[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29813-29815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10360]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement for Improved Station Access and 
Additional Parking at the MTA Metro-North Railroad North White Plains 
Station, Westchester County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The FTA, in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transportation 
Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad (Metro-North) and the Westchester 
County Department of Transportation (WCDOT), intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve station 
access and provide additional parking at the Metro-North North White 
Plains Station, Westchester County, New York (Proposed Action).
    The FTA is the lead Federal agency under the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Proposed Action is being developed by 
Metro-North and WCDOT, the co-sponsors of the Proposed Action. The EIS 
will be prepared in accordance with NEPA and the applicable regulations 
for implementing NEPA, as set forth in 23 CFR part 771 and 40 CFR parts 
1500-1508. The EIS is being prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Items that 
will be considered in the Proposed Action are:
     Expansion of parking capacity through the construction of 
a multi-level parking structure at Metro-North's North White Plains 
Station;
     Improved access to/from the proposed expanded parking 
facilities from the east side of the railroad tracks;
     Enhanced customer service facilities for intermodal 
connections and parking demand management strategies such as: Jitney 
services, feeder buses supported by park-and-ride lots, carpool and 
vanpool arrangements, bicycling and walking;
     Restoration of a portion of the Bronx River Parkway 
Reservation which is currently used for customer parking back to 
parkland; and
     Rerouting a portion of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation 
bike pathway in the study area.
    The EIS will evaluate a build alternative, comprising a multi-level 
parking structure and four possible access alternatives, a No Action 
Alternative and any additional reasonable alternatives generated by the 
scoping process. Scoping will be accomplished through meetings and 
correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, 
State, regional, and local agencies.

DATES: The public is invited to participate in a scoping meeting on 
June 14th, 2005 commencing at 7 p.m. at the location identified under 
ADDRESSES below to ensure that all significant issues are identified 
and considered. Presentation boards depicting the Proposed Action will 
be available for review at the meeting. Metro-North and WCDOT 
representatives will be present at the meeting.
    Formal presentations by Metro-North and WCDOT regarding the project 
will be made at 7 p.m., followed by the opportunity for the public to 
make comments on the scope of the EIS. Registration to speak will begin 
at 6:30 p.m. and will remain open until 8:30 p.m.. A stenographer will 
be available at the meeting to record oral comments. Those wishing to 
speak are requested to register at the meeting location upon arrival, 
however, registration to speak will remain open until 8:30 p.m. The 
meeting will conclude when all registered speakers have been heard.
    Printed versions of the Scoping Information Document are available 
at a number of public libraries and municipal offices. A list of these 
locations can be obtained by contacting Mr. James Hoegler, PE, AICP, or 
Ms. Patricia Chemka, AICP, at the telephone numbers listed below under 
ADDRESSES, or by visiting the following Web sites: http://www.mta.info 
(click ``MTA-Home'' then ``Planning Studies,'' and ``North White Plains 
Station '') and the WCDOT Web site: http://www.westchestergov.com/transportation. The Scoping Information Document may also be requested 
by writing to these individuals, or may be viewed on-line by visiting 
the Web sites listed above.
    The scoping comment period will remain open through July 11, 2005. 
Written comments on the scope of the EIS may be tendered at the scoping 
meeting, or may be sent to Mr. James Hoegler, PE, AICP at Metro-North 
Railroad, or Ms. Patricia Chemka, AICP at WCDOT at the addresses given 
under ADDRESSES below. Requests to be placed on the study mailing list 
may also be made by calling or by writing to these individuals.

ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held: Tuesday, June 14, 
2005 in rooms C and D at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central 
Avenue (at the Bronx River Parkway), White Plains, NY 10606.
    The scoping meeting site is accessible to mobility-impaired people 
and interpreter services will be provided for persons with hearing 
impairments upon request. People with special needs should contact Mr. 
James Hoegler at Metro-North (888) 836-8301 at least five (5) days 
prior to the meeting.
    Written comments will be taken at the meeting or may be sent to the 
following addresses thru July 11, 2005: Mr. James Hoegler, PE, AICP, 
MTA Metro-North Railroad, 345 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 
10017, phone (888) 836-8301; or Ms. Patricia Chemka, AICP, Westchester 
County Department of Transportation, 100 East 1st Street, 9th Floor, 
Mount Vernon, NY 10550, phone (914) 813-7753.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Irwin B. Kessman, Director of 
Planning and Program Development, Federal Transit Administration, (212) 
668-2170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    FTA, Metro-North and WCDOT invite interested individuals, 
organizations, and Federal, State, and local agencies to provide 
comments on the scope of the Proposed Action. During the scoping 
process, comments should focus on specific social, economic, or 
environmental issues to be evaluated, and on suggesting alternatives 
that may be less costly or have fewer environmental impacts while 
achieving similar transportation objectives. To assist interested 
parties in formulating their comments, a Scoping Information Document 
has been prepared and is available on the MTA Web site and the 
Westchester County Web site addresses noted above, or upon request from 
the Metro-North and WCDOT representatives identified above. The Scoping 
Information Document includes the purpose and need for the Proposed 
Action, a description of the preliminary alternatives, environmental 
issues that will be addressed during the course of the study, and an 
outline of the on-going public participation program.

[[Page 29814]]

II. Description of the Study Area

    The North White Plains Station is located along Metro-North's 
Harlem Line on Harlem Avenue west of Broadway (NY Route 22) and east of 
the Bronx River Parkway, approximately 0.25 miles north of Interstate 
287 (I-287), in the northern section of the City of White Plains, 
Westchester County, New York. The station is located amidst many one-
way roads near the municipal boundaries of the City of White Plains, 
the Towns of North Castle and Greenburgh.
    The Harlem Line, which generally runs north-south through the City 
of White Plains, is one of three major passenger rail lines which 
provide regularly scheduled daily train service between New York City, 
Grand Central Terminal, and various locations in Westchester County. 
The northern terminus of the Harlem Line is in Wassaic, in the Town of 
Amenia, Dutchess County, New York.
    The Primary Study Area is defined as the area west of Harlem Avenue 
and east of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation (BRPR) between Holland 
Avenue to the south and Fisher Lane to the north. This area consists of 
Harlem Avenue, the land currently occupied by station parking areas, 
the station itself, and immediately adjacent facilities (e.g., drop 
off/pick up; intermodal area).
    Towards its goal of improving access to public transportation, 
Metro-North has identified the North White Plains Station as a 
Strategic Passenger Facility due to its central location and the level 
of train service currently provided. Metro-North currently provides a 
level of train service to the North White Plains Station that is among 
the top five on the Harlem Line and among the top ten systemwide. Three 
parking areas currently serve Metro-North customers at the North White 
Plains Station, with Metro-North and Westchester County owning the 
majority of the approximately 1,250 available parking spaces.
    Vehicular access to the station from the north and south is 
provided primarily by Broadway to the east and the Bronx River Parkway 
to the west. The majority of parking spaces that serve the station are 
located on the west side of the tracks and can only be accessed via the 
Bronx River Parkway at Fisher Lane. A one-way travel restriction on 
Fisher Lane in the vicinity of the railroad underpass prevents full 
west-to-east travel across the study area.

III. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The need for the Proposed Action is due to the current parking 
deficiency, forecasted growth in ridership and projected customer 
diversions from other stations. In addition, access to the North White 
Plains Station is hampered by its location amidst a series of one-way 
roads such as Fisher Lane.
    Parking utilization at the North White Plains Station is 
approximately 90 percent on any typical weekday. Metro-North experience 
suggests that drivers perceive a lot as full when the utilization 
exceeds 85 percent. A separate effort by Metro-North to estimate 
parking demand systemwide at its rail stations in New York State, which 
included a survey of the waiting lists for permits to park at the North 
White Plains Station, indicates the total current demand at the North 
White Plains Station to be approximately 1,560 spaces. Parking demand 
is forecast to be approximately 2,800 in 2015 and approximately 4,600 
in 2,025. The construction of a multi-level parking structure would 
provide additional parking capacity to Metro-North customers to 
accommodate both current and future demand for parking (in 2015).
    In addition, access to the North White Plains Station is hampered 
by its location amidst a series of one-way roads such as Fisher Lane. 
Fisher Lane currently provides the only means of access to the parking 
areas located west of the tracks, areas which provide approximately 80% 
of all North White Plains Station parking. All Metro-North customers 
who use these parking areas must travel through the Bronx River 
Parkway--Fisher Lane intersection for access. This intersection 
currently experiences heavy traffic during the morning peak hours. 
Improved station access would reduce the site's dependence on the Bronx 
River Parkway--Fisher Lane intersection.

IV. Alternatives

    The EIS will evaluate Build and No-Action alternatives. The Build 
alternative will provide improvements that enhance connections to the 
existing transportation system and will meet the anticipated increase 
in parking demand.
    Metro-North and WCDOT conducted a Planning Study for the Proposed 
Action in advance of the EIS. The purpose of the study was to identify 
area constraints and determine the viability for the Proposed Action. 
The study identified a range of alternative improvement options to 
address the parking and access deficiencies at North White Plains 
Station. Two garage concepts and eleven access alternatives were 
developed and analyzed. Printed versions of the Planning Study are 
available on the Web sites indicated above in DATES. Copies can also be 
viewed at the Metro-North and WCDOT offices by contacting Mr. Hoegler 
or Ms. Chemka at the telephone numbers listed above in ADDRESSES.
    As a result of the Planning Study, one garage concept and four 
access alternatives will be progressed in the EIS. These alternatives 
both improve site access to/from the east side of the railroad tracks 
and increase parking capacity. Specifically, the alternatives to be 
evaluated are include:

(a) Parking Garage Concept

    Currently, there are approximately 1,250 surface parking spaces at 
the North White Plains Station. The Proposed Action would result in 
approximately 2,700 parking spaces, a net increase of about 116% 
(approximately 1,450 spaces). This would be accomplished through the 
construction of an approximate 2,200 space parking structure. The 
structure would contain the 1,450 net new spaces as well as 
approximately 750 spaces relocated into the garage from surface lots, 
permitting the most efficient use of the limited available space. 
Approximately 500 surface spaces would remain.
    The Planning Study revealed that due to area constraints and 
projected demand for parking spaces, the southern portion of the 
Westchester County-operated parking is the most feasible location for a 
new parking structure. It is also the largest contiguous area owned by 
Metro-North.

(b) Site Access Alternatives

    1. New access from the North--Construction of a new single lane 
underpass located south of the existing Fisher Lane underpass that 
would be used for eastbound travel. The existing Fisher Lane underpass 
would be converted to westbound travel;
    2. New access from the East--Construction of a new two-way 
underpass from an extended Glenn Street under the Metro-North tracks;
    3. New access from the South--Construction of a one-way (ingress-
only) surface driveway from Cemetery Road;
    4. New access from the South--Construction of a reversible one-lane 
ramp over Metro-North tracks on the south side of proposed partial two-
way Cemetery Road.
    Each of the four access alternatives is feasible with the parking 
garage concept. The access alternatives will be assessed equally and 
one will be progressed along with the garage as the Proposed Action. No 
Action Alternative. This alternative provides for minor improvements, 
repairs, and other

[[Page 29815]]

maintenance actions to the existing parking areas and access points in 
the future, without the Proposed Action.

V. Potential Effects

    Upon completion, the proposed improvements associated with the 
Proposed Action are anticipated to eliminate existing and future 
parking deficiencies through 2015. It will also generate positive 
impacts for Metro-North customers, Westchester County residents, 
businesses, workers, and visitors.
    Impacts that may occur as a result of the Proposed Action will be 
evaluated in the EIS. Metro-North and WCDOT have identified several 
environmental areas of concern, including, but not limited to: Traffic; 
historic and archaeological resources; parkland; wetlands; visual 
character; and safety and security. Potential temporary effects 
associated with the construction phase include noise, vibration, 
impacts on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and air quality. The EIS 
will describe the methodology used to assess impacts; identify the 
affected environment; and identify opportunities and measures for 
mitigating adverse impacts. Principles of environmental construction 
management, resource protection and mitigation measures, and the ``MTA 
Metro North Railroad Sustainable Design/Design for the Environment 
Generic Recommendations and Guidelines'', dated August 19, 2002 and 
developed pursuant to New York State Executive Order No. 111, Green and 
Clean State Buildings and Vehicles, will be incorporated into the Build 
Alternatives.

VI. FTA Procedures

    During the NEPA process, FTA will comply with the requirements of 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of 
the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 303), the conformity 
requirements of the Clean Air Act, Executive Order 12898 on 
Environmental Justice and, to the maximum extent practicable, all other 
applicable federal environmental statutes, regulations, and executive 
orders, in accordance with FTA policy and regulations.
    A Draft EIS will be prepared and made available for public and 
agency review and comment. A public hearing will be held on the Draft 
EIS. On the basis of the Draft EIS and the public and agency comments 
thereon, a preferred alternative will be selected and will be fully 
described and further developed in the Final EIS.

    Issued on: May 19, 2005.
Letitia Thompson,
Regional Administrator, Region II.
[FR Doc. 05-10360 Filed 5-23-05; 8:45 am]
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