ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT APPENDIX B: Agency Correspondence MEETING NOTES Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study DHR #2010-0219 March 5, 2010 Meeting Attendees: Marc Holma, Virginia Dept of Historic Resources Andrea Kampinen, Virginia Dept of Historic Resources Amy Inman, Virginia Dept of Rail & Public Transportation Anne Darnall, Parsons Kerri Barile, Dovetail Cultural Resource Group A meeting was held on Friday, March 5, 2010 in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) conference room in Richmond, Virginia (see attached agenda). The purpose of the meeting, attended by the recipients of this memo, was to present a synopsis of the BRT project, discuss the initial agency coordination steps, receive verbal concurrence on Area of Potential Effect (APE), and set a course of action for future work. Project Summary/Introduction The project involves the creation of a BRT line along 7 miles of Borad Street. Currently the inclusion of a guideway (dedicated bus lanes) for some or all of the 7-mile section between Willow Lawn and Rocketts Landing is being considered as are up to 16 new BRT stations. As the Alternatives Analysis proceeds more information will be developed to determine if a dedicated guideway should be included within the roadway for the buses, where this guideway should be located. Station locations will also be selected and several types of station prototypes will developed based on the size of stations needed and their locations within the corridor (e.g., central business district, neighborhood areas, etc.). As discussed, the Federal Transit Agency (FTA) is the lead federal agency for this project; however, they have appointed the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the GRTC Transit System (GRTC) as their local representatives on this work. Communication will be conducted primarily through the DRPT, aided by their consultants, Parsons and Dovetail Cultural Resource Group. During the current meeting, DRPT and the team acknowledged that FTA must formally initiate the Section 106 process with the DHR. This letter is forthcoming. Summary- March 5, 2010 BRT Section 106 Meeting Page 2 Defining the Area of Potential Effect Dovetail suggested that the APE for architectural resources should include the Broad Street corridor plus an area measuring approximately one-half block both to the north and south of the road alignment, roughly defined by an existing alley that runs perpendicular to Broad Street within most of the project area. This APE would be slightly modified in areas where streets cut diagonally through the downtown Richmond grid system. In these areas, all lots within the viewshed of Broad Street would be included in the project area. In addition, once the station locations have been determined, the APE will be revisited to determine if the station canopies may be visible from areas outside of this established APE. Any lot within the canopy viewshed would also be included in the overall APE. The APE for archaeological resources is the project footprint/physical impact area. The DHR verbally concurred with this determination, and a formal letter for DHR concurrence on APE will be submitted once the Section 106 process has been formally initiated. Project Communications Project communication with the DHR will primarily include Andrea Kampinen, Review and Compliance staff assigned to FTA projects. Marc Holma, head of DHR Review and Compliance, will be assisting Ms. Kampinen as needed. Dovetail will also work directly with the DHR Archives staff to secure access to Data Sharing System (DSS) records on previously recorded resources in the APE. This includes obtaining both hard- and electronic copies of DSS information and identifying the previously recorded properties that do not have established DHR architectural ID numbers. A set of new numbers for all previously unrecorded resources will also be acquired. During the discussion on previously recorded properties, the DHR raised awareness of two resources in the APE that are National Historic Landmarks (NHLs): City Hall (127-0003) and Monumental Church (127-0012). Special attention will be paid to these properties both within the survey and within future public outreach initiatives. Because of the large size of the project and anticipated number of historic resources within the APE, the DHR requested that the project area be divided into several segments for Section 106 reporting purposes. Cultural resource reports and associated DSS packets are to be submitted per segment rather than en masse to facilitate review. The project area will be divided into sections by Dovetail with input from DHR and Parsons prior to submittal. During the meeting, the DHR also discussed a possible delay in receipt of DHR comments on each submittal, as the materials would be reviewed by DHR Archives, the Review and Compliance division, and by the larger DHR architectural review team due to the high number of historic tax credit projects within the study corridor. Summary- March 5, 2010 BRT Section 106 Meeting Page 3 Public Involvement The DHR encouraged continued public meetings and requested a copy of the project’s Public Involvement Plan. This is especially notable in the areas around City Hall and Monumental Church, the two NHLs within the APE. The Public Involvement Plan is attached to this memorandum. Consulting Parties Finally, the group discussed possible consulting parties to be involved in the Section 106 process. Because the project involves a Phase I cultural resource survey of a 7-mile long corridor, numerous consulting parties will be contacted in the near future to both make them aware of the project and invite them to participate. These groups include: • Historic Richmond Foundation • Association for the Conservation of Old Richmond Neighborhoods (ACORN) • Fan District Association • Scott’s Addition Business Association • Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association • Richmond Downtown Neighborhood Association • Virginia Commonwealth University • Richmond Slave Trail • Henrico Historical Society • Catawba Tribe • Virginia Council on Indians Copies of all communication with these groups will be submitted to the DHR for their files. If any additional consulting parties should be added, Parsons or Dovetail will immediately initiate coordination with these groups. COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA Department of Historic Resources Douglas W. Domenech 2801 Kensington Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23221 Kathleen S. Kilpatrick Secretary of Natural Resources Director Tel: (804) 367-2323 Fax: (804) 367-2391 TDD: (804) 367-2386 August 27, 2010 www.dhr.virginia.gov Ms. Amy Inman, Planning and Project Manager Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 1313 East Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219 Re: Broad Street Rapid Transit Project – 106 Initiation and Area of Potential Effects Broad Street, City of Richmond DHR File No. 2010-0219 Dear Ms. Inman, On August 10, 2010, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) received information regarding the above-referenced project for our review and comment pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. We understand that the proposed project will be receiving federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program. Based upon a review of the information provided, DHR understands that the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the GRTC Transit System (GRTC) is proposing to create a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System along a seven-mile segment of Broad Street from Willow Lane in Henrico County to Rockett’s Landing in downtown Richmond. An Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Assessment is under preparation for different approaches to an improved transit service on Broad Street, potentially including specialized vehicles, distinctive branding, limited stops, dedicated right-of-way, and other transit priority measures. Currently, the project includes dedicated bus lanes for the seven-mile segment as well as up to sixteen (16) new BRT stations. As discussed in our March 5th kick-off meeting for the project, the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for architectural resources is approximately one-half block to the north and south of Broad Street roughly defined by an existing alley that is perpendicular to Broad Street. The APE is modified slightly where streets deviate from the grid system. Once station locations are determined, the APE may be modified. At present DHR understands that all proposed work for this project will be conducted within the existing right-of-way, and the APE for archaeological resources is proposed as the project footprint and physical impact area. DHR concurs with the overall project approach and the APE for architectural resources; however, since design plans for the project are not yet available, DHR cannot yet concur with the APE Administrative Services Capital Region Office Tidewater Region Office Roanoke Region Office Northern Region 10 Courthouse Ave. 2801 Kensington Office 14415 Old Courthouse Way 1030 Penmar Avenue, SE Preservation Office Petersburg, VA 23803 Richmond, VA 23221 2nd Floor Roanoke, VA 24013 P.O. Box 519 Tel: (804) 862-6416 Tel: (804) 367-2323 Newport News, VA 23608 Tel: (540) 857-7585 Stephens City, VA 22655 Fax: (804) 862-6196 Fax: (804) 367-2391 Tel: (757) 886-2807 Fax: (540) 857-7588 Tel: (540) 868-7029 Fax: (757) 886-2808 Fax: (540) 868-7033 August 27, 2010 Ms. Amy Inman Page 2 proposed for archaeological resources.