Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Environmental Consequences CHAPTER 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES Chapter 3 describes the existing social, economic, and environmental conditions in the Study Area, which serve as a baseline for comparing the potential impacts of the route, type of service, frequency of service, and station stops carried forward for detailed analysis in this Tier 1 EIS. Chapter 3 also identifies potential environmental consequences that would result from implementation of the Project as well as mitigation measures that could be used to avoid or minimize some of those potential environmental consequences. The methodology for conducting the review and evaluation of the social, economic, and environmental resources is in accordance with federal regulations and guidelines, including NEPA (42 USC 4321-4347); FRA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (Environmental Procedures) (64 FR 28545); and guidelines published by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500). The Study Area for the Build Alternative is approximately 500 miles long from Chicago, Illinois, through Iowa, to Omaha, Nebraska, and 500 feet wide on each side of the existing rail centerline for a total width of 1,000 feet. The Study Area was reviewed using recent aerial and satellite high-resolution photographic imagery; maps of topography, hydrography, and other features; and the most recent geographic information system (GIS) data for a variety of environmental resources. Because of the length of the Corridor and because this is a Tier 1 analysis, field visits for resource review were not conducted. The existing railroad ROW along the Corridor was assumed to be 100 feet wide; although the actual ROW varies, this assumption was determined to represent a reasonable average width. A buffer was then applied to accommodate additional track needs to promote efficient track maintenance and reduce operating disruptions. The existing ROW and estimated additional ROW that would be necessary for track and siding construction and improvements at station locations constitutes the Potential Impact Area. The anticipated amount of additional ROW required was conservatively estimated to allow for future design and to accommodate design constraints. Because there are multiple potential station locations in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska, and multiple design options through East Des Moines, Iowa, and across the Missouri River between Council Bluffs and Omaha, there is more than one potential alignment currently under consideration in those areas. During Tier 2 analyses, one alignment would be selected. For analysis in this Tier 1 EIS, the area along all alignments under consideration was evaluated as if it would be impacted. Consequently, the Potential Impact Area overestimates the area that would be directly impacted by Project construction to account for estimated ROW needs and multiple potential alignments in particular areas. The No-Build Alternative would not involve construction and operation of intercity passenger rail service from Chicago to Omaha, but would include other programmed transportation improvements (identified in Section 2.2.1). This includes independently planned construction of passenger rail service from Chicago to Moline, with subsequent operation of two round-trips per day at speeds up to 79 mph. This project is referred to as the Tier 1 Service Level EIS 3-1 October 2012 Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Chicago to Quad Cities Expansion Program and is being evaluated in Tier 2 NEPA analyses on three separate projects: Chicago to Wyanet, Illinois; the Wyanet Connection of BNSF and IAIS track; and Wyanet to Moline, Illinois. Two of the areas of potential concern for environmental impacts from construction of the Chicago to Quad Cities Expansion Program are Eola Yard in Eola, Illinois, and Wyanet; these areas will be addressed for potential impacts for most resources assessed in this EIS. Construction for the Chicago to Quad Cities service is anticipated to commence in 2013 and the service to be operational by 2015. The Chicago to Quad Cities Expansion Program passenger rail project would affect a portion of the same rail corridor as the Chicago to Omaha Project. Consequently, the impacts associated with construction of the Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Project between Chicago and Moline would actually be less than estimated for this analysis. Operational impacts for two round-trips per day associated with the Chicago to Quad Cities service were considered in this analysis. In this Tier 1 EIS, the following general outline is used to summarize the analysis conducted for each resource. With the exception of costal zone management, all resources identified in FRA’s Environmental Procedures have been assessed. Coastal zone management was not evaluated because the Study Area does not include any coastal zones. • Methodology and Regulatory Requirements – Summarizes the impact analysis methodology and the regulatory requirements for each resource, including the sources for the data collected and the applicable government agencies involved in the regulation of each resource. • Affected Environment – Describes the existing social, economic, or environmental conditions for each resource and their general locations within the Study Area. • Impacts of No-Build Alternative – Evaluates the potential impacts of the No-Build Alternative. • Impacts of Build Alternative – Evaluates the potential impacts of the Build Alternative as it is proposed to be fully implemented, but also addresses potential impacts of phased implementation. • Potential Mitigation Measures – Reviews potential mitigation measures, including avoidance and minimization, appropriate for the Tier 1 EIS. Specific mitigation measures would not be identified until preparation of Tier 2 NEPA documents. The assessment of impacts focuses on the Potential Impact Area and are quantified for many resources, but are evaluated qualitatively for some resources. For example, land use data were not available at the same level of detail throughout the approximately 500-mile-long corridor. Consequently, land use impacts are addressed qualitatively, with specific information on a few locations where it is known that additional ROW would be required and affect land use. Also, some resources, such as air quality and cultural resources, use different areas to evaluate potential impacts. The individual resource sections describe the area reviewed and discuss whether impacts are evaluated quantitatively or qualitatively. Impacts of phased implementation are addressed qualitatively in this Tier 1 EIS. October 2012 3-2 Tier 1 Service Level EIS Chapter 3, Affected Environment and Chicago to Council Bluffs-Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System Planning Study Environmental Consequences Appendix B contains figures showing the Study Area and Potential Impact Area as well as resources present within 0.5 mile of the rail corridor. Depending on the view of the figure and various database information, some resources are also shown outside 0.5 mile of the rail corridor. The figures were derived using recent aerial and satellite high-resolution photographic imagery, and the most recent GIS data for a variety of environmental resources. Resource data were not digitized for this Tier 1 analysis. 3.1 TRANSPORTATION The transportation analysis includes considerations of all passenger and freight transportation modes (that is, automobile, air, bus, and rail) of the regional transportation network. 3.1.1 Methodology and Regulatory Requirements Transportation considerations are evaluated in accordance with FRA’s Environmental Procedures. Coordination has taken place with Illinois DOT, Iowa DOT, Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR), regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and Councils of Government (COGs) to obtain readily available long-range transportation plans, including information related to air travel, along the Corridor. Major existing and planned transportation facilities for each transportation mode along the Corridor have been identified, including existing locations with substantial levels of congestion. Information regarding vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and average daily traffic (ADT) volumes for major highways in the Corridor have been collected from Illinois DOT, Iowa DOT, and NDOR. Information regarding intercity bus and passenger rail service has been collected from MPOs, COGs, and appropriate state long-range transportation plans. As appropriate, local transit services have been identified along the Build Alternative, particularly at potential station locations. 3.1.2 Affected Environment The existing transportation network, including any nearby airports, along the Corridor is shown in Appendix B, Figures 1 through 162. Total trips in 2020 by travel mode along the Corridor is provided in Table 3.1-1. These numbers reflect the 2020 base modal split accounting for the proposed improvements to passenger rail service between Chicago and Moline as part of the Chicago to Quad Cities Expansion Program. Table 3.1-1. Total Trips by Mode for the Year 2020 Mode of Travel Total Tripsa Percent of Total Automobile 72,883,000 97.7% Air 1,233,000 1.7% Bus 359,000 0.4% Passenger Rail 113,000 0.2% Total 74,588,000 100% Source: AECOM Ridership, Diversion,