4.4. SR 03-15-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. 4.0 Environmental Clearance of the Commuter Rail Component of the Northstar Corridor The Contractor will perform the services outlined in this task necessary to assess the environmental consequences or impacts of the proposed commuter-rail service "between " Minneapolis and the St. Cloud area and the No-Build Alternative and the extension of the Hiawatha Corridor LRT service to the Northstar Corridor. This effort will consist of collecting - essential data, comparing viable alternatives, and documenting environmental impacts and recommendations. In conducting the environmental review effort, the Contractor will perform a level of environmental analysis appropriate for this project as outlined in the Ff A requirements and the following sections. 4.1 Notice of Intent (NOI) A NOI to prepare an EIS for the commuter rail service in the Northstar Corridor will be prepared, reviewed with the Federal Transit Administration (FfA) staff, revised as necessary, and transmitted to Ff A for filing. 4.2 Purpose and Need . The Purpose and Need chapter of the DEIS is a critical chapter because it defines the transportation problem in the corridor and the "need for transportation improvements. The Northstar Corridor Phase I MIS also defined the purpose and need. This previous statement will be updated and refined. 4.3 Scoping The Contractor will prepare a Scoping Information Booklet for distribution prior to and at the scoping meeting(s). It will summarize background of the project, project purpose and objectives, scoping and public involvement process, work plan, alternatives to be studied, environmental subject areas to be addressed, and the project schedule. The Booklet also will identify and define the base set of project alternatives selected for study and evaluation; this work will incorporate the work completed in Phase I of the MIS. A copy of the Scoping Information Booklet will be sent to all agencies and organizations and interested individuals on the mailing list. The Scoping Information Booklet will also define the alternatives to connect the Hiawatha Corridor LRT service with the Northstar commuter rail service. The alternatives will be evaluated and a preferred alternative(s) selected for inclusion in the EIS. The Contractor will define the scoping meeting dates and will monitor the arrangements for the four scoping meetings, one in St. Cloud, one in the Twin Cities area, one in the central portion of the corridor, and one inter-agency coordination meeting. The Contractor will prepare meeting presentation aids and handouts to facilitate the scoping presentations. A record of issues discllssed and comments received will be created through preparation of a Scoping Summary Report. The Scoping Summary Report will describe the meeting preparations, content of the meetings, attendance, comments, and the decisions of the NCDA and FfA. . Work Program for Northstar Corridor MIS and EIS For the Proposed Commuter Rail Service February 25, 1999 11 Work Program