[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 98 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31955-31956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12639]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on Transit Improvements in Los 
Angeles

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles 
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transportation improvements in Los 
Angeles County, California. In addition, the MTA will be jointly 
issuing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR), pursuant to the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The purposes of the 
project are to improve east-west travel options in the San Fernando 
Valley and to provide a connection to other portions of a regional rail 
and bus network. The options being considered include Transportation 
Systems Management (TSM) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The latter 
alternative would be focused on the former Southern Pacific (SP) 
Burbank/Chandler railroad right-of-way.
    In the course of this study, FTA expects the MTA and the Southern 
California Association of Governments, which is responsible for 
transportation planning in metropolitan Los Angeles, to establish 
priorities for the proposed transit improvement in the San Fernando 
Valley and the myriad of other competing projects and transit needs in 
the region. This prioritization of proposed projects and other transit 
needs will involve, among other considerations, the development of a 
financial plan that identifies for each capital need the non-Federal 
funds to be used along with the proposed Federal funding.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the 
alternatives and impacts to be considered should be sent to the address 
below by June 23, 2000.
    Scoping Meeting Dates: Scoping workshops will be held on: May 24, 
2000 at Sherman Oaks Women's Club from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and 
on May 25, 2000 at the Conference Room at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland 
Hills from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. See the ADDRESSES below. The 
public is invited to arrive at any time. There will be no formal 
presentations; both workshops will be held in an open house format.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to 
Kevin Michel, Transportation Planning Manager, Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, One Gateway Plaza, Mail Stop 99-
22-5, Los Angeles, California, 90012-2952. All comments received will 
be forwarded to the FTA.
    The scoping workshops will be held at the following locations: 
Sherman Oaks Woman's Club, 4808 Kester Avenue, Sherman Oaks, 
California, 91403 and at Kaiser Permanente, 5601 DeSoto Avenue, 
Woodland Hills, California 91367. Both locations are accessible to 
persons with disabilities. Spanish-speaking MTA staff will be present. 
If hearing-impaired services will be needed, please notify Mr. Michel 
at the MTA address above, or call TTY (800) 252-9040. Other questions 
about the scoping workshops may be directed by voice telephone to Mr. 
Michel at (213) 922-2854.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ervin Poka or Ray Tellis, Federal 
Transit Administration/Federal Highway Administration Metropolitan 
Office, Telephone (213) 202-3950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FTA, in cooperation with the MTA, will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed public 
transit project in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County 
California, to be implemented in an east-west corridor extending from 
the Metro Red Line station located in North Hollywood (scheduled to 
open on June 24, 2000) westward to Warner Center, a distance of 
approximately 14 miles. The purposes of the project are to improve 
east-west travel options in the San Fernando Valley and to provide a 
connection to other portions of the regional rail and bus network that 
is being planned and operated by the MTA.
    FTA and MTA invite interested individuals, organizations, and 
federal, state, and local agencies to participate in defining the 
alternatives and environmental factors to be evaluated in the EIS/EIR. 
Scoping comments regarding these matters may be made at the workshops 
on the dates and at the locations indicated above. During scoping, 
comments should focus on identifying specific social, economic or 
environmental concerns to be evaluated and suggesting alternatives that 
should be considered during the EIS/EIR process. Scoping is not the 
appropriate time to indicate a preference for a particular alternative. 
Comments of that nature should be communicated after the draft EIS/EIR 
has been completed and publicized.
    Scoping packets describing the proposed action will be sent to 
appropriate Federal, State and local agencies, and to other parties who 
are known to have shown an interest in the project.
    Background: Transit planning for the San Fernando Valley has been 
underway since 1980, when Los Angeles County voters approved a \1/2\ 
cent sales tax measure to fund regional rail improvements. In 1988, 
studies were conducted to identify alternatives, and in 1990 and 1992, 
the MTA

[[Page 31956]]

completed an EIR and ``Subsequent EIR'' for the study corridor. These 
studies and environmental documents led to the identification of a 
preferred rail alignment along the existing Southern Pacific Burbank/
Chandler Branch, following Chandler Boulevard, Oxnard Street, Victory 
Boulevard. and Topham Street, which the MTA subsequently purchased in 
1990. Environmental documents meeting California standards were 
certified in 1990 and 1992, addressing alternatives along both the SP 
Burbank/Chandler Branch and the Ventura Freeway median alignments. In 
1994 the MTA Board of Directors endorsed the SP Burbank/Chandler Branch 
alignment.
    An alternatives screening report and major investment study was 
prepared in 1995/96. The report evaluated the relative cost-
effectiveness of a broad range of project alternatives, including all 
the previously studied rail transit options. In 1997 a Draft EIS was in 
preparation when the MTA began a financial and organizational 
restructuring which put several rail projects, including rail planning 
for the San Fernando Valley, on hold.
    As part of the restructuring, the MTA and other regional agencies 
studied the feasibility of building non-rail (bus) transit enhancements 
in previous rail corridors. In addition, the MTA board directed staff 
to proceed with a Bus Rapid Transit demonstration project. One of the 
demonstration lines is on Ventura Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley.
    Description of the Study Area: The study corridor extends from the 
North Hollywood Red Line station (currently under construction), 
located at Lankershim Boulevard and Chandler Boulevard, west across the 
entire San Fernando Valley to the vicinity of the Warner Center Transit 
Hub. The length of the corridor is approximately 14 miles.
    Alternatives: A range of alternatives is being considered as part 
of the EIS/EIR. These include the following:
    No Build: This alternative would include the transit system 
primarily as it exists today, augmented by those additional projects 
for which a funding commitment has been made or which are reasonably 
expected to be in place by 2020. The Red Line would terminate at the 
North Hollywood station. Highway and HOV projects would be provided on 
a number of freeways. Existing bus headways would be maintained and the 
Rapid Bus Demonstration project on Ventura Boulevard would be 
implemented.
    Transportation Systems Management/Best Bus: This alternative would 
not require major investment for capital cost items, but would rather 
focus its efforts on maximizing the efficiency of existing facilities 
and expanding and improving the existing bus system. Headways on routes 
covered by the TSM would be significantly reduced. TSM improvements 
would include various projects to enhance the performance of bus 
transit on major arterials where bus service frequencies would be 
increased.
    Bus Rapid Transit Alternatives: Buses would run along an exclusive 
roadway built within the SP Burbank/Chandler ROW between the North 
Hollywood Metro Red Line Station on the east and the Transit Hub in 
Warner Center. Stations would be placed approximately every mile along 
the 14-mile route, at major cross streets and trip destinations. Buses 
would be given priority at signals. Headways within the busway would 
vary between five and two and one-half minutes during peak periods, and 
the existing Valley bus network would be integrated with the busway. In 
addition to the busway, enough space is available for a parallel 
bikeway along the corridor.
    The corridor is being considered in two phases. If funding is 
limited, a segment of the full project busway between Woodman Avenue 
and Balboa Boulevard would be constructed as an initial phase, or 
Minimum Operable Segment. This first phase would include five stations. 
Buses would run on-street along Oxnard Street and Victory Boulevard to 
complete their runs from North Hollywood to Warner Center, and provide 
cross-Valley service.
    Probable Effects: The FTA and MTA will evaluate all significant 
environmental, social and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed 
in the draft EIS/EIR. Potential impact categories which will be 
evaluated include: Land Use and Development; Economic and Fiscal 
Impacts; Displacement and Relocation; Traffic Circulation and Parking; 
Community and Neighborhood Impacts; Environmental Justice; Visual and 
Aesthetic Impacts; Air Quality; Noise and Vibration; Geotechnical 
Considerations; Water Resources; Natural Resources; Energy; Safety and 
Security; Cultural Resources; Community Facilities and Parklands; and 
Construction Impacts. The impacts will be evaluated both for the 
construction period and the long-term period of operation. Measures to 
mitigate adverse impacts will also be addressed.
    FTA Procedures: The EIS process will be performed in accordance 
with Federal Transit Laws and FTA's regulations and guidelines for 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement. The impacts of the project 
will be assessed, and, if necessary, the scope of the project will be 
revised or refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse impacts. After 
its publication, the draft EIS will be available for public review and 
comment. At least one public hearing will be held. On the basis of the 
draft EIS and comments received, the project will be revised or further 
refined as necessary and the final EIS prepared.

    Date Issued: May 15, 2000.
Leslie Rogers,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-12639 Filed 5-18-00; 8:45 am]
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