Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Empire Corridor High Speed Rail Program From New York City to Niagara Falls, NY, 48813-48814 [E9-23002]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 184 / Thursday, September 24, 2009 / Notices
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[FR Doc. E9–23012 Filed 9–23–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W9–P
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement
for the Empire Corridor High Speed
Rail Program From New York City to
Niagara Falls, NY
AGENCY: Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to
advise the public that FRA with the
New York State Department of
Transportation (NYSDOT) will jointly
prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Empire Corridor
High Speed Rail (HSR) Program in
compliance with relevant State and
Federal laws, in particular the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the State Environmental Quality Review
Act (SEQR). FRA is also issuing this
notice to solicit public and agency input
into the development of the scope of the
Empire Corridor HSR Program EIS and
to advise the public that outreach
activities conducted by the NYSDOT
and its representatives will be
considered in the preparation of the EIS.
The objective of the tiered EIS is to
evaluate alternatives and make corridor
level decisions regarding the level of
intercity passenger rail service provided
in the corridor, including variations in
train frequency, trip time, and on-time
performance.
DATES: Letters describing the proposed
project and soliciting comments were
sent to appropriate Federal, State, and
local agencies, and appropriate
railroads. Written comments on the
scope of the Empire Corridor HSR
Program EIS should be provided to
NYSDOT by October 30, 2009. A public
scoping meeting is scheduled for
September 24, 2009, from 1:30 to 2:30
p.m., at 50 Wolf Road, Conference
Rooms A, B and C on the first floor,
Albany, NY 12232 for the purpose of
introducing the proposed project to
regulatory agencies and other interested
parties. No formal NEPA scoping
meeting is planned. A series of public
information meetings will be held in
Eastern and Western New York in
November and December 2009. Public
notices will be given of the time and
place of the meetings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the
scope of this EIS should be addressed
to: Ann R. Purdue, High Speed Rail
Program Manager, New York State
Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf
Road POD 6–4, Albany, NY 12232, or
PO 00000
Frm 00105
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
48813
via e-mail with the subject line, ‘‘Empire
Corridor HSR’’ to:
apurdue@dot.state.ny.us. Comments
may also be provided orally or in
writing at the scoping meeting on
September 24, 2009, at 50 Wolf Road,
Conference Rooms A, B and C, Albany,
New York 12232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Melissa Elefante DuMond,
Environmental Protection Specialist,
Office of Railroad Development, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE. (Mail Stop 20),
Washington, DC 20590; Telephone (202)
493–6366, or Ann R. Purdue, High
Speed Rail Program Manager, New York
State Department of Transportation, 50
Wolf Road POD 6–4, Albany, NY,
Telephone (518) 457–0607.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA,
in cooperation with the New York State
Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT), will prepare a tiered
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
that will study and document proposed
improvements to intercity passenger rail
services along the 463-mile Empire
Corridor, beginning at Penn Station in
New York City, New York County and
proceeding north to Poughkeepsie
(Dutchess County) and Albany (Albany
County) then turning west to
Schenectady (Schenectady County),
Utica (Oneida County), Syracuse
(Onondaga County), Rochester (Monroe
County), Buffalo (Erie County) and
terminating at Niagara Falls (Niagara
County).
Purpose and Need: In 2008, Amtrak
carried 315.79 million passenger miles
along the Empire Corridor. However,
overall on-time performance (OTP) for
Amtrak in 2008 was poor, with 68%
OTP for trains operating between Penn
Station and Albany-Rensselaer, and
OTP of 41% for trains operating
between Penn Station and Niagara Falls.
Trip times are competitive with
automobile and air travel between Penn
Station and Albany-Rensselaer, but are
considerably slower in the Penn Station
to Niagara Falls market. Mobility
choices were limited, primarily west of
Albany, due to limited train frequency.
Poor on-time performance, noncompetitive trip times, and infrequent
service are all factors known to
adversely affect passenger rail ridership.
The 2009 New York State Rail Plan
identified a need for improvements to
passenger rail services as a means to
reduce highway congestion, reduce
airport congestion, reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, and limit the
consumption of fossil fuels, and to
support economic growth and smart
land use development. The New York
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
48814
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 184 / Thursday, September 24, 2009 / Notices
State Rail Plan also identified several
potential investments to expand,
enhance and grow intercity passenger
rail services in the Empire HSR corridor.
The FRA and NYSDOT will establish
specific goals for train frequency, trip
time, and on-time performance on a
corridor-wide basis and identify the
operational changes and investments in
infrastructure and equipment necessary
to achieve those goals.
Environmental Review Process: The
EIS will be developed in accordance
with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, and
the New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQR), 17 NYCRR
Part 15. The FRA and the NYSDOT will
use a tiered process, as provided for in
40 CFR 1508.28 and in accordance with
FRA regulations, in the completion of
the environmental review of the Project.
‘‘Tiering’’ is a staged environmental
review process applied to
environmental reviews for complex
projects. The initial phase (‘‘Tier 1 EIS’’)
of this process will address broad
corridor-level issues and proposals.
Subsequent phases or tiers will analyze,
at a greater level of detail, narrower sitespecific proposals based on the
decisions made in Tier 1.
Tier 1: Although open to refinement
based on public and agency review and
comment, the Tier 1 assessment will
result in a NEPA and SEQR document
with the appropriate level of detail for
corridor-level decisions and will
address broad overall issues of concern,
including but not limited to:
• Confirm the purpose and need for
the proposed action.
• Define the study area appropriate to
assess reasonable alternatives.
• Identify a comprehensive set of
goals and objectives for the corridor in
conjunction with Stakeholders and
Steering Committee members. These
goals and objectives will be crafted to
allow comprehensive evaluation of all
aspects of the project necessary to
achieve the goals, including train
operations, vehicles and infrastructure.
• Identify the range of reasonable
alternatives to be considered, consistent
with the current and planned use of the
corridor and the existing services within
and adjacent to the study area.
• Develop criteria and screen
alternatives to eliminate those that do
not meet the purpose and need of the
proposed action.
• Identify the general alignment(s) of
the reasonable alternatives.
• Identify right-of-way requirements
for the reasonable alternatives.
• Identify the infrastructure and
equipment investment requirements for
the reasonable alternatives.
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16:27 Sep 23, 2009
Jkt 217001
• Identify the operational changes
required for the reasonable alternatives.
• Describe the environmental impacts
associated with proposed changes in
passenger rail train frequency, speed,
and on-time performance.
• Characterize the environmental
consequences of the reasonable
alternatives.
• Establish the timing and sequencing
of independent actions to maintain a
state of good repair and to implement
the proposed action.
Tier 2: The second tier assessment
will address component projects to be
implemented within the general
corridor identified in the Tier 1 EIS, and
incorporate by reference the data and
evaluations included in the Tier 1 EIS.
Subsequent evaluations will concentrate
on the issues specific to the component
of the selected alternative identified in
the Tier 1 EIS; determine the project
alternative that best meets the purpose
and need for each proposed action; and
identify the environmental
consequences and measures necessary
to mitigate environmental impacts at a
site-specific level of detail.
Scoping and Comments: FRA
encourages broad participation in the
EIS process during scoping and review
of the resulting environmental
documents. Comments and suggestions
are invited from all interested agencies
and the public at large to insure the full
range of issues related to the proposed
action and all reasonable alternatives
are addressed and all significant issues
are identified. In particular, FRA is
interested in determining whether there
are areas of environmental concern
where there might be the potential for
significant impacts identifiable at a
corridor level. Letters describing the
proposed project and soliciting
comments were sent to appropriate
Federal, State, and local agencies, and
appropriate railroads. Public agencies
with jurisdiction are requested to advise
the FRA and NYSDOT of the applicable
environmental review requirements of
each agency, and the scope and content
of the environmental information that is
germane to the agency’s statutory
responsibilities in connection with the
proposed project.
A public scoping meeting is
scheduled for September 24, 2009, from
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at 50 Wolf Road,
Conference Rooms A, B and C on the
first floor, Albany, NY 12232 for the
purpose of introducing the proposed
project to regulatory agencies and other
interested parties. No formal NEPA
scoping meeting is planned. A series of
public information meetings will be
held in Eastern and Western New York
in November and December 2009.
PO 00000
Frm 00106
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Public notices will be given of the time
and place of the meetings.
Persons interested in providing
comments on the scope of the Tier 1 EIS
should do so by October 30, 2009.
Comments can be sent in writing to Ms.
Melissa Elefante DuMond at the FRA
address identified above. Comments
may also be addressed to Ms. Ann R.
Purdue, of NYSDOT, at the address
identified above.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September
18, 2009.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad
Development, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9–23002 Filed 9–23–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Environmental Impact Statement for
the California High-Speed Train Project
From Los Angeles to San Diego via the
Inland Empire, CA
AGENCY: Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the
public that FRA and the California
High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority)
will jointly prepare a project
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and project Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for the Los Angeles to San
Diego (LA–SD) Section of the
Authority’s proposed California HighSpeed Train (HST) System in
compliance with relevant State and
Federal laws, in particular the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and
the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA).
In 2001, the Authority and FRA
started a tiered environmental review
process for the HST system and in 2005,
completed the first tier California HighSpeed Train Program EIR/EIS
(Statewide Program EIR/EIS) and
approved the statewide HST System for
intercity travel in California between the
major metropolitan centers of
Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay
Area in the north, through the Central
Valley, to Los Angeles and San Diego in
the south. The approved HST System
would be about 800 miles long, with
electric propulsion and steel-wheel-onsteel-rail trains capable of maximum
operating speeds of 220 miles per hour
(mph) on a mostly dedicated steel-
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48813-48814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23002]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement for the Empire Corridor
High Speed Rail Program From New York City to Niagara Falls, NY
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA with
the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will jointly
prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Empire
Corridor High Speed Rail (HSR) Program in compliance with relevant
State and Federal laws, in particular the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). FRA
is also issuing this notice to solicit public and agency input into the
development of the scope of the Empire Corridor HSR Program EIS and to
advise the public that outreach activities conducted by the NYSDOT and
its representatives will be considered in the preparation of the EIS.
The objective of the tiered EIS is to evaluate alternatives and make
corridor level decisions regarding the level of intercity passenger
rail service provided in the corridor, including variations in train
frequency, trip time, and on-time performance.
DATES: Letters describing the proposed project and soliciting comments
were sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and
appropriate railroads. Written comments on the scope of the Empire
Corridor HSR Program EIS should be provided to NYSDOT by October 30,
2009. A public scoping meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2009,
from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at 50 Wolf Road, Conference Rooms A, B and C on
the first floor, Albany, NY 12232 for the purpose of introducing the
proposed project to regulatory agencies and other interested parties.
No formal NEPA scoping meeting is planned. A series of public
information meetings will be held in Eastern and Western New York in
November and December 2009. Public notices will be given of the time
and place of the meetings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of this EIS should be
addressed to: Ann R. Purdue, High Speed Rail Program Manager, New York
State Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Road POD 6-4, Albany, NY
12232, or via e-mail with the subject line, ``Empire Corridor HSR'' to:
apurdue@dot.state.ny.us. Comments may also be provided orally or in
writing at the scoping meeting on September 24, 2009, at 50 Wolf Road,
Conference Rooms A, B and C, Albany, New York 12232.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Elefante DuMond,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Development,
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE. (Mail Stop
20), Washington, DC 20590; Telephone (202) 493-6366, or Ann R. Purdue,
High Speed Rail Program Manager, New York State Department of
Transportation, 50 Wolf Road POD 6-4, Albany, NY, Telephone (518) 457-
0607.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FRA, in cooperation with the New York
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare a tiered
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will study and document
proposed improvements to intercity passenger rail services along the
463-mile Empire Corridor, beginning at Penn Station in New York City,
New York County and proceeding north to Poughkeepsie (Dutchess County)
and Albany (Albany County) then turning west to Schenectady
(Schenectady County), Utica (Oneida County), Syracuse (Onondaga
County), Rochester (Monroe County), Buffalo (Erie County) and
terminating at Niagara Falls (Niagara County).
Purpose and Need: In 2008, Amtrak carried 315.79 million passenger
miles along the Empire Corridor. However, overall on-time performance
(OTP) for Amtrak in 2008 was poor, with 68% OTP for trains operating
between Penn Station and Albany-Rensselaer, and OTP of 41% for trains
operating between Penn Station and Niagara Falls. Trip times are
competitive with automobile and air travel between Penn Station and
Albany-Rensselaer, but are considerably slower in the Penn Station to
Niagara Falls market. Mobility choices were limited, primarily west of
Albany, due to limited train frequency. Poor on-time performance, non-
competitive trip times, and infrequent service are all factors known to
adversely affect passenger rail ridership.
The 2009 New York State Rail Plan identified a need for
improvements to passenger rail services as a means to reduce highway
congestion, reduce airport congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
and limit the consumption of fossil fuels, and to support economic
growth and smart land use development. The New York
[[Page 48814]]
State Rail Plan also identified several potential investments to
expand, enhance and grow intercity passenger rail services in the
Empire HSR corridor. The FRA and NYSDOT will establish specific goals
for train frequency, trip time, and on-time performance on a corridor-
wide basis and identify the operational changes and investments in
infrastructure and equipment necessary to achieve those goals.
Environmental Review Process: The EIS will be developed in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA),
42 U.S.C. 4321, and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act
(SEQR), 17 NYCRR Part 15. The FRA and the NYSDOT will use a tiered
process, as provided for in 40 CFR 1508.28 and in accordance with FRA
regulations, in the completion of the environmental review of the
Project. ``Tiering'' is a staged environmental review process applied
to environmental reviews for complex projects. The initial phase
(``Tier 1 EIS'') of this process will address broad corridor-level
issues and proposals. Subsequent phases or tiers will analyze, at a
greater level of detail, narrower site-specific proposals based on the
decisions made in Tier 1.
Tier 1: Although open to refinement based on public and agency
review and comment, the Tier 1 assessment will result in a NEPA and
SEQR document with the appropriate level of detail for corridor-level
decisions and will address broad overall issues of concern, including
but not limited to:
Confirm the purpose and need for the proposed action.
Define the study area appropriate to assess reasonable
alternatives.
Identify a comprehensive set of goals and objectives for
the corridor in conjunction with Stakeholders and Steering Committee
members. These goals and objectives will be crafted to allow
comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of the project necessary to
achieve the goals, including train operations, vehicles and
infrastructure.
Identify the range of reasonable alternatives to be
considered, consistent with the current and planned use of the corridor
and the existing services within and adjacent to the study area.
Develop criteria and screen alternatives to eliminate
those that do not meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.
Identify the general alignment(s) of the reasonable
alternatives.
Identify right-of-way requirements for the reasonable
alternatives.
Identify the infrastructure and equipment investment
requirements for the reasonable alternatives.
Identify the operational changes required for the
reasonable alternatives.
Describe the environmental impacts associated with
proposed changes in passenger rail train frequency, speed, and on-time
performance.
Characterize the environmental consequences of the
reasonable alternatives.
Establish the timing and sequencing of independent actions
to maintain a state of good repair and to implement the proposed
action.
Tier 2: The second tier assessment will address component projects
to be implemented within the general corridor identified in the Tier 1
EIS, and incorporate by reference the data and evaluations included in
the Tier 1 EIS. Subsequent evaluations will concentrate on the issues
specific to the component of the selected alternative identified in the
Tier 1 EIS; determine the project alternative that best meets the
purpose and need for each proposed action; and identify the
environmental consequences and measures necessary to mitigate
environmental impacts at a site-specific level of detail.
Scoping and Comments: FRA encourages broad participation in the EIS
process during scoping and review of the resulting environmental
documents. Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested
agencies and the public at large to insure the full range of issues
related to the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives are
addressed and all significant issues are identified. In particular, FRA
is interested in determining whether there are areas of environmental
concern where there might be the potential for significant impacts
identifiable at a corridor level. Letters describing the proposed
project and soliciting comments were sent to appropriate Federal,
State, and local agencies, and appropriate railroads. Public agencies
with jurisdiction are requested to advise the FRA and NYSDOT of the
applicable environmental review requirements of each agency, and the
scope and content of the environmental information that is germane to
the agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed
project.
A public scoping meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2009, from
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., at 50 Wolf Road, Conference Rooms A, B and C on the
first floor, Albany, NY 12232 for the purpose of introducing the
proposed project to regulatory agencies and other interested parties.
No formal NEPA scoping meeting is planned. A series of public
information meetings will be held in Eastern and Western New York in
November and December 2009. Public notices will be given of the time
and place of the meetings.
Persons interested in providing comments on the scope of the Tier 1
EIS should do so by October 30, 2009. Comments can be sent in writing
to Ms. Melissa Elefante DuMond at the FRA address identified above.
Comments may also be addressed to Ms. Ann R. Purdue, of NYSDOT, at the
address identified above.
Issued in Washington, DC, on September 18, 2009.
Mark E. Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-23002 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P
