King of Prussia Rail Extension Project an Extension of the Norristown High Speed Rail Line
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
King of Prussia Rail Extension Project An Extension of the Norristown High Speed Rail Line January 2021 Combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration King of Prussia Rail Extension Project An Extension of the Norristown High Speed Rail Line January 2021 Final Environmental Impact Statement U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Abstract January 2021 Abstract The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as the lead Federal agency, in cooperation with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) as the local Project sponsor, have prepared this combined Final Environmental Impact Statement/Record of Decision (combined FEIS/ROD) and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation for the King of Prussia Rail Extension Project (Project) in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, and Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. This combined FEIS/ROD was prepared in accordance with regulations developed by the Council on Environmental Quality for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the FTA’s Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR Parts 771 and 774). The combined FEIS/ROD complies with 23 U.S.C. § 139(n)(2) as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law 114-94). The Project will extend existing Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) service to the King of Prussia-Valley Forge area of Upper Merion Township, a distance of approximately 3.5 miles. The FEIS evaluates the environmental, transportation, social, and economic benefits and impacts of the Project, including the Preferred Alternative and the No Action Alternative. Comments The DEIS was made available to the public on October 17, 2017 for a public review and comment period that ended on December 4, 2017. The DEIS identified a locally recommended alternative and environmentally preferable alternative as the PECO/TP-1st Ave. Two public hearings were conducted during the DEIS public comment period on November 13, 2017 and November 15, 2017. The DEIS was also made available at three local libraries, and online at www.kingofprussiarail.com. Following the DEIS comment period, the SEPTA Board of Directors adopted the PECO/TP-1st Ave. alternative as the Preferred Alternative with refinements made in response to public and agency comments. The FEIS includes a summary of comments received on the DEIS, and FTA’s and SEPTA’s responses to substantive comments. For further information concerning this combined FEIS/ROD, contact the following individuals: FTA Contact SEPTA Agency Contact Timothy Lidiak Ryan T. Judge Community Planner Manager, Strategic Planning Federal Transit Administration SEPTA, 9th Floor 1835 Market Street, Suite 1910 1234 Market Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 Philadelphia, PA 19107 King of Prussia Rail Extension Project – FEIS Page 1 of 1 Table of Contents January 2021 Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 1-1 Purpose of the Final Environmental Impact Statement ................................................. 1-1 Project Purpose and Need ........................................................................ 1-1 Alternatives Development and Selection of the Preferred Alternative .......................... 2-3 Descriptions of the Preferred and No Action Alternatives .......................... 2-5 Effectiveness in Achieving the Purpose and Need .................................... 2-7 Transportation and Safety Effects ............................................................. 2-9 Impacts to the Natural and Human Environment ..................................... 2-14 Public Involvement and Outreach ........................................................... 2-16 Project Costs and Funding ...................................................................... 2-17 Balancing Benefits and Impacts .................................................................................. 3-18 Chapter 1 Purpose and Need ............................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Purpose of the Project ................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Context ........................................................................................................................ 1-2 1.2.1 Existing Land Use ...................................................................................... 1-2 1.2.2 Planned Development and Changing Land Use ........................................ 1-5 1.2.3 Population and Employment Growth ......................................................... 1-5 1.2.4 Existing Rail Transportation ....................................................................... 1-6 1.2.5 Existing Bus Transportation ....................................................................... 1-7 1.2.6 Commuter Shuttle Service ....................................................................... 1-12 1.2.7 Transit Service Markets ........................................................................... 1-12 1.2.8 Roadways ................................................................................................ 1-13 1.3 Project History ........................................................................................................... 1-14 1.4 Need for the Project ................................................................................................... 1-16 1.4.1 Need for Faster, More Reliable Public Transit Service to the King of ............ Prussia Area ........................................................................................... 1-16 1.4.2 Need for Improved Transit Connections to and within the King of ................. Prussia/Valley Forge Area ...................................................................... 1-17 1.4.3 Need to Better Serve Existing Transit Patrons and Accommodate ................ New Patrons ........................................................................................... 1-18 King of Prussia Rail Extension Project – FEIS TOC-i Table of Contents January 2021 Chapter 2 Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Summary of the Planning and DEIS Processes .......................................................... 2-1 2.2 Refinements to the Recommended LPA After the DEIS ............................................. 2-5 2.3 Alternatives Considered .............................................................................................. 2-7 2.3.1 No Action Alternative ................................................................................. 2-9 2.3.2 Preferred Alternative ................................................................................ 2-10 2.4 Evaluation of the FEIS Alternatives ........................................................................... 2-46 2.4.1 Effectiveness in Achieving the Purpose and Need .................................. 2-46 2.4.2 Environmental Benefits and Impacts ....................................................... 2-48 Chapter 3 Transportation Effects .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Public Transportation ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Methodology .............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.2 Affected Environment ................................................................................ 3-2 3.1.3 Environmental Consequences ................................................................... 3-8 3.2 Roadways .................................................................................................................. 3-17 3.2.1 Methodology ............................................................................................ 3-17 3.2.2 Affected Environment .............................................................................. 3-18 3.2.3 Environmental Consequences ................................................................. 3-20 3.3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities ............................................................................... 3-30 3.3.1 Methodology ............................................................................................ 3-30 3.3.2 Affected Environment .............................................................................. 3-31 3.3.3 Environmental Consequences ................................................................. 3-31 3.4 Public Parking Facilities ............................................................................................. 3-32 3.4.1 Methodology ............................................................................................ 3-32 3.4.2 Affected Environment .............................................................................. 3-33 3.4.3 Environmental Consequences ................................................................. 3-33 3.5 Railroad Facilities and Operations ............................................................................. 3-33 3.5.1 Methodology ............................................................................................ 3-33 3.5.2 Affected Environment .............................................................................. 3-33 3.5.3