Action
Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS).
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Valley Metro Rail, Inc., intend to prepare an Alternatives Analysis (AA) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal by Valley Metro Rail, Inc. to provide additional transit service to the northwest portion of the City of Phoenix. The AA/EIS will consider the following alternatives: (1) A No-Build Alternative, consisting of improvements contained in the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Long Range Transportation Plan and the Phoenix Transit Plan and programmed improvements with the exception of connections to the planned Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Transit Project that is scheduled to begin operation in December 2006; (2) Transportation System Management Alternative (TSM), consisting of all reasonable cost-effective transit service improvements within the Metrocenter Corridor short of a major investment in a New Starts project; (3) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Alternatives; (4) Light Rail Transit (LRT) At Grade Alternatives; and (5) LRT Aerial Alternatives. The type, location, and need for ancillary facilities, such as maintenance facilities, will also be considered for each alternative. In addition, alternatives that are identified from the scoping process will be evaluated in the AA. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence and discussions with interested persons; organizations; and Federal, State, and local agencies; and through public and agency meetings. Depending on the outcome of the scoping process and the analysis of a wide range of transit alternatives, a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) will be selected and evaluated in the EIS. The EIS will evaluate the potential impacts of the selected investment strategy (the Build Alternative) and a No- Build Alternative.