[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29777-29778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14313]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on the Mid-Harlem Third Track 
Project Between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood Stations, Westchester 
County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Metro-North 
Commuter Railroad Company (Metro-North) intend to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS), in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), on a proposal by 
Metro-North to undertake transportation improvements to its Harlem Line 
between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood Stations (the ``Mid-Harlem 
Third Track Project'' or the ``Proposed Action'').
    Metro-North's Harlem Line, extending 76.6 miles from Grand Central 
Terminal in Manhattan north through the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and 
Dutchess Counties, is the most densely traveled line in the Metro-North 
system. Metro-North is fast approaching capacity on the entire Harlem 
Line due to capacity constraints in the mid-Harlem section. The Mid-
Harlem Third Track Project will allow Metro-North to maintain, improve 
and expand service for all Harlem Line customers, future users and the 
region well into the 21st Century.
    The Mid-Harlem Third Track Project includes Build Alternatives 
which entail the upgrade of an existing third track between Mount 
Vernon West and Fleetwood and the construction of a 2.5 mile third 
track between Fleetwood and Crestwood Stations. The Proposed Action 
includes a Build Alternative preferred by Metro-North which will be 
identified throughout the NEPA process as the ``Preferred 
Alternative.'' In addition to the Preferred Alternative, the EIS will 
evaluate the No-Build Alternative, three (3) Build Alternatives, and 
three (3) Operational Alternatives, as well as any other reasonable 
alternative(s) raised during the scoping process.
    Scoping for the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project 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. A draft Scoping Document will be made 
available to those persons and agencies and may be obtained by 
contacting the person designated below.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives 
and impacts must be submitted by Friday, July 18, 1997. Written 
comments should be sent to Ms. Kim A. Smith, Assistant Director--
Capital and Long Range Planning, Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, 
347 Madison Avenue--19th Floor, New York City, New York, 10017. Oral 
comments should be made at the scoping meeting scheduled below. (Oral 
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 Mid-Harlem Third Track Project 
will be held on: June 18, 1997, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Westchester 
County Center, White Plains, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Anthony Carr, Director, Office of Planning and Program Development, 
Federal Transit Administration at (212) 264-8162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    FTA and Metro-North invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, as well as federal, state, and local agencies, to 
participate in identifying the reasonable alternatives to be evaluated 
in the EIS and identifying any significant social, economic, and 
environmental issues related to the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project. A 
draft Scoping Document describing the purpose of the project, the 
proposed alternatives and the impact issues to be evaluated is being 
mailed to affected federal, state, and local agencies and to interested 
parties. Others may request the draft Scoping Document by contacting 
Ms. Smith at (212) 340-2693. Scoping comments may be made orally at the 
public scoping meeting or submitted in writing by Friday, July 18, 
1997. (See the Scoping Meeting section above for the time and 
location.)
    During the scoping process, comments should focus on identifying 
specific social, economic, and/or environmental issues to be evaluated 
and suggesting reasonable 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 a 
preference for a particular alternative. Comments on preferences should 
be communicated after the draft EIS has been completed and issued for 
review

[[Page 29778]]

and comment. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive 
further information as the project develops, contact Ms. Smith as 
described above.
    Following the public scoping meeting a final Scoping Document will 
be prepared that will contain the transcript from the public scoping 
meeting, any written comments received, as 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.

II. Description of Study Areas and Project Need

    Metro-North's Harlem Line extends 76.6 miles from Grand Central 
Terminal in Manhattan north through the Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and 
Dutchess Counties. It is the most densely traveled line in the Metro-
North system as it is primarily a two track railroad as distinguished 
from the three and four tracks on the Hudson and New Haven lines.
    The area where construction of the Build Alternatives would take 
place extends along the railroad right-of-way from Mount Vernon West to 
Crestwood Station, a distance of approximately 3.6 miles.
    Approximately 74,000 passengers were carried on the Harlem Line on 
an average weekday in 1996. Metro-North is fast approaching capacity on 
the entire Harlem Line as it is constrained by the four mile section of 
two tracks between Mount Vernon West and Crestwood. The high frequency 
of service that traverses this two track section, exacerbated by the 
limiting physical characteristics of the two track railroad, constrains 
Metro-North's ability to improve service for the entire Harlem Line.
    The Mid-Harlem Third Track will enable Metro-North to provide a 
greater degree of schedule flexibility by allowing the expansion of 
service for existing and future customers on the entire Harlem Line. 
Harlem Line ridership has increased an average of 2.6% annually (1984-
1996), and is projected to increase on average another 1.9% annually 
(1996-2020). Without the third track, only one or two additional trains 
can be added in either the morning or evening peak hours when 40% of 
all Harlem Line peak period customers travel. Elimination of this 
capacity constraint is a prerequisite for adding the additional trains 
needed to keep pace with demand.
    The completion of the Mid-Harlem Third Track Project will meet the 
needs of Harlem Line customers by providing the following benefits:
     Increase Capacity/Serve New Markets
     Improve Service to Existing Customers
     Support Regional Economic Conditions
     Mitigate the Impacts of Construction and Maintenance 
Projects
     Improve Service Reliability
     Improve Air Quality

III. Alternatives

    The EIS will analyze reasonable alternatives that may achieve the 
Proposed Action's goals. In addition to Metro-North's preferred 
configuration of the Mid-Harlem Third Track (the ``Preferred 
Alternative''), seven (7) other Alternatives have been defined, and 
will be evaluated in the EIS: three (3) build Alternatives, three (3) 
Operational Alternatives and the No-Build Alternative.
    The Preferred Alternative involves the upgrade of an existing third 
track between Mount Vernon West and Fleetwood and construction of a new 
2.5 mile third track from Fleetwood to Crestwood to the west of the 
existing mainline tracks. Two of the Build Alternatives involve 
construction on the east side of the right-of-way in the area of 
Bronxville Station. The third Build Alternative involves an alignment 
that includes the upgrade of the existing third track between Mount 
Vernon West and Fleetwood Stations, compresses to two tracks north of 
Fleetwood Station and expands again to three tracks south of Bronxville 
Station to Crestwood Station. Under all Build Alternatives, the portion 
of the third track located between Bronxville and Crestwood would be 
built between the existing tracks, with all construction on Metro-North 
property. The No-Build Alternative presents conditions with service 
provided with the existing track configuration. In addition to the 
Build and No-Build Alternatives, three Alternatives that consider 
modifications to Metro-North's operations without changing track 
configurations: reducing signal spacing and train speeds; installing 
communication-based signalling; and consolidating and/or eliminating 
service at certain stations to allow for additional service to other 
stations, will also be evaluated. All alternatives, including the No-
Build Alternative, involve lengthening of trains as needed and as 
feasible.

IV. Probable Effects/Potential Impacts for Analysis

    In the EIS, FTA/Metro-North will evaluate all significant social, 
economic, and environmental effects, or potential impacts, of the 
alternatives. Social, economic and environmental impacts proposed for 
analysis include land acquisitions and displacements, land use and 
zoning, secondary development, water quality, wetlands, flooding, 
navigable waterways and coastal zone, ecologically sensitive areas, 
threatened and endangered species, traffic and parking, air quality, 
noise and vibration, energy and conservation, historic/archaeological 
resources and parklands, construction/community disruption, aesthetics, 
safety and security, consistency with local plans, hazardous materials, 
electric and magnetic fields, and environmental justice. Special 
attention will be given to potential impacts related to traffic, noise 
and vibration and air quality. Both positive and negative 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.

V. FTA Procedures

    The EIS process will be conducted according to regulations and 
guidelines established by NEPA, as well as FTA's regulations found at 
23 CFR part 771, and associated guidance documents. The social, 
economic, and environmental impacts of the Mid-Harlem Third Track 
Project will be assessed, and, if necessary, 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 agency 
review and comment. A public hearing will be held. On the basis of the 
draft EIS and comments received, FTA/Metro-North will complete a final 
EIS.

    Issued on: May 28, 1997.
Anthony G. Carr,
Director, Office of Planning and Program Development.
[FR Doc. 97-14313 Filed 5-28-97; 3:44 pm]
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