Silver Line Gateway Service to Chelsea, East Boston & the Blue Line Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) Submitted to: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs MEPA Unit November 15, 2013 Submitted by: Massachusetts Department of Transportation TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS COVER PART A – ENF FORM PART B – EENF REPORT PART A – ENF FORM ............................................................................................................................... 1-1 PART B – EENF REPORT ........................................................................................................................ 1-1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1-1 2 Project Description ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Study Area ....................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Project Components......................................................................................................... 2-1 3 Project History .............................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Project Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................... 3-1 4 Alternatives Analysis ................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Alternatives Analysis ........................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Screening ......................................................................................................................... 4-3 4.2.1 Alternative 1: Busway to Mystic Mall .................................................................. 4-3 4.2.2 Alternative 2: Busway to Bellingham Square ...................................................... 4-4 4.2.3 Alternative 3: On-Street to Everett Avenue ......................................................... 4-5 4.2.4 Airport Blue Line Station BRT Platform Location ................................................ 4-5 4.2.5 Fare Collection .................................................................................................... 4-7 4.2.6 Operating Plan .................................................................................................... 4-7 4.3 Transit Operations Summary ........................................................................................... 4-9 4.4 Resource Summary ....................................................................................................... 4-12 4.5 Preferred Alternative ...................................................................................................... 4-16 5 Public Outreach ............................................................................................................................ 5-1 5.1 Civic Engagement ............................................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 Project Coordination......................................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 Public Informational Meetings .......................................................................................... 5-2 5.4 Project Web Site .............................................................................................................. 5-3 6 Resource Area Analysis .............................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1 Environmental Justice ...................................................................................................... 6-1 6.1.1 Environmental Justice Communities ................................................................... 6-1 6.1.2 Performance Measures ....................................................................................... 6-2 6.1.3 Results Summary ................................................................................................ 6-2 6.2 Land Use / Demographics ............................................................................................... 6-5 Silver Line Gateway – Service to Chelsea, East Boston & the Blue Line Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.2.1 Study Area Land Use .......................................................................................... 6-5 6.2.2 Study Area Demographics ................................................................................ 6-10 6.2.3 Summary ........................................................................................................... 6-13 6.3 Hazardous Materials ...................................................................................................... 6-13 6.3.1. Initial Site Assessment ...................................................................................... 6-13 6.3.2 Site Visit ............................................................................................................ 6-14 6.3.3 Historical Research ........................................................................................... 6-14 6.3.4 Environmental Database Review ...................................................................... 6-15 6.3.5 Conclusion and Recommendations .................................................................. 6-16 6.4 Utilities ............................................................................................................................ 6-17 6.5 Transit ............................................................................................................................ 6-19 6.5.1 Silver Line Fleet Analysis .................................................................................. 6-19 6.5.2 Impacts on Existing MBTA and Other Transit Operations ................................ 6-20 6.6 Transportation ................................................................................................................ 6-22 6.6.1 Traffic ................................................................................................................ 6-22 6.6.2 Pedestrian Analysis .......................................................................................... 6-26 6.6.3 Existing Bicycle Inventory and Facilities ........................................................... 6-26 6.7 Parking ........................................................................................................................... 6-28 6.7.1 Existing Parking Inventory and Utilization ......................................................... 6-28 6.7.2 Future Parking Impacts ..................................................................................... 6-30 6.8 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................................ 6-32 6.8.1 Summary ........................................................................................................... 6-32 6.8.2 Screening Methodology .................................................................................... 6-32 6.8.3 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 6-33 6.8.4 Screening Assessment ..................................................................................... 6-34 6.8.5 Noise Impact Assessment ................................................................................ 6-36 6.8.6 Vibration Impacts .............................................................................................. 6-43 6.9 Air Quality / Greenhouse Gas ........................................................................................ 6-44 6.9.1 General ............................................................................................................. 6-45 6.9.2 Comparative Analysis ....................................................................................... 6-45 6.9.3 Summary ........................................................................................................... 6-46 6.10 Wetlands and Water Resources .................................................................................... 6-49 6.10.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 6-49 6.10.2 Jurisdictional Determination .............................................................................. 6-51 6.10.3 Regulatory Jurisdiction ...................................................................................... 6-52 6.10.4 Project Alternatives, Impacts and Mitigation ..................................................... 6-53 6.11 Stormwater Management ............................................................................................... 6-54 Silver Line Gateway – Service to Chelsea, East Boston & the Blue Line Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.11.1 Existing Conditions ........................................................................................... 6-54 6.11.2 Post Development Conditions ........................................................................... 6-54 6.11.3 DEP Stormwater Standards .............................................................................. 6-56 6.12 Chapter 91 and Massachusetts Coastal Zone ..............................................................