Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 229/Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 229 / Tuesday, November 29, 2011 / Notices 73761 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION from $280 million for simple 40 21st Street, Long Island City, New rehabilitation project to $20 billion York 11101, Telephone: (718) 482–4526. Federal Highway Administration tunnel alternatives. All build SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: alternatives require funds exceeding The Notice to Rescind the Notice of Intent those available for the foreseeable FHWA, in cooperation with the New to Develop the Environmental Impact future. York State Department of Statement: Kings County, NY The NYSDOT proposes terminating Transportation (NYSDOT) previously intended to prepare an EIS to evaluate AGENCY: Federal Highway the Tier 1 EIS for this project. Proposed alternatives regarding the rehabilitation Administration (FHWA), United States future projects will continue necessary Department of Transportation (DOT). State of Good Repair projects to or reconstruction of the Gowanus Expressway (BQE I–278) in Kings ACTION: Notice to Rescind the Notice of structures, roadways, and County, New York, from Sixth Avenue Intent. appurtenances, to ensure the continued safe operation of this important roadway to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this corridor. With this approach, future The purpose of the original Project notice to advise the public that the plans for the roadway may be addressed was to address various geometric, FHWA will not be preparing an in a comprehensive manner as funds operational, and structural deficiencies Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) become available. associated with the structures. for the proposed project involving Issued on November 16, 2011. approximately 1.5 miles of the The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS Jonathan D. McDade, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), was published in the Federal Register Interstate 278 (I–278) in Kings County, New York Division Administrator, Federal in November 1996 following completion Highway Administration. New York (Project Identification of an Environmental Assessment. At Number X730.56). This segment of the [FR Doc. 2011–30448 Filed 11–28–11; 8:45 am] that time the rehabilitation alternatives BQE extends from Atlantic Avenue to BILLING CODE 4910–22–P had cost estimates in the range of $700 Sands Street and encompasses 21 million. Subsequently, in response to structures including a unique 0.4 mile public comments, a tunnel alternative DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION triple cantilever structure. A Notice of was added. Intent to prepare an EIS was published Federal Highway Administration During preliminary design, the cost in the Federal Register on April 20, estimates increased to approximately $2 2009. Notice To Rescind the Notice of Intent billion for the rehabilitation alternatives FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To Develop the Environmental Impact while the cost estimate for the tunnel Jonathan D. McDade, Division Statement: Kings County, NY alternative was determined to be greater Administrator, Federal Highway AGENCY: Federal Highway than $15 billion. Administration, New York Division, Leo Administration (FHWA, United States The economic downturn has affected W. O’Brien Federal Building, 11A Department of Transportation (DOT). Clinton Avenue, Suite 719, Albany, all areas of government and New York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431– ACTION: Notice to rescind the Notice of Transportation is not an exception; 4127; or Intent. recent projections show insufficient Mr. Phillip Eng, P.E., Regional funds to meet our infrastructure needs. Director, New York State Department of SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this In response to this, NYSDOT is Transportation, Hunters Point Plaza, rescinded notice to advise the public reevaluating its program with emphasis 47–40 21st Street, Long Island City, New that the FHWA will not be preparing an on preserving our existing assets to York 11101, Telephone: (718) 482–4526. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ensure a continuous system wide for the proposed project involving SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The operations and safety of its facilities. approximately 3.8 miles of the FHWA, in cooperation with the New NYSDOT proposes to terminate the EIS Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE), York State Department of for this project because: (1) Structures at Interstate 278 (I–278) in Kings County, Transportation previously intended to other locations have pressing needs New York (Project Identification prepare a tiered EIS to evaluate which must also be addressed and (2) Number X729.94). This segment of the alternatives and make corridor level BQE referred to as the Gowanus the cost of the alternatives being decisions regarding the rehabilitation or Expressway, extends from Sixth Avenue evaluated do not fall within NYSDOT’s reconstruction of the existing facility to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and funding constraints. and to identify a general alignment and contains 23 structures with a total deck To assure the continued safe corridor for proposed improvements area of approximately 2,000,000 square operation of the Gowanus Expressway along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway feet. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS the structural deficiencies will be in Kings County, New York, from Sands was published in the Federal Register Street on the east to Atlantic Avenue on addressed in the intermediate term in November 1996. the west. through a series of projects. The purpose of the original Project FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Issued on November 16, 2011. was to address various geometric, Jonathan McDade, Division Jonathan D. McDade, operational, and structural deficiencies Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo New York Division Administrator, Federal associated with the structure. Highway Administration. The final scoping document issued in W. O’Brien Federal Building, 7th Floor, May 2010, identified a range of Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, [FR Doc. 2011–30431 Filed 11–28–11; 8:45 am] alternatives that would be evaluated. Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: BILLING CODE 4910–22–P Further evaluation of the alternatives (518) 431–4127; or documented with the Draft Alternatives Mr. Phillip Eng, P.E., Regional Evaluation Technical Memorandum, Director, New York State Department of identified order of magnitude cost range Transportation, Hunters Point Plaza 47– VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:20 Nov 28, 2011 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00180 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\29NON1.SGM 29NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES.