US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division and Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Longfellow Bridge Bridge No. B-16-009 = C-01-002 (4FO) January 2012 Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Longfellow Bridge (cover photo and historic photo below courtesy of Historic New England) 3.14.1 Endangered Species 25 How to Read this Environmental Assessment and Programmatic 3.14.2 Fisheries and Wildlife 25 Section 4(f) Evaluation iii 3.14.3 Vegetation 25 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Project Summary 1 Chapter 4 Alternatives Evaluation 27 1.1 Overview 1 4.1 Introduction 27 1.2 Project History 5 4.1.1 Constraints 27 1.2.1 History of the Bridge 5 4.2 Alternatives 31 1.2.2 History of the Project 5 4.2.1 No Build 31 1.2.3 Longfellow Bridge Inspection and Interim Repairs 5 4.2.2 Bridge Demolition and Replacement 31 1.2.4 Additional Studies Completed 6 4.2.3 Bridge Superstructure Replacement 32 1.2.5 State and Federal Documentation 6 4.2.4 Rehabilitation and Restoration 32 1.2.6 Longfellow Early Action Contract 6 4.2.5 Options for Allocation of User Space 35 1.3 Condition of the Bridge 7 4.3 Options for Addressing Pinch Point Restrictions 42 1.4 The Accelerated Bridge Program 9 4.4 Traffic Summary 47 1.5 Conformance with Transportation Improvement Plans and Land Use 4.5 Maintenance of Services During Construction 48 Plans 9 4.6 Conclusion and Definition of Preferred Alternative 53 1.6 Modal Interrelationships 10 Chapter 5 Environmental Consequences 57 Chapter 2 Purpose and Need 11 5.1 Introduction 57 2.1 Project Purpose 11 5.2 Transportation and Traffic 57 2.2 Project Need 11 5.3 Land Use and Visual Resources 61 5.3.1 Land Use 61 Chapter 3 Existing Environment 13 5.3.2 Visual Resources 65 3.1 Introduction 13 5.4 Socioeconomic Environment 65 3.2 Transportation and Traffic 13 5.5 Environmental Justice 65 3.2.1 Transportation and Traffic Data 13 5.6 Air Quality 65 3.2.2 Origin Destination Data 14 5.7 Noise 66 3.2.3 Crash Data 14 5.7.1 Noise Monitoring Program 66 3.3 Land Use 16 5.7.2 Existing Sound Levels 66 3.4 Visual Resources 18 5.8 Hazardous Materials 67 3.5 Socioeconomic Environment 18 5.9 Historic and Archaeological Resources (including Section 106) 68 3.6 Environmental Justice 19 5.9.1 Historic 68 3.7 Air Quality 21 5.9.2 Archaeological 69 3.8 Noise 21 5.10 Section 4(f) Resources 69 3.8.1 Principles of Highway Noise 21 5.11 Wetlands and Floodplains 69 3.8.2 Noise Impact Criteria 22 5.12 Water Resource and Drainage 71 3.9 Hazardous Materials 22 5.13 Biological Resources 71 3.10 Historic and Archaeological Resources (including Section 106) 23 5.14 Side by Side Comparison of the Alternatives 71 3.10.1 Historic 23 3.10.2 Archaeological Resources 23 Chapter 6 Programmatic 4(f) Evaluation 75 3.11 Section 4(f) Resources 23 6.1 Introduction 77 3.12 Wetlands and Floodplains 23 6.2 Project Background 77 3.12.1 Wetlands 23 6.3 Constraints 77 3.12.2 Floodplains 25 6.4 Purpose and Need 83 3.13 Water Resources 25 6.5 Programmatic Section 4(f) Applicability 83 3.13.1 Watershed Characteristics 25 6.6 Description of Section 4(f) Resources 84 3.13.2 Storm Water 25 6.7 Project Development Process and Alternatives Considered 85 3.14 Biological Resources 25 6.7.1 No Build (Do Nothing Alternative) 85 January 2012 | i Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Longfellow Bridge 6.7.2 Bridge Demolition and Replacement (Build at a New Location) 85 Figure 4-3. Suggested Craigie Bridge Detour for Outbound Traffic 49 6.7.3 Bridge Superstructure Replacement 86 List of Appendices (on CD) Figure 4-4. Traffic Management Plan, Stages 1 and 2 50 6.7.4 Rehabilitation and Restoration (Proposed Action) 88 Appendix A: MEPA Certificate and Public Comments 6.7.5 Allocation of User Space 90 Figure 4-5. Traffic Management Plan, Stages 3 and 4 51 6.7.6 Boston Approach Options 91 Figure 4-6. Traffic Management Plan, Stages 5 and 6 52 Appendix B: Public Participation – Including Recommendations of the 6.8 Proposed Action 96 Task Force 6.9 Impact on Section 4(f) Resources 97 Figure 4-7. Existing Cross Section Compared to Preferred Alternative Cross Appendix C: Existing Conditions Plans and Photographs 6.10 All Possible Planning to Minimize Harm 98 Section 54 6.11 Coordination with Public Officials 98 Figure 4-8. Existing Condition vs. Preferred Alternative for the Boston Appendix D: Bridge Inspection and Maintenance Timeline 6.12 Findings 98 Approach 55 Appendix E: Environmental Justice Data Chapter 7 Secondary and Cumulative Impacts 103 Figure 5-1. Pedestrian and Bicycle Flow Patterns – Boston 59 Appendix F: Agency Correspondence 7.1 Secondary Impacts 103 Figure 5-2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Flow Patterns - Cambridge 60 Appendix G: Bridge Life Cycle Cost Analysis 7.2 Cumulative Impacts 103 Figure 5-3 Proposed Parkland Connectivty Improvements - Boston 61 Appendix H: Proposed Conditions Plans and Renderings Chapter 8 Mitigation Measures and Commitments 105 Figure 5-4. Proposed Connectivity Improvements - Cambridge 63 Appendix I: Architecture and Historic Preservation and Section 106 Process Historical Identification and Assessment. Chapter 9 Permits and Regulatory Requirements 109 Figure 5-5. Noise Modeling Locations 66 Figure 5-6. Section 4(f) Parkland Area Conversions 70 Appendix J: Traffic Counts and Analysis Chapter 10 Public and Interagency Coordination 111 Figure 6-1. Project Location 78 Appendix K: Pedestrian Bridge Feasibility Report 10.1 Introduction 111 10.2 Public Participation 111 Figure 6-2. Typical Existing Section 80 Appendix L: Noise Technical Report 10.3 MEPA ENF Certificate and Comments 111 Figure 6-3. Elevation and Plan View of the Bridge 81 10.4 Task Force Meetings 113 10.5 Agency Participation 113 Figure 6-4. Existing Critical Areas at the Boston Approach 82 Figure 6-5. Preferred Alternative Section 96 Chapter 11 Summary and Conclusion 147 11.1 Summary 147 Figure 6-6. Parkland Conversions 97 11.2 Conclusion 148 Figure 11-1. Preferred Typical Section 148 Figure 11-2. Preferred Pinch Point Dimensions 149 List of Figures Figure 1-1. Typical Existing Cross Section 2 List of Tables Figure 1-2. Existing Elevation and Plan View 3 Table 3-1. Land Uses Within 500 Feet of the Project Limits 16 Figure 1-3. Project Location 4 Table 3-2. 2005–2009 American Community Survey Data 19 Figure 1-4. Existing Critical Areas at the Boston Approach 8 Table 3-3. FHWA Noise Abatement Criteria 22 Figure 3-1. Longfellow Bridge Volumes (Daily & Peak Hour) - Vehicles 14 Table 4-1. Cost of Rehabilitation vs. Replacement 34 Figure 3-2. Origin Destination Data 15 Table 4-2. Traffic Comparison for Lane Options 47 Figure 3-3. Existing Land Use 17 Table 5-1. Modeled Existing, No Build, and Preferred Alternative Sound Figure 3-4. Environmental Justice Communities 20 Levels [Leq(h), dBA] 66 Figure 3-5. Common Outdoor and Indoor Sound Levels 22 Figure 3-6. Wetland Resources 24 Figure 4-1. Typical Existing Cross Section of the Bridge 28 Figure 4-2. Existing Dimensions at the Boston Approach 30 ii | January 2012 Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation Rehabilitation and Restoration of the Longfellow Bridge How to Read this Environmental Chapter 6 – Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluations This chapter consists of the evaluation and analysis performed for Assessment and Programmatic Section 4(f) compliance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of Evaluation 1966, 49 USC 303, and 23 USC 138, Section 4(f) Evaluation and Approval for Transportation Projects That Have a Net Benefit to a Section 4(f) This page provides an overview of the Environmental Assessment/Section Property. 4(f) Evaluation document to assist the reader. Chapter 7 – Secondary and Cumulative Impacts Chapter 1 – Project Summary This chapter discusses the environmental consequences of the action that This chapter identifies the project proponent and the nature and purpose of are indirect and more long-term in nature. Secondary impacts include such the project. It also briefly describes the history, configuration, topics as induced growth and secondary transportation impacts. Cumulative characteristics, and condition of the bridge. impacts assess the potential for impacts to be increased when considering additional planned growth and projects in the vicinity. Chapter 2 – Purpose and Need This chapter presents the purposes of the project in addressing structural Chapter 8 – Mitigation Measures and Commitments deficiencies, complying with modern transportation standards, and restoring This chapter describes various actions that have been studied that would those elements vital to its historic character. The immediate need, based on eliminate or reduce identified impacts. Specific mitigation measures are structural inspections and ratings, is emphasized. proposed for those resources where avoidance of impacts is not possible. Chapter 3 – Existing Environment Chapter 9 – Permits and Regulatory Requirements This chapter describes the project area, the natural and built environments, This chapter details the environmental permits required under federal and and transportation systems in the area as they exist today. state law for the Preferred Alternative to be built. Chapter 4 – Alternatives Evaluation Chapter 10 – Public and Interagency Coordination This chapter describes the alternatives investigated, how they were This chapter presents a summary of the informational meetings held, the developed, and whether each alternative adequately addresses the project’s Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review process and the issues overall Purpose and Need, and the stated goals for the project.