[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 217 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60634-60635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29831]
[[Page 60633]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
Federal Transit Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
Environmental Impact Statement; Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo Inner
Harbor Development Project; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 217 / Monday, November 10, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 60634]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo
Inner Harbor Development Project Buffalo, New York
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
for the Crossroads Arena Project/Buffalo Inner Harbor Development
Project.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, as implemented by the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) and
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations under 23 CFR part 771,
the FTA and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA)
intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to study the
reconfiguration and redevelopment of a portion of the Buffalo Inner
Harbor located in the City of Buffalo, New York. The proposed project
would be financed through funding from the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), the New York State Thruway
Authority, the City of Buffalo and Erie County. The project is being
administered by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) in
cooperation with NFTA.
I. Project Description
The proposed action (Inner Harbor Development Project) consists of
reconfiguration and redeveloping approximately 6 acres of land in
downtown Buffalo, located along the Buffalo River near the southern
terminus of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's (NFTA's)
light rail rapid transit (LRRT) system at the foot of Main Street. A
conceptual plan for redevelopment of the project site was prepared by
the City of Buffalo in 1996 and sets the basis for the project. The
principal elements of this plan included the construction of a new
Naval and Military Museum, which currently occupies a portion of the
project site; the reconfiguration of the Buffalo River shoreline to
create two new inlets with direct access to Main Street to accommodate
existing naval vessels that are part of the museum's collection,
transient boats, water taxis, and tour boats; a visitor's center; a
waterfront promenade to provide continuous pedestrian/bicycle access; a
new or enhanced intermodal LRRT station to serve the project area; and
the creation of Greenway Plaza, a new public space serving as a hub for
all bicycle and pedestrian trail systems, with areas for new
development of commercial/entertainment facilities.
The Inner Harbor Development Project is intended to enhance public
access to the water's edge; enhance ridership on the LRRT system; and
encourage intermodal opportunities between waterborne, transit,
automobile, pedestrian and bicycle route systems. Additionally, the
project is also expected to facilitate and promote private investment
by further capitalizing on intermodal opportunities offered in the
project area.
The EIS will analyze reasonable alternatives that will assist in
achieving the objectives of the Inner Harbor Development Project. Three
alternatives will be formulated through a series of workshops with
major stakeholders, agencies, and the general public. Although still
being formulated, the alternatives will include consideration of a new/
enhanced intermodal LRRT station; reconfiguration of the Buffalo River
shoreline to increase access; identification of new private development
sites in the project area; and establishment of new pedestrian/bicycle/
automobile circulation routes through the project area. In addition,
the EIS will assess the No-Action alternative to serve as a basis for
comparison with the other alternatives and proposed action.
The EIS will evaluate all potential significant social, economic,
and environmental effects of the alternatives. These would include
issues involving land use/zoning/development policies; coastal zone
management policies and navigable waterways; coordination with other
projects planned in the study area and cumulative impacts from these
projects; traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian circulation; transit
ridership; parking; historic/archaeological resources and parklands;
aesthetics; water quality; air quality; hazardous materials; and
effects to minority and low income populations in accordance with
federal guidelines concerning environmental justice. Both positive and
negative impacts will be evaluated for the construction period and for
the long-term period of operation. Significant potential adverse
impacts resulting from analysis of the proposed action and alternatives
will be discussed in terms of avoidance measures or minimized through
the implementation of mitigation measures, where reasonable and
appropriate.
II. Scoping Process/Public Scoping Meeting
The FTA is initiating a scoping process for the purpose of
determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. All
interested individuals and organizations as well as Federal, state, and
local agencies, are invited to participate in identifying any
significant social, economic, and environmental concerns related to the
Inner Harbor Development Project. A draft Scoping Document describing
the purpose of the project and impact issues is being mailed to
affected Federal, State and local agencies as well as interested
parties. Copies of the draft Scoping Document may be obtained by
contacting Ms. Ruta Dzenis, Project Director, Empire State Development
Corporation at (716) 856-8111. A Public Scoping Meeting concerning the
Inner Harbor Development Project will be held on: November 24, 1997,
6:30 p.m., Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Lafayette Square,
Main Auditorium (Clinton Street Entrance), Buffalo, New York 14203.
Following a presentation on the project, comments on the scope of
the EIS will be received and transcribed at this meeting.
Scoping comments may be submitted at the public scoping meeting
and/ or submitted in writing at the address listed below. It is
important that interested parties and Federal, State, and local
agencies take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that
should be addressed in the EIS. Further, because the preliminary design
components of the Inner Harbor Development Project are currently being
formulated and refined, the scoping process offers an opportunity to
incorporate public environmental concerns into the urban design and
engineering processes of the project.
Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be
considered must be received by 5:00 pm January 16, 1998. Written
comments should clearly describe the specific social, economic, and
environmental issues and concerns that the commentor believes that the
EIS should address. Written comments should be sent to: Ms. Ruta
Dzenis, Project Director, Empire State Development Corporation, Western
New York Region, 420 Main Street, Suite 717 Liberty Building, Buffalo,
New York 14202.
III. FTA and State Procedures
The EIS process will be conducted in accordance with NEPA, CEQ, and
FTA regulations under 23 CFR part 771. Following the completion of the
scoping
[[Page 60635]]
process, a draft EIS will be prepared and made available for public
review. Following a 45-day public comment period and public hearing on
the draft EIS, a final EIS will be prepared with appropriate revisions
and additions responding to all substantive comments received. The
final EIS will serve as the basis for a Record of Decision issued on
the proposed action.
Because the proposed action also includes actions/funding by New
York State, county and local agencies, it is required to be assessed in
accordance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act
(SEQRA). ESDC will serve as the lead agency for SEQRA documentation.
The content and format of the EIS will be designed to also serve as the
SEQRA documentation for the action. All time frames, public notices,
public hearings, and comment periods will be coordinated in accordance
with both NEPA and SEQRA requirements.
IV. Contacts
For further information on this project, please contact: Anthony G.
Carr, Director, Office of Planning and Program Development, Federal
Transit Administration at (212) 264-8162.
Issued on November 7, 1997.
Thomas J. Ryan,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-29831 Filed 11-7-97; 10:53 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
