81_FR_59202 81 FR 59036 - Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Bridge Project in Washington, DC

81 FR 59036 - Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Bridge Project in Washington, DC

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 166 (August 26, 2016)

Page Range59036-59038
FR Document2016-20481

FRA announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Long Bridge Project jointly with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). The Long Bridge Project (Proposed Action) consists of potential improvements to bridge and related railroad infrastructure located between the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Crystal City Station in Arlington, Virginia and Control Point (CP) Virginia in Washington, DC. FRA and DDOT will develop the EIS in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. FRA and DDOT invite the public and Federal, state, and local agencies to provide comments on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and need; alternatives to analyze; environmental effects to consider and evaluate; methodologies to use for evaluating effects; and the approach for public and agency involvement.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59036-59038]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20481]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the Long Bridge Project in 
Washington, DC

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FRA announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the Long Bridge 
Project jointly with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). 
The Long Bridge Project (Proposed Action) consists of potential 
improvements to bridge and related railroad infrastructure located 
between the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Crystal City Station in 
Arlington, Virginia and Control Point (CP) Virginia in Washington, DC. 
FRA and DDOT will develop the EIS in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. FRA and 
DDOT invite the public and Federal, state, and local agencies to 
provide comments on the scope of the EIS, including the purpose and 
need; alternatives to analyze; environmental effects to consider and 
evaluate; methodologies to use for evaluating effects; and the approach 
for public and agency involvement.

DATES: Persons interested in providing written comments on the scope of 
the EIS (scoping comments) must do so by September 26, 2016. Please 
submit written comments via the methods specified below.
    A public scoping meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, September 14, 
2016, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in Washington, DC. The meeting 
will be held at the L'Enfant Plaza Club Room, Promenade Level, 470 
L'Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC 20024. Oral and written comments 
will be accepted at the September 14, 2016 meeting. The meeting 
facilities will be accessible to persons with disabilities. If special 
translation, signing services, or other special accommodations are 
needed, please email: [email protected], or call 202-671-2829 
at least one week prior to the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The public and other interested parties are encouraged to 
submit written scoping comments by mail, the Internet, email, or in 
person at the scoping meeting. Scoping comments can be mailed to the 
address identified in the ``For Further Information Contact'' paragraph 
below. Internet and email correspondence may be submitted through the 
Long Bridge Project Web site (http://longbridgeproject.com/) or at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Murphy, Environmental 
Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., (Mail 
Stop-20), Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (202) 493-0624.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA is an operating administration of DOT 
and is responsible for overseeing the safety of railroad operations, 
including the safety of any proposed rail ground transportation system. 
FRA is also authorized to provide, subject to appropriations, funding 
for intercity passenger and rail capital investments and to provide 
loans and other financial support for railroad investment. In 2016, FRA 
awarded DDOT a grant to prepare an EIS for the Proposed Action, and FRA 
may provide funding or financing for the rehabilitation or replacement 
of the Long Bridge in the future.
    FRA is the lead Federal agency under NEPA; DDOT, as project 
sponsor, is a joint lead agency. FRA and DDOT will prepare the EIS 
consistent with NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA in 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508; FRA's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts in 64 
FR 28545, dated May 26, 1999; and 23 U.S.C. 139. After release and 
circulation of a Draft EIS for public comment, FRA will issue a single 
document consisting of the Final EIS and a Record of Decision under the 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114-94, section 
1304(n)(2)) unless it determines that statutory criteria or 
practicability considerations preclude issuing a combined document.
    The EIS will also document compliance with other applicable 
Federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations, 
including: section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; the 
Clean Water Act; section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act 
of 1966; the Endangered Species Act; Executive Order 11988 and USDOT 
Order 5650.2 on Floodplain Management; Executive Order 11990 on 
Protection of Wetlands; the Magnuson-Stevens Act related to Essential 
Fish Habitat; the Coastal Zone Management Act; and Executive Order 
12898 on Environmental Justice.

[[Page 59037]]

Project Background

    The current Long Bridge, dating from 1904, is owned and maintained 
by CSX Transportation (CSXT). It is the only freight railroad crossing 
over the Potomac River between the District of Columbia and the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. The two-track bridge serves CSXT freight 
trains, National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) passenger rail 
trains, and VRE commuter rail trains. Norfolk-Southern (NS) has 
trackage rights on the bridge and connecting CSXT tracks but does not 
currently exercise those rights.
    In 2011, DDOT received a High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail grant 
from FRA to complete a two-phase feasibility study of the 
rehabilitation or replacement of the Long Bridge. Long Bridge Study 
Phase I included a preliminary operations plan; visual inspection of 
the corridor; initial evaluation of existing and future capacity needs; 
and preliminary development of conceptual alternatives. Phase II of the 
Long Bridge Study developed a draft Purpose and Need Statement; 
developed a service plan based on future demand in the corridor; 
further refined conceptual alternatives; and defined evaluation 
criteria to screen and identify alternatives which will be carried 
forward for analysis. In 2016, DDOT received a Transportation 
Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant from FRA for the 
preparation of the Long Bridge EIS (Phase III).
    The Long Bridge is located within the Washington Monumental Core. 
The EIS Study Area extends approximately 3.2 miles from the VRE Crystal 
City Station in Arlington, Virginia to CP Virginia located near Third 
Street SW., in Washington, DC. The EIS Study Area includes Federal park 
land managed by the National Park Service; historic and cultural 
properties; the Potomac River; offices, hotels, and apartment 
buildings; transportation facilities (VRE Crystal City Station, VRE 
L'Enfant Station, Long Bridge, eleven other railroad bridges, and four 
roadway bridges); and numerous pedestrian and bicycle trails.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to address reliability and 
long-term railroad capacity issues for the Long Bridge corridor. The 
Proposed Action is needed to identify alternatives that would increase 
capacity to meet projected demand for passenger and freight rail 
services; improve operational flexibility and resiliency; and provide 
redundancy for this critical link in the local, regional, and national 
railroad network.
    The need to make improvements to the Long Bridge corridor is noted 
in various studies. An Amtrak study in 1999 (Potential Improvements to 
the Washington Richmond Railroad Corridor) identifies the Washington 
Metropolitan Area, including the Long Bridge, as the most critical 
section of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor and stated 
the need for capacity improvements. Following the 1999 infrastructure 
study, FRA completed a Tier 1 EIS for the SEHSR corridor (May 2002). 
The Tier 1 EIS identified a Preferred Alternative that utilized the 
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac rail corridor, which includes the 
Long Bridge. VRE's System Plan 2040 states that increasing the capacity 
at the Long Bridge is critical to its long-term growth and development. 
Additionally, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' 
National Capital Region Freight Plan recommends a new rail bridge over 
the Potomac to minimize rail conflicts between passenger and freight 
trains.
    Current and projected rail demand supports the need for capacity 
improvements to the Long Bridge corridor. Intercity passenger and 
commuter services operate at or close to capacity within the corridor 
during the morning peak hour, with eight passenger train movements 
scheduled in 60 minutes. Over the course of a full weekday, Amtrak and 
VRE currently operate 24 and 32 trains across the Long Bridge, 
respectively. CSXT freight trains operate approximately 18 through-
freight trains each day on the same tracks used by the two passenger 
train operators.
    Future rail demand during peak periods is forecasted to exceed the 
current capacity for Long Bridge. According to the service plan 
developed in Phase II of the Long Bridge Project, over the course of 
the full day, the number of trains crossing the bridge in 2040 is 
expected to increase to 44 trains for Amtrak, 92 for VRE, eight for the 
Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC); 42 for CSXT, and six for NS. 
The projected growth represents an average increase of over 100 percent 
in traffic on the bridge compared to 2015. The existing track 
infrastructure, which is limited by the two-track design of the Long 
Bridge, cannot support the increased demand.
    The removal of additional rail capacity bottlenecks east and south 
of the Long Bridge, combined with population and employment growth in 
the Washington Metropolitan Area, increases the need for greater 
railroad capacity within the wider corridor. Attempting to serve future 
intercity passenger and freight rail demand solely on the current Long 
Bridge would not provide needed resiliency or redundancy within the 
Virginia to DC rail network. Limited capacity, coupled with shared-use 
infrastructure within the corridor, limits the flexibility of commuter, 
intercity passenger, and freight service to operate efficiently. These 
conditions create a systemic bottleneck that results in operational 
conflicts and delays, decreasing reliability and on-time performance of 
train operations. Currently, there are no reasonable detours to route 
rail traffic around the Long Bridge for maintenance or emergencies 
without extensive service delays.
    This bottleneck limits efficient network connectivity for the rail 
operators within the Long Bridge corridor, including CSXT, VRE, Amtrak, 
and potentially MARC, and the overall transportation network. It also 
affects rail operations well beyond the limits of the Long Bridge 
corridor given the extensive reach of freight, commuter, and intercity 
passenger services along the eastern U.S. and beyond.

Proposed Alternatives To Consider

    The EIS will consider a range of reasonable alternatives that FRA 
and DDOT will develop based on the purpose and need for the Proposed 
Action, information obtained through the scoping process, and previous 
reports. The 2015 Long Bridge Study Phase I identified concepts that 
are included in the initial range of alternatives to be considered in 
the EIS. FRA and DDOT will evaluate and screen the Phase I concepts and 
additional concepts during the NEPA process for elimination or further 
refinement. Alternatives will include the No-Build Alternative and 
Build Alternatives, including potential rehabilitation and/or 
replacement of the existing bridge.

Possible Effects

    The EIS will analyze the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative 
effects of the alternatives on the social, economic, and environmental 
resources in the Study Area. Environmental resources include, but are 
not limited to:

     Transportation;
     Social and economic conditions;
     Property acquisition;
     Parks and recreational resources;
     Visual and aesthetic resources;
     Historic and archaeological resources;
     Air quality;
     Aquatic navigation;
     Greenhouse gas emissions and resilience;
     Noise and vibration;

[[Page 59038]]

     Ecology (including wetlands, water and sediment 
quality, floodplains, and biological resources);
     Threatened and endangered species;
     Contaminated materials; and
     Environmental Justice.

    This analysis will include identification of study areas 
appropriate for each resource; documentation of the affected 
environment; and identification of measures to avoid and/or mitigate 
significant adverse impacts.

Scoping and Comments

    This Notice initiates the scoping process under NEPA, which helps 
guide the development of the Draft EIS. The FRA and DDOT invite 
comments from the public and all interested parties regarding the scope 
of the EIS to ensure that relevant issues, applicable planning efforts, 
constraints, and reasonable alternatives are addressed early in the 
development of the EIS. FRA and DDOT will also directly contact 
appropriate Federal, state, and local agencies as well as and private 
organizations that have previously expressed or that are known to have 
an interest in the Proposed Action.
    FRA and DDOT will coordinate with participating agencies during 
development of the Draft EIS under 23 U.S.C. 139. FRA will invite all 
agencies and Native American Tribes that may have an interest in the 
Proposed Action to become participating agencies for the EIS. If an 
agency or Native American Tribe is not invited and would like to 
participate, please contact FRA (``For Further Information Contact'' 
section). The lead agencies will develop a Coordination Plan 
summarizing how the public and other agencies will be engaged in the 
process. The Coordination Plan will be posted to the Project Web site 
(http://longbridgeproject.com/) and to FRA's Web site (www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0214).

Future Public Participation and Outreach

    At various milestones during the development of the Long Bridge 
EIS, FRA and DDOT will provide additional opportunities for public and 
interested party consultation, such as public meetings, open houses, 
newsletters, and requests for comments/review of the EIS. Dates, times, 
and locations for public meetings and other opportunities for public 
participation will be announced through the Long Bridge Project Web 
site (http://longbridgeproject.com/), mailings, public notices, 
advertisements, and press releases.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 19, 2016.
Felicia Young,
Acting Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2016-20481 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P



                                                  59036                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices

                                                  boarding and exiting the motorcoach                     DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          Contact’’ paragraph below. Internet and
                                                  and to use the handrail when ascending                                                                        email correspondence may be submitted
                                                  or descending steps. Encourage                          Federal Railroad Administration                       through the Long Bridge Project Web
                                                  passengers to remain seated as much as                                                                        site (http://longbridgeproject.com/) or at
                                                                                                          Environmental Impact Statement for
                                                  possible while the motorcoach is in                                                                           info@longbridgeproject.com.
                                                                                                          the Long Bridge Project in
                                                  motion. If it is necessary to walk while                Washington, DC                                        FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  the motorcoach is moving, passengers                                                                          Amanda Murphy, Environmental
                                                  should always use handrails and                         AGENCY: Federal Railroad
                                                                                                                                                                Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad
                                                  supports.                                               Administration (FRA), U.S. Department
                                                                                                          of Transportation (DOT).                              Policy and Development, Federal
                                                  Methods of Presenting the Amended                                                                             Railroad Administration, 1200 New
                                                                                                          ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare
                                                  Safety Information                                                                                            Jersey Avenue SE., (Mail Stop–20),
                                                                                                          an environmental impact statement
                                                                                                          (EIS).                                                Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (202)
                                                    The following presentation methods                                                                          493–0624.
                                                  are examples of how to present safety                   SUMMARY:    FRA announces its intent to
                                                  information to motorcoach passengers.                                                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      FRA is an
                                                                                                          prepare an EIS for the Long Bridge
                                                  The list below should not be construed                                                                        operating administration of DOT and is
                                                                                                          Project jointly with the District
                                                  to restrict combinations of the following               Department of Transportation (DDOT).                  responsible for overseeing the safety of
                                                  methods or additional presentation                      The Long Bridge Project (Proposed                     railroad operations, including the safety
                                                  methods.                                                Action) consists of potential                         of any proposed rail ground
                                                                                                          improvements to bridge and related                    transportation system. FRA is also
                                                    1. During passenger boarding—                                                                               authorized to provide, subject to
                                                  Informational pamphlets or printed                      railroad infrastructure located between
                                                                                                          the Virginia Railway Express (VRE)                    appropriations, funding for intercity
                                                  materials could be distributed to                                                                             passenger and rail capital investments
                                                                                                          Crystal City Station in Arlington,
                                                  motorcoach passengers during boarding.                                                                        and to provide loans and other financial
                                                                                                          Virginia and Control Point (CP) Virginia
                                                    2. After passenger boarding and                       in Washington, DC. FRA and DDOT will                  support for railroad investment. In 2016,
                                                  immediately prior to moving the                         develop the EIS in compliance with the                FRA awarded DDOT a grant to prepare
                                                  motorcoach—                                             National Environmental Policy Act of                  an EIS for the Proposed Action, and
                                                    a. The driver requests the passengers                 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.                   FRA may provide funding or financing
                                                  to review informational pamphlets/                      FRA and DDOT invite the public and                    for the rehabilitation or replacement of
                                                  printed materials located in the seat                   Federal, state, and local agencies to                 the Long Bridge in the future.
                                                  back pocket.                                            provide comments on the scope of the                     FRA is the lead Federal agency under
                                                                                                          EIS, including the purpose and need;                  NEPA; DDOT, as project sponsor, is a
                                                    b. The driver provides an oral                        alternatives to analyze; environmental
                                                  presentation (similar to the                                                                                  joint lead agency. FRA and DDOT will
                                                                                                          effects to consider and evaluate;                     prepare the EIS consistent with NEPA,
                                                  presentations by airline flight attendants              methodologies to use for evaluating
                                                  prior to take-off) with or without                                                                            the Council on Environmental Quality
                                                                                                          effects; and the approach for public and              Regulations for Implementing the
                                                  informational pamphlets/printed                         agency involvement.
                                                  materials as visual aids.                                                                                     Procedural Provisions of NEPA in 40
                                                                                                          DATES: Persons interested in providing                CFR parts 1500–1508; FRA’s Procedures
                                                    c. An automated presentation over the                 written comments on the scope of the                  for Considering Environmental Impacts
                                                  motorcoach audio system.                                EIS (scoping comments) must do so by                  in 64 FR 28545, dated May 26, 1999;
                                                    d. An automated presentation over the                 September 26, 2016. Please submit                     and 23 U.S.C. 139. After release and
                                                                                                          written comments via the methods
                                                  motorcoach video system.                                                                                      circulation of a Draft EIS for public
                                                                                                          specified below.
                                                                                                             A public scoping meeting is                        comment, FRA will issue a single
                                                  Timing and Frequency of the                                                                                   document consisting of the Final EIS
                                                  Presentation                                            scheduled on Wednesday, September
                                                                                                          14, 2016, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00                  and a Record of Decision under the
                                                     Demand-responsive motorcoach                         p.m. in Washington, DC. The meeting                   Fixing America’s Surface Transportation
                                                  operations, such as charters and tour                   will be held at the L’Enfant Plaza Club               Act (Pub. L. 114–94, section 1304(n)(2))
                                                  services, should present the safety                     Room, Promenade Level, 470 L’Enfant                   unless it determines that statutory
                                                  information to motorcoach passengers                    Plaza SW., Washington, DC 20024. Oral                 criteria or practicability considerations
                                                  after boarding and prior to movement of                 and written comments will be accepted                 preclude issuing a combined document.
                                                  the motorcoach.                                         at the September 14, 2016 meeting. The                   The EIS will also document
                                                     Fixed route motorcoach service                       meeting facilities will be accessible to              compliance with other applicable
                                                                                                          persons with disabilities. If special                 Federal, state, and local environmental
                                                  operations should present the safety
                                                                                                          translation, signing services, or other               laws and regulations, including: section
                                                  information at all major stops or
                                                                                                          special accommodations are needed,                    106 of the National Historic
                                                  terminals, after any new passengers
                                                                                                          please email: info@                                   Preservation Act; the Clean Water Act;
                                                  have boarded and prior to movement of                   longbridgeproject.com, or call 202–671–               section 4(f) of the Department of
                                                  the motorcoach.                                         2829 at least one week prior to the                   Transportation Act of 1966; the
                                                    Issued on: August 18, 2016.                           meeting.                                              Endangered Species Act; Executive
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                                                  T.F. Scott, Darling, III,                               ADDRESSES: The public and other                       Order 11988 and USDOT Order 5650.2
                                                  Administrator.                                          interested parties are encouraged to                  on Floodplain Management; Executive
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–20493 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]             submit written scoping comments by                    Order 11990 on Protection of Wetlands;
                                                  BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
                                                                                                          mail, the Internet, email, or in person at            the Magnuson-Stevens Act related to
                                                                                                          the scoping meeting. Scoping comments                 Essential Fish Habitat; the Coastal Zone
                                                                                                          can be mailed to the address identified               Management Act; and Executive Order
                                                                                                          in the ‘‘For Further Information                      12898 on Environmental Justice.


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices                                              59037

                                                  Project Background                                      local, regional, and national railroad                capacity within the wider corridor.
                                                                                                          network.                                              Attempting to serve future intercity
                                                     The current Long Bridge, dating from                    The need to make improvements to                   passenger and freight rail demand solely
                                                  1904, is owned and maintained by CSX                    the Long Bridge corridor is noted in                  on the current Long Bridge would not
                                                  Transportation (CSXT). It is the only                   various studies. An Amtrak study in                   provide needed resiliency or
                                                  freight railroad crossing over the                      1999 (Potential Improvements to the                   redundancy within the Virginia to DC
                                                  Potomac River between the District of                   Washington Richmond Railroad                          rail network. Limited capacity, coupled
                                                  Columbia and the Commonwealth of                        Corridor) identifies the Washington                   with shared-use infrastructure within
                                                  Virginia. The two-track bridge serves                   Metropolitan Area, including the Long                 the corridor, limits the flexibility of
                                                  CSXT freight trains, National Railroad                  Bridge, as the most critical section of the           commuter, intercity passenger, and
                                                  Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)                          Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR)                     freight service to operate efficiently.
                                                  passenger rail trains, and VRE                          corridor and stated the need for capacity             These conditions create a systemic
                                                  commuter rail trains. Norfolk-Southern                  improvements. Following the 1999                      bottleneck that results in operational
                                                  (NS) has trackage rights on the bridge                  infrastructure study, FRA completed a                 conflicts and delays, decreasing
                                                  and connecting CSXT tracks but does                     Tier 1 EIS for the SEHSR corridor (May                reliability and on-time performance of
                                                  not currently exercise those rights.                    2002). The Tier 1 EIS identified a                    train operations. Currently, there are no
                                                     In 2011, DDOT received a High Speed                  Preferred Alternative that utilized the               reasonable detours to route rail traffic
                                                  Intercity Passenger Rail grant from FRA                 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac                    around the Long Bridge for maintenance
                                                  to complete a two-phase feasibility                     rail corridor, which includes the Long                or emergencies without extensive
                                                  study of the rehabilitation or                          Bridge. VRE’s System Plan 2040 states                 service delays.
                                                  replacement of the Long Bridge. Long                    that increasing the capacity at the Long                 This bottleneck limits efficient
                                                  Bridge Study Phase I included a                         Bridge is critical to its long-term growth            network connectivity for the rail
                                                  preliminary operations plan; visual                     and development. Additionally, the                    operators within the Long Bridge
                                                  inspection of the corridor; initial                     Metropolitan Washington Council of                    corridor, including CSXT, VRE, Amtrak,
                                                  evaluation of existing and future                       Governments’ National Capital Region                  and potentially MARC, and the overall
                                                  capacity needs; and preliminary                         Freight Plan recommends a new rail                    transportation network. It also affects
                                                  development of conceptual alternatives.                 bridge over the Potomac to minimize                   rail operations well beyond the limits of
                                                  Phase II of the Long Bridge Study                       rail conflicts between passenger and                  the Long Bridge corridor given the
                                                  developed a draft Purpose and Need                      freight trains.                                       extensive reach of freight, commuter,
                                                  Statement; developed a service plan                        Current and projected rail demand                  and intercity passenger services along
                                                  based on future demand in the corridor;                 supports the need for capacity                        the eastern U.S. and beyond.
                                                  further refined conceptual alternatives;                improvements to the Long Bridge
                                                  and defined evaluation criteria to screen               corridor. Intercity passenger and                     Proposed Alternatives To Consider
                                                  and identify alternatives which will be                 commuter services operate at or close to                 The EIS will consider a range of
                                                  carried forward for analysis. In 2016,                  capacity within the corridor during the               reasonable alternatives that FRA and
                                                  DDOT received a Transportation                          morning peak hour, with eight                         DDOT will develop based on the
                                                  Investment Generating Economic                          passenger train movements scheduled                   purpose and need for the Proposed
                                                  Recovery grant from FRA for the                         in 60 minutes. Over the course of a full              Action, information obtained through
                                                  preparation of the Long Bridge EIS                      weekday, Amtrak and VRE currently                     the scoping process, and previous
                                                  (Phase III).                                            operate 24 and 32 trains across the Long              reports. The 2015 Long Bridge Study
                                                                                                          Bridge, respectively. CSXT freight trains             Phase I identified concepts that are
                                                     The Long Bridge is located within the                operate approximately 18 through-
                                                  Washington Monumental Core. The EIS                                                                           included in the initial range of
                                                                                                          freight trains each day on the same
                                                  Study Area extends approximately 3.2                                                                          alternatives to be considered in the EIS.
                                                                                                          tracks used by the two passenger train
                                                  miles from the VRE Crystal City Station                                                                       FRA and DDOT will evaluate and screen
                                                                                                          operators.
                                                  in Arlington, Virginia to CP Virginia                      Future rail demand during peak                     the Phase I concepts and additional
                                                  located near Third Street SW., in                       periods is forecasted to exceed the                   concepts during the NEPA process for
                                                  Washington, DC. The EIS Study Area                      current capacity for Long Bridge.                     elimination or further refinement.
                                                  includes Federal park land managed by                   According to the service plan developed               Alternatives will include the No-Build
                                                  the National Park Service; historic and                 in Phase II of the Long Bridge Project,               Alternative and Build Alternatives,
                                                  cultural properties; the Potomac River;                 over the course of the full day, the                  including potential rehabilitation and/or
                                                  offices, hotels, and apartment buildings;               number of trains crossing the bridge in               replacement of the existing bridge.
                                                  transportation facilities (VRE Crystal                  2040 is expected to increase to 44 trains             Possible Effects
                                                  City Station, VRE L’Enfant Station, Long                for Amtrak, 92 for VRE, eight for the
                                                  Bridge, eleven other railroad bridges,                                                                          The EIS will analyze the potential
                                                                                                          Maryland Area Regional Commuter
                                                  and four roadway bridges); and                                                                                direct, indirect, and cumulative effects
                                                                                                          (MARC); 42 for CSXT, and six for NS.
                                                  numerous pedestrian and bicycle trails.                                                                       of the alternatives on the social,
                                                                                                          The projected growth represents an
                                                                                                                                                                economic, and environmental resources
                                                  Purpose and Need                                        average increase of over 100 percent in
                                                                                                                                                                in the Study Area. Environmental
                                                                                                          traffic on the bridge compared to 2015.
                                                     The purpose of the Proposed Action                                                                         resources include, but are not limited to:
                                                                                                          The existing track infrastructure, which
                                                  is to address reliability and long-term                 is limited by the two-track design of the               •   Transportation;
                                                  railroad capacity issues for the Long                   Long Bridge, cannot support the                         •   Social and economic conditions;
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                                                  Bridge corridor. The Proposed Action is                 increased demand.                                       •   Property acquisition;
                                                  needed to identify alternatives that                       The removal of additional rail                       •   Parks and recreational resources;
                                                                                                                                                                  •   Visual and aesthetic resources;
                                                  would increase capacity to meet                         capacity bottlenecks east and south of                  •   Historic and archaeological resources;
                                                  projected demand for passenger and                      the Long Bridge, combined with                          •   Air quality;
                                                  freight rail services; improve operational              population and employment growth in                     •   Aquatic navigation;
                                                  flexibility and resiliency; and provide                 the Washington Metropolitan Area,                       •   Greenhouse gas emissions and resilience;
                                                  redundancy for this critical link in the                increases the need for greater railroad                 •   Noise and vibration;



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                                                  59038                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 166 / Friday, August 26, 2016 / Notices

                                                    • Ecology (including wetlands, water and                Issued in Washington, DC, on August 19,             Transportation Accessibility Concern
                                                  sediment quality, floodplains, and biological           2016.                                                 Form when reporting accessibility
                                                  resources);                                             Felicia Young,                                        challenges faced during travel on our
                                                    • Threatened and endangered species;                  Acting Director, Office of Program Delivery.          Nation’s streets, sidewalks, crosswalks,
                                                    • Contaminated materials; and                         [FR Doc. 2016–20481 Filed 8–25–16; 8:45 am]           buses, trains, airports, and planes. The
                                                    • Environmental Justice.                                                                                    system will provide an accessible,
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
                                                                                                                                                                coordinated, and seamless web-based
                                                     This analysis will include
                                                                                                                                                                portal for the traveling public to submit
                                                  identification of study areas appropriate
                                                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          accessibility problems or challenges
                                                  for each resource; documentation of the                                                                       they face during travel on the Nation’s
                                                  affected environment; and identification                National Highway Traffic Safety                       streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, buses,
                                                  of measures to avoid and/or mitigate                    Administration                                        trains, airports, and planes. The
                                                  significant adverse impacts.                                                                                  establishment of the system is in
                                                                                                          [Docket No. NHTSA—2016–0084; Notice 2]
                                                  Scoping and Comments                                                                                          response the President’s National
                                                                                                          Withdrawal of Amendments to                           Council on Disability (NCD) Report,
                                                     This Notice initiates the scoping                    Highway Safety Program Guidelines                     ‘‘Transition Update: Where We’ve Been
                                                  process under NEPA, which helps guide                                                                         and What We’ve Learned,’’ released in
                                                  the development of the Draft EIS. The                   AGENCY: National Highway Traffic                      2015, as well as a letter to the Secretary
                                                  FRA and DDOT invite comments from                       Safety Administration (NHTSA),                        of Transportation from the NCD dated
                                                  the public and all interested parties                   Department of Transportation.                         May 12, 2015. The information received
                                                  regarding the scope of the EIS to ensure                ACTION: Notice withdrawal.                            through the system will strengthen
                                                  that relevant issues, applicable planning                                                                     DOT’s ability to understand the
                                                  efforts, constraints, and reasonable                      On August 23, 2016, NHTSA                           challenges and impacts that passengers
                                                  alternatives are addressed early in the                 inadvertently published, at 81 FR                     with disabilities face every day when
                                                  development of the EIS. FRA and DDOT                    57646, a notice seeking comments on a                 they use our nation’ transportation
                                                  will also directly contact appropriate                  new uniform guideline for State                       systems. A Federal Register Notice with
                                                  Federal, state, and local agencies as well              highway safety programs, issued                       a 60-day comment period soliciting
                                                  as and private organizations that have                  pursuant to section 402 of title 23 of the            comments on this information
                                                  previously expressed or that are known                  United States Code requires the                       collection was published on June 13,
                                                  to have an interest in the Proposed                     Secretary of Transportation to                        2016 (81 FR 38264). No comments were
                                                                                                          promulgate uniform guidelines for State               received.
                                                  Action.
                                                                                                          highway safety programs. NHTSA is                     DATES: Comments on this notice must be
                                                     FRA and DDOT will coordinate with                    withdrawing the August 23, 2016
                                                  participating agencies during                                                                                 received by September 26, 2016.
                                                                                                          notice.
                                                  development of the Draft EIS under 23                                                                         ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding
                                                                                                            Authority: 44 U.S.C. Section 3506(c)(2)(A).         the burden estimate, including
                                                  U.S.C. 139. FRA will invite all agencies
                                                  and Native American Tribes that may                       Issued on: August 23, 2016.                         suggestions for reducing the burden, to
                                                  have an interest in the Proposed Action                 Jeff Michael,                                         the Office of Management and Budget,
                                                  to become participating agencies for the                Associate Administrator, Research and                 Attention: Desk Officer for the Office of
                                                  EIS. If an agency or Native American                    Program Development.                                  the Secretary of Transportation, 725
                                                  Tribe is not invited and would like to                  [FR Doc. 2016–20578 Filed 8–24–16; 11:15 am]          17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.
                                                  participate, please contact FRA (‘‘For                  BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
                                                                                                                                                                Comments may also be sent via email to
                                                  Further Information Contact’’ section).                                                                       OMB at the following address: oira_
                                                  The lead agencies will develop a                                                                              submissions@omb.eop.gov.
                                                  Coordination Plan summarizing how the                   DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  public and other agencies will be                                                                             Yvette Rivera, Departmental Office of
                                                  engaged in the process. The                             Office of the Secretary                               Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, U.S.
                                                  Coordination Plan will be posted to the                                                                       Department of Transportation, 1200
                                                                                                          [Docket No. DOT–OST–2016–0069]
                                                  Project Web site (http://longbridge                                                                           New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
                                                  project.com/) and to FRA’s Web site                     Agency Information Collection                         DC 20590; 202–366–4648;
                                                  (www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0214).                           Activities: Request for Comments;                     adaconcerns@dot.gov.
                                                                                                          Clearance of a New Information                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  Future Public Participation and                         Collection(s): U.S. Department of                        OMB Control Number: XXXX–NEW.
                                                  Outreach                                                Transportation Accessibility Concern                     Title: Transportation Accessibility
                                                                                                          Form                                                  Concern Form.
                                                    At various milestones during the                                                                               Form Numbers: None.
                                                  development of the Long Bridge EIS,                     AGENCY: Office of the Secretary,                         Type of Review: OMB Approval.
                                                  FRA and DDOT will provide additional                    Department of Transportation.                            Background: The current process for
                                                  opportunities for public and interested                 ACTION: Notice and request for                        submitting concerns about American
                                                  party consultation, such as public                      comments.                                             with Disabilities Act, as amended,
                                                  meetings, open houses, newsletters, and                                                                       (ADA) and other related civil rights
                                                  requests for comments/review of the                     SUMMARY:   In accordance with the                     violations is fragmented across the
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  EIS. Dates, times, and locations for                    Paperwork Reduction Act of 1994, (44                  Department—sometimes being time
                                                  public meetings and other opportunities                 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice                     consuming and cumbersome for the
                                                  for public participation will be                        announces the U.S. Department of                      traveling public. Establishing a
                                                  announced through the Long Bridge                       Transportation’s (DOT) intention to                   streamlined and consistent process
                                                  Project Web site (http://longbridge                     request the Office of Management and                  would respond directly to the
                                                  project.com/), mailings, public notices,                Budget’s (OMB) approval for the                       President’s National Council on
                                                  advertisements, and press releases.                     utilization of the U.S. Department of                 Disability, and more importantly, the


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Document Created: 2016-08-26 10:40:30
Document Modified: 2016-08-26 10:40:30
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS).
DatesPersons interested in providing written comments on the scope of the EIS (scoping comments) must do so by September 26, 2016. Please submit written comments via the methods specified below.
ContactAmanda Murphy, Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Railroad Policy and Development, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., (Mail Stop-20), Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (202) 493-0624.
FR Citation81 FR 59036 

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