95-16151. Environmental Impact Statement on the Introduction of Transportation Improvements on the East Side of New York County, NY

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34320-34322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16151]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Introduction of 
Transportation Improvements on the East Side of New York County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The FTA, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the New 
York City Transit Authority (NYC Transit) are issuing this notice to 
advise the public and all other interested parties that in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for transportation improvements 
that will improve mobility on the east side of the island of Manhattan 
within the City of New York. NYC Transit will ensure that the EIS also 
satisfies the requirements of the State of New York Environmental 
Quality Review Act and the intent of the City of New York Environmental 
Quality Act. The Draft EIS (DEIS) will include a Major Investment Study 
(MIS) in accordance with the joint FTA/FHWA Metropolitan Planning 
Requirements, 23 CFR part 450.
    High levels of auto congestion in the study area influence the 
region's ability to meet National Ambient Air Quality standards. The 
MIS/DEIS process will clearly identify these and other mobility 
problems in the study area and evaluate any alternative actions 
generated through the scoping process. Among the alternatives that the 
MIS/DEIS effort will evaluate are the No-Action and 

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Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternatives; a new subway 
line; light rail transit; elevated rail transit, jitney bus services 
and ferry services; special bus lanes and fixed bus guideways, 
including along the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Drive; buses powered by 
overhead wires; and feasible combinations of options. Scoping will be 
accomplished through correspondence and meetings with interested 
persons, organizations, and federal, state and local agencies, and will 
culminate with centrally located afternoon and evening public meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered should be sent to James Dubbs, Assistant 
Director of Government and Community Relations [phone], NYC 
Transit, 130 Livingston St., Room 3011D, Brooklyn, NY 11201 by August 
7, 1995. Scoping Meetings: Public scoping meetings will be held on 
Tuesday, July 26, 1995, 3 pm and 6 pm, at Metropolitan Transportation 
Authority Headquarters, 347 Madison Avenue (between 44th and 45th St.), 
5th floor, New York, NY 11007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Dubbs, NYC Transit Assistant 
Director of Government and Community Relations at the above address, 
PHONE: [phone], FAX: [phone]; Letitia Thompson, FTA 
Deputy Regional Administrator, 26 Federal Plaza, Suite 2940, NY, NY 
10278, PHONE: [phone], FAX: [phone]; or Harold Brown, 
FHWA Division Administrator, Leo O'Brian Federal Building, Albany, NY 
12207, PHONE: [phone], FAX: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Scoping

    FTA, FHWA and the NYC Transit invite interested individuals, 
organizations, and federal, state and local agencies to participate in 
defining the alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and identifying 
any significant social, economic, or environmental issues related to 
the alternatives. An information packet describing the purpose of the 
project, the proposed alternatives, the impact areas to be evaluated, 
the citizen involvement program, and the preliminary project schedule 
is being mailed to affected federal, state and local agencies and to 
interested parties on record. Others may request the scoping materials 
by contacting James Dubbs at the NYC Transit office at the address 
above or by calling him at [phone]. Scoping comments may be made 
verbally at either of the public scoping meetings or in writing. See 
the DATES section above for locations and times. During scoping, 
comments should focus on identifying specific social, economic or 
environmental impacts to be evaluated and suggest alternatives which 
are less costly or less environmentally damaging while achieving 
similar transit objectives. Anyone wishing to be placed on a mailing 
list to receive further information as the project develops should 
contact James Dubbs as previously described.

Description of the Study Area and Project Need

    The study area is approximately 12 miles in length extending in a 
north/south direction along the east side of the Borough of Manhattan 
from South Ferry in Manhattan to 164th Street in the Bronx. In the 
Bronx, the study area boundaries are from St. Ann's Avenue west to the 
Harlem River. In Manhattan, from 125th Street to Washington Square 
North, the study area boundaries are from the East River to Fifth 
Avenue. From Washington Square North (Waverly Place) to Battery Park, 
the Study Area boundaries are from the East River to Broadway. The 
Study Area will also include the route of the NYCT Broadway Line (N,R) 
from 63rd Street to the Whitehall St. South Ferry Station. There are a 
number of surface and rapid transit routes that enter the Study Area 
from regions outside the Study boundaries. The Study Area boundaries 
outlined herein provide a rough guide and are to be considered flexible 
and dependent upon the outcome of the scoping process.
    Removal of elevated transit lines serving north/south routes along 
Manhattan's east side in the 1940s and 1950s, combined with growth in 
population and commercial development in that area, have resulted in 
excess ridership demand on remaining transit facilities. In the 1960s, 
planning and design work was conducted for a proposed subway line along 
Second Avenue. Construction of the line was initiated in the 1970s. 
Though some segments of the Second Avenue Subway were constructed, work 
was suspended due to fiscal constraints. As a consequence, the demand 
for subway service in the study area still exceeds supply.
    Similar to the subway system, the local north-south arterials in 
the study area and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Drive are 
overtaxed during the peak period. The high levels of auto congestion in 
the study area influences the New York Metropolitan region's ability to 
meet National Ambient Air Quality standards.
    The purpose of the MIS/DEIS process is, in coordination with a 
regional framework of transportation studies, to thoroughly examine the 
long term needs and available options for improving mobility in the 
north/south corridors on Manhattan's East Side and identify a preferred 
investment strategy that will address the mobility needs in a cost-
effective, equitable, and publicly acceptable manner.
    This MIS/DEIS effort is in its preliminary stages. While study 
efforts over the past several months have included a significant amount 
of data gathering, review of past work, and initial public involvement, 
public involvement regarding issues and alternatives to be studied are 
still being sought.

Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: No-Action which 
involves no change to transportation services or facilities in the 
corridor beyond already committed projects; the TSM alternative, which 
consists of low-to-medium cost improvements to the facilities and 
operations of existing transportation services; Lexington Avenue (4/5/
6) subway service improvements, which might include installing new 
technology signals, higher capacity trains or stations; a north/south 
subway route, which could extend along part or all of Manhattan's east 
side (e.g. under Second Avenue); a commuter rail service extension 
south of Grand Central Terminal; various bus strategies including fixed 
busways and buses powered by overhead wires, including along the FDR 
Drive; light rail service; elevated rail service; jitney services; 
ferry services; and, the introduction of new stations on commuter rail 
lines north of Grand Central Station and cross-town subway routes east 
of Lexington Ave.
    Other reasonable alternatives proposed during the scoping process 
will also be considered.

Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

    FTA, FHWA and NYC Transit plan to evaluate in the MIS/DEIS all 
social, economic, and environmental impacts of the proposed 
alternatives. Among the primary issues are the expected increase in 
transit ridership, impacts on highway and local street usage, the 
capital outlays needed to construct the project, the cost of operating 
and maintaining the facilities created by the project, and the 
financial impacts on the funding agencies. Impacts to the markets 
outside the study area will be examined as well. Environmental and 
social impacts for 

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analysis include land use and neighborhood impacts, traffic and parking 
impacts near stations, visual impacts, impacts on cultural resources, 
and noise and vibration impacts. Impacts on natural areas, rare and 
endangered species, air and water quality, groundwater, and geologic 
forms will also be covered. The impacts will be evaluated both for the 
construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures 
to mitigate significant adverse impacts will be considered.

FTA and FHWA Procedures

    In accordance with Federal Transit Laws, the Federal Aid Highway 
Act and FTA/FHWA regulations and policies, the MIS/DEIS will be 
prepared in conjunction with an analysis of alternatives and initial 
Conceptual Engineering. After its publication, the MIS/DEIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment, and a public 
hearing will be held. On the basis of the MIS/DEIS and the comments 
received, and with input from the Project Steering Committee, The 
Technical Advisory Committee, and the Public Advisory Committee, the 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority will select a locally preferred 
alternative for a major investment strategy. The Regional 
Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Plan will be revised 
to incorporate the selected strategy. Approval will be sought from FTA 
and FHWA to continue with Preliminary Engineering and to prepare a 
Final EIS.

    Issued on: June 26, 1995.
Thomas J. Ryan,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-16151 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
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