[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48450-48451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23005]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement on the Hartford to New Britain
Busway Project, Hartford County, Connecticut
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Connecticut
Department of Transportation (CTDOT) intend to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed construction of a busway along an
existing rail right-of-way corridor, known as the Hartford West
Corridor, between Union Station in Hartford, CT and downtown New
Britain, CT.
The EIS will evaluate a no-build alternative and a busway
alternative, options recommended in a Major Investment Study (MIS)
completed by the CTDOT and participating agencies for the Hartford West
Corridor. Further scoping will be accomplished through public meetings
and hearings, neighborhood meetings, cable news segments, a newsletter,
and correspondence with interested persons, organizations, the general
public, federal, state and local agencies.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered should be sent to the FTA or CTDOT by
October 18, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr.
Edgar T. Hurle, Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin
Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT, 06131-7546, Telephone (860)
594-2920 or Mr. Richard H. Doyle, Federal Transit Administration, 55
Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02142, Telephone (617) 494-2055.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Beth Mello, Deputy Regional
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration Region I, (617) 494-2055.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Description of Study Area and Project Need
The proposed project corridor, known as the Hartford West corridor,
extends from Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut along an existing
rail-right-of-way to downtown New Britain, Connecticut. The proposed
busway would extend nine miles and include twelve station locations.
The heavily urbanized Hartford West corridor is anchored by the
City of Hartford and the City of New Britain. The corridor has been
broadly defined to include not only I-84 but also the surrounding
neighborhoods, parallel arterial roadways, and two rail lines, the
Bristol-Hartford line and the New Haven-Hartford line. The corridor
encompasses portions of five communities: Hartford, West Hartford,
Farmington, Newington and New Britain.
To address the transportation needs in the Hartford West Corridor
and evaluate the effectiveness of various transportation system
improvement alternatives, the CTDOT, the Capitol Region Council of
Governments (CRCOG), and the Central Connecticut Regional Planning
Agency (CCRPA) undertook a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the area.
During the MIS phase, the three agencies conducted an extensive public
outreach effort and evaluated a full range of alternatives including,
but not limited to, transit fixed guideway (light rail, commuter rail,
and busway), a high occupancy vehicle lane, expressway reconstruction
and operational lanes, expressway widening, transportation system
management improvements and a no-build option. Based on input from the
public, state and local agencies, the CTDOT identified the goals of
improved mode choice, congestion reduction, improved public health and
safety, community livability and quality of life, and economic
expansion to guide the MIS effort.
Early in the process, the addition of travel lanes on I-84 was
dropped as an alternative due to significant local opposition and cost.
The remaining build alternatives included light rail service in the I-
84 median; an exclusive busway in the I-84 median; a high occupancy
lane added to I-84; light-rail service on Farmington Avenue (one of the
arterial highways); and either light rail service or exclusive bus
service in the unused half of the Amtrak inland route main line from
Union Station in Hartford to New Britain. The MIS analysis indicated
that a busway in the Amtrak corridor was the optimal choice. The
flexibility of the busway service is
[[Page 48451]]
projected to produce the highest level of ridership, increased levels
of mode choice, and congestion relief on both local arterials and I-84.
II. Probable Effects
The FTA and the CTDOT will evaluate all significant environmental,
social and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS.
Primary environmental issues include: station location and community
impacts, construction impacts, visual/aesthetic impacts and bicycle/
pedestrian access. In addition, the EIS will evaluate issues raised
through a continuation of the scoping process begun under the MIS.
Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impact will be developed.
Throughout the EIS phase, the CTDOT will seek public input through
meetings and hearings, newsletters and cable news, to further define
the issues and impacts of alternatives.
Issued on: August 31, 1999.
Richard H. Doyle,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-23005 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
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