Action
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Project in Los Angeles County, California. LACMTA operates the Metro transit system in Los Angeles County. The proposed project would provide a continuation of the Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension, a light rail transit line (LRT), from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to East Los Angeles. This connection between Downtown Los Angeles and the growing Eastside is consistent with regional transportation and land use plans. Phase 2 would expand upon the Gold Line Eastside Extension investment and bring improved, high- capacity transit service as far east as Whittier or South El Monte, connecting the cities of Commerce, Monterey Park, Montebello, Rosemead, South El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier, and unincorporated portions of Los Angeles County which include east Los Angeles and west Whittier-Los Nietos. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations. LACMTA will also use the EIS document to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The purpose of this notice is to alert interested parties regarding the intent to prepare the EIS, to provide information on the nature of the proposed project and possible alternatives, to invite public participation in the EIS process (including providing comments on the scope of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)), to announce that public scoping meetings will be conducted, and to identify participating and cooperating agency contacts.