[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 48450-48451] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-23005] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Environmental Impact Statement on the Hartford to New Britain Busway Project, Hartford County, Connecticut
Agency
Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
Action
Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
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Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed construction of a busway along an existing rail right-of-way corridor, known as the Hartford West Corridor, between Union Station in Hartford, CT and downtown New Britain, CT. The EIS will evaluate a no-build alternative and a busway alternative, options recommended in a Major Investment Study (MIS) completed by the CTDOT and participating agencies for the Hartford West Corridor. Further scoping will be accomplished through public meetings and hearings, neighborhood meetings, cable news segments, a newsletter, and correspondence with interested persons, organizations, the general public, federal, state and local agencies.
Dates
Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be considered should be sent to the FTA or CTDOT by October 18, 1999.
Addresses
Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr. Edgar T. Hurle, Connecticut Department of Transportation, 2800 Berlin Turnpike, P.O. Box 317546, Newington, CT, 06131-7546, Telephone (860) 594-2920 or Mr. Richard H. Doyle, Federal Transit Administration, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA, 02142, Telephone (617) 494-2055.
For Further Information Contact
Ms. Mary Beth Mello, Deputy Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration Region I, (617) 494-2055.
Supplementary Information
I. Description of Study Area and Project Need
The proposed project corridor, known as the Hartford West corridor, extends from Union Station in Hartford, Connecticut along an existing rail-right-of-way to downtown New Britain, Connecticut. The proposed busway would extend nine miles and include twelve station locations. The heavily urbanized Hartford West corridor is anchored by the City of Hartford and the City of New Britain. The corridor has been broadly defined to include not only I-84 but also the surrounding neighborhoods, parallel arterial roadways, and two rail lines, the Bristol-Hartford line and the New Haven-Hartford line. The corridor encompasses portions of five communities: Hartford, West Hartford, Farmington, Newington and New Britain. To address the transportation needs in the Hartford West Corridor and evaluate the effectiveness of various transportation system improvement alternatives, the CTDOT, the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), and the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency (CCRPA) undertook a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the area. During the MIS phase, the three agencies conducted an extensive public outreach effort and evaluated a full range of alternatives including, but not limited to, transit fixed guideway (light rail, commuter rail, and busway), a high occupancy vehicle lane, expressway reconstruction and operational lanes, expressway widening, transportation system management improvements and a no-build option. Based on input from the public, state and local agencies, the CTDOT identified the goals of improved mode choice, congestion reduction, improved public health and safety, community livability and quality of life, and economic expansion to guide the MIS effort. Early in the process, the addition of travel lanes on I-84 was dropped as an alternative due to significant local opposition and cost. The remaining build alternatives included light rail service in the I- 84 median; an exclusive busway in the I-84 median; a high occupancy lane added to I-84; light-rail service on Farmington Avenue (one of the arterial highways); and either light rail service or exclusive bus service in the unused half of the Amtrak inland route main line from Union Station in Hartford to New Britain. The MIS analysis indicated that a busway in the Amtrak corridor was the optimal choice. The flexibility of the busway service is
projected to produce the highest level of ridership, increased levels of mode choice, and congestion relief on both local arterials and I-84.
II. Probable Effects
The FTA and the CTDOT will evaluate all significant environmental, social and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues include: station location and community impacts, construction impacts, visual/aesthetic impacts and bicycle/ pedestrian access. In addition, the EIS will evaluate issues raised through a continuation of the scoping process begun under the MIS. Measures to mitigate any significant adverse impact will be developed. Throughout the EIS phase, the CTDOT will seek public input through meetings and hearings, newsletters and cable news, to further define the issues and impacts of alternatives.
Issued on: August 31, 1999. Richard H. Doyle, Regional Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-23005 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-57-M