Technical Memorandum: Queens Revision 14-4M
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MTA Long Island Rail Road East Side Access Design Changes in Queens Revision 14-4M Environmental Analysis November 2005 United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Metropolitan Transportation Authority State of New York Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................1 A. Introduction .......................................................................................................................2 B. History of Design Changes................................................................................................3 Feis Design in Queens ...........................................................................................................3 Design Modification Since the FEIS .....................................................................................5 Modifications to Midday Storage Yard Access.................................................................5 Harold Interlocking Improvements....................................................................................7 Additional Tracks Between 43rd and 48th Streets ............................................................7 New Sunnyside Emergency Ventilation Buildings and Substations .................................8 New 43rd Street Substation ...............................................................................................8 Yard Access Drives ...........................................................................................................9 C. Assessment of Project Effects ...........................................................................................9 Land Use and Social Conditions............................................................................................9 Affected Environment .......................................................................................................9 Property Acquisitions ......................................................................................................11 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................14 Economic Conditions...........................................................................................................16 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................16 Acquisition, Relocation, and Compensation....................................................................16 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................17 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................18 Visual and Aesthetic Considerations ...................................................................................18 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................18 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................20 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................20 Historic Resources ...............................................................................................................22 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................22 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................23 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................25 AKRF, Inc. TOC-1 November 2005 Archaeological Resources....................................................................................................26 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................26 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................31 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................31 Transportation......................................................................................................................31 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................31 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................32 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................33 Air Quality ...........................................................................................................................34 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................34 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................34 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................34 Noise and Vibration .............................................................................................................35 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................35 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................35 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................37 Energy..................................................................................................................................40 Utilities and Subsurface Infrastructure ................................................................................40 Contaminated Materials .......................................................................................................41 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................41 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................41 Potential Impacts From Completed Project.....................................................................42 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................43 Affected Environment .....................................................................................................43 Potential Impacts During Construction ...........................................................................43 Potential Impacts from Completed Project......................................................................43 Safety and Security ..............................................................................................................44 Environmental Justice..........................................................................................................44 Process and Public Participation..........................................................................................45 East Side Access Project..................................................................................................45 Revision 14-4M Design Changes in Queens ...................................................................46 D. Conclusions .....................................................................................................................47 Appendix A: Addenda to the East Side Access Project Stage 1A Archaeological Assessment Appendix B: Project Correspondence from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) AKRF, Inc. TOC-2 November 2005 List of Tables Table 1 Sunnyside Area Project Elements: Comparison of Revision 14-4M to Earlier Designs...2 Table 2 Areas of Archaeological Sensitivity and Potential Project Effects..................................27 Table 2 (Cont’d) Areas of Archaeological Sensitivity and Potential Project Effects...................28 Table 3 Construction Noise Limits for East Side Access Project.................................................36 Table 4 Vibration and Ground-Borne Noise Impact Criteria .......................................................39 Table 5 Vibration and Ground-Borne Noise Impact Evaluation ..................................................40 Table 6 Stakeholder Meetings and Correspondence for Revision 14-4M Design Changes in Queens ...................................................................46 AKRF, Inc. TOC-3 November 2005 List of Figures Following Page Figure 1 East Side Access Project Elements in Queens and Manhattan ......................................4 Figure 2 Aerial View of the Sunnyside Area ...............................................................................4 Figure 3 East Side Access Project Elements in Sunnyside Rail Complex, Revision 14-4M .......6 Figure 4 Existing Conditions and Conceptual Rendering of 39th Street Emergency Exit/ Ventilation Facility as Seen from Skillman Avenue......................................................8 Figure 5 Existing Conditions and Conceptual Rendering of 39th Street Emergency Exit/ Ventilation Facility as Seen from 39th Street Bridge....................................................8