43324 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 149 / Friday, August 3, 2007 / Notices 

• Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 of 

the U.S. Department of Transportation, 

West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New 

Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Communications received within 45 

days of the date of this notice will be 

considered by FRA before final action is 

taken. Comments received after that 

date will be considered as far as 

practicable. All written communications 

concerning these proceedings are 

available for examination during regular 

business hours (9 a.m.–5 p.m.) at the 

above facility. All documents in the 

public docket are also available for 

inspection and copying on the Internet 

at the docket facility’s Web site at 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

FRA wishes to inform all potential 

commenters that anyone is able to 

search the electronic form of all 

comments received into any of our 

dockets by the name of the individual 

submitting the comment (or signing the 

comment, if submitted on behalf of an 

association, business, labor union, etc.). 

You may review DOT’s complete 

Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 

Register published on April 11, 2000 

(Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477–

78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC on July 30, 2007. 

Grady C. Cothen, Jr., 

Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety 

Standards and Program Development. 

[FR Doc. E7–15129 Filed 8–2–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Transit Administration 

Preparation of an Alternatives 

Analysis/Environmental Impact 

Statement for High-Capacity Transit 

Improvements in the Central Mesa 

Corridor 

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, 

U.S. Department of Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

Alternatives Analysis/Environmental 

Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit 

Administration (FTA) and Valley Metro 

Rail, Inc. (METRO) intend to prepare an 

Alternatives Analysis (AA) and 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

on proposed high capacity transit 

improvements, including a potential 

light rail transit (LRT) and/or bus rapid 

transit (BRT) in the Central Mesa 

Corridor between the LRT Starter Line 

eastern terminus and Power Road (a 

distance of approximately 13 miles) in 

the City of Mesa in Maricopa County, 

Arizona. The proposed study area is 

bounded on the west by the LRT Starter 

Line eastern terminus at Main Street/ 

Sycamore; University Boulevard to the 

north; Power Road to the east; and the 

Superstition Freeway (US 60) on the 

south. The AA/EIS will be prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) and its implementing 

regulations. The AA/EIS process will be 

initiated with a scoping process that 

provides opportunities for the public to 

comment on the scope of the project and 

proposed alternatives to be considered 

in the AA and Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (DEIS). This input 

will be used to assist decisionmakers in 

determining a locally preferred 

alternative (LPA) for the Central Mesa 

Corridor. Upon selection of an LPA, 

METRO will request permission from 

FTA to enter into preliminary 

engineering per requirements of New 

Starts regulations 49 CFR part 611. The 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS) will be issued after FTA approves 

entrance into preliminary engineering. 

The purpose of this notice is to alert 

interested parties regarding the intent to 

prepare the AA/EIS, to provide 

information on the nature of the 

proposed project and possible 

alternatives, to invite public 

participation in the AA/EIS process, 

including comments on the scope of the 

alternatives proposed in this notice, to 

announce that public scoping meetings 

will be conducted, and to identify 

participating agency contacts. 

DATES: Written and e-mailed comments 

on the scope of study, including the 

alternatives to be considered, and the 

impacts to be assessed, should be sent 

to Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (METRO) on 

or before September 13, 2007. See 

ADDRESSES below for the street address 

and e-mail address to which written 

comments may be sent. Public scoping 

meetings to accept comments on the 

scope of the study will be held on the 

following dates: 

• Thursday, August 23, 2007, at 6 

p.m., Mesa City Plaza, Training Room 

170, 20 E. Main Street, Mesa, Arizona 

85201. 

• Thursday, August 30, 2007, at 6 

p.m., Jefferson Elementary School, 

Recreation Center, 120 S. Jefferson 

Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85208. 

An interagency scoping meeting will 

be held on the following date: 

• Tuesday, August 21, 2007, at 10 

a.m., Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (METRO), 

101 North 1st Avenue, Suite 1300, 

Phoenix, AZ 85003. 

The project’s purpose and need and 

the initial set of alternatives proposed 

for study will be presented at these 

meetings. The buildings used for the 

scoping meetings are accessible to 

persons with disabilities. Any 

individual who requires special 

assistance, such as a sign language 

interpreter, to participate in a scoping 

meeting should contact Jodi Sorrell, City 

of Mesa, 600 SE. Sixth Street, Mesa, AZ 

85211 (Telephone 480–644–5541) at 

least 48 hours in advance of a meeting 

in order for METRO and the City of 

Mesa to make the necessary 

arrangements. 

Scoping materials wil be available at 

the meetings and through the project’s 

Web site at http:// 

www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa. 

Hard copies of the scoping materials are 

also available from Mr. Marc Soronson 

whose contact information is given in 

ADDRESSES below. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be sent to the attention of Mr. Marc 

Soronson, Valley Metro Rail, Inc., 101 

North 1st Avenue, Suite 1300, Phoenix, 

AZ 85003. E-mail 

centralmesa@metrolightrail.org. Phone: 

(602) 744–5545, Fax: (602) 252–7453. 

The locations of the public scoping 

meetings are given above under DATES. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Hymie Luden, Office of Planning and 

Program Development, Federal Transit 

Administration, 201 Mission Street, 

Room 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105. 

Phone: (415) 744–2732. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Scoping 

The FTA and Valley Metro Rail, Inc. 

(METRO) invite all interested 

individuals and organizations, public 

agencies, and Native American Tribes to 

comment on the scope of the 

alternatives analysis and the EIS, 

including the project’s preliminary 

statement of purpose and need, the 

alternatives to be studied and the 

impacts to be evaluated. Comments 

should focus on the purpose and need 

for the proposed project; alternatives 

that may be less costly or have less 

environmental or community impacts 

while achieving similar transportation 

objectives; and the identification of any 

significant social, economic, or 

environmental issues relating to the 

alternatives. 

Purpose and Need for the Project 

The draft statement of the project 

purpose is currently under review by 

METRO and the City of Mesa, and will 

be refined further. In its current state, 

the purpose is defined as follows: 

1. Identify a transit alternative that 

increases efficient access to employment 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 149 / Friday, August 3, 2007 / Notices 43325 

opportunities throughout the Central 

Phoenix/East Valley region for City of 

Mesa residents. 

2. Identify a transit alternative that 

provides improved travel times in a 

congested environment over local bus. 

3. Identify a transit improvement 

alternative, with a recommended 

alignment and technology, to connect 

the western and central segments of the 

City of Mesa with the Central Phoenix/ 

East Valley Light Rail System currently 

under construction. 

4. Identify a widely-supported transit 

improvement alternative that would 

facilitate continued development of a 

comprehensive and inter-connected 

regional transit network that is multimodal, that offers a range of effective 

mobility choices for current and future 

transit riders, and that attracts new 

transit riders onto the growing regional 

system. 

5. Identify a transit alternative that 

supports economic development, and 

ensures enhanced connectivity among 

existing and planned regional and local 

activity centers and attractions. 

Additional considerations supporting 

the project’s need include: 

The City of Mesa, which spans 

approximately 132 square miles, is the 

third largest city in Arizona. Today’s 

estimated population of 455,100 is 

expected to increase by approximately 

25% by 2020. In general, travel on 

highways and arterials is expected to 

increase by approximately 30% between 

2004 and 2030 within Maricopa County; 

peak period travel to work is expected 

to grow by about 40%; similar trends are 

anticipated for the City of Mesa. 

Growth in the City of Mesa has caused 

substantial increases in traffic 

congestion on the existing roadway 

network, and has generated the need for 

new public transportation service. Even 

with implementation of the projects 

included in the Maricopa Association of 

Governments (MAG) Regional 

Transportation Plan (RTP), service 

levels in 2030 on both the area freeways 

and arterials is expected to deteriorate 

substantially due to increased travel 

demand, resulting in a significant 

increase in delay. Based on MAG model 

results, daily freeway congestion 

appears to be highest on the freeways in 

the general project vicinity in 2004 and 

2030, in comparison to other areas, such 

as the downtown Phoenix area, Sky 

Harbor Airport vicinity, and downtown 

Tempe area. In 2030, daily congestion is 

expected on 93% of lane miles on 

arterials in the Mesa project corridor, a 

growth of 66% over current levels. 

The AA/EIS will analyze the potential 

for the proposed high capacity transit 

improvement to address increased 

demand for travel by connecting the 

project corridor with the LRT Starter 

Line eastern terminus at Main Street/ 

Sycamore. 

Several major attractions are located 

in the City. In addition, other attractions 

of regional magnitude are in varying 

stages of development throughout the 

City. These will provide significant 

employment, commercial, 

entertainment and retail resources, and 

are expected to generate even greater 

demand for travel and access, both 

within the City limits and between the 

City and regionally significant areas 

west and northwest of the City, such as 

the City of Tempe, the Phoenix Central 

Business District (CBD)/Washington 

Corridor, and the Spectrum Mall 

vicinity. 

Alternatives 

Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail 

LPA: The 2002 Final EIS for the Central 

Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit 

Project (the LRT Starter Line that is 

currently under construction and 

scheduled to open in December 2008) 

identified four LRT alignment options 

that were outside the Build Alternative 

project studied in that Final EIS. These 

options extended from the eastern 

terminus of the LRT Starter Line and 

continued into the Mesa Town Center. 

All options used either Main Street 1st 

Avenue, 1st Street, or some combination 

thereof. Recent growth in the vicinity of 

Mesa Drive has narrowed opportunities 

for adequate park-and-ride facilities in 

that area; therefore, it is suggested that 

park-and-ride facilities be located 

further east near Horne where a parkand-ride facility could be provided. 

BRT Alternative: The City of Mesa 

recently conducted a study to evaluate 

new and improved bus rapid transit 

(BRT) in the study area. The study 

recommended a phased BRT project that 

would initially connect the eastern 

terminus of the LRT Starter Line to 

Superstition Springs Mall via Main 

Street and Power Road, a total of 13 

miles. Phase 1 of the BRT project is 

scheduled to coincide with the opening 

of the LRT Starter Line in 2008. Future 

operating and service characteristics for 

the BRT project are subject to change 

pending the results of the AA/EIS and 

public and agency input. In addition, 

the 2002 Final EIS showed the LRT 

extension options to Mesa Town Center 

terminating just west of Mesa Drive. 

Other AA Alternatives: At a 

minimum, the alternatives to be 

considered include the following: 

• No-Build—implements a modified 

existing and committed road and transit 

improvements as defined by the 

Regional Transportation Plan and 

coordinated with the City of Mesa. The 

No-Build includes the Mesa BRT project 

on Main Street scheduled for operation 

in December 2008. 

• Transportation System Management 

(TSM)—includes reasonable costeffective transit service improvements 

short of a major capital investment in 

fixed guideway. The TSM implements 

all of the projects in the No-Build 

Alternative. 

• Bus Rapid Transit—includes 

projects defined in the No-Build 

Alternative and programmed bus service 

expansion. BRT options under 

consideration extend at-grade from the 

LRT Starter Line to Superstition Springs 

Mall and include: 

• BRT via Main Street and Power 

Road. 

• BRT via Main Street, Mesa Drive, 

and Southern Avenue. 

• BRT via Main Street, Gilbert Road, 

and Southern Avenue). 

• BRT in the Mesa Town Center 

include: 

Æ Main Street through downtown 

Mesa. 

Æ Main Street to 1st Street Loop in 

downtown Mesa. 

Æ Main Street to 1st Street double 

fixed guideway in downtown Mesa. 

• Light Rail Transit—includes 

projects included in the No-Build 

Alternative plus consideration of a LRT 

extension from the CP/EV end of line 

station at Sycamore to the Mesa Town 

Center at Horne Avenue. LRT 

suboptions in the Mesa Town center 

include: 

Æ Main Street through downtown 

Mesa. 

Æ Main Street to 1st Street diversion 

in downtown Mesa. 

Æ Main Street to 1st Avenue diversion 

in downtown Mesa. 

Æ Main Street to 1st Street/1st 

Avenue couplet in downtown Mesa. 

Æ A supporting bus component 

would include BRT service connecting 

the LRT terminus at approximately 

Horne and would extend to Superstition 

Springs Mall. 

These alternatives will be developed 

further during preparation of the AA/ 

EIS. Additional reasonable Build 

Alternatives suggested during the 

scoping process that meet the purpose 

and need for the project may also be 

considered. 

The EIS Process and the Role of 

Participating Agencies and the Public 

The purpose of the NEPA process is 

to explore, in a public setting, the effects 

of the proposed project and its 

alternatives on the physical, human, 

and natural environment. The FTA and 

METRO will evaluate all significant 

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43326 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 149 / Friday, August 3, 2007 / Notices 

environmental, social and economic 

impacts of the construction and 

operation of the proposed project. 

Impact areas to be addressed include: 

Land use; development potential; 

secondary development; land 

acquisition and displacements and 

relocations; cultural resources 

(including impacts on historical and 

archaeological resources); parklands and 

recreation areas; visual and aesthetic 

qualities; air quality; noise and 

vibration; ecosystems (including 

threatened and endangered species); 

energy use; business and neighborhood 

disruptions; environmental justice; 

changes in traffic and pedestrian 

circulation and congestion; and changes 

in transit service and patronage. 

Measures to avoid, minimize, or 

mitigate any significant adverse impacts 

will be identified and evaluated. 

The methodology for evaluation of 

impacts will focus on the areas of 

investigation mentioned above. As the 

public involvement and agency 

consultation process proceeds, 

additional evaluation criteria and 

impact assessment measures will be 

included in the analysis. Potential 

alternatives will be developed to a 

conceptual level, and will be screened 

and ranked against these evaluation 

criteria and local community 

considerations. Travel time savings, 

potential for congestion reduction and 

improved mobility options for City of 

Mesa residents will be assessed for the 

transportation alternatives considered. 

The public involvement program and 

agency coordination plan discussed 

below will provide the vehicle through 

which these evaluation analyses will be 

conducted. 

The regulations implementing NEPA, 

as well as provisions of the Safe, 

Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 

Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for 

Users (SAFETEA–LU), call for public 

involvement in the EIS process. Section 

6002 of SAFETEA–LU requires that FTA 

and METRO do the following: (1) 

Extend an invitation to other Federal 

and non-Federal agencies and Indian 

tribes that may have an interest in the 

proposed project to become 

‘‘participating agencies’’; (2) provide an 

opportunity for involvement by 

participating agencies and the public in 

helping to define the purpose and need 

for a proposed project, as well as the 

range of alternatives for consideration in 

the EIS; and (3) establish a plan for 

coordinating public and agency 

participation in and comment on the 

environmental review process. 

An invitation to become a 

participating agency, with the scoping 

information packet appended, will be 

extended to other Federal and nonFederal agencies and Indian tribes that 

may have an interest in the proposed 

project. It is possible that we may not be 

able to identify all Federal and nonFederal agencies and Indian tribes that 

may have such an interest. Any Federal 

or non-Federal agency or Indian tribe 

interested in the proposed project that 

does not receive an invitation to become 

a participating agency should notify, at 

the earliest opportunity, the person 

identified above under ADDRESSES. 

A comprehensive Public Involvement 

Program will be developed, and a public 

and agency involvement Coordination 

Plan will be created. The Public 

Involvement Program will include a full 

range of involvement activities. 

Activities will include outreach to local 

and county officials and community and 

civic groups; a public scoping process to 

define the issues of concern among all 

parties interested in the project; 

organizing periodic meetings with 

various local agencies, organizations 

and committees; a public hearing on 

release of the Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement (DEIS); and 

development and distribution of project 

newsletters. There will be additional 

opportunities to participate in the 

scoping process in addition to the 

public meetings announced in this 

notice. Specific mechanisms for 

involvement will be detailed in the 

Public Involvement Program. 

Valley Metro Rail, Inc. (METRO) may 

seek New Starts funding for the 

proposed project under 49 U.S.C. 5309 

and will therefore be subject to New 

Starts regulations (49 CFR part 611). The 

New Starts regulation requires a 

planning Alternatives Analysis that 

leads to the selection of a locally 

preferred alternative and the inclusion 

of the locally preferred alternative as 

part of the long-range transportation 

plan adopted by the Maricopa 

Association of Governments. The New 

Starts regulation also requires the 

submission of certain projectjustification information in support of a 

request to initiate preliminary 

engineering, and this information is 

normally developed in conjunction with 

the NEPA process. Pertinent New Starts 

evaluation criteria will be included in 

the Final EIS. 

The AA/EIS will be prepared in 

accordance with the NEPA and its 

implementing regulations issued by the 

Council on Environmental Quality (40 

CFR parts 1500–1508) and with the 

FTA/Federal Highway Administration 

regulations ‘‘Environmental Impact and 

Related Procedures’’ (23 CFR part 771). 

In accordance with 23 CFR 771.105(a) 

and 771.133, FTA will comply with all 

Federal environmental laws, 

regulations, and executive orders 

applicable to the proposed project 

during the environmental review 

process to the maximum extent 

practicable. These requirements 

include, but are not limited to, the 

environmental and public hearing 

provisions of Federal transit laws (49 

U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324), the 

project-level air quality conformity 

regulation of the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA) (40 CFR part 

93), the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of 

EPA (40 CFR part 230), the regulation 

implementing section 106 of the 

National Historic Preservation Act (36 

CFR part 800), the regulation 

implementing section 7 of the 

Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 

402), section 4(f) of the Department of 

Transportation Act (23 CFR 771.135), 

and Executive Orders 12898 on 

environmental justice, 11988 on 

floodplain management and 11990 on 

wetlands. 

Issued on: July 25, 2007. 

Leslie T. Rogers, 

Regional Administrator, FTA Region IX. 

[FR Doc. 07–3815 Filed 8–2–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–57–M 

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