[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43983-43984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21990]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Assessment: Warwick, Rhode Island

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Department of 
Transportation, is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared for the proposed 
intermodal station and airport connection project in Warwick, Rhode 
Island.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ralph J. Rizzo, Transportation 
Planner, Federal Highway Administration, 380 Westminster Mall, Room 
547, Providence, Rhode Island 02903. Telephone (401) 528-4548, or 
William Chuck Alves, Chief, Intermodal Transportation Planning, Rhode 
Island Department of Transportation, Two Capitol Hill, Room 372, 
Providence, Rhode Island, 02903. Telephone (401) 222-4203 ext. 4233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Rhode 
Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) on a proposal to construct an intermodal 
station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) with an airport connection to 
the T.F. Green Airport, located within the City of Warwick, Rhode 
Island. This notice is issued in the event that an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) is required.
    The proposed improvement would involve the construction of new 
combined commuter rail/Amtrak intermodal station with a connection to 
the existing T.F. Green Airport terminal. The purpose of the project is 
to provide a seamless intermodal link between intercity and commuter 
rail services on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and T.F. Green State 
Airport. The need for this link arises from projected increases in 
passengers utilizing the airport, especially those from outside the 
State of Rhode Island. This intermodal link should affect a modal shift 
among a portion of those passengers thereby reducing future congestion 
on local roadways and the associated impacts to air quality and noise 
in the Hillsgrove area of Warwick.
    Alternatives under consideration include: (1) Taking no action; (2) 
Construction of an intermodal station including station building with 
passenger waiting and ticketing facilities, passenger platforms, and an 
airport shuttle connection to the airport; (3) Construction of an 
intermodal station including station building with passenger waiting 
and ticketing facilities, passenger platforms, and an automated people 
mover connection to the airport. Additional reasonable alternatives may 
be identified during the scoping process.
    A public scoping meeting with interested agencies and members of 
the public will be held on August 27, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. at the RIDOT 
Traffic Operations Center (TOC) Conference

[[Page 43984]]

Room. The meeting will continue on August 27, 1998 in Warwick, Rhode 
Island at the Radisson Airport Hotel, 2081 Post Road at 6:30 p.m. The 
second part of the scoping meeting will be preceded by a workshop to 
explain the components of the projects. The workshop will open at 5:00 
p.m. and project planners and engineers will be in attendance to answer 
questions from 7-8:00 p.m. Written comments received by September 28, 
1998 will be incorporated into this NEPA scoping process.
    To ensure that a full range of issues related to this proposed 
project are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments and/
or questions concerning this proposed project may be presented at the 
August 27, 1998 scoping session or directed to FHWA and RIDOT at the 
addresses provided above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued: August 11, 1998.
Gordon G. Hoxie,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Providence, 
Rhode Island.
[FR Doc. 98-21990 Filed 8-14-98; 8:45 am]
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