ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION Stamford Transportation Center Parking and Transit Oriented Development Stamford, Connecticut State Project No. 301-047 Prepared in accordance with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act Connecticut General Statute 22a-1a to 1h Prepared for: Connecticut Department of Transportation August 2012 Approved for Circulation: _____________________________________ _______________ For Connecticut Department of Transportation Date Prepared by: Clough Harbour & Associates LLP TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................... ES-1 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1. Project Description........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2. Background ................................................................................................................... 1-7 1.3. Purpose and Need (Justification for the Action) ........................................................... 1-8 1.3.1. Garage Condition ............................................................................................ 1-9 1.3.2. Parking Demand .............................................................................................. 1-9 1.4. Public Participation and Agency Coordination........................................................... 1-10 2. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ....................................................................................... 2-1 2.1. No-Action ..................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2. Repair Original Garage ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.3. Replace Original Garage on Existing Site .................................................................... 2-2 2.4. Replace Original Garage in conjunction with Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) (Proposed Action) ......................................................................................................... 2-2 3. EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND IMPACT EVALUATION .......................................... 3-1 3.1. Land Use, Zoning and Local and Regional Development Plans .................................. 3-1 3.1.1. Existing Conditions ......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2. Impact Evaluation ............................................................................................ 3-9 3.1.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-10 3.2. Consistency with State Plan of Conservation and Development ................................ 3-11 3.2.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-11 3.2.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-11 3.2.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-11 3.3. Traffic and Parking ..................................................................................................... 3-12 3.3.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-12 3.3.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-31 3.3.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-49 3.4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Considerations ....................................................................... 3-49 3.4.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-49 3.4.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-56 3.4.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-56 3.5. Local Transit Considerations ...................................................................................... 3-56 3.5.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-56 3.5.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-57 3.5.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-57 Stamford Transportation Center Parking & TOD EIE i Stamford, CT TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.6. Air Quality .................................................................................................................. 3-58 3.6.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-58 3.6.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-62 3.6.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-73 3.7. Noise ........................................................................................................................... 3-74 3.7.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-74 3.7.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-75 3.7.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-76 3.8. Socioeconomic Resources .......................................................................................... 3-77 3.8.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-77 3.8.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-80 3.8.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-81 3.9. Water Quality .............................................................................................................. 3-81 3.9.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-81 3.9.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-90 3.9.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-92 3.10. Hydrology and Floodplains......................................................................................... 3-93 3.10.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-93 3.10.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-97 3.10.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-97 3.11. Wetlands ..................................................................................................................... 3-98 3.11.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 3-98 3.11.2. Impact Evaluation .......................................................................................... 3-98 3.11.3. Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-98 3.12. Coastal Resources ..................................................................................................... 3-101 3.12.1. Existing Conditions ..................................................................................... 3-101 3.12.2. Impact Evaluation ........................................................................................ 3-105 3.12.3. Mitigation .................................................................................................... 3-105 3.13. Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern Species or Habitats ........................... 3-105 3.13.1. Existing Conditions ..................................................................................... 3-105 3.13.2. Impact Evaluation ........................................................................................ 3-106 3.13.3. Mitigation .................................................................................................... 3-106 ii Stamford Transportation Center Parking & TOD EIE Stamford, CT TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.14. Soils and Geology ..................................................................................................... 3-109 3.14.1. Existing Conditions ..................................................................................... 3-109 3.14.2. Impact Evaluation ........................................................................................ 3-109 3.14.3. Mitigation .................................................................................................... 3-109 3.15. Cultural Resources .................................................................................................... 3-113 3.15.1. Existing Conditions ....................................................................................