[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30087-30089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-14069]



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FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION


Environmental Impact Statement on the Metro-North Commuter 
Railroad Dover Plains Branch Improvement Program Between Dover Plains 
and Wassaic, Dutchess County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro-North 
Commuter Railroad (Metro-North) intend to prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS), in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, on a proposal by Metro-North to extend commuter 
railroad service for approximately 5 miles on the Dover Plains Branch 
of the Harlem Line from the Village of Dover Plains to the Hamlet of 
Wassaic in the Town of Amenia, Dutchess County, New 
York. [[Page 30088]] 
    The Proposed Action, also known as the Wassaic Extension Project, 
will extend north on the former Penn Central owned right-of-way from 
the existing Dover Plains Station, pass immediately to the west of the 
Wassaic Developmental Center (WDC) paralleling NYS Route 22/343, pass 
through the hamlet of Wassaic, and terminate approximately 3,200 feet 
(0.6 mile) north of the hamlet adjacent to NYS Route 22/343. The action 
also includes the construction of a rail yard, station, and 250 parking 
spaces (150 paved, 100 unpaved) to be located on a site along the 
alignment just north of Wassaic at the terminus of the proposed 
extension. A smaller passenger station will be constructed at the WDC 
with a parking lot of 50 spaces. The total length of the extension 
project is 5 miles.
    The proposed project is intended to help relieve an existing 
congested parking situation at Dover Plains station, increase the 
operating efficiency of Metro-North and expand Metro-North's market.
    In addition to the Proposed Action, the EIS will evaluate a No-
Build alternative and two (2) Build alternatives, as well as any 
additional alternative(s) generated through the scoping process.
    Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested 
persons and organizations, as well as with federal, state, and local 
agencies. One (1) public scoping meeting will be conducted.

COMMENT DUE DATE: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and 
impacts should be submitted by July 20 to Ms. Janet Mainiero, Metro-
North Commuter Railroad, 347 Madison Avenue, New York City, New York 
10017. Verbal comments should be made at the scoping meeting scheduled 
below. Verbal comments made at the scoping meeting will be transcribed. 
Assistance will be provided for the hearing impaired.

SCOPING MEETING: The public scoping meeting concerning the proposed 
Wassaic Extension Project will be held on: June 20, 1995, 7:00 p.m., 
Town Hall, Amenia, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Letitia A. Thompson, Deputy 
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, 26 Federal 
Plaza, New York, New York 10278 at 212-264-8162 or Janet Mainiero, 
Project Director, Metro-North Railroad, 347 Madison Avenue, New York, 
New York 10017 at 212-340-4834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FTA and Metro-North Commuter Railroad invite 
all interested individuals and organizations, as well as federal, 
state, and local agencies, to participate in identifying the 
alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS and identifying any significant 
social, economic, and environmental issues related to the Proposed 
Action and Alternatives described below. During the scoping process, 
comments should focus on identifying specific social, economic, and/or 
environmental issues to be evaluated and suggesting alternatives which 
may be less costly or less environmentally damaging, while achieving 
similar transportation objectives. Scoping is not the appropriate forum 
in which to indicate preference for a particular alternative. Comments 
on preferences should be communicated after the draft EIS has been 
completed and issued for review and comment. If you wish to be placed 
on the mailing list to receive further information as the project 
develops, contact Ms. Mainiero as described above. Following the public 
scoping meeting a scoping document will be prepared that will contain 
the transcript from the public scoping meeting, any written comments 
received, an outline of the decisions that have been made during the 
scoping process, and a summary of the issues to be evaluated in a draft 
EIS.

Description of the Study Area and Project Need

    The corridor is approximately 5 miles long, stretching between the 
village of Dover Plains and the Hamlet of Wassaic, in the Town of 
Amenia, Dutchess County, New York. It is oriented on a north-south 
axis. The proposed project is intended to provide service to people 
residing beyond the current Dover Plains terminus, expand Metro-North's 
market, help relieve an existing congested parking situation at the 
Dover Plains station, provide more frequent service to the area, and 
improve the quality of life in the region by implementing a transit 
project which conforms to the intent of the Clean Air Act Amendments 
(CAAA) of 1990. In addition, the proposed rail yard will allow Metro-
North to increase the efficiency of its operation.

Previous Activity

    Metro-North has performed some preliminary analysis on the 
feasibility of extending the Dover Plains Branch service. Meetings were 
held with locally elected officials regarding this work. Furthermore, 
the project has been discussed at public meetings conducted by the 
Poughkeepsie-Dutchess County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 
in 1993 and 1994.
Alternatives

    The alternatives proposed for evaluation include:
    (1) No Build--This alternative involves no change to transportation 
services or facilities in the corridor.
    (2) The Proposed Action--The Proposed Action involves a 5-mile 
extension of the Dover Plains Branch on the Harlem Line to a point 
3,200 feet (0.6 mile) north of the hamlet of Wassaic where a rail yard, 
passenger station, and a parking lot consisting of approximately 250 
spaces will be constructed. In addition, a small passenger station will 
also be constructed at the WDC with a parking lot of 50 spaces.
    (3) Alternative 1--Alternative 1 includes all the elements of the 
Proposed Action, except for one passenger station and parking lot. The 
passenger station and approximately 250-space parking lot will be 
constructed within the hamlet of Wassaic.
    (4) Alternative 2--Alternative 2 involves the extension of the 
Dover Plains Branch on the Harlem Line to a point approximately 2,000 
feet (0.4 mile) north of the existing terminus of Dover Plains. A rail 
yard and a 250-space parking lot will be constructed in an agricultural 
parcel immediately north of the Tenmile River. The parking lot will 
serve the existing station at Dover Plains.
    In addition to the construction discussed above, the Build 
Alternatives will also require track replacement, bridge 
rehabilitation, and other improvements to bring the existing rail line 
up to operational standards. The extent of this work is dependent upon 
the distance of track required for each alternative.
    The proposed project and alternatives are based upon the initial 
technical work performed to date and consultations with local and state 
officials.
    Since the proposed action is preliminary, consideration will be 
given to modifications to it and the existing alternatives, as well as 
additional reasonable alternatives. Regard also would be provided to 
any relevant concerns.

Probable Effects

    In the EIS, FTA/Metro-North will evaluate all significant social, 
economic, and environmental effects, or impacts, of the alternatives. 
Environmental and social impacts proposed for analysis include water 
quality, wetlands, cultural resources, community facilities, and 
traffic and parking impacts near [[Page 30089]] stations. Impacts on 
land use, aesthetics, hazardous waste sites, and noise and vibration 
will also be addressed. The impacts will be evaluated for the 
construction period and for the long-term period of operation. Measures 
to mitigate any significant adverse impacts will be considered.

FTA Procedures

    The EIS process will be performed in accordance with Federal 
Transit Laws and FTA's regulations and guidelines for preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement. The impacts of the project will be 
assessed and, if necessary, the scope of the project will be revised or 
refined to minimize and mitigate any adverse impacts. After its 
publication, the draft EIS will be available for public and private 
agency review and comment. One public hearing will be held. On the 
basis of the draft EIS and comments received, the project will be 
revised or further refined as necessary and the final EIS completed.

    Issued on June 5, 1995.
Letitia A. Thompson,
Deputy Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-14069 Filed 6-5-95; 2:20 pm]
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