Walk Bridge Replacement Project Public Hearing Environmental Assessment/Section 4(f) Evaluation & Environmental Impact Evaluation (EA/EIE) November 17, 2016 www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Meeting Agenda 1. Welcome & Introductions Robert Ike, CTDOT 2. Project Overview Jim Fallon, CTDOT 3. Presentation of Alternatives Christian Brown, HNTB 4. Environmental Findings Kevin Slattery, HNTB 5. Public Comment Robert Ike, CTDOT Jim Fallon, CTDOT www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Public Hearing Purpose • Proposed project overview • Environmental review process overview • EA/EIE findings summary • Comments on the proposed project and EA/EIE findings www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Project Overview Jim Fallon, CTDOT www.walkbridgect.com
Program Overview www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Critical Transportation Link • Approx.125,000 passengers daily • Approx. 175 trains per day • Projected ridership will double by 2030 www.walkbridgect.com
Waterway Users and River Navigation www.walkbridgect.com
Bridge Issues Prompted the Project • Opening and closing difficulties • Hurricane Sandy impact • Maintenance not the solution www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Environmental Process National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Existing Public Involvement • For projects requiring federal action Conditions • Environmental Assessment (EA) Develop Alternatives Select Preferred Alternative Develop Proposed Mitigation Measures Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Public Comment Period • For state projects • Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
What is an Environmental Assessment/ Environmental Impact Evaluation (EA/EIE)? • Defined Purpose and Need • Description of affected area • Existing and proposed conditions • Analysis of alternatives • Preferred alternative • Assessment of impacts on environmental resources • Proposed mitigation measures • Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Purpose and Need • Replace the deteriorated bridge with a resilient bridge • Enhance the safety and reliability of rail service • Offer operational flexibility and ease of maintenance • Provide for increased efficiencies of rail transportation • Maintain and improve navigational capacity and dependability • Incorporate bridge redundancy and provide a sustainable bridge for significant weather events www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966 • Applies to use of Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife Refuges, and Historic Properties • Allowed only if no feasible and prudent alternative exists and the use includes all possible means to minimize impacts (mitigation); or the use will have a de minimis impact on the Section 4(f) resource • Identifies Section 4(f) Resource Impacts • Impact minimization and mitigation identified www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Presentation of Alternatives Christian Brown, HNTB www.walkbridgect.com
The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics Project Alternatives • No Build • Build Alternatives • Rehabilitation Alternative • Replacement Alternative – Fixed Bridge • Replacement Alternative – Movable Bridge • Preferred Alternative www.walkbridgect.com
Summary of Alternatives Project Needs Rehab LL Fixed ML Fixed HL Fixed Movable Age-related Deterioration Reliability Resiliency Safety Standards Redundancy (dual spans) Operational Flexibility Difficulty of Maintenance Rail Capacity and Efficiency Marine Capacity and Dependability Sustainability www.walkbridgect.com
Environmental “Footprint” www.walkbridgect.com
Rehabilitation Alternative • Maintains existing navigation clearances • Historic appearance retained • Does not meet the Purpose and Need • Some components remain 120+ years old • High life cycle costs • Vulnerable to extreme weather conditions • Bridge malfunction disrupts all tracks Estimated Construction Cost • No navigation clearance improvements (closed) $425M - $475M • Temporary run-around bridge required, resulting in extended construction schedule, rail disruptions, navigation restrictions, and environmental impacts www.walkbridgect.com
Fixed Bridge Alternatives: High-level • Meets the Purpose and Need • Resilient for extreme weather conditions • Improved reliability for rail and navigation • Extensive track reconstruction on the mainline and Danbury Branch • Reconstruction of South Norwalk Station • Largest property acquisition needs Estimated Construction Cost • Highest cost of all options > $1.3B • Longest construction schedule, resulting in longest duration of rail disruptions, navigation restrictions, and environmental impacts The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics www.walkbridgect.com
Fixed Bridge Alternatives: Low- and Mid-level • Resilient for extreme weather conditions • Improved reliability for rail traffic • Does not meet the Purpose and Need Low-level • Permanent vertical navigation restriction • Higher long-term costs for navigation needs • Temporary run-around bridge required, resulting in extended construction schedule, rail disruptions, Mid-level navigation restrictions, and environmental impacts Estimated Construction Cost $290M - $370M The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics www.walkbridgect.com
Movable Bridge Alternatives • Lowest cost to satisfy Purpose and Need • Resilient for extreme weather conditions • Improved reliability for rail and navigation 240 ’ Vertical Lift • Fewest foundations in the river • Potential for shortest construction schedule • Temporary run-around is not required, resulting in the shortest duration of rail disruptions, 170’ Vertical Lift navigation restrictions, and environmental impacts Estimated Construction Cost: $330M - $460M 170’ Rolling Lift The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics www.walkbridgect.com
Comparison: Movable Bridge Alternatives The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics www.walkbridgect.com
Preferred Alternative: 240’ Vertical Lift Span Highlighted Benefits • Shortest overall construction schedule • Lowest risk during construction • Shortest period of two-track train service • No extended navigation restrictions • Shortest duration of local impacts • Fewest number of foundations in the water • Architectural and aesthetic flexibility • Improved alignment with Stroffolino Bridge Estimated Construction Cost : $425 - $460M The renderings displayed are conceptual and may not reflect final design aesthetics www.walkbridgect.com
Environmental Findings Kevin Slattery, HNTB www.walkbridgect.com
Combined NEPA/CEPA Process Publish EA/EIE Initiate Project Record FONSI or of Proceed Purpose & Need Identified Decision to EIS Public Comment Period (CEPA) (NEPA) Public Hearing – 11/17/16 Public Scoping Scoping Meeting – 2/24/15 Ends 12/5/16 Agency Scoping Meeting – 3/5/15 Initiate Final Design & Permitting CTDOT and FTA Respond to Public & Agency Comments Prepare EA/EIE under Construction and Impact NEPA/CEPA Mitigations Prepare Final Documents under NEPA/CEPA www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Cooperating and Participating Agencies www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Resources Evaluated Transportation Natural/Aquatic Resources • Water quality • Rail • Parking • Aquatic resources, floodplains • Marine • Pedestrians • Tidal and freshwater wetlands • Traffic • Bicycles • Coastal management resources • Transit • Threatened/endangered species Community Cultural and Other Resources • Land Use • Zoning • Historic/archaeological sites • Safety and security • Water dependent uses • Environmental justice • Property acquisition • Visual resources • Secondary/cumulative impacts • Socioeconomic • Air, noise, vibration • Municipal/regional plans • Plans and Policies • Terrestrial resources • State plan of conservation/ • Parklands, recreation areas, • Hazardous materials and risk sites development community facilities • Public utilities and service www.walkbridgect.com www.walkbridgect.com
Environmental Impacts Water and Natural Resources • Wildlife/terrestrial habitats • Water quality impacts • Tidal and freshwater wetland < 0.1 ac. • Upland habitat along railroad embankment • Floodplain use/possible flood flow effects Noise and Vibration • Noise/vibration near the work areas www.walkbridgect.com
Environmental Impacts Traffic, Pedestrians, Bicycles • Road and parking • Pedestrian and bicycle disruptions Economics • Nearby land-based and upstream water-based businesses during construction • Property tax revenue reduction www.walkbridgect.com
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