Action
Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) intend to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for a proposed light rail extension in the South Sacramento Corridor from Meadowview Road to Calvine Road at Auberry Road (Calvine/ Auberry). The proposed light rail transit mode and alignment were selected in 1995 by the RT Board of Directors as the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) following completion in 1994 of an Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS/Draft EIR (AA/DEIS/DEIR) for the South Sacramento Corridor. Seven transit alternatives (including bus, high-occupancy vehicle, and rail modes) with various alignment and station locations were evaluated in the AA/DEIS/DEIR). The LPA was included in the Sacramento Area Council of Government's Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The LPA (called the Low/UPRR Alignment in the AA/DEIS/DEIR) is an 11.5-mile extension to the existing light rail system beginning in downtown Sacramento and extending to Calvine/Auberry. In agreement with FTA, RT planned to build the LPA in phases. Phase 1 is currently under construction and extends light rail from downtown Sacramento for 6.5 miles to Meadowview Road, with seven stations at Broadway, 4th Avenue/ Wayne Hultgren, City College, Fruitridge, 47th Avenue, Florin, and Meadowview. Revenue service for Phase 1 is anticipated to begin in September 2003. The proposed Phase 2 would extend light rail approximately five miles from Meadowview Road to Calvine/Auberry. To date, five stations have been identified at Franklin Boulevard, Center Parkway (optional), Cosumnes River College/College Square, Power Inn Road (optional), and Calvine/Auberry. The proposed Phase 2 light rail extension would follow the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) right-of-way south from Meadowview Road, turn east along the proposed extension of Cosumnes River Boulevard, follow the Boulevard to Bruceville Road, turn south along Bruceville Road to serve Cosumnes River College/College Square development, turn east to cross State Route 99, and terminate at a station at Calvine/Auberry. The SEIS/SEIR will evaluate a No-Action Alternative, a future "New Starts" Baseline Alternative, the Phase 2 Light Rail Extension Alternative, and additional alternatives that emerge from the scoping process. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence and discussions with interested persons; community organizations; federal, state and local agencies; and through public meetings.