From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" To: "Friends of Transit NEWS" Subject: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Light Rail route Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 10:52 PM Attached is a copy of a news release we just got from Valley Connections regarding a series of public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Light Rail route. It is very important that they get as much public input on this document as possible. Again, these hearings are a venue in which transit opponents may try to spread their tired misinformation about transit. It is very important that the many friends of transit come out to counteract their attacks with facts. I encourage each and everyone one of our readers to take part in the various different ways in which your input can be received. Also, please share this with as many people as you can. We apologize for the delay in getting this information to you. David Schwartz Light Rail Project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement Released for Public Review The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Valley's Light Rail Project was released for public review and comment today. The public will have a 45-day period to make formal comments on the document. Release of the DEIS is an important step for the Light Rail Project, because federal environmental approval is required before the project can enter the Final Design phase. The project will hold five public hearings to give the public the opportunity to comment on the DEIS. The dates and locations of those hearings are: Phoenix: January 22 6-8 p.m., Bethany Bible College, Activity Center, 6060 N. 7th Avenue January 26 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Gateway Community College, Saguaro Room, 108 N. 40th Street January 28 6-8 p.m., Burton Barr Central Library, Pulliam Auditorium, 1221 N. Central Avenue Tempe: January 23 6:30-8:30 p.m., Westside Multi-Generational Center, Senior Center Café & Lobby, 715 W. 5th Street Mesa: January 29 5-7 p.m., East Valley Institute of Technology, Jack Snell Auditorium, 1601 W. Main Street A brief presentation will be given 30 minutes after the start of each meeting. The public will also be able to submit formal comments via e-mail at deis_comment@valleyconnections.com or by mail to the Light Rail Transit Project Office or to the Federal Transit Administration. E-mailed comments must include a name and address. The Environmental Impact Statement serves as a decision-making and public disclosure document. It describes the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Project in detail and outlines the potential beneficial and adverse social, environmental and transportation impacts associated with building and operating the project. Potential mitigation measures are identified where they might be needed to minimize any adverse impacts. It also includes the alternatives that have been developed and evaluated to address the identified problems, as well as an evaluation of regional mobility problems. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement document is available for review at the project community office, 411 N. Central Avenue, Suite 195, and at the following locations: Phoenix: . Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Avenue . Century Library, 1750 E. Highland Avenue . Harmon Library, 411 W. Yavapai . Saguaro Library, 2808 N. 46th Street . Yucca Library, 5648 N. 15th Avenue . Phoenix City Clerk Department, 200 W. Washington, 15th Floor . Phoenix Public Transit, 302 N. 1st Avenue, 7th Floor Tempe: . Tempe Public Library, 3500 S. Rural Road . Tempe City Clerks Office , 31 E. 5th Street, 2nd Floor . Tempe Transit Offices, 20 E. 6th Street, 3rd Floor Mesa: . Main Library (MN), 64 East 1 Street . Dobson Ranch Branch Library (DR), 2425 S. Dobson Road Hard copies of the DEIS are available for purchase at Thomas Reprographics, 817 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix and at Kinko's, 201 E. Washington Street, Ste. 101, Phoenix. Electronic copies of the DEIS on CD may also be purchased for $5 at the project's Community Office, 411 N. Central Avenue, Suite 195, Phoenix, or by mail by sending a check or money order for $5 plus $2.50 postage and handling to Valley Connections, 411 N. Central Avenue, Suite 200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. Please be sure to include a return address and make checks payable to RPTA. Once the comment period has passed, project staff will address all substantive comments in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which will also need to be approved by the FTA. The Final EIS will also include an updated project description, including the adopted mitigation measures. Project planners expect the Final EIS to be available in Spring 2002. Local and federal decision makers will take the information in the Draft EIS, as well as the public comments, into account in deciding whether to move the project forward into the final design and construction phases. After the Final EIS is published, the FTA will certify that all federal environmental requirements have been satisfied. With that environmental certification, work can begin on construction plans, procurement contracts can be signed and any needed right-of-way can be purchased. For more information, call the project hotline at (602) 534-1807 (TTY (602) 261-8202) or visit the project's web site at www.valleyconnections.com. The 20.3-mile starter segment of the light rail line is scheduled to begin construction in 2003 and start operations in late 2006. The initial route begins in Phoenix at 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road and travels through downtown Phoenix and Tempe and about a mile into Mesa, ending at Longmore and Main Streets.