Project News

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, RCTC decided to undertake a Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the development of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

While this decision does not require RCTC to begin work anew, the project has been slightly delayed and new material will be submitted to FTA during the summer of 2009.

RCTC made this decision for two reasons.

FTA decided to require a Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) to refresh the information prepared in 2004 and to obtain new public comment before going forward with final project approvals.

In addition, during the public review of the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration being prepared under CEQA a number of concerns were raised regarding noise, traffic and visual impacts, station locations, and other factors. These concerns prompted RCTC to take action to prepare a full Draft EIR under CEQA in order to clarify concerns and address new station site options.

Much of the scientific analysis required for a full Draft EIR was completed as a part of earlier studies for an IS/MND. Both the Draft EIR and the new work for the SEA will add approximately four months to the overall process.