The purpose of the public hearing is to share project information and seek comments in a formal setting (public hearing) for the proposed Environmental Assessment for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) North Corridor project. The public hearing is being conducted to give all interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements and in accordance with Federal Executive Orders 11990 and 11988. The proposed improvements involve a 9.28-mile alignment on existing surface streets and predominantly within existing right of way. The proposed alignment extends north from Broad Street and State Street in downtown Jacksonville along Boulevard Street to Golfair Boulevard, and then extends west along Golfair Boulevard and north along Brentwood and Norwood Avenues to Lem Turner Road, ending approximately at Armsdale Road (south of I-295). These improvements will allow JTA to provide improved service, minimize costs and improve transit operations. Anyone attending the public hearing may submit comments orally or in writing at any time during the open house or after the formal presentation. Persons wishing to speak during the formal comment period will obtain a speaker card at the meeting. A stenographer will document all oral comments. Persons wishing to submit written statements or other exhibits, in place of or in addition to oral statements, may do so at the hearing or by sending them to: Winova Hart-Mayer, JTA Communication and Outreach Coordinator, 100 Myrtle Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204 or by email at whart@jtafla.com. All exhibits or statements postmarked before February 25, 2011 will become a part of the public hearing record. The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and supporting documentation will be available for review from January 14, 2011 through February 25, 2011. All comments received at the hearing and until the close of the comment period will be included in the final EA document. Copies of the EA can be reviewed on the JTA website, www.jtafla.com and at the locations below starting on January 14, 2011: • JTA Offices, 100 N. Myrtle St., Jacksonville, FL 32204 • Northwest Library, 1755 Edgewood Avenue West, Jacksonville, FL 32208 • Tax Collector’s Office, Gateway Shopping Center, 910 W. 44th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32208 These hearings are being held in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended. Public participation at this hearing is sought without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or family status. Persons wishing to express their concerns relative to adherence to Titles Six and Eight of the Civil Rights Act may do so by contacting JTA’s equal opportunity officer Ken Middleton at (904)598-8728 or kmiddleton@jtafla.com. These hearings are also being held in accordance with FTA policy, all Federal laws, regulations, and executive orders affecting project development, including but not limited to the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and FTA implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and 23 CFR part 771), the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Executive Order 12898 regarding environmental justice, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and Section 4(f) of the USDOT Act (49 USC 303), have been addressed to the maximum extent practicable during this NEPA process. In addition, JTA is seeking section 5309 New Starts funding for the project and will therefore be subject to the FTA New Starts regulation (49 CFR part 611). This New Starts regulation requires the submission of certain specified information to FTA to comply with the NEPA process. Right-of-Way acquisition is anticipated for this project. Environmental Justice Issues have also been considered, as specified in Executive Order 12898. These hearings are being held in accordance with 23 CFR 771 and Section 339.155, Florida Statutes.