03 Austin Light Rail Update — original pdf

Backup

Austin Light Rail Update Urban Transportation Commission 1 FEBRUARY 6, 2024 PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION & INTEGRATED APPROACH WORK EFFORTS SCOPING 22 Upcoming Public Outreach Federal Process: NEPA MEETING LOCATION DATE/TIME University of Texas, Eastwoods Room, 2nd floor (ground level), Texas Union 2308 Whitis Ave, Austin, TX 78712 Thursday, February 1, 2024 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Montopolis Recreation and Community Center 1200 Montopolis Dr., Austin, TX 78741 Saturday, February 10, 2024 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. League of Women Voters, Cafetorium 3908 Avenue B, Suite 105, Austin, TX 78751 Virtual Open House Twin Oaks Library, Rooms 1 & 2 1800 S. 5th St., Austin, TX 78704 St. David's Episcopal, Sumners Hall 301 E. 8th St., Austin, TX 78701 Monday, February 12, 2024 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday, February 22, 2024 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 29, 2024 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. 3 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL PHASE 1- BASE DESIGN  9.8-mile Light Rail Transit (LRT) branched line, including 15 stations located north, south, and east of downtown Austin  Light rail embedded in center of street PRIORITY EXTENSIONS  Not included in the NEPA analysis  Could be accelerated if additional funding becomes available 4 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL ADVANCING DESIGN Evaluating design options identified through previous public engagement, technical and design opportunities STATION LOCATIONS  Evaluating and optimizing proposed station locations MULTIMODAL INTEGRATION  Study area to extend light rail bridge south of Lady Bird Lake  Study area to locate bike and pedestrian facilities next to light rail, east of I-35 (center-running) along Riverside Drive Evaluate proposed end of line facilities and site locations 5 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL NORTH SECTION Evaluate proposed end of line facilities and site locations 6 6 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL DOWNTOWN SECTION DESIGN OPTION Option to add station near Wooldridge Square 7 7 DESIGN OPTION Option to locate station in private joint development off-street AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL SOUTH SECTION DESIGN OPTION (STUDY AREA) Study area to extend light rail bridge south of Lady Bird Lake Evaluate proposed end of line facilities and site locations DESIGN OPTION Consider options with and without Travis Heights station 8 8 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL SOUTH SECTION DESIGN OPTION (STUDY AREA) FOR SOUTH OF LADY BIRD LAKE 1 OPTION Evaluating light rail running at street level 2 OPTION Evaluating light rail running on extended bridge 99 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL EAST SECTION DESIGN OPTION Option to combine Montopolis and Faro stations into a single station at Grove Evaluate proposed end of line facilities and site locations DESIGN OPTION (STUDY AREA) Study area to locate bike and pedestrian facilities next to light rail, east of I-35 (center-running) along Riverside Drive 10 10 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL EAST SECTION DESIGN OPTION (STUDY AREA) FOR EAST RIVERSIDE DR. 1 OPTION Evaluating center-running light rail with outside bike & pedestrian facilities 2 OPTION Evaluating bike & pedestrian facilities next to center-running light rail with outside shared use paths 1111 AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL EAST SECTION BIKE & PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES CONCEPT PRECEDENTS: PARIS, FRANCE SEATTLE, US Source: Google Maps Streetview VIENNA, AUSTRIA Source: H. Mason Hicks Source: Michael Brooks / Alamy 12 1212 D E L I B E R A T I V E D R A F T WHAT DOES AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) ANALYZE? NEPA process looks at 2 ALTERNATIVES The proposed project BUILD ALTERNATIVE Scenario where project isn’t built NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE DRAFT EIS Will compare results from the analysis and make recommendation 13 PHYSICAL & NATURAL ENVIRONMENT • Air Quality • Soils and Geology • Water Quality • Threatened and Endangered • Energy • Hazardous Materials • Noise and Vibration • Temporary Construction Impacts Species HUMAN ENVIRONMENT • Environmental Justice (EJ) • Safety and Security • • Socioeconomics and Economic Land Use and Zoning Development • Transportation • Utilities • Land Acquisitions and Displacements CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT • Cultural, Historic, and Archeological • Parks and Recreational • Visual Quality • Neighborhood and Community Resources FEDERAL PROCESS: NEPA SCOPING Provides an opportunity for the public and other agencies to provide input on the project DRAFT EIS Documents analysis and recommendations for the project JAN-MAR 2024 APR-JUNE 2024 Scoping • Present items that will undergo environmental review • Provide input on the issues and questions that we should consider in the environmental analysis Continuing Outreach (Post-Scoping) Provide education and information on the NEPA and project development process FALL 2024 – SPRING 2025 Public and Stakeholder Review for Draft EIS ATP will share, through various methods, the Draft EIS for public and stakeholder review and comment for 45+ days Address Draft EIS Input ATP will review and address substantive comments on the analysis and design FEIS/ROD Reflects changes from public comment and memorializes NEPA process SUMMER 2025 FEIS/ROD Issued Final document shows responses to all relevant comments received on the Draft EIS. 14 Thank you! 15