[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30558-30560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14483]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Major Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement on
the Metro-North Hudson Line Extension Project, Dutchess County, NY
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a major investment study/draft
environmental impact statement (MIS/DEIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro-North
Commuter Railroad Company (Metro-North) intend to prepare a Major
Investment Study/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (MIS/DEIS) for
the Metro-North Hudson Line Extension Project in Dutchess County, New
York. The MIS/DEIS is being prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and as implemented
by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-
1508), and the Federal Transit Administration/Federal Highway
Administration Environmental Impact regulations (23 CFR Parts 771), and
the FTA/FHWA Statewide Planning/Metropolitan Planning regulations (23
CFR Part 450, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as
amended, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966,
as amended (49 U.S.C. 303, 23 U.S.C. 138), the requirements of the 1990
Clean Air Act Amendments, the Executive Order 12898 on Environmental
Justice, and other applicable rules, regulations,
[[Page 30559]]
Executive Orders and guidance documents.
Metro-North is preparing this MIS/DEIS to address the potential
social, economic and environmental impacts of extending its Hudson Line
from the existing northern terminus at Poughkeepsie to either
Rhinecliff or Tivoli (approximately 15 and 25 miles respectively) and
constructing three or four stations and parking facilities at Hyde
Park, Staatsburg, Rhinecliff and Tivoli, as well as a rail yard and
employee base facility. This project would expand regional mobility and
accommodate the growing demand for commuter rail service to Northern
Dutchess County.
The MIS/DEIS will evaluate the following transportation
alternatives: No-Build, Transportation System Management (TSM) and
several Build Alternatives. Scoping will be accomplished through
correspondence with interested persons and organizations, as well as
with federal, state and local agencies, and through a public meeting.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION below for details.
DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives
and impacts to be considered should be sent to Metro-North by Monday,
July 12, 1999. See ADDRESSES below.
Scoping Meeting
The public scoping meetings will be held on Tuesday, June 29th at 7
p.m. and Wednesday, June 30th at 7 p.m. Registration to speak at these
meetings will commence at 6:30 p.m. and close at 9 p.m. on the date of
the meeting. See ADDRESSES below. People with special needs should
contact Ms. Robyn Hollander at Metro-North at the address below or by
calling (212) 672-1242. The building is accessible to people with
disabilities. A sign language interpreter will be available upon
request in advance of the meeting.
The scoping meeting will begin with an ``open house'' where
attendees will be able to view graphics and discuss the project with
project representatives. A presentation on the project will be given,
followed by an opportunity for comments. Scoping material will be
available at the meeting and in advance of the meeting by contacting
Ms. Robyn Hollander at the address and phone number below. In addition
to oral and written comments, which may be made at the meeting or as
described below, a stenographer will be available at the meeting to
record comments.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Ms.
Robyn M. Hollander, Project Manager, Metro-North Railroad, 420
Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, (212) 672-1242. The scoping
meetings will be held on Tuesday June 29, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. at
Roosevelt High School Auditorium, Hyde Park Central School District,
South Cross Road, Hyde Park, New York and on Wednesday, June 30, 1999
at 7:00 p.m. at Rhinebeck Town Hall, 80 East Market Street, Rhinebeck,
New York.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy Danzig, Community Planner,
Federal Transit Administration, Region II, One Bowling Green, Room 429,
New York, NY 10004-1415, (212) 668-2170. If you wish to be placed on
the mailing list to receive further information as the project
develops, contact Ms. Hollander at the above address or phone number as
described above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Scoping
The FTA and Metro-North invite interested individuals,
organizations, and federal, state and local agencies to participate in
developing the alternatives to be evaluated in the MIS/DEIS, and
identifying any potential significant social, economic, or
environmental issues related to the alternatives. Scoping comments may
be made at the public scoping meeting or in writing. See DATES and
ADDRESSES sections above. During scoping, comments should focus on
identifying specific social, economic, or environmental impacts to be
evaluated and suggesting alternatives which are more cost effective or
have less environmental impacts while achieving similar transit
objectives. Scoping materials will be available at the meeting or in
advance of the meeting by contacting Robyn Hollander at Metro-North as
indicated above.
II. Description of Study and Project Need
The proposed project consists of an extension of the Metro-North
Hudson Line from the existing northern terminus at Poughkeepsie,
Dutchess County, NY to a new station and terminus to be located at
either Rhinecliff in the Town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY or
Tivoli in the Village of Tivoli, Dutchess County, NY, a distance of 15
and 25 miles, respectively, using the existing double-track line (which
is owned by CSX and is currently being used by Amtrak to provide inter-
city rail service). The project includes the construction of three or
four stations with parking facilities and a rail yard and employee base
facility.
Historically, the Upper Hudson line segment, including stations at
Cortlandt, Peekskill, Garrison, Cold Spring, Beacon, New Hamburg and
Poughkeepsie, has been one of Metro-North's fastest growing line
segments. From 1984-1997, ridership on this line segment increased from
1.4 million to 3.2 million annual trips, a growth rate of 131% (about
7% annually). This increase in ridership is the result of several
factors, including vastly improved service, more trains, new coaches
and locomotives, decreased travel times, improved stations and expanded
parking. These improvements have attracted commuters to the system who
live beyond the current terminus of Poughkeepsie and west of the Hudson
River.
Extending the Hudson Line north from its current terminus in
Poughkeepsie, and the construction of appropriate facilities, are
intended to expand service to residents of northern Dutchess County,
benefit those living in the Mid-Hudson Region, and improve regional air
quality goals by providing an alternative to the single occupant
vehicle.
III. Alternatives
The transportation alternatives proposed for consideration in this
project area include: (1) A No-Build Alternative which involves the
current infrastructure of highways, parking facilities, train and bus
service, and maintenance facilities in addition to all ongoing,
committed and funded roadway and transit projects outlined in the State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Transit projects include
modifications of current train and bus service but propose a minimum
level of service expansion. (2) Transportation System Management, which
includes all elements of the No-Build Alternative in addition to
roadway and traffic improvements and improved transit services
reflecting a number of local route modifications in addition to new and
express routes. The TSM Alternative provides the baseline against which
the cost-effectiveness of major capital transit investments can be
evaluated. (3) Build Alternatives which include an extension of the
existing Metro-North line from Poughkeepsie northward to either
Rhinecliff, in the Town of Rhinebeck or Tivoli, in the Village of
Tivoli (including station locations and support facilities), following
the existing rail line. The Build Alternatives may be comprised of more
than one ``Build Alternative'' which would differ in the number of
stations and terminus location.
[[Page 30560]]
IV. Probable Effects
The FTA and Metro-North will evaluate all potential significant
environmental, social, and economic impacts of the alternatives
analyzed in the MIS/DEIS. Environmental and social impacts proposed for
analysis include: land use, secondary development, community
disruption, displacements and relocations, traffic and parking, visual,
noise and vibration, safety, aesthetics, stormwater management,
archaeological, historic, cultural and ecological resources and
wildlife corridors. Impacts on natural areas, rare and endangered
species, air and water quality, groundwater, and potentially
contaminated sites will also be studied. The impacts will be evaluated
both for the construction period and for the long-term period of
operation of each alternative. Measures to mitigate adverse impacts
will be identified.
V. FTA Procedures
The DEIS will be prepared in conjunction with a major
transportation investment study and document the results of that study,
including an evaluation of the potential social, economic and
environmental impacts of the alternatives. Upon completion of the MIS/
DEIS, and on the basis of the comments received, Metro-North, in
concert with other affected agencies, will select a locally preferred
alternative. The MIS/DEIS will be made available for public review and
comment and a public hearing will be held during the MIS/DEIS comment
period.
On the basis of the MIS/DEIS and comments received, Metro-North and
FTA will continue with the preparation of the Final MIS/DEIS.
Opportunity for additional public comment will be provided throughout
all phases of project development.
Issued on: June 3, 1999.
Letitia Thompson,
Regional Administrator, TRO-II, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-14483 Filed 6-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P