[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20421-20423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8965]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Expansion
of Light Rail Transit Service From Glassboro, NJ to Camden, NJ
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: FTA, in coordination with the Delaware River Port Authority
(DRPA)/Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO), is issuing this
Notice of Intent (NOI) to advise the public that it proposes to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential
environmental impacts associated with the construction and operation of
the Glassboro-Camden Line (GCL) light rail system, as well as assess
and document a No-Action Alternative and a Transportation System
Management (TSM) Alternative. The proposed GCL system is approximately
18 miles long and would operate between the Borough of Glassboro in
Gloucester County and the City of Camden in Camden County along, and
primarily within, the existing Conrail railroad right-of-way. Light
Rail technology along this alignment was selected as the Recommended
Alternative based on a two-year Alternatives Analysis completed by
DRPA/PATCO in 2009.
FTA is issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input
regarding the scope of the EIS and to advise the public and agencies
that outreach activities conducted by DRPA/PATCO and its
representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. FTA
is the lead federal agency for the environmental review, with DRPA/
PATCO as the joint lead agency.
DATES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS, including the
project's purpose and need, the alternatives to be considered, and the
impacts to be evaluated should be sent to DRPA on or before June 10,
2010. See ADDRESSES below for the address to which written comments may
be sent. Oral comments on the scope of the EIS can be made at Public
Scoping Meetings on the following dates:
Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Camden County College--Camden
Technology Center, 200 North Broadway, Camden, NJ 08102 from 5:30 to
8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Rowan University (Henry M. Rowan
Bldg.), 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028 from 1:30 to 4:30
p.m.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at Rowan University (Henry M. Rowan
Bldg.), 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ 08028 from 5:30 to 8:30
p.m.
An informational session explaining the proposed project will occur
during the first hour of each meeting, followed by the opportunity for
the public and/or agency representatives to provide oral comments on
the scope of the EIS. Those individuals wishing to speak at the
meetings are required to register at the particular meeting location on
the day of that meeting. Anyone who requires special assistance at a
scoping meeting should contact Ms. Victoria Malaszecki, Public
Involvement Coordinator at (856) 223-0800, via e-mail at
[email protected], or at the address listed
below at least 3 days prior to the meeting.
An agency scoping meeting will be held on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 2
p.m., at DRPA, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ.
Representatives from federal, state, regional, tribal, and local
agencies that may have an interest in the project will be invited to
serve as either participating or cooperating agencies.
ADDRESSES: Comments will be accepted orally at the public scoping
meetings, or they may be sent to Ms. Victoria Malaszecki, Public
Outreach Liaison, Envision Consultants, Ltd. by mail at PO Box 536,
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062, by fax (856)-223-8886, or by e-mail at
[email protected]. The addresses of the scoping
meetings are listed above under DATES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Either Mr. Keith Lynch, Project
Advisor, Federal Transit Administration, 1716 Market Street, Suite 500,
Philadelphia, PA 19103 or (215) 656-7056; or Mr. Michael Venuto,
Project Manager, Delaware River Port Authority, One Port Center, 2
Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08101 or (856) 968-2079.
Additional project information and scoping materials will be
available at the meetings and on the project Web site (http://www.GlassboroCamdenLine.com).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I: Scoping
FTA and DRPA/PATCO will undertake a scoping process that will allow
the public and interested agencies to comment on the scope of the
environmental review process. Scoping is the process of determining the
scope, focus, and content of an EIS. NEPA scoping has specific
objectives, identifying the significant issues that
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will be examined in detail during the EIS, while simultaneously
limiting consideration and development of issues that are not truly
significant. FTA and DRPA/PATCO invite all interested individuals and
organizations, public agencies, and Native American tribes to comment
on the scope of the Draft EIS. To facilitate public and agency comment,
a Draft Scoping Document will be prepared for review. Included in this
document will be draft descriptions of: The purpose and need for the
project; the alternatives to be studied; the impacts to be assessed;
and the public outreach and agency coordination process.
II: Proposed Purpose and Need
The purpose of this project is to improve transit service along the
Glassboro to Camden corridor in southern New Jersey with a focus on
increasing mobility and improving links between the established
communities and activity centers.
The Glassboro to Camden corridor is characterized by older, densely
populated communities that developed along the rail line, as well as by
major employment and activity centers including universities, medical
centers and other institutions. However, connections between these
activity centers and the people who access them are not efficient and
travel along the corridor is difficult. With regard to transit service
especially, the corridor lacks competitive and reliable transit options
between the major communities and activity centers.
Trips along the corridor are primarily made by car. Major roadways
experience congestion during peak hours, and even greater travel
demands are predicted for the future in Gloucester and Camden counties,
associated with growth in population and employment. This growth will
contribute to continued increases in vehicle miles of travel, air
pollutants and greenhouse gases, and travel times. In addition, this
auto dependence has contributed to and continues to encourage
development ``sprawl'' into open space and agricultural land, requiring
new supporting infrastructure, and does not encourage growth in the
established communities as promoted by state and local ``Smart Growth''
initiatives.
The proposed 18-mile GCL traverses established communities and
would provide a new reliable transit system competitive with auto
travel, linking activity centers, employment destinations and
established residential areas. This reliability and competitiveness
would encourage a modal shift from auto to transit, and contribute to
reduced congestion, vehicle miles of travel, air pollutants and
greenhouse gases, and travel times. Aligning the GCL with the existing
Conrail railroad right-of-way would minimize property acquisition and
take advantage of an underutilized transportation corridor. Moreover,
its location amid established communities would encourage growth and
economic development consistent with ``Smart Growth'' programs and
policies at the local, State, and regional level.
III: Proposed Alternatives
The alternatives expected to be included in the EIS include:
No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative represents future
conditions in the EIS analysis year of 2035 without the GCL Project.
The No Action Alternative includes the existing transit and
transportation system in southern New Jersey plus planned improvements
for which the need, commitment, financing and public and political
support have been identified, and which may reasonably be expected to
be implemented. This Alternative is included in the Draft EIS as a
means of comparing and evaluating the impacts and benefits of the GCL
alternatives.
Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative: The TSM
alternative consists of enhancements and upgrades to the existing
transportation system to address some of the needs and purpose of the
project at less capital cost. These upgrades can include bus route
restructuring and headway reductions, express and limited-stop service,
intersection improvements, and other limited infrastructure
improvements that enhance the transportation system. The specific
combination of improvements to be incorporated into the TSM will be
developed during the EIS process.
Light Rail Alternative: Based on the results of the 2009
Alternatives Analysis of transit options, light rail service from
Glassboro to Camden was selected as the Recommended Alternative to
provide expanded transit service in Gloucester and Camden counties, New
Jersey. This alternative will be the focus of the Draft EIS assessment
and documentation.
The Light Rail Alternative would traverse the communities of
Glassboro, Pitman, Sewell, Mantua Township, Deptford Township, Wenonah,
Woodbury Heights, Woodbury, Westville, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, and
Camden. The new line would primarily run along Conrail's freight
alignment, which is roughly parallel to Woodbury-Glassboro Road and NJ
Route 45. The northern segment in Camden would follow a new right-of-
way adjacent to I-676 before entering an in-street alignment to reach
Walter Rand Transportation Center where riders could transfer to the
PATCO Lindenwold Line and the NJ TRANSIT River Line.
The Light Rail Alternative would use diesel-powered light rail
vehicles, operating on new dedicated tracks and/or sharing portions of
Conrail track with temporal separation. Approximately fourteen (14) new
stations would be located along the alignment.
IV: Probable Effects
FTA and DRPA/PATCO will evaluate both project-specific as well as
indirect and cumulative effects to the existing physical, social,
economic and environmental setting in which the GCL will be located.
The permanent, long-term effects to the region could include effects to
traffic and transportation; land use and socioeconomics; visual
character and aesthetics; noise and vibration; historical and
archaeological resources; community impacts; and natural resources.
Temporary impacts during construction of the project could include
effects to air quality; noise and vibration; natural resources; and
contaminated and hazardous materials.
The analysis will be undertaken in conformity with NEPA, Council on
Environmental Quality regulations, FTA guidance and relevant
environmental guidelines, Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, section 4(f) of the DOT Act, Executive Order 12898
regarding minority and low-income populations, the Clean Water Act and
the Clean Air Act of 1970, along with other applicable Federal and
State regulations. Opportunities for comment on the potential effects
to be studied will be provided to the public, and comments received
will be considered in the development of the final scope and content of
the environmental documents.
V: Public and Agency Involvement Procedures
The regulations implementing NEPA, as well as provisions of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), call for public involvement in the EIS
process. In accordance with Section 6002 of SAFETEA-LU, FTA and DRPA/
PATCO will: (1) Extend an invitation to other Federal and non-Federal
agencies and Native American Tribes that may have an interest in the
proposed project to become participating agencies (any interested party
that does not receive an
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invitation to become a participating agency can notify any of the
contact persons listed earlier in this NOI); (2) Provide opportunity
for involvement by participating agencies and the public to help define
the purpose and need for the proposed project, as well as the range of
alternatives for consideration in the EIS; and (3) Establish a plan for
coordinating public and agency participation in, and comment on, the
environmental review process.
A Public Involvement Plan and an Agency Coordination Plan will be
developed outlining public and agency involvement for the project.
These will be available on the project Web site or through written
request. Opportunities for comment will be provided throughout the EIS
process, including public and agency meetings, the project Web site, a
mailing address, and a phone information line. Comments received from
any of these sources will be considered in the development of the final
scope and content of the environmental documents.
VI. Summary/Next Steps
With the publication of this NOI, the scoping process for the
project begins. After the publication of the Draft Scoping Document, a
public comment period will begin, allowing the public to offer input on
the scope of the EIS until June 10, 2010. Public comments will be
received through those methods explained earlier in this NOI and will
be incorporated into a Final Scoping Document. This document will
detail the scope of the EIS and the potential environmental effects
that will be considered during the study period. After the completion
of the Draft EIS, another public commenting period will allow for input
on the EIS, and these comments will be incorporated into the Final EIS
report before publication.
Issued on: April 12, 2010.
Letitia A. Thompson,
FTA Region III Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-8965 Filed 4-16-10; 8:45 am]
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