[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29777-29778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14313]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Environmental Impact Statement on the Mid-Harlem Third Track
Project Between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood Stations, Westchester
County, NY
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro-North
Commuter Railroad Company (Metro-North) intend to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS), in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), on a proposal by
Metro-North to undertake transportation improvements to its Harlem Line
between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood Stations (the ``Mid-Harlem
Third Track Project'' or the ``Proposed Action'').
Metro-North's Harlem Line, extending 76.6 miles from Grand Central
Terminal in Manhattan north through the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and
Dutchess Counties, is the most densely traveled line in the Metro-North
system. Metro-North is fast approaching capacity on the entire Harlem
Line due to capacity constraints in the mid-Harlem section. The Mid-
Harlem Third Track Project will allow Metro-North to maintain, improve
and expand service for all Harlem Line customers, future users and the
region well into the 21st Century.
The Mid-Harlem Third Track Project includes Build Alternatives
which entail the upgrade of an existing third track between Mount
Vernon West and Fleetwood and the construction of a 2.5 mile third
track between Fleetwood and Crestwood Stations. The Proposed Action
includes a Build Alternative preferred by Metro-North which will be
identified throughout the NEPA process as the ``Preferred
Alternative.'' In addition to the Preferred Alternative, the EIS will
evaluate the No-Build Alternative, three (3) Build Alternatives, and
three (3) Operational Alternatives, as well as any other reasonable
alternative(s) raised during the scoping process.
Scoping for the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project will be accomplished
through correspondence with interested persons and organizations, as
well as with federal, state and local agencies. One (1) public scoping
meeting will be conducted. A draft Scoping Document will be made
available to those persons and agencies and may be obtained by
contacting the person designated below.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts must be submitted by Friday, July 18, 1997. Written
comments should be sent to Ms. Kim A. Smith, Assistant Director--
Capital and Long Range Planning, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company,
347 Madison Avenue--19th Floor, New York City, New York, 10017. Oral
comments should be made at the scoping meeting scheduled below. (Oral
comments made at the scoping meeting will be transcribed. Assistance
will be provided for the hearing impaired.) Scoping Meeting: The public
scoping meeting concerning the proposed Mid-Harlem Third Track Project
will be held on: June 18, 1997, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Westchester
County Center, White Plains, New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Anthony Carr, Director, Office of Planning and Program Development,
Federal Transit Administration at (212) 264-8162.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
FTA and Metro-North invite all interested individuals and
organizations, as well as federal, state, and local agencies, to
participate in identifying the reasonable alternatives to be evaluated
in the EIS and identifying any significant social, economic, and
environmental issues related to the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project. A
draft Scoping Document describing the purpose of the project, the
proposed alternatives and the impact issues to be evaluated is being
mailed to affected federal, state, and local agencies and to interested
parties. Others may request the draft Scoping Document by contacting
Ms. Smith at (212) 340-2693. Scoping comments may be made orally at the
public scoping meeting or submitted in writing by Friday, July 18,
1997. (See the Scoping Meeting section above for the time and
location.)
During the scoping process, comments should focus on identifying
specific social, economic, and/or environmental issues to be evaluated
and suggesting reasonable alternatives which may be less costly or less
environmentally damaging, while achieving similar transportation
objectives. Scoping is not the appropriate forum in which to indicate a
preference for a particular alternative. Comments on preferences should
be communicated after the draft EIS has been completed and issued for
review
[[Page 29778]]
and comment. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive
further information as the project develops, contact Ms. Smith as
described above.
Following the public scoping meeting a final Scoping Document will
be prepared that will contain the transcript from the public scoping
meeting, any written comments received, as outline of the decisions
that have been made during the scoping process, and a summary of the
issues to be evaluated in a draft EIS.
II. Description of Study Areas and Project Need
Metro-North's Harlem Line extends 76.6 miles from Grand Central
Terminal in Manhattan north through the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and
Dutchess Counties. It is the most densely traveled line in the Metro-
North system as it is primarily a two track railroad as distinguished
from the three and four tracks on the Hudson and New Haven lines.
The area where construction of the Build Alternatives would take
place extends along the railroad right-of-way from Mount Vernon West to
Crestwood Station, a distance of approximately 3.6 miles.
Approximately 74,000 passengers were carried on the Harlem Line on
an average weekday in 1996. Metro-North is fast approaching capacity on
the entire Harlem Line as it is constrained by the four mile section of
two tracks between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood. The high frequency
of service that traverses this two track section, exacerbated by the
limiting physical characteristics of the two track railroad, constrains
Metro-North's ability to improve service for the entire Harlem Line.
The Mid-Harlem Third Track will enable Metro-North to provide a
greater degree of schedule flexibility by allowing the expansion of
service for existing and future customers on the entire Harlem Line.
Harlem Line ridership has increased an average of 2.6% annually (1984-
1996), and is projected to increase on average another 1.9% annually
(1996-2020). Without the third track, only one or two additional trains
can be added in either the morning or evening peak hours when 40% of
all Harlem Line peak period customers travel. Elimination of this
capacity constraint is a prerequisite for adding the additional trains
needed to keep pace with demand.
The completion of the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project will meet the
needs of Harlem Line customers by providing the following benefits:
Increase Capacity/Serve New Markets
Improve Service to Existing Customers
Support Regional Economic Conditions
Mitigate the Impacts of Construction and Maintenance
Projects
Improve Service Reliability
Improve Air Quality
III. Alternatives
The EIS will analyze reasonable alternatives that may achieve the
Proposed Action's goals. In addition to Metro-North's preferred
configuration of the Mid-Harlem Third Track (the ``Preferred
Alternative''), seven (7) other Alternatives have been defined, and
will be evaluated in the EIS: three (3) build Alternatives, three (3)
Operational Alternatives and the No-Build Alternative.
The Preferred Alternative involves the upgrade of an existing third
track between Mount Vernon West and Fleetwood and construction of a new
2.5 mile third track from Fleetwood to Crestwood to the west of the
existing mainline tracks. Two of the Build Alternatives involve
construction on the east side of the right-of-way in the area of
Bronxville Station. The third Build Alternative involves an alignment
that includes the upgrade of the existing third track between Mount
Vernon West and Fleetwood Stations, compresses to two tracks north of
Fleetwood Station and expands again to three tracks south of Bronxville
Station to Crestwood Station. Under all Build Alternatives, the portion
of the third track located between Bronxville and Crestwood would be
built between the existing tracks, with all construction on Metro-North
property. The No-Build Alternative presents conditions with service
provided with the existing track configuration. In addition to the
Build and No-Build Alternatives, three Alternatives that consider
modifications to Metro-North's operations without changing track
configurations: reducing signal spacing and train speeds; installing
communication-based signalling; and consolidating and/or eliminating
service at certain stations to allow for additional service to other
stations, will also be evaluated. All alternatives, including the No-
Build Alternative, involve lengthening of trains as needed and as
feasible.
IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis
In the EIS, FTA/Metro-North will evaluate all significant social,
economic, and environmental effects, or potential impacts, of the
alternatives. Social, economic and environmental impacts proposed for
analysis include land acquisitions and displacements, land use and
zoning, secondary development, water quality, wetlands, flooding,
navigable waterways and coastal zone, ecologically sensitive areas,
threatened and endangered species, traffic and parking, air quality,
noise and vibration, energy and conservation, historic/archaeological
resources and parklands, construction/community disruption, aesthetics,
safety and security, consistency with local plans, hazardous materials,
electric and magnetic fields, and environmental justice. Special
attention will be given to potential impacts related to traffic, noise
and vibration and air quality. Both positive and negative impacts will
be evaluated for the construction period and for the long-term period
of operation. Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impacts will
be considered.
V. FTA Procedures
The EIS process will be conducted according to regulations and
guidelines established by NEPA, as well as FTA's regulations found at
23 CFR part 771, and associated guidance documents. The social,
economic, and environmental impacts of the Mid-Harlem Third Track
Project will be assessed, and, if necessary, the project will be
revised or refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse impacts. After
its publication, the draft EIS will be available for public agency
review and comment. A public hearing will be held. On the basis of the
draft EIS and comments received, FTA/Metro-North will complete a final
EIS.
Issued on: May 28, 1997.
Anthony G. Carr,
Director, Office of Planning and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 97-14313 Filed 5-28-97; 3:44 pm]
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