[Federal Register: September 3, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 170)]
[Notices]
[Page 56345-56346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03se02-105]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for the North Eugene Bus Rapid
Transit Corridor in the Eugene-Springfield Oregon Metropolitan Area
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration and Lane Transit District
(LTD) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for
transit improvements in the North Eugene Bus Rapid Transit Corridor of
the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan region. The purpose of this Notice
of Intent is to notify interested parties of the intent to prepare an
EIS and invite participation in the study. The Eugene-Springfield
metropolitan region has adopted a long-range transportation plan,
TransPlan, which identifies Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as the preferred
transit strategy for the twenty-year plan. BRT was adopted as a
comprehensive system plan, which includes full build-out of five
corridors. The general alignments of the five corridors have been
identified in the approved plan. Phase 1, the initial 4 mile east-west
corridor alignment is the first of the corridors to be implemented, and
is currently in final design. The remaining four corridors will be
implemented in priority order as determined by local elected officials
through a corridor selection process. The North Eugene BRT Corridor has
been identified as the next priority corridor to pursue in Eugene.
The BRT project proposes to implement a major high capacity transit
improvement in the North Eugene corridor that maintains livability in
the metropolitan region, supports land use goals, optimizes the
transportation system, increases overall corridor capacity, is
environmentally sensitive, reflects community values, and is fiscally
responsive.
Meeting Dates: Agency Coordination Meeting: An agency coordination
meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday September 17, 2002 at the
Lane Transit District, 3500 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon.
Public Information Meeting: A public information meeting will be
held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday September 19th, 2002 at the Lane Transit
District, 1700 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon. The Lane Transit
District is accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual
with a disability who requires special assistance, such as a sign
language interpreter, should contact Lane Transit District at (541)
682-6100 at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting in order for LTD
to make necessary arrangements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Agency Coordination should contact
Lisa Gardner, LTD EIS Manager at (541) 682-6135 or (e-mail)
lisa.gardner@ltd.lane.or.us. Public Information contact Sue Aufort, LTD
Public Involvement Coordinator at (541) 682-6144 or (e-mail)
sue.aufort@ltd.lane.or.us. Written comments should be sent to Lisa
Gardner, North Springfield Corridor Project, Lane Transit District,
3500 East 17th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97403. Additional information on the
North Springfield Corridor Project can also be found on the LTD Web
site at: www.ltd.org. Additional information can be obtained from
Rebecca Reyes-Alicea, Community Planner, Federal Transit
Administration, at (206) 220-4464.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
I. Notice of Intent
This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS is being published at this
time to inform interested parties. The North Eugene Corridor Project is
examining BRT alternatives in the North Eugene Corridor. FTA
regulations and guidance will be used for the analysis and preparation
of the north Eugene Corridor EIS.
II. Study Area
The North Eugene corridor encompasses a general alignment heading
north from the downtown Eugene Transit Station at West 11th Avenue and
Willamette Street in Eugene to the Gateway area in Springfield. The
[[Page 56346]]
exact alignment will be determined as part of the EIS process.
III. Alternatives
All reasonable alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS including
a No-Build Alternative, which will provide the basis for comparison of
the build alternatives. The No-Build Alternative includes the existing
transportation system plus improvements to the fixed-route transit
system included in the Regional Transportation Plan Financially
Constrained Transportation Network, excluding the implementation of
BRT.
IV. Probable Effects
FTA and LTD will evaluate all significant transportation,
environmental, social and economic impacts of the alternatives. Primary
issues include support of state, regional and local land use and
transportation plans and policies, neighborhood impacts, and
environmental sensitivity. The impacts will be evaluated for both the
construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures
to mitigate any significant impact will be developed.
Issued on: August 28, 2002.
R.F. Krochalis,
FTA Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-22370 Filed 8-30-02; 8:45 am]
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