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Environmental Impact Statement: Kings & Queens Counties, NY
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 20573-20574]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap02-112]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Kings & Queens Counties, NY
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this Notice to advise the public that an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the
rehabilitation or replacement of the Kosciusko Bridge, focusing on a
1.1-mile segment of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) from Morgan
Avenue in Kings County to the Long Island Expressway (LIE) interchange
in Queens County, both in New York State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Arnold, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration,
New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th Floor, Clinton
Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York, 12207 Telephone: (518)
431-4127.
or
Joseph Brown, P.E., Project Director, New York State Department of
Transportation, Region 11, Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21St Street, Long
Island City, New York 11101 Telephone: (718) 482-4683.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will study and document
proposed improvements to the Kosciuszko Bridge, focusing on a 1.1-mile
segment of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) portion of I-278, from
Morgan Avenue in Kings County, to the Long Island Expressway (LIE)
interchange in Queens County.
The Kosciuszko Bridge Project will address two primary problems
identified with the bridge.
Traffic and Safety
The bridge, built in the 1930's, cannot safely carry the present
volume of traffic. The bridge's narrow lanes (11 feet), steep grade (4
percent), lack of shoulders, and short merge/weave distances near ramps
and interchange do not meet current highway design and safety
standards. These design deficiencies, combined with approximately
170,000 vehicles using the bridge each day, result in the bridge
operating at or near capacity during the AM and PM peak periods, severe
congestion throughout much of the midday, heightened accident rates and
the diversion of the highway traffic onto local streets.
Structural Conditions
The structural condition of the bridge is deteriorating. A number
of interim repairs were completed by NYSDOT in recent years to correct
identified problems and to extend the life of the bridge and viaduct.
Recent inspections have indicated that, despite these aggressive
maintenance efforts, the structural deficiencies are increasing. The
frequent maintenance and repair efforts and their associated lane
closures, while necessary to maintain the bridge, exacerbate the
congestion and traffic diversion problems mentioned above, and do not
provide a long-term solution to the structure's underlying problems.
The Alternatives Analysis will consider a wide range of
alternatives designed to address these needs. A long list of
alternatives will be developed during the public scoping process with
input from all stakeholders. Each alternative will be screened for its
ability to meet the project's goals and objectives. The most promising
alternatives will be forwarded for detailed evaluation in the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). These alternatives are expected
to fall into one of the following categories: no build; Transportation
System Management (TSM); rehabilitation with or without additional
capacity; and replacement. The DEIS will assess the effect of the
project alternatives on: Traffic and transportation; noise; air and
water quality; land use and neighborhood character; recreational,
cultural, and historic resources; hazardous waste and visual resources.
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
interest in this project. The DEIS will be available for public and
agency review and comment.
To insure that the full range of issues related to the proposed
action is addressed and all significant issues identified, a series of
scoping activities will be conducted. Pre-scoping activities have
included open houses, meetings with involved agencies, and
presentations to local community boards. The formal scoping process
will involve:
1. Public scoping meetings, to be held in May 2002, to provide the
public with information about the project, and to assist in formulating
the scope of the environmental studies in the DEIS. NYSDOT will provide
information about the project and the scope of the DEIS. Comments on
the project and on the scope of the DEIS will then be received from the
public, and NYSDOT personnel will be available to answer questions. The
public can submit written comments or give oral comments to an on-site
stenographer. Written comments will be received by NYSDOT until 30 days
after the date of the last scoping meeting (see addresses below).
2. Scoping discussions with other agencies, particularly those with
a direct or indirect involvement in the proposed project's corridor and
project area.
The public scoping meetings are scheduled as follows:
Date & Time: May 14, 2002, 3 p.m. 9 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther High School, 60-02 Maspeth Avenue, Maspeth, NY
11378
[[Page 20574]]
Date & Time: May 21, 2002, 3 p.m. 9 p.m.
Location: St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, 84 Herbert Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11222
At these meetings, attendees may review displays describing the
project with project staff available to respond to questions. At 4 p.m.
and 7 p.m., NYSDOT will make a brief presentation describing the
project and its goals. Following each presentation, interested persons
can make oral statements concerning the project, possible alternatives,
and the scope of the DEIS. A stenographer will record all statements at
the meeting for inclusion in the meeting record. Written statements may
also be submitted at the meeting or sent to the addresses above. Any
comments received within 30 days of the date of the last scoping
meeting will be made part of the record.
In addition, a public hearing will be held after publication of the
DEIS to obtain comments on that document. Public notice will be given
of the time and place of the DEIS public hearing.
Throughout the scoping process, comments and suggestions are
invited on the DEIS scope from any interested parties. Comments or
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be
directed to NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses provided above. Comments
can also be faxed to Mr. Joseph Brown, P.E., Project Director, NYSDOT,
at (718) 482-6319 or e-mailed to kosciuszko@gw.dot.state.ny.us
The proposed project would be funded in part through Federal
programs which assist State transportation agencies in the planning and
development of an integrated, interconnected transportation system
important to interstate commerce and travel by constructing and
rehabilitating the National Highway System, including the Interstate
System. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Numbher 20.205,
Highway Research Planning and Construction. The regulations
implementing Executive Order 12372, which foster State and local
government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial
assistance and direct Federal development, apply to this program).
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123]
Issued on: April 18, 2002.
Douglas P. Conlan,
District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 02-10108 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
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