Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility

Environmental Process at a Glance

The environmental process will be the means to assess impacts of proposed projects. In addition, it serves as the forum to inform the public and decision makers on the project options. This process enables the selection of the most feasible alternative that best meets a project’s purpose and need. Not only is the environmental process required by federal and/or state agencies, but the City of Sacramento is committed to going above the required public information methods. The City routinely provides additional public involvement to ensure its community has the opportunity to be informed and provide feedback. After the public information period, all comments are considered and a preferred alternative is selected.

Federal Environmental Review

Federal clearance, under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), is required due to the use of U.S. Department of Transportation funding from various federal highway, transit and railroad programs.

The Federal Highways Administration will serve as the lead federal agency on the project, and the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Railroad Administration will be cooperating agencies. The federal reviews will include:

• Phase 1: Track Relocation – studied at a project-specific level
• Phase 2: Sacramento Valley Station Improvements – studied at a project-specific level
• Phase 3: Intermodal Transportation Facility – studied at a programmatic level; options to be evaluated include moving the depot, not moving the depot and no build.

Note: Phase 1 and Phase 2 are not dependent on whether or not the station is moved

State Environmental Review

Similar to federal environmental review, state environmental review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is required because the project is using various state and local funding sources. The CEQA reviews include:

• Phase 1: Track Relocation – received project-level CEQA clearance in 2007
• Phase 2: Sacramento Valley Station Improvements – project-specific CEQA clearance
• Phase 3: Intermodal Transportation Facility – programmatic clearance

What’s next?

At the end of the public review period, all comments will be considered in the preferred alternative selection. A final determination about the environmental impacts will be issued in accordance with respective federal and state requirements. Check back for updates.