Environmental

Public Input Opportunity:
September 2010 Public Scoping

VTA hosted a public scoping meeting for the 2nd Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) on September 1, 2010 to discuss changes to the project. A copy of that presentation can be downloaded here:

• 2nd Supplemental EIR Scoping Presentation

Federal and state laws require the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) to formally review and analyze how BART Silicon Valley may affect the environment. The federal law, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the state law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). On some projects, the VTA and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) can prepare a joint EIS/EIR document.

An EIS/EIR document presents alternatives for improving transit services and discloses the environmental impacts of those alternatives. It describes the project alternatives, existing environmental setting, impacts from construction and operation, and mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate impacts. Information contained within the document enables decision-makers, interested parties, and the public to evaluate and identify preferred alternatives and options for achieving the project purpose and need.

Analysis is conducted for the following categories of environmental impact:


• Transportation and Transit
• Air Quality
• Biological Resources and Wetlands
• Community Facilities,  
  Schools, and Religious 
  Institutions
• Construction
• Cultural and Historic Resources
• Electromagnetic Fields
• Energy
• Environmental Justice
• Geology, Soils, and Seismicity
• Hazardous Wastes
• Land Use
• Noise and Vibration
• Safety and Security
• Socioeconomics
• Utilities
• Visual Quality and Aesthetics
• Water Resources, Water Quality 
   and Floodplains

Timeline

2010 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Release

FTA, in coordination with VTA, has completed the Final EIS for BART Silicon Valley.   The Berryessa Extension Project Alternative, one of the three alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS, has been selected as the Recommended Project and is proceeding through the New Starts process to receive federal funding.  The Final EIS includes responses to comments received during public circulation of the Draft EIS.

Availability of the Final EIS

• Download PDF's of the Final EIS
• For questions, or to request an electronic copy of the Final EIS, please call (408) 321-5789.
• The Final EIS can be viewed at the following locations during normal business hours:

2009 Draft Environmental Impact Statement Public Circulation

FTA, in coordination with VTA, prepared a Draft EIS for BART Silicon Valley to address short- and long-term environmental impacts of the three project alternatives.   The Draft EIS was circulated from March 13th to May 8th 2009.  In total, 613 comments were received from federal, state, regional, and local agencies, and from members of the public.  Three public hearings were held in Milpitas, San Jose, and Santa Clara during the public comment period.

2007 Draft Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Process

As the state environmental process was concluding in 2007, VTA requested FTA authorization to re-enter the federal New Starts planning and project development process, a process that is required for a project to receive federal funding.   VTA also proposed to complete the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review of BART Silicon Valley.  FTA concurred and published a Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft EIS in the Federal Register in September 2007. To initiate the preparation of the Draft EIS, VTA and FTA conducted public and agency scoping meetings in October 2007. Meeting materials included the meeting presentation, meeting notice, and the Notice of Intent.

2007 Supplemental Environmental Impact Report

As the design of the BART Extension Project advanced, VTA decided to update the 2004 EIR.   In 2006, VTA distributed a Notice of Preparation that a Draft Supplemental EIR (SEIR) would be prepared to address proposed project changes since certification of the Final EIR in 2004.  Potential environmental impacts from 57 changes to the 2004 approved project were evaluated. VTA released the Draft SEIR in January 2007.  In June 2007, the VTA Board of Directors certified the Final SEIR and approved a revised BART Extension Project.

Additional Environmental Documents

Environmental Approval of Projects Fact Sheet - Read about the process for gaining federal and state approval to build major transit and highway projects.

Major Investment Study (MIS) Final Report - This document is the final report of the Major Investment Study (MIS) Phase. The report provides an overview of the MIS purpose and scope and gives a description of the alternatives carried forward for detailed analysis. Note: Some of the report figures and the appendices are not available through the website.