3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment Prepared Pursuant to 42 USC § 4332, 49 USC § 303, and 64 FR 28545 by Ohio Department of Transportation The following person may be contacted for information on the Environmental Assessment: Timothy M. Hill Administrator Office of Environmental Services Ohio Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43223 (614) 644-0377 October 2010 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment This page intentionally left blank. October 2010 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE AND NEED ........................................................ 1-1 1.1 Project History ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2 Project Area ........................................................................................................... 1-5 1.3 Logical Termini ...................................................................................................... 1-6 1.4 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................ 1-7 1.5 Purpose of 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Service .............................................. 1-7 1.6 Goals and Objectives for the 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Service ................. 1-8 1.7 Measures of Effectiveness .................................................................................... 1-9 1.8 Purpose and Need for 3C Quick Start Conventional Passenger Rail................. 1-10 1.9 Purpose and Need Summary ............................................................................. 1-16 1.10 Decisions to be Made .......................................................................................... 1-17 1.11 Connected Actions .............................................................................................. 1-18 1.12 Applicable Regulations and Permits ................................................................... 1-18 1.13 Introduction to the Tiered NEPA Process ........................................................... 1-18 2.0 ALTERNATIVES ..............................................................................................2 -1 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Initial Screening Options ....................................................................................... 2-1 2.2.1 Level 1 Screening of Initial Options ..........................................................2 -4 2.2.2 Level 2 Screening .................................................................................. 2-15 2.2.3 Level 2 Route Alternative Evaluations .................................................... 2-21 2.3 Alternatives Retained for Evaluation ................................................................... 2-29 2.3.1 Alternative 1 - No-Build Alternative ......................................................... 2-29 2.3.2 Alternative 2 – North Segment 1: Direct Route Cleveland-Columbus plus South Segment 30: Direct Route-Columbus-Cincinnati ................................... 2-31 2.3.3 Alternative 3 – North Segment 8: Cleveland-Akron-Barberton-Columbus plus South Segment 30: Direct Route-Columbus-Oasis-Cincinnati ................. 2-31 2.3.4 Alternative 4 – North Segment 1: Direct Route Cleveland-Columbus plus South Segment 29: Direct Route South-Columbus-Cincinnati (Longworth/CUT) 2- 32 2.3.5 Alternative 5 – North Segment 1: Direct Route Cleveland-Columbus plus South Segment 32: Hamilton-Cincinnati ......................................................... 2-32 2.4 Evaluation of Alternatives .................................................................................... 2-33 2.4.1 Alternative Evaluations ........................................................................... 2-37 2.4.2 Recommended Preferred Alternative ..................................................... 2-41 2.4.3 Alignment Alternatives including Proposed Capacity Improvements ...... 2-42 2.5 Detailed Station Alternatives ............................................................................... 2-45 2.5.1 Stations ..................................................................................................2 -45 2.5.2 Yard and Shop Alternatives .................................................................... 2-49 2.6 Preferred Alternative ........................................................................................... 2-50 Page i October 2010 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment 2.6.1 Service Location: Cleveland ................................................................... 2-50 2.6.2 Service Location: Southwest Cleveland ................................................. 2-51 2.6.3 Service Location: Columbus ................................................................... 2-52 2.6.4 Service Location: Springfield (phased) ................................................... 2-53 2.6.5 Service Location: East Dayton (phased) ................................................ 2-54 2.6.6 Service Location: Dayton ....................................................................... 2-54 2.6.7 Service Location: North Cincinnati ......................................................... 2-54 2.6.8 Service Location: Cincinnati ................................................................... 2-55 2.7 Next Steps/Construction Phasing ....................................................................... 2-56 2.7.1 Segment 1 (Cleveland to Columbus) ...................................................... 2-57 2.7.2 Segment 2 (Columbus to North Cincinnati) ............................................ 2-60 2.7.3 Segment 3 (North Cincinnati to Cincinnati) ............................................. 2-61 3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES .... 3-1 3.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Air Quality ................................................................................................3 -1 3.1.2 Energy .....................................................................................................3 -6 3.1.3 Noise and Vibration ..................................................................................3 -7 3.1.4 Visual Resources ................................................................................... 3-19 3.1.5 Potential Impacts ................................................................................... 3-22 3.1.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................3 -22 3.2 Ecological Systems ............................................................................................. 3-22 3.2.1 Floodplains ............................................................................................3 -22 3.2.2 Wetland, Waterbody, and Waterway Permits ......................................... 3-26 3.2.3 Wetlands, Waterbodies, and Waterways ................................................ 3-27 3.2.4 Threatened and Endangered Species .................................................... 3-37 3.3 Human Environment ........................................................................................... 3-41 3.3.1 Transportation ........................................................................................ 3-41 3.3.2 Land Use ...............................................................................................3 -44 3.3.3 Environmental Justice ............................................................................ 3-53 3.3.4 Public Health and Safety ........................................................................ 3-57 3.3.5 Hazardous Materials .............................................................................. 3-58 3.3.6 Cultural Resources ................................................................................ 3-61 3.4 Section 4(f) Resources ........................................................................................ 3-64 3.4.1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................ 3-64 3.4.2 Potential Impacts ................................................................................... 3-65 3.4.3 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 3-65 3.4.4 Section 6(f) Resources ........................................................................... 3-66 3.5 Construction Impacts .......................................................................................... 3-74 3.6 Secondary and Cumulative Impacts ................................................................... 3-77 3.6.1 Project Area ........................................................................................... 3-77 Page ii October 2010 3C Quick Start Passenger Rail Environmental Assessment 3.6.2 Project Area Features and Goals ........................................................... 3-78 3.6.3 Reasonably Foreseeable Impact-Causing Activities ............................... 3-80 3.6.4 Secondary Impacts ................................................................................ 3-80 3.6.5 Cumulative Impacts................................................................................ 3-80