[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5699-5700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2651]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Erie County, NY
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration, New York State Department of
Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 5700]]
SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to
advise the public of its intent to prepare an environmental impact
statement for the proposed Southtowns Connector/Buffalo Outer Harbor
Project in Erie County, New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert J. Russell, Regional Director, New York State Department of
Transportation, Region 5, 125 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14203,
(716) 847-3238 or
Harold J. Brown, Division Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 9th
Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207,
(518) 431-4127.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FWHA),
in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT), will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the
proposed Southtowns Connector/Buffalo Outer Harbor Project (the
Proposed Action) in Erie County, New York. The Proposed Action is
designed to improve mobility between and through the City of Buffalo
and its southern suburban areas, consisting of the City of Lackawanna,
the Village of Blasdell, the Town of Hamburg, and other outlying towns
and villages.
The Proposed Action is intended to support existing and projected
transportation demands currently served by the following facilities:
A portion of New York State (NYS) Route 5, consisting of a
limited-access expressway and at-grade arterial road extending from the
Buffalo Skyway (an elevated bridge passing over the Buffalo River)
through the Buffalo Outer Harbor and the City of Lackawanna to the Town
of Hamburg.
The Mainline Section of the New York State Thruway (I-90);
and
The Niagara Section of the New York State Thruway (I-90).
A series of previous planning efforts began the process for the
development of the Proposed Action. The project was originally
considered by the NYSDOT through the completion of the Southtowns
Connector Feasibility Study in July 1991. It was also included in the
Horizons Waterfront Action Plan, prepared by the Horizons Waterfront
commission in January 1992. Further aspects of the project's components
are listed in the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization's Long
Range Transportation Plan, prepared by the Greater Buffalo-Niagara
Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC).
Most recently in 1998, NYSDOT prepared a Major Investment Study
(MIS) associated with the Proposed Action. In accordance with the
requirements set forth in the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) the MIS was prepared as an Option 1 MIS.
Option 1 MISs involve a process for formulating a single or series of
locally-preferred alternatives that are progressed into subsequent
analysis and documentation in a National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) EIS.
The MIS process was comprised of three major interrelated elements:
(1) identification of deficiencies; (2) development and screening of
alternatives; and (3) implementation of a pro-active public involvement
program. Initially, twenty-nine alternatives were considered, each
intended to meet the project's goals and objectives. Through the
conducting of a major flaw analysis and further refinement the number
of alternatives was reduced to fifteen. This was followed by more
detailed comparative analysis, which resulted in the identification of
five locally preferred alternatives remaining under consideration.
These will be carried into the analysis for the EIS.
The alternatives remaining under consideration consist of the
following components:
The No Action Alternative, which would involve only
implementing planned and committed transportation projects through
2020.
Implementation of Transportation System Management (TSM)
strategies within the study area, such as improved informational
systems; and
Three Major Build Alternatives, including:
--Construction of a new expressway utilizing an existing rail corridor
that passes north to south through the study area, extending from
Milestrip Road to I-190 near the Seneca Street Interchange in South
Buffalo, and construction of a Lackawanna Connector expressway from NYS
Route 5, near Smokes Creek, to I-90 near the NYS Route 219 interchange.
--Improvement of existing facilities, involving widening of I-190 from
Church Street in Downtown Buffalo to the I-90 Interchange, and widening
of I-90 from the I-190 Interchange to the Lackawanna Toll Plaza, as
well as construction of the Lackawanna Connector; and
--Constructing a new transit way utilizing the existing rail corridor
and construction of the Lackawanna Connector.
NYSDOT is initiating a scoping process for the purpose of
determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying
significant issues related to the project. Letters describing the
Proposed Action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate
Federal, State, and local agencies, and to private organizations and
citizens who have previously expressed interest in this proposal.
NYSDOT will also conduct a series of formal NEPA public scoping
meetings to be held at the following locations and times:
February 16, 1999, 7:00-9:00 PM, Lackawanna Senior Citizen
Complex, 420 Martin Road, Lackawanna, New York.
February 18, 1999, 4:30-6:30 PM, NYSDOT Public Information
Office, Waterfront Village Center, 50 Lakefront Boulevard, Buffalo, New
York.
February 24, 1999, 7:00-9:00 PM, Southside Elementary
School Community Room, 430 Southside Parkway, Buffalo, New York.
Each of the above locations has facilities accessible to the
handicapped. Should attendees require materials for the hearing
impaired associated with any of the public scoping meetings they should
contact Mr. Gary Gottlieb at (716) 854-0280 at least 48 hours prior to
the subject meeting.
In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public notice will be
given of the time and place of the hearing. The EIS will be available
for public and agency review and comment.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to the Proposed
Action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all agencies and interested parties.
Comments or questions concerning this Proposed Action and the EIS
should be directed to the NYSDOT for FHWA at the address provided
above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulation
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this
program)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123.
Issued on: January 26, 1999.
Douglas P. Conlan,
District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 99-2651 Filed 2-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M
