August 19, 2018 Andy Byford Polly Trottenberg President
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August 19, 2018 Andy Byford Polly Trottenberg President Commissioner Metropolitan Transportation Authority NYC Department of Transportation 2 Broadway 55 Water Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10004 New York, NY 10041 Dear President Byford and Commissioner Trottenberg: As the elected officials who represent the Manhattan communities affected by the 15-month L Train suspension, please accept this joint statement for the Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Section 4(f) Review for the Canarsie Tunnel Project. As previously noted, we understand the extraordinary challenge and complicated nature of this necessary project to repair the L Train Canarsie Tunnel. However, we remain concerned about the impact this closure will have on the communities we represent. We appreciate the opportunity to submit comments to the SEA and ask that your agencies explore ways to minimize traffic congestion and air and noise pollution through this assessment. Specifically, we appreciate every effort made to use electric buses and other low emission buses along 14th Street and for all cross-borough L Train shuttle routes that go up First and Second Avenues, Grand Street and Williamsburg Bridge. We also request that ongoing air monitoring at key locations take place along the new bus routes during the shutdown to assess the impact bus emissions are having on the air quality. We also ask that the SEA evaluate the integrity of the foundations of surrounding residential streets where use by a substantial number of heavier vehicles could subject underground aging utilities like water mains and steam pipes to unacceptable structural risk. We also hope the SEA can evaluate the impact that reversing traffic direction north of 14th Street between Sixth to Seventh Avenues and between Eighth to Ninth Avenues would have in preventing these narrow, largely residential streets from being used as thru streets and reducing traffic congestion. In addition, we request that the New York City Department of Buildings, Con Edison, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, New York City Police Department, and a number of private developers be included in these conversations about impacts to the community. Currently, scaffolding is being erected on the south side of 14th Street between Broadway and Fourth Avenue. This is at the confluence of a major chokepoint in the mitigation plan as outlined in the SEA and best efforts should be made to minimize the potential impact of additional construction along this corridor. We appreciate that the shutdown of the L train will present significant challenges. We thank you for including our comments in the SEA and look forward to working with you in the months ahead to ensure that we meet those challenges head-on. Sincerely, Corey Johnson Brad Hoylman Richard N. Gottfried NYC Council Speaker State Senator NY Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick Carlina Rivera Keith Powers NY Assembly Member Council Member Council Member 2 .