Long Island Rail Road Expansion Project Floral Park to Hicksville Draft SEQRA Scoping Document May 5, 2016 Table of Contents A. Introduction/Project Summary .............................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Background ................................................................................................................................ 2 Project Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................... 2 Congestion and Delays Along Existing LIRR Main Line ...................................................... 3 Intra-Island, Reverse Peak and Reverse Direction Service Limitations ................................. 3 Grade Crossings ..................................................................................................................... 3 Project Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 4 Planning Context and Project History ........................................................................................ 4 Freight Operations ...................................................................................................................... 5 Description of the Proposed Project ........................................................................................... 5 Station Improvements and Modifications .............................................................................. 6 Grade Crossings ..................................................................................................................... 7 B. Required Actions .................................................................................................................... 11 C. Required Elements of the EIS ............................................................................................... 11 Organization and Expected Content of the DEIS ..................................................................... 12 Cover Sheet and General Information .................................................................................. 12 Project Description ............................................................................................................... 12 Land Use, Community Character, and Public Policy ........................................................... 13 Socioeconomic Analysis ...................................................................................................... 14 Environmental Justice .......................................................................................................... 15 Visual and Aesthetic Resources ........................................................................................... 16 Historic and Archaeological Resources ............................................................................... 17 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................ 18 Contaminated Materials ....................................................................................................... 18 Infrastructure and Utilities.................................................................................................... 19 Transportation ...................................................................................................................... 20 Air Quality............................................................................................................................ 23 Noise and Vibration ............................................................................................................. 24 Construction Impacts ............................................................................................................ 25 Cumulative and Secondary Impacts ..................................................................................... 28 Safety and Security ............................................................................................................... 28 Electromagnetic Fields ......................................................................................................... 28 Climate Change/Sustainability ............................................................................................. 28 Alternatives .......................................................................................................................... 29 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources ................................................... 30 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts.............................................................................................. 30 D. Public Outreach...................................................................................................................... 30 E. SEQRA Process ...................................................................................................................... 30 APPENDIX A: GRADE CROSSING OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT DISCARDED TOC-1 May 5, 2016 List of Figures Following page: Figure 1 Long Island Rail Road System ............................................................................. 2 Figure 2 Project Area .......................................................................................................... 2 Figure 3 Existing Grade Crossings ..................................................................................... 4 Figure 4 LIRR Expansion Project Track Schematic ........................................................... 6 Figure 5 Covert Avenue Grade Crossing Existing Conditions ......................................... 31 Figure 6 Covert Avenue Grade Crossing Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk, LIRR Tracks Raised Several Feet ...................................................................... 31 Figure 7 Rendering: Covert Avenue Grade Crossing Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk, LIRR Tracks Raised Several Feet ..................................................... 31 Figure 8 Rendering: Covert Avenue Grade Crossing Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk, LIRR Tracks Raised Several Feet ..................................................... 31 Figure 9 South 12th Street Grade Crossing Existing Conditions ..................................... 31 Figure 10 South 12th Street Grade Crossing Option 1: Permanent Crossing Closure with Pedestrian Bridge ....................................................................................... 31 Figure 11 Rendering: South 12th Street Grade Crossing Option 1: Permanent Crossing Closure with Pedestrian Bridge ........................................................... 31 Figure 12 South 12th Street Grade Crossing Option 2: One-Way Underpass with Sidewalk ..................................................................................................... 31 Figure 13 Rendering: South 12th Street Grade Crossing Option 2: One-Way Underpass with Sidewalk ................................................................................... 31 Figure 14 New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Existing Conditions .............................. 31 Figure 15 New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Option 1: Five-Lane Underpass with Kiss and Ride Northeast of Tracks ............................................................. 31 Figure 16 Rendering: New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Option 1: Five-Lane Underpass with Kiss and Ride Northeast of Tracks ........................................... 31 Figure 17 New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Option 2: Four-Lane Underpass with Kiss and Ride Southeast of Tracks ............................................................. 31 Figure 18 Rendering: New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Option 2: Four-Lane Underpass with Kiss and Ride Southeast of Tracks ........................................... 31 Figure 19 Main Street Grade Crossing Existing Conditions .............................................. 31 Figure 20 Main Street Grade Crossing Option 1: Permanent Crossing Closure with Pedestrian Bridge ....................................................................................... 31 Figure 21 Rendering: Main Street Grade Crossing Option 1: Permanent Crossing Closure with Pedestrian Bridge .......................................................................... 31 Figure 22 Main Street Grade Crossing Option 2: One-Way Underpass with Pedestrian Bridge ............................................................................................... 31 Figure 23 Rendering: Main Street Grade Crossing Option 2: One-Way Underpass with Pedestrian Bridge ....................................................................................... 31 TOC-2 May 5, 2016 List of Figures Figure 24 Willis Avenue Grade Crossing Existing Conditions .......................................... 31 Figure 25 Willis Avenue Grade Crossing Scenario 1A: Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk ............................................................................................................. 31 Figure 26 Rendering: Willis Avenue Grade Crossing Scenario 1A: Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk .................................................................................... 31 Figure 27 Rendering: Willis Avenue Grade Crossing Scenario 1A: Two-Way Underpass with Sidewalk ...................................................................................