[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3148-3149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1234]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for the North Shore-CBD 
Transportation Corridor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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 Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) (the Federal co-lead agencies) and the Port 
Authority of Allegheny County (the local lead agency), in cooperation 
with the City of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Department of 
Transportation, intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for transportation improvements in the North Shore-Central 
Business District (CBD) Corridor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The EIS 
is being prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) and will also satisfy the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air 
Act Amendments (CAAA).
    The City of Pittsburgh and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Regional 
Planning Commission (SPRPC) initiated the North Shore/CBD 
Transportation Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS) in Fall 1997. 
Under the MIS, a long list of road and transit alternatives were 
generated and analyzed for their physical feasibility and ability to 
serve the needs of the corridor. This list was screened to a short list 
of alternatives which will be analyzed under the EIS.
    The EIS will evaluate a No-Build Alternative, a Transportation 
System Management (TSM) Alternative which includes enhanced bus service 
and pedestrian facilities, and the Build Alternatives which would 
include one or more of the following transportation projects: two 
Intermodal Transportation Centers (ITC's), a ramp from an ITC to a 
highway, a people mover system including a possible low-speed Maglev 
technology, and an extension of Port Authority's existing light rail 
transit line into the North Shore.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the 
alternatives and impacts to be considered must should be sent to Port 
Authority by February 19, 1999. Public Scoping Meetings will be held on 
Tuesday, February 2, 1999 at 12:00 and at 6:00 p.m. at the Southwestern 
Pennsylvania Commission, 31st Floor. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr. 
Bruce W. Ahern, Assistant General Manager of Business Development and 
Planning, Port Authority of Allegheny County, 2235 Beaver Avenue, 
Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Two Public Scoping Meetings will be held at the 
following location: Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, 31st Floor; 
425 Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219. See DATES above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Garrity, Federal Transit 
Administration, Region III, (215) 656-7100 or Anthony L. Mento, Federal 
Highway Administration, Pennsylvania Division, (717) 221-3461.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA, FHWA, and the Port Authority invite interested 
individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to 
participate in establishing the purpose, scope, framework, and approach 
for the environmental analysis of the alternatives and identifying any 
significant social, economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated. 
At the two Scoping Meetings, presentations will be made which will 
provide a description of the proposed scope of the study as well as a 
plan for an active citizen involvement program, a work schedule, and an 
estimated level of effort and detail of the analysis. Scoping comments 
may be made at the Public Scoping Meeting or in writing within thirty 
days after publication of this notice. See the ``Scoping Meetings'' 
under the DATES and ADDRESSES sections above for locations and times.
    The Scoping Meeting will begin with an ``open house'' where 
attendees will be able to view graphics and discuss the project with 
staff involved in the study. A presentation on the project will be 
given at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., followed by an additional 
opportunity for questions and answers. Scoping material will be 
available at the meeting or in advance of the meeting by contacting Mr. 
David E. Wohlwill, Project Manager at (412) 237-7338. A sign language 
interpreter will be available for the hearing impaired. A TDD number 
(412) 231-7007 is also available. The meeting location is accessible to 
persons with disabilities.

[[Page 3149]]

II. Description of the Study Area and Project Need

    The corridor extends roughly from 13th Street in the Strip 
District, through the Golden Triangle between Liberty Avenue and Fort 
Duquesne Boulevard, and into the North Shore from the Fort Wayne 
Railroad Bridge to the West End Bridge south of I-279 and Route 65. 
Recently, this area has experienced new development and redevelopment 
such as the Western Pennsylvania History Center, the Cultural District, 
Andy Warhol Museum, new Alcoa Headquarters, and Lincoln Housing. 
Significant new development is proposed or underway including expansion 
of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, new hotels, the O'Reilly 
Theater, PNC Ballpark, new Steelers Stadium, Carnegie Science Center 
expansion, a North Shore amphitheater, new parking facilities, and new 
retail and office development. The vision is to expand Downtown from 
its traditional Golden Triangle confines across the Allegheny River 
into the North Shore.
    This corridor experiences significant congestion during peak 
periods and when there is an event at Three Rivers Stadium. Demand for 
parking exceeds supply, a condition which will be exacerbated when some 
land presently being used for parking will be developed for other 
purposes. The North Shore area is perceived is difficult to access. 
Improved transportation facilities will be required to support new 
development in the corridor. Transit linkages between the major 
attractions need to be improved.

III. Alternatives

    The following describes the No-Build, TSM, and Build Alternatives 
that were evaluated in the MIS and are being presented for further 
study in the North Shore/CBD Transportation Corridor DEIS:
    1. No-Build Alternative--Existing transit service and programmed 
new transportation facilities with level of transit service expanded as 
appropriate to meet projected year 2020 travel demand.
    2. TSM Alternative--Enhanced bus service including: high-frequency 
shuttle bus service connecting the major attractions and hotels in the 
corridor; routing of regional bus services through the North Shore; and 
a network of regional express buses serving Steelers and Pirates 
events. To ensure service reliability and improve bus speeds, exclusive 
bus lanes and bus priority treatments are proposed for periods of high 
congestion (i.e., post-game events). New pedestrian facilities linking 
the North Shore with adjacent communities are also included in this 
alternative.
    3. Build Alternatives: The set of build alternatives being 
considered in the DEIS include the following:
    a. Intermodal Transportation Centers--Two Intermodal Transportation 
Centers (ITC's) are proposed: one at Federal and General Robinson 
Streets (ITC #1) and the other near Reedsdale Street and Allegheny 
Avenue (ITC #2). These would be high-capacity (2,000+) parking garages 
connected by a rapid transit line to the Golden Triangle.
    b. Roadway Improvement--A ramp from ITC #1 to Route 28.
    c. People Mover Gateway Alignment--Automated people-mover operating 
primarily on elevated guideways using vehicles with rubber tires or 
low-speed Maglev technology. This alignment begins at Fifth and Liberty 
Avenues, traverses Cecil Way, crosses over Fort Duquesne Boulevard, 
extends across the Allegheny River on a new bridge, and terminates at 
ITC #1.
    d. People Mover Fort Wayne Alignment--Automated people-mover 
operating primarily on elevated guideways using vehicles with rubber 
tires or low-speed Maglev technology. This alignment begins at the 
Steel Plaza LRT Station, uses a portion of the Penn Park Line, crosses 
the Allegheny River either on the lower deck of the Fort Wayne Railroad 
Bridge or on a new bridge just east of the Fort Wayne Bridge and then 
turns west to terminate at ITC #1.
    e. LRT Gateway Alignment--This alignment extends from the existing 
Gateway LRT Station in the Golden Triangle in a subway under the 
Allegheny River to a station at or near ITC #1 and then west to the 
Carnegie Science Center and ITC #2.
    f. LRT Fort Wayne Alignment--This alignment connects with the 
existing LRT system at the Steel Plaza Station, uses a portion of the 
Penn Park Line and crosses the Allegheny River on either the lower deck 
of the Fort Wayne Railroad Bridge or a new bridge just east of the Fort 
Wayne Bridge, and turns west to ITC #1 and further west to ITC #2.

IV. Probable Effects

    The FTA, FHWA, and Port Authority will evaluate all significant 
environmental, social, and economic impacts of the alternatives 
analyzed in the EIS. Primary environmental issues include: land use, 
neighborhood enhancement, parklands, traffic and parking, visual 
impacts and aesthetics, archeological, cultural and historic resources, 
navigation impacts of new river crossings, and geotechnical issues 
associated with tunnels. Other issues to be considered are floodplains, 
wildlife and vegetation including endangered species, safety, air and 
water quality, hazardous wastes, displacements, and energy impacts. The 
impacts will be considered for both construction and operating and 
maintaining the new facilities. Measures to mitigate any adverse 
impacts will be developed for consideration.

V. FTA Procedures

    In accordance with the federal transportation planning regulations 
(23 CFR Part 450) and the federal environmental impact regulations and 
related procedures (23 CFR 771), the Draft EIS will be prepared to 
include an evaluation of the social, economic, and environmental 
impacts of the alternatives. The DEIS will consider the public and 
agency comments received. Port Authority, in concert with the City of 
Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and other 
affected agencies will select the preferred alternative. Then Port 
Authority, as the lead agency, will continue with the preparation of 
the Final EIS. Opportunity for additional public comment will be 
provided throughout all phases of project development.

    Issued on: January 14, 1999.
Sheldon A. Kinbar,
Regional Administrator, Federal Transit Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-1234 Filed 1-19-99; 8:45 am]
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