[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 73761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30448]



[[Page 73761]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice to Rescind the Notice of Intent to Develop the 
Environmental Impact Statement: Kings County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice to Rescind the Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
FHWA will not be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the proposed project involving approximately 1.5 miles of the Brooklyn-
Queens Expressway (BQE), Interstate 278 (I-278) in Kings County, New 
York (Project Identification Number X730.56). This segment of the BQE 
extends from Atlantic Avenue to Sands Street and encompasses 21 
structures including a unique 0.4 mile triple cantilever structure. A 
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on April 20, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan D. McDade, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 11A Clinton Avenue, Suite 719, Albany, New 
York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127; or
    Mr. Phillip Eng, P.E., Regional Director, New York State Department 
of Transportation, Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21st Street, Long Island 
City, New York 11101, Telephone: (718) 482-4526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation previously intended to prepare a 
tiered EIS to evaluate alternatives and make corridor level decisions 
regarding the rehabilitation or reconstruction of the existing facility 
and to identify a general alignment and corridor for proposed 
improvements along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Kings County, New 
York, from Sands Street on the east to Atlantic Avenue on the west.
    The purpose of the original Project was to address various 
geometric, operational, and structural deficiencies associated with the 
structure.
    The final scoping document issued in May 2010, identified a range 
of alternatives that would be evaluated. Further evaluation of the 
alternatives documented with the Draft Alternatives Evaluation 
Technical Memorandum, identified order of magnitude cost range from 
$280 million for simple rehabilitation project to $20 billion tunnel 
alternatives. All build alternatives require funds exceeding those 
available for the foreseeable future.
    The NYSDOT proposes terminating the Tier 1 EIS for this project. 
Proposed future projects will continue necessary State of Good Repair 
projects to structures, roadways, and appurtenances, to ensure the 
continued safe operation of this important roadway corridor. With this 
approach, future plans for the roadway may be addressed in a 
comprehensive manner as funds become available.

    Issued on November 16, 2011.
Jonathan D. McDade,
New York Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-30448 Filed 11-28-11; 8:45 am]
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