to be added to the Tempe staff address design elements such as the vehicle, The project will be the subject for evaluation in bus cannot. Streetcar mailing list, please contact stop locations, and street confi guration. Additional the EA. Howard Steere at 602-322-4476 or Initially, the study also included analysis of a information on the community working group can [email protected]. Additional Tempe Streetcar will: segment on Southern Avenue between Mill be found on the METRO website at information and updates can be found Avenue and Rural Road, however due to fi nancial metrolightrail.org/tempestreetcar. • Increase transit ridership in the Mill at metrolightrail.org/tempestreetcar. To constraints the mile segment to Rural Road was Avenue corridor A Draft EA, using your input from the scoping receive information in alternative formats, deferred until additional funding could be pursued. meetings, will also be prepared in the coming call 602-253-5000/TTY 602-322-4499. • Connect neighborhoods to downtown Tempe After further stakeholder input, design refi ne- months to evaluate the social, economic, and