Action
Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement that includes two new alternatives.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Spokane Transit Authority (STA) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for transit improvements in Spokane County, between downtown Spokane and Liberty Lake. The EIS will be prepared to satisfy both NEPA and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). This project was originally scoped as an Environmental Assessment (EA), but transitioned to an Environmental Impact Statement as a result of a second scoping meeting held on June 4, 2002. Because of the recent demonstrated need to study two additional lower cost build alternatives, an additional scoping meeting will be required. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to notify interested parties of the intent to prepare an EIS with two additional build alternatives and to invite participation in the study. The project proposes to implement a major high capacity transit improvement in the Spokane Metropolitan area that maintains livability, manages growth and provides a balanced transportation system. The Proposed Action is intended to contribute to implementation of a series of state, regional, and local planning policies that address air quality, sprawl, and growth. In addition to the original alternatives, two new alternatives (described below) will be evaluated in the EIS.