[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61548-61549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27103]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: New York County, 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 a 
supplement to a Final Environmental Impact Statement/Section 4(f) 
Evaluation will be prepared for a proposed highway project in New York 
County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Richard Schmalz, Route 9A Project Director, New York State Department 
of Transportation, 21 South End Avenue, New York, NY 10280-1044, 
Telephone: (212) 201-0917.
 or
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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and 23 U.S.C. 315 and 23 CFR

[[Page 61549]]

777.123, the FHWA, in cooperation with the New York State Department of 
Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare a supplement to a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement/Section 4(f) Evaluation (EIS) on a 
proposal to restore U.S. Route 9A (West Street) in New York County 
(Manhattan). The original EIS for the improvements on Route 9A from 
Battery Park to 59th Street was published in May 1994, for which the 
Record of Decision was issued in July 1994. The Supplemental EIS (SEIS) 
will be a comprehensive summary of the results of the analyses 
performed for the proposed action in the section of Route 9A from 
Albany Street to Chambers Street for a distance of about one-half mile, 
where conditions have changed as a result of the attacks of September 
11, 2001. The scope of issues to be addressed in the SEIS is consistent 
with those issues previously addressed in the original EIS.
    As part of the Lower Manhattan redevelopment efforts, the NYSDOT 
and the FHWA, in cooperation with Lower Manhattan Development 
Corporation (LMDC), Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANY&NJ), 
New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) and the 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), are studying alternatives 
to rebuild the section of Route 9A/West Street between Albany Street 
and Chambers Street. The section of highway in these limits was 
destroyed by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World 
Trade Center (WTC) or subsequently damaged by cleanup and/or recovery 
activities. The study to reconstruct Route 9A/West Street is being 
undertaken in order to integrate the reconstruction of Route 9A into 
the overall redevelopment planning initiative for Lower Manhattan to 
better serve the existing and planned adjacent uses. The section of 
West Street from Battery Place to Chambers Street was under 
construction and almost complete just prior to the 9-11 attack. The 
plan being constructed at the time was the preferred plan from the 1994 
Route 9A FEIS.
    The alternatives currently under consideration for Route 9A/West 
Street are: (1) The No Action Alternative, which is included as a 
baseline alternative against which all other alternatives are measured. 
This alternative would make permanent the six-lane roadway that was 
opened March 29, 2002. (2) An At-Grade Alternative, which restores 
eight lanes, four northbound and four southbound, in front of the WTC 
site as originally approved in the 1994 Route 9A FEIS with a slight 
alignment shift to the west to avoid the now exposed WTC slurry wall. 
This alternative would also provide pedestrian overpasses to facilitate 
movement of pedestrians across West Street. (3) A Short Bypass 
Alternative, which restores eight lanes in front of the WTC site by 
depressing four through traffic lanes and providing four lanes at grade 
for local traffic circulation. The bypass would drop below street grade 
in an 1100-foot-long covered underpass north of Albany Street and rise 
to street level just south of Murray Street to provide an enhanced 
setting, green space and public space at the proposed WTC memorial site 
and World Financial Center (WFC). A wide sidewalk would also be 
provided adjacent to the WTC site for north-south pedestrian traffic 
and memorial visitors.
    The build alternatives are consistent with the original goals and 
objectives of the Route 9A Reconstruction Project, near completion just 
prior to the 9/11 attacks, and also address those of the LMDC. The LMDC 
planning initiative as outlined in the ``Principles and Preliminary 
Blue Print for the Future of Lower Manhattan'' report and the needs 
resulting from the terrorist attack are important in the evaluation of 
this project. Additional influences on the project include the ``New 
York City's Vision for Lower Manhattan'' developed by New York City and 
presented by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in December 2002 and the selected 
WTC site development plan by Studio Daniel Libeskind Architects. The 
build alternatives being considered for Route 9A / West Street address 
and are compatible with the principles and plans outlined in these 
documents.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, Sate, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed 
interest in this proposal. A Public Meeting will be held on November 
19, 2003, at the U.S. Customs House, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., at which 
comments from the public will be taken, and a transcript of the entire 
proceedings will be produced. Public notice will be given for the time 
and place of future meetings and the public hearing on the Draft SEIS. 
The Draft SEIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment. Coordination with the public, stakeholders and agencies 
involved will continue to be provided throughout preparation of the 
SEIS.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the SEIS should be 
directed to the NYSDOT or FHWA at the addresses provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this 
program.)

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

    Issued on: October 29, 2003.
Douglas P. Conlan,
District Operations Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, 
New York.
[FR Doc. 03-27103 Filed 10-27-03; 8:45 am]
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