[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15996-15997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6704]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-PWRO-PWR-1228-6476; 8145-8B90-SZM]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Extension of F-Line 
Historic Streetcar Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and 
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, County of San 
Francisco, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for Extension of F-Line Historic Streetcar Service, Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical 
Park.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec.  102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and pursuant to the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-08), the 
National Park Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed extension of the northern 
waterfront Municipal Railway Historic Streetcar Service. Beginning at 
Fisherman's Wharf, this proposed railway extension would serve visitors 
to two popular units of the National Park System--San Francisco 
Maritime National Historical Park and the Fort Mason area of Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area. This project is being developed in close 
coordination with San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) and other City 
and County of San Francisco planning and transportation agencies. The 
course of action proposed would lengthen the historic streetcar F-line 
approximately .85 mile from Fisherman's Wharf to the San Francisco 
Maritime National Historical Park and thence to the Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area. Currently, the F-line serves more than 20,000 
passengers daily and is one of Muni's most popular lines, yet does not 
provide direct access to heavily visited Aquatic Park and Fort Mason 
Center areas. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide park 
visitors and transit-dependent city residents with high-quality rail 
transit that improves transportation access and mobility. In addition 
to the proposal, the Draft EIS evaluates a No-Action alternative, and 
documents early consideration of preliminary options not carried 
forward for analysis.
    Background: A congressionally-mandated Travel Study completed in 
1977 recommended restoring the historic rail link between the Hyde 
Street Pier and Fort Mason to improve access to various National Park 
Service (NPS) sites. The rail line was subsequently abandoned (1980), 
and the area between Hyde Street Pier and the Fort Mason tunnel 
entrance was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1987 
(which is now encompassed in the San Francisco Maritime National 
Historical Park created in 1988). Also, in the late 1980s federal 
highway funds originally intended for extending Interstate 280 were 
reallocated to a number of alternative transportation facilities along 
the Embarcadero including creation of an historic streetcar line along 
Market Street and the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. In 2000 this 
service was extended to Fisherman's Wharf. The popularity of the 
historic streetcars resulted in public and private interest in 
extending the service to the disjunct NPS areas.
    The Municipal Railway currently operates historic streetcar service 
on Market Street and along the San Francisco waterfront (F-Line) to the 
line's existing terminus in the Fisherman's Wharf area. The proposed 
expansion would extend west to San Francisco Maritime National 
Historical Park (NHP) and on to Fort Mason. The NHP is visited by 
approximately 4 million people annually and is currently served by very 
popular cable cars (often crowded at peak tourist times) as well as 
streetcar and bus lines. Fort Mason, home to the Fort Mason Center, 
houses more than 40 non-profit organizations offering more than 15,000 
events a year and attracting upwards of 1.6 million visitors. These 
areas are underserved by mass transit access, and as a result 
automobile-based visitation causes massive parking problems that affect 
surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, inadequate mass transit access 
makes it difficult for transit-dependent San Franciscans to enjoy the 
cultural and educational events offered at Fort Mason Center.
    Development of Alternatives: The core team for development of the 
Draft EIS includes the NPS as the lead federal agency, and San 
Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Federal Transit 
Administration as cooperating agencies. A Technical Advisory Committee 
(TAC) was also convened to meet periodically to provide technical 
support during the various stages of the study and preparation of the 
EIS. In addition to the cooperators, members of the TAC include 
representatives from Fort Mason Center, Golden Gate National Parks 
Conservancy, Market Street Railway, San Francisco Department of 
Recreation and Parks, and San Francisco County Transportation 
Authority.
    Public notification at the onset of the EIS process was made 
through direct mail to approximately 4,000 persons, organizations, and 
agencies. Media publicity included announcements in the San Francisco 
Examiner (May 3, 2006) and San Francisco Chronicle (May 6, 2006). The 
Notice of Intent formally initiating the conservation planning and 
environmental impact analysis process was published in the Federal 
Register on March 29, 2006. Public and agency scoping meetings were 
held at Fort Mason Officer's Club on May 9, 2006. During the 60-day 
public scoping period, the NPS received over 100 comments from 
individuals, organizations representing environmental and recreational 
interests, and governmental agencies. Based on information obtained 
during the scoping phase, analysis focused on land use, socioeconomics, 
transportation and circulation, air quality, noise and vibration, 
cultural resources, recreation and visitor use, visual and aesthetic 
resources, night sky visibility and light pollution, geological 
resources, biological resources, public health and safety, and public 
services and utilities. The public's primary concerns focused on 
changes in traffic and parking, impacts on parklands and recreational 
facilities, noise and vibration, visual impacts, and cultural 
resources. Information to inform preparation of the Draft EIS was also 
solicited from the TAC.
    A total of six preliminary alignments and seven turnaround 
alternatives were developed as a result of the comments received. This 
included consideration of other transit modes such as diesel bus and 
trolley coach. Four additional turnaround alternatives were 
subsequently developed during the project's TAC meetings.
    The Draft EIS identifies and analyzes potential consequences of 
implementing two alternatives. In addition, several preliminary 
alternatives were considered but dismissed from detailed analysis. 
Alternative 1, the No-Action ``baseline alternative'' would provide no 
changes from the existing historic

[[Page 15997]]

streetcar line and would not provide transit connections to the Fort 
Mason Center.
    Alternative 2 (agency-preferred) would extend the existing F-Line 
from Fisherman's Wharf to the Fort Mason Center. Included are new rail 
track and associated new platforms and designated stops; retrofitting 
of the historic State Belt Railroad tunnel; and a turnaround loop. The 
track extension would include a street-running segment along Beach 
Street, a transition zone between the street-running segment and the 
Fort Mason Tunnel segment. Two ``turnaround segment'' options for the 
terminus--North Loop (Fort Mason parking lot) and South Loop (Great 
Meadow)--were analyzed during a Value Analysis (VA) workshop held in 
August of 2010. The VA team focused on: (1) Identifying a ``preferred'' 
alternative for the streetcar extension turnaround; (2) identifying 
opportunities to improve value for the project; and (3) confirming 
sustainable project goals for the NPS. The VA team rated the North Loop 
turnaround option higher than three variations of the South Loop 
turnaround option. Other specific project elements include constructing 
streetcar track for approximately 0.85 miles, construction of 8-9-
station platforms, upgrades to the existing Fort Mason Tunnel, and 
installation of signals, crossings, wires and poles.
    Comments: This notice serves to formally open the public review and 
comment phase for the Draft EIS. The public and interested 
organizations are encouraged to provide written comments on issues and 
concerns, refinements in alternatives, potential environmental effects 
and appropriate mitigation measures that would reduce potential 
impacts. To afford an opportunity to obtain information, a public open 
house will be hosted on April 20, 2011 from 7-9 p.m. in the Golden Gate 
Room, Building A, Fort Mason (for directions or information about 
public transit, please consult the project Web site or contact the Muni 
Railway Extension Project Manager at (415) 561-2872). All written 
comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 60 days after 
publication of the EPA's notice of filing in the Federal Register--as 
soon as this ending date is confirmed it will be announced on the 
project Web site.
    The project Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/StreetcarExtension 
provides the most up-to-date information regarding the project, 
including electronic version of the Draft EIS, planning process 
updates, meeting notices, reports and documents, and useful links 
associated with the project. Written comments on the Draft EIS should 
be mailed to the following address: Superintendent--GGNRA, Attn: Rick 
Foster, Muni Railway Extension Project Manager, Fort Mason, Bldg. 201, 
San Francisco, CA 94123. In addition to the project Web site, requests 
for printed copy of the Draft EIS or to be included on the project 
mailing list can be accommodated by contacting the Muni Railway 
Extension Project Manager at (415) 561-2872.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    Decision Process: Availability of the Draft EIS for a 60-days 
public review will be formally announced through publication of this 
Notice of Availability, through local and regional news media, via the 
project Web site, and direct mailing to the project mailing list. 
Following due consideration of all public and agency comments, a Final 
EIS will be prepared. As a delegated EIS the official responsible for 
the final decision regarding the proposed extension is the Regional 
Director, Pacific West Region. Subsequently the officials responsible 
for implementation will be the Superintendents of Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

     Dated: March 15, 2011.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-6704 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-FN-P