[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44257-44258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20967]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Availability of an Environmental Assessment on the Proposed New
York Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Project
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Environmental Assessment, request
for public comment.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations
and the FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, the FRA
announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment for the
proposed Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Project in New York, New
York. The Environmental Assessment examines the Pennsylvania Station
Redevelopment Corporation's proposal to transform a portion of the
James A. Farley Post Office (located directly across Eighth Avenue from
Pennsylvania Station) into an intermodal transportation facility and
commercial center. The FRA is soliciting comments on this Environmental
Assessment. FRA will consider these comments in making a decision
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA).
DATES: The Environmental Assessment will remain available for public
comment through September 10, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Individuals wishing copies of the draft Environmental
Assessment should immediately contact the FRA Office and personnel
listed below. Copies of the Environmental Assessment are being mailed
to agencies and individuals that have participated in the environmental
assessment process. The complete Volume I of the Environmental
Assessment has also been placed on FRA's Internet page at http://
www.fra.dot.gov/s/regs/env/pennstation.htm Finally, the Environmental
Assessment is also available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the following locations:
Washington DC: Federal Railroad Administration, 1120 Vermont Avenue,
NW., Room 6060, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 493-6380.
New York, NY.: Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment Corporation (PSRC),
633 Third Avenue, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10017, (212) 803-3642.
Boston, MA: McGinley Hart and Associates, 77 N. Washington Street,
Boston, MA, 02114, (617) 227-2932.
Comments on the Environmental Assessment should be submitted to:
Mr. Alexander V. Chavrid, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of
Railroad Development, Mailstop-20, 1120 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20590, (202) 493-6380. Comments can also be submitted through E-mail
to [email protected] (please include the sender's full name and
mailing address).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Alexander V. Chavrid, at the above
address and telephone number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Efforts to improve the National Railroad
Passenger Corporation's (Amtrak) rail passenger station facilities in
New York City have been underway since 1991. New York Pennsylvania
Station is an aging facility and inadequate to serve the thousands of
daily intercity and commuter rail passengers that pass through it let
alone the expected increases in intercity and commuter rail ridership
over the coming years. The environmental impacts associated with an
initial Amtrak proposal to expand the Station space by moving intercity
rail passenger functions to the James A. Farley Post Office (located
directly across the street from Pennsylvania Station with access to the
tracks and platforms) was analyzed by the FRA in a 1995 environmental
assessment. Amtrak's proposal was not progressed to final design and in
1995, a new corporation, the Pennsylvania Station Redevelopment
Corporation (PSRC), was formed specifically to manage the Pennsylvania
Station Redevelopment Project. PSRC is a subsidiary of the New York
State Urban Development Corporation, a public benefit corporation of
the State of New York. PSRC has proposed a comprehensive program of
improvements at the Farley Building that would transform it into a
major transportation facility and commercial center. Congress has
appropriated Federal funds to the FRA for the redevelopment project in
Department of Transportation Appropriations Acts, the Intermodal
Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (as amended by the National
Highway Designation Act of 1995) and the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century. FRA's provision of funds for project purposes is
subject to NEPA and NHPA.
Alternatives Analyzed in the Draft Environmental Assessment
Alternative 1. No Action
Under this alternative, the only changes anticipated at Penn
Station would be routine repairs and maintenance. Amtrak has underway
and will very soon complete life safety improvements and modifications
to meet the needs of the start up of Acela high-speed rail service in
late 1999. The only changes anticipated on the exterior or interior of
the Farley Building would be routine repairs and maintenance of the
structure. The No Build alternative also includes minor work at the
Eight Avenue Subway concourse at 33rd Street.
Alternative 2. The Build Alternative
The Build Alternative has been designed to meet New York's
transportation needs into the 21st Century. PSRC proposes to redevelop
the Farley Building into an intermodal transportation facility and
commercial center, which includes an Amtrak station in the original
Farley Building, an intermodal hall, a sky-lit train concourse, a
postal loading dock below grade, and a commuter concourse as well as
Eighth Avenue subway connection improvements and ancillary retail. The
new station would have two midblock entrances on West 31st and West
33rd Streets. At these entrances, (complemented by entrances at the
north and south corners of Eight Avenue), at-grade Americans With
Disabilities Act-compliant access would be provided for all passengers
and postal retail customers and covered areas would be included for
taxi pick-up and drip-off. The United States Postal Service (USPS)
would improve and continue to occupy the historic postal lobby, the
offices on the upper floors of the original Farley Building, and the
postal rail access facilities and mail processing and distribution
functions on all floors of the Farley Building Annex. New, modern USPS
loading facilities would be built on the train concourse and the first-
floor levels of the Farley Building Annex, accessible by ramps from
Ninth Avenue. Finally, the Build Alternative includes traffic
improvements, operational measures, and pedestrian improvements to
streets in the vicinity of the Farley Building.
All interested agencies, organizations, and individuals are urged
to provide
[[Page 44258]]
comments on the draft Environmental Assessment. All comments received
by the closing date will be considered by the FRA as it completes its
NEPA and NHPA compliance.
Dated: August 9, 1999.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Chief, Passenger Programs Division.
[FR Doc. 99-20967 Filed 8-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P