[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20573-20574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10108]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Kings & Queens Counties, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this Notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 
rehabilitation or replacement of the Kosciusko Bridge, focusing on a 
1.1-mile segment of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) from Morgan 
Avenue in Kings County to the Long Island Expressway (LIE) interchange 
in Queens County, both in New York State.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Arnold, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 
New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th Floor, Clinton 
Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York, 12207 Telephone: (518) 
431-4127.
      or
Joseph Brown, P.E., Project Director, New York State Department of 
Transportation, Region 11, Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21St Street, Long 
Island City, New York 11101 Telephone: (718) 482-4683.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will study and document 
proposed improvements to the Kosciuszko Bridge, focusing on a 1.1-mile 
segment of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) portion of I-278, from 
Morgan Avenue in Kings County, to the Long Island Expressway (LIE) 
interchange in Queens County.
    The Kosciuszko Bridge Project will address two primary problems 
identified with the bridge.

Traffic and Safety

    The bridge, built in the 1930's, cannot safely carry the present 
volume of traffic. The bridge's narrow lanes (11 feet), steep grade (4 
percent), lack of shoulders, and short merge/weave distances near ramps 
and interchange do not meet current highway design and safety 
standards. These design deficiencies, combined with approximately 
170,000 vehicles using the bridge each day, result in the bridge 
operating at or near capacity during the AM and PM peak periods, severe 
congestion throughout much of the midday, heightened accident rates and 
the diversion of the highway traffic onto local streets.

Structural Conditions

    The structural condition of the bridge is deteriorating. A number 
of interim repairs were completed by NYSDOT in recent years to correct 
identified problems and to extend the life of the bridge and viaduct. 
Recent inspections have indicated that, despite these aggressive 
maintenance efforts, the structural deficiencies are increasing. The 
frequent maintenance and repair efforts and their associated lane 
closures, while necessary to maintain the bridge, exacerbate the 
congestion and traffic diversion problems mentioned above, and do not 
provide a long-term solution to the structure's underlying problems.
    The Alternatives Analysis will consider a wide range of 
alternatives designed to address these needs. A long list of 
alternatives will be developed during the public scoping process with 
input from all stakeholders. Each alternative will be screened for its 
ability to meet the project's goals and objectives. The most promising 
alternatives will be forwarded for detailed evaluation in the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). These alternatives are expected 
to fall into one of the following categories: no build; Transportation 
System Management (TSM); rehabilitation with or without additional 
capacity; and replacement. The DEIS will assess the effect of the 
project alternatives on: Traffic and transportation; noise; air and 
water quality; land use and neighborhood character; recreational, 
cultural, and historic resources; hazardous waste and visual resources.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
interest in this project. The DEIS will be available for public and 
agency review and comment.
    To insure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action is addressed and all significant issues identified, a series of 
scoping activities will be conducted. Pre-scoping activities have 
included open houses, meetings with involved agencies, and 
presentations to local community boards. The formal scoping process 
will involve:
    1. Public scoping meetings, to be held in May 2002, to provide the 
public with information about the project, and to assist in formulating 
the scope of the environmental studies in the DEIS. NYSDOT will provide 
information about the project and the scope of the DEIS. Comments on 
the project and on the scope of the DEIS will then be received from the 
public, and NYSDOT personnel will be available to answer questions. The 
public can submit written comments or give oral comments to an on-site 
stenographer. Written comments will be received by NYSDOT until 30 days 
after the date of the last scoping meeting (see addresses below).
    2. Scoping discussions with other agencies, particularly those with 
a direct or indirect involvement in the proposed project's corridor and 
project area.
    The public scoping meetings are scheduled as follows:

Date & Time: May 14, 2002, 3 p.m. 9 p.m.
Location: Martin Luther High School, 60-02 Maspeth Avenue, Maspeth, NY 
11378

[[Page 20574]]

Date & Time: May 21, 2002, 3 p.m. 9 p.m.
Location: St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, 84 Herbert Street, 
Brooklyn, NY 11222

    At these meetings, attendees may review displays describing the 
project with project staff available to respond to questions. At 4 p.m. 
and 7 p.m., NYSDOT will make a brief presentation describing the 
project and its goals. Following each presentation, interested persons 
can make oral statements concerning the project, possible alternatives, 
and the scope of the DEIS. A stenographer will record all statements at 
the meeting for inclusion in the meeting record. Written statements may 
also be submitted at the meeting or sent to the addresses above. Any 
comments received within 30 days of the date of the last scoping 
meeting will be made part of the record.
    In addition, a public hearing will be held after publication of the 
DEIS to obtain comments on that document. Public notice will be given 
of the time and place of the DEIS public hearing.
    Throughout the scoping process, comments and suggestions are 
invited on the DEIS scope from any interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses provided above. Comments 
can also be faxed to Mr. Joseph Brown, P.E., Project Director, NYSDOT, 
at (718) 482-6319 or e-mailed to [email protected]
    The proposed project would be funded in part through Federal 
programs which assist State transportation agencies in the planning and 
development of an integrated, interconnected transportation system 
important to interstate commerce and travel by constructing and 
rehabilitating the National Highway System, including the Interstate 
System. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Numbher 20.205, 
Highway Research Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372, which foster State and local 
government coordination and review of proposed Federal financial 
assistance and direct Federal development, apply to this program).

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 23 CFR 771.123]

    Issued on: April 18, 2002.
Douglas P. Conlan,
District Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 02-10108 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
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