Action
Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), as lead agency, and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) on a proposal by OCTA to further study the proposed implementation of an urban rail system within a corridor 45 kilometers (28 miles) long and 9.7 kilometers (6 miles) wide between the Cities of Fullerton and Irvine, known as the Orange County Urban Rail (Urban Rail) Project. In addition to NEPA, the proposed project is subject to compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), therefore, a joint Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/EIS will be prepared. The EIR/EIS will evaluate the following alternatives: 1) The Local Preferred Strategy (LPS) Alignment Alternative. This alternative would follow the alignment identified in the Priority Corridor Major Investment Study, June 1997, on an elevated guideway. 2) A Lower Cost Alternative (LCA). This alternative would connect the Fullerton and Irvine Transportation Centers and would serve many of the activity centers in the Corridor along a route which minimizes the distance and number of freeway crossings. The system would be primarily at grade on local streets. 3) A No Build Alternative, which involves no change to transportation services or facilities in the corridor beyond already committed projects. Potential new feasible alternatives generated through the scoping process will also be considered. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, State, and local agencies; and one public scoping meeting