Arizona Rail Passenger Association

METRO Press Release –

Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Review

One opportunity to review is a public meeting on Dec. 10, 2010

METRO and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) report for the Central Mesa extension of light rail on Main Street to Mesa Drive in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The federally-required EA evaluates the potential impacts to the neighboring environment. Many social, economical, and environmental categories were evaluated including noise and vibration, traffic and parking, historical and archaeological resources, and potential impacts related to construction activities.  METRO will take public comments on the draft EA from Nov. 24 – Dec. 24, 2010.  All comments received by Dec. 24, 2010 will be addressed in the Final EA.

The public is invited to attend an open house in which project staff will provide information, respond to questions and receive comments on the Draft EA.

Friday, Dec. 10, 2010
6 – 8 p.m.

OneOhOne Gallery
101 W. Main St., Mesa

Copies of the Draft EA are also available for review at the following locations:

• METRO’s website – www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa
• METRO’s office – 101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1300, Phoenix
• Mesa’s Main Library – 64 E. 1st St., Mesa

For additional information or to submit comments in writing or by phone, please contact:

Robert Forrest, METRO
101 N. 1st Ave., Ste. 1300
Phoenix, AZ, 85003
602-322-4514 phone
rforrest@metrolightrail.org

Jerome Wiggins Federal Transit Administration, Region IX
201 Mission St., Ste. 1650, San Francisco, CA, 94105-1831
415-744-2819 phone jerome.wiggins@fta.dot.gov

An electronic comment form is also available at www.metrolightrail.org/centralmesa.  Persons with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by contacting Robert Forrest at 602-322-4514/TTY 602-322-4499.

ARPA will be exhibiting at this event, formerly known as the “Turkey Meet,” which moves to a new, larger venue at the Mesa Convention Center this year.

If you can help by staffing our table for a couple hours, RSVP to 480.947.5710 or president Rob Bohannan. No advance training necessary.