New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................. ix Executive Summary ......................................................................................................... ES-1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Project Description – Proposed Action ................................................................... 1-3 1.3 Project Study Area .................................................................................................. 1-4 2 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Project Purpose ...................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Need for Intercity Passenger Rail Improvements ................................................... 2-1 2.3 Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................. 2-3 2.4 Coordination with Other Initiatives .......................................................................... 2-6 3 Alternatives Evaluation .............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Two-Phase Alternatives Evaluation ........................................................................ 3-1 3.2 No-Build Alternative .............................................................................................. 3-27 3.3 Preferred Service Alternative ................................................................................ 3-27 3.4 Next Steps and Anticipated Tier 2 Projects with Separate NEPA Documents ............ 3-27 4 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences .................................. 4-1 4.1 Overview of the Project ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Resources Not Included .......................................................................................... 4-3 4.3 Transportation ......................................................................................................... 4-3 4.4 Air Quality .............................................................................................................. 4-19 4.5 Noise ..................................................................................................................... 4-25 4.6 Vibration ................................................................................................................ 4-39 4.7 Water Resources .................................................................................................. 4-46 4.8 Wetlands ............................................................................................................... 4-52 4.9 Floodplains ............................................................................................................ 4-55 4.10 Ecological Systems ............................................................................................... 4-60 4.11 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................................. 4-64 4.12 Land Use ............................................................................................................... 4-69 4.13 Socio-Economic Environment ............................................................................... 4-73 4.14 Environmental Justice ........................................................................................... 4-78 4.15 Public Health and Safety ....................................................................................... 4-82 4.16 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................... 4-85 4.17 Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) Resources ............................................................... 4-93 4.18 Energy ................................................................................................................... 4-97 4.19 Visual and Aesthetic Resources ........................................................................... 4-99 4.20 Construction Period Impacts ............................................................................... 4-104 4.21 Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impacts ................................................................ 4-105 4.22 Summary of Findings .......................................................................................... 4-112 Table of Contents i Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – December 2014 New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study 5 Agency and Railroad Coordination and Public Involvement ................................... 5-1 5.1 Agency and Railroad Coordination ......................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Public Involvement .................................................................................................. 5-3 6 References ..................................................................................................................... 6-1 7 Distribution .................................................................................................................. 7-1 Table of Contents ii Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – December 2014 New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study List of Appendices Appendix A Ridership Study Appendix B Capital Cost Estimate Appendix C Mesoscale Analysis Appendix D Section 106 Consultation Appendix E List of Preparers Table of Contents iii Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – December 2014 New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study This page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents iv Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – December 2014 New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study List of Tables Table No. Description Page Table 3-1 Phase One Construction Cost and Ridership ......................................................... 3-9 Table 3-2 Phase One Evaluation Rankings Summary .......................................................... 3-10 Table 3-3 Stations with Train Service ................................................................................... 3-14 Table 3-4 Cumulative Travel Time ........................................................................................ 3-15 Table 3-5 Directness/Travel Time Evaluation Summary ....................................................... 3-16 Table 3-6 Intermodal Connections Summary ........................................................................ 3-16 1 Table 3-7 Annual Ridership Forecasts ................................................................................. 3-17 Table 3-8 Accessibility and Connections Evaluation Summary ............................................ 3-18 Table 3-9 Smart Growth, Economic Development and TOD Support Evaluation Summary 3-19 Table 3-10 Cost Evaluation Summary (2012) ......................................................................... 3-19 Table 3-11 O&M Cost Components ........................................................................................ 3-20 Table 3-12 Constructability Evaluation Summary ................................................................... 3-21 Table 3-13 Sustainability Evaluation Summary ....................................................................... 3-21 Table 3-14 Additional Capacity Evaluation Summary ............................................................. 3-22 Table 3-15 Reliability/Flexibility Evaluation Summary ............................................................. 3-22 Table 3-16 Multi-Modal Operations Evaluation Summary ....................................................... 3-23 Table 3-17 Environmental Impact Evaluation Summary ......................................................... 3-24 Table 3-18 Summary of Other Impacts ................................................................................... 3-25 Table 3-19 Summary of Evaluation Scores ............................................................................. 3-28 Table 3-20 Track Improvements ............................................................................................. 3-30 Table 4-1 Summary of Railroad Segments ............................................................................. 4-2 Table 4-2 Traffic Volumes on Major Project Study Area Roadways ....................................... 4-7 Table 4-3 Amtrak Annual Passenger Trips ............................................................................. 4-8 Table 4-4 Commercial Airports Annual Passenger Boardings .............................................. 4-10 1 Table 4-5 Annual Ridership Forecasts ................................................................................. 4-19 Table 4-6 National Ambient Air Quality Standards ................................................................ 4-22 Table of Contents v Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. – December 2014 New York – Vermont Bi-State Intercity Passenger Rail Study Table No. Description Page 1 Table 4-7 NAAQS Attainment Status of Counties in the Project Study Area ....................... 4-25 Table 4-8