[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15996-15997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6704]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-PWRO-PWR-1228-6476; 8145-8B90-SZM]
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Extension of F-Line
Historic Streetcar Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, County of San
Francisco, CA
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice of Availability for Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for Extension of F-Line Historic Streetcar Service, Golden Gate
National Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical
Park.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec. 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and pursuant to the Council on
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-08), the
National Park Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed extension of the northern
waterfront Municipal Railway Historic Streetcar Service. Beginning at
Fisherman's Wharf, this proposed railway extension would serve visitors
to two popular units of the National Park System--San Francisco
Maritime National Historical Park and the Fort Mason area of Golden
Gate National Recreation Area. This project is being developed in close
coordination with San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) and other City
and County of San Francisco planning and transportation agencies. The
course of action proposed would lengthen the historic streetcar F-line
approximately .85 mile from Fisherman's Wharf to the San Francisco
Maritime National Historical Park and thence to the Golden Gate
National Recreation Area. Currently, the F-line serves more than 20,000
passengers daily and is one of Muni's most popular lines, yet does not
provide direct access to heavily visited Aquatic Park and Fort Mason
Center areas. The intended effect of this proposal is to provide park
visitors and transit-dependent city residents with high-quality rail
transit that improves transportation access and mobility. In addition
to the proposal, the Draft EIS evaluates a No-Action alternative, and
documents early consideration of preliminary options not carried
forward for analysis.
Background: A congressionally-mandated Travel Study completed in
1977 recommended restoring the historic rail link between the Hyde
Street Pier and Fort Mason to improve access to various National Park
Service (NPS) sites. The rail line was subsequently abandoned (1980),
and the area between Hyde Street Pier and the Fort Mason tunnel
entrance was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1987
(which is now encompassed in the San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park created in 1988). Also, in the late 1980s federal
highway funds originally intended for extending Interstate 280 were
reallocated to a number of alternative transportation facilities along
the Embarcadero including creation of an historic streetcar line along
Market Street and the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. In 2000 this
service was extended to Fisherman's Wharf. The popularity of the
historic streetcars resulted in public and private interest in
extending the service to the disjunct NPS areas.
The Municipal Railway currently operates historic streetcar service
on Market Street and along the San Francisco waterfront (F-Line) to the
line's existing terminus in the Fisherman's Wharf area. The proposed
expansion would extend west to San Francisco Maritime National
Historical Park (NHP) and on to Fort Mason. The NHP is visited by
approximately 4 million people annually and is currently served by very
popular cable cars (often crowded at peak tourist times) as well as
streetcar and bus lines. Fort Mason, home to the Fort Mason Center,
houses more than 40 non-profit organizations offering more than 15,000
events a year and attracting upwards of 1.6 million visitors. These
areas are underserved by mass transit access, and as a result
automobile-based visitation causes massive parking problems that affect
surrounding neighborhoods. Furthermore, inadequate mass transit access
makes it difficult for transit-dependent San Franciscans to enjoy the
cultural and educational events offered at Fort Mason Center.
Development of Alternatives: The core team for development of the
Draft EIS includes the NPS as the lead federal agency, and San
Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and Federal Transit
Administration as cooperating agencies. A Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) was also convened to meet periodically to provide technical
support during the various stages of the study and preparation of the
EIS. In addition to the cooperators, members of the TAC include
representatives from Fort Mason Center, Golden Gate National Parks
Conservancy, Market Street Railway, San Francisco Department of
Recreation and Parks, and San Francisco County Transportation
Authority.
Public notification at the onset of the EIS process was made
through direct mail to approximately 4,000 persons, organizations, and
agencies. Media publicity included announcements in the San Francisco
Examiner (May 3, 2006) and San Francisco Chronicle (May 6, 2006). The
Notice of Intent formally initiating the conservation planning and
environmental impact analysis process was published in the Federal
Register on March 29, 2006. Public and agency scoping meetings were
held at Fort Mason Officer's Club on May 9, 2006. During the 60-day
public scoping period, the NPS received over 100 comments from
individuals, organizations representing environmental and recreational
interests, and governmental agencies. Based on information obtained
during the scoping phase, analysis focused on land use, socioeconomics,
transportation and circulation, air quality, noise and vibration,
cultural resources, recreation and visitor use, visual and aesthetic
resources, night sky visibility and light pollution, geological
resources, biological resources, public health and safety, and public
services and utilities. The public's primary concerns focused on
changes in traffic and parking, impacts on parklands and recreational
facilities, noise and vibration, visual impacts, and cultural
resources. Information to inform preparation of the Draft EIS was also
solicited from the TAC.
A total of six preliminary alignments and seven turnaround
alternatives were developed as a result of the comments received. This
included consideration of other transit modes such as diesel bus and
trolley coach. Four additional turnaround alternatives were
subsequently developed during the project's TAC meetings.
The Draft EIS identifies and analyzes potential consequences of
implementing two alternatives. In addition, several preliminary
alternatives were considered but dismissed from detailed analysis.
Alternative 1, the No-Action ``baseline alternative'' would provide no
changes from the existing historic
[[Page 15997]]
streetcar line and would not provide transit connections to the Fort
Mason Center.
Alternative 2 (agency-preferred) would extend the existing F-Line
from Fisherman's Wharf to the Fort Mason Center. Included are new rail
track and associated new platforms and designated stops; retrofitting
of the historic State Belt Railroad tunnel; and a turnaround loop. The
track extension would include a street-running segment along Beach
Street, a transition zone between the street-running segment and the
Fort Mason Tunnel segment. Two ``turnaround segment'' options for the
terminus--North Loop (Fort Mason parking lot) and South Loop (Great
Meadow)--were analyzed during a Value Analysis (VA) workshop held in
August of 2010. The VA team focused on: (1) Identifying a ``preferred''
alternative for the streetcar extension turnaround; (2) identifying
opportunities to improve value for the project; and (3) confirming
sustainable project goals for the NPS. The VA team rated the North Loop
turnaround option higher than three variations of the South Loop
turnaround option. Other specific project elements include constructing
streetcar track for approximately 0.85 miles, construction of 8-9-
station platforms, upgrades to the existing Fort Mason Tunnel, and
installation of signals, crossings, wires and poles.
Comments: This notice serves to formally open the public review and
comment phase for the Draft EIS. The public and interested
organizations are encouraged to provide written comments on issues and
concerns, refinements in alternatives, potential environmental effects
and appropriate mitigation measures that would reduce potential
impacts. To afford an opportunity to obtain information, a public open
house will be hosted on April 20, 2011 from 7-9 p.m. in the Golden Gate
Room, Building A, Fort Mason (for directions or information about
public transit, please consult the project Web site or contact the Muni
Railway Extension Project Manager at (415) 561-2872). All written
comments must be postmarked or transmitted not later than 60 days after
publication of the EPA's notice of filing in the Federal Register--as
soon as this ending date is confirmed it will be announced on the
project Web site.
The project Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/StreetcarExtension
provides the most up-to-date information regarding the project,
including electronic version of the Draft EIS, planning process
updates, meeting notices, reports and documents, and useful links
associated with the project. Written comments on the Draft EIS should
be mailed to the following address: Superintendent--GGNRA, Attn: Rick
Foster, Muni Railway Extension Project Manager, Fort Mason, Bldg. 201,
San Francisco, CA 94123. In addition to the project Web site, requests
for printed copy of the Draft EIS or to be included on the project
mailing list can be accommodated by contacting the Muni Railway
Extension Project Manager at (415) 561-2872.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Decision Process: Availability of the Draft EIS for a 60-days
public review will be formally announced through publication of this
Notice of Availability, through local and regional news media, via the
project Web site, and direct mailing to the project mailing list.
Following due consideration of all public and agency comments, a Final
EIS will be prepared. As a delegated EIS the official responsible for
the final decision regarding the proposed extension is the Regional
Director, Pacific West Region. Subsequently the officials responsible
for implementation will be the Superintendents of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Dated: March 15, 2011.
Christine S. Lehnertz,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-6704 Filed 3-21-11; 8:45 am]
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