[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 35105]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14233]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind the Notice of Intent To Develop the 
Environmental Impact Statement: Bronx County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice to rescind the notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for a proposed construction project for the Bruckner-Sheridan 
Expressway Interchange and for Improved Access to the Hunts Point 
Peninsula in Bronx County, New York is being rescinded. In Vol. 68, No. 
34/February 20, 2003/Notices, page 8327-8328 [03-4029], the Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a NOI to advise the public that an 
EIS would be prepared for a proposed construction project for the 
Bruckner-Sheridan Expressway Interchange and for Improved Access to the 
Hunts Point Peninsula, in Bronx County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan D. McDade, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Avenue, Suite 719, Albany, New 
York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127; or
    Mr. Joseph T. Brown, P.E., Acting Regional Director, New York State 
Department of Transportation, Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21st Street, 
Long Island City, New York 11101, Telephone: (718) 482-4526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) intended to prepare an EIS 
on the proposal to improve safety and traffic flow at the Bruckner 
Expressway (I-278) at its interchange with the Arthur V. Sheridan 
Expressway (I-895) as well as to improve access in and out of the Hunts 
Points Peninsula from the Expressway System.
    The purpose of the project was to improve safety and traffic flow 
at the Bruckner Expressway (I-278) at its interchange with the Arthur 
V. Sheridan Expressway (I-895) and to reduce traffic, especially trucks 
from the local streets and to enhance commerce by providing a direct 
access from the expressway system to the Hunts Point Peninsula.
    An Expanded Project Proposal (EPP) was issued in 2002 and the 
project was programmed with a construction cost estimate of $205 
million. The Environmental Impact Statement for this project (X730.39) 
started in 2003. NEPA Scoping, which was completed in September 2007, 
included four conceptual build alternatives, in addition to the No-
build alternative. In year 2008, after the geometric design for the 
project's alternatives were completed, two Design Refinements to the 
four build alternatives were envisioned, and with consensus from the 
stakeholders, were advanced as follows:
    Alternative 1E: Reconstruct the Bruckner Expressway at existing 
elevation over the Bronx River, remove the Sheridan Expressway and 
construct full ramp connections from Bruckner Expressway to Hunts Point 
at Oak Point. Alternative 2E: Reconstruct the Bruckner Expressway at 
existing elevation over the Bronx River, reconstruct the ramps between 
the Bruckner and Sheridan Expressways, and construct full ramp 
connections from the Bruckner Expressway to Hunts Point at Oak Point.
    It is proposed to terminate the EIS for the following reason:
    The Bruckner viaduct, from the RFK Bridge to the Sheridan 
Expressway, is in very poor condition. Several sections of the deck are 
very poorly rated; bridge bearings and other members need repair. The 
conditions of the viaduct require NYSDOT Region 11 to reprioritize the 
available funding to address more critical work in the corridor. The 
Region therefore will advance a state of good repair that will address 
the deck deterioration, steel members and joints repair.
    The state of good repair of the Bruckner Expressway remains an 
operational and safety priority for NYSDOT. Improvements at this 
location can be accomplished without significant environmental impacts. 
To address repairs at the Bruckner Expressway, reduced scope projects 
will be progressed.

    Issued on June 5, 2012.
Chris Gatchell,
Director, Office of Engineering, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-14233 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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