[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60139-60140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30192]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Kings County, NY
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), New York State
Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an
environmental impact statement will be prepared for a proposed bridge/
highway project in Kings County, New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Richard A. Maitino, Regional Director, New York State Department of
Transportation, 47-40 21st Street--8th Floor, Executive Office, Hunters
Point Plaza, Long Island City, New York 11101, Telephone (718) 482-
4526; or Harold 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,
Telephone: (518) 431-4141.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to rehabilitate/
reconstruct or replace the Gowanus Expressway (I-278) Viaduct in Kings
County, New York.
The proposed project is necessary to preserve the transportation
services provided by the Gowanus Expressway that are currently in
jeopardy due to its accelerating deterioration. The condition of this
structure (viaduct deck and structural steel) is continuously monitored
and the structure is frequently repaired. The continuous extensive
repair work causes traffic diversions and increasing uncertainty over
the remaining life of this structure. This, plus the fact that it may
take several years to rehabilitate or replace the existing structure,
requires that a fiscally viable solution be implemented quickly and
cost effectively.
Three ways to achieve this goal include rehabilitating,
reconstructing, or replacing the existing expressway. Reconstruction or
rehabilitation actions will not only seek to rebuild or preserve the
existing facility, but will also include, as practicable, changes to
address the structural, operational and safety deficiencies of the
existing facility. Replacement actions are of a significantly large
scope, but still must be designed so as to provide: (1) Equivalent
people and goods moving services to those currently provided by the
Gowanus Expressway; (2) continuity with the adjacent portions of the
interstate (I-278), and (3) avoidance of community impacts due to an
emergency closure of the existing facility.
The Metropolitan Region's Long Range Plan does not recommend
increasing the number of general use travel lanes of the Gowanus
Expressway or any other portions of Interstate route I-278. It does,
however, recommend the implementation of an HOV lane along the corridor
and that opportunities for improving operating efficiencies be
considered when portions of this route are upgraded, replaced or
rehabilitated.
A Draft Design Report/Environmental Assessment/Draft Section 4(f)
Evaluation was prepared for this project and was released for public
review on October 16, 1995. In this document, a number of alternatives
were extensively evaluated. The following are the general categories of
alternatives considered to date: (1) Taking no action other than
routine maintenance and structural repair, (2) rehabilitating the
viaduct while making safety and operational improvements, (3)
reconstructing the viaduct in the same location, (4) reconstructing the
viaduct in a different location, (5) replacing the elevated highway
with a street level expressway, (6) replacing the elevated highway with
a street level arterial, (7) replacing the elevated highway with a
street level arterial that includes a light rail line. Alternative 2--
Rehabilitation with Operational and Safety Improvements was the
alternative that best met the project's needs and objectives. Since
then, several innovative ideas have been put forth on how to perform
the construction of this alternative that would minimize community
disruption during the construction stage. If a new construction
approach is believed to be practicable, this along with other
alternatives will be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.
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 or are
known to have interest in this proposal. Formal scoping meetings will
be held in January 1997. In addition, public hearings will be held.
Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and
hearings. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review
and comments prior to the public hearings.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed action and this EIS should be
directed to the NYSDOT and FHWA at the addresses provided above.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 20.205, Highway
Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation of
Federal Program and activities apply to this program.)
[[Page 60140]]
Issued on November 19, 1996.
Robert Arnold,
District Engineer, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 96-30192 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
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