PENNSYLVANIA STATION REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS VOLUME I: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Executive Summary ............................................................... 1 ES.1 Introduction ................................................................ 1 ES.2 Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ......................................... 2 ES.3 Alternatives Considered ....................................................... 2 ES.4 Environmental Impacts ....................................................... 3 ES.4.1 Rail Transportation .................................................... 3 ES.4.2 Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic .......................................... 3 ES.4.3 Noise .............................................................. 4 ES.4.4 Vibration ........................................................... 4 ES.4.5 Air Quality .......................................................... 4 ES.4.6 Natural Environment ................................................... 4 ES.4.7 Land Use/Socioeconomics ............................................... 4 ES.4.8 Historic and Archeological Resources ...................................... 4 ES.4.9 Environmental Risk Sites ............................................... 5 ES.4.10 Energy/Utilities ...................................................... 5 ES.5 Conclusion Regarding Environmental Impact ...................................... 5 ES.6 Project Documentation Availability .............................................. 5 Chapter 1: Description of the Proposed Action .......................................... 7 1.0 Introduction ................................................................ 7 1.1 Purpose and Need ........................................................... 8 1.1.1 Project Background .................................................... 8 1.1.2 Purpose of the Environmental Assessment .................................. 11 1.1.3 Project Purpose and Need .............................................. 12 1.2 Existing Conditions ......................................................... 14 1.2.1 Description of Project Study Area ........................................ 14 1.2.2 Penn Station Passenger Terminal ......................................... 16 1.2.3 Farley Building ...................................................... 20 1.2.4 Subway Connection .................................................. 22 1.2.5 Penn Station Service Building ........................................... 22 1.2.6 Context of the Rail System ............................................. 22 1.2.7 Rail System Description ............................................... 23 1.2.8 Current Rail Service .................................................. 25 1.2.9 Current Ownership .................................................. 25 1.3 Proposed Project Improvements ................................................ 26 1.3.1 Main Elements of the Project ........................................... 26 1.3.1.1 Farley Building ............................................... 26 1.3.1.2 Eighth Avenue Subway ......................................... 34 1.3.2 Construction Sequencing .............................................. 34 1.3.3 Staging/Sequencing Restrictions ......................................... 34 1.4 Other Projects Within the Penn Station Complex ................................... 36 1.5 Other Projects in the Area Surrounding the Penn Station Complex ...................... 39 i PENNSYLVANIA STATION REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Chapter 2: Alternatives Considered ................................................. 41 2.1 Introduction ............................................................... 41 2.2 No-Build Alternative ........................................................ 41 2.3 Build Alternative .......................................................... 42 2.3.1 Alternative Screening Process ........................................... 42 2.3.2 1999 Plan Updates ................................................... 42 2.3.3 Identification of the Preferred Alternative .................................. 43 Chapter 3: Probable Impacts ...................................................... 45 3.1 Rail Transportation ......................................................... 45 3.1.1 Summary .......................................................... 45 3.1.2 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 45 3.1.3 Construction Impacts of the Build Alternative ............................... 45 3.1.4 Long-Term Impacts of the Build Alternative ................................ 46 3.1.5 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 46 3.2 Vehicular Traffic, Parking, and Pedestrian Conditions ............................... 46 3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................ 46 3.2.2 Methodologies and Impact Criteria ....................................... 46 3.2.3 Existing Conditions ................................................... 47 3.2.4 The No-Build Alternative .............................................. 50 3.2.5 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 52 3.2.6 Construction Impacts ................................................. 54 3.2.7 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 55 3.3 Noise Impacts ............................................................ 55 3.3.1 Summary .......................................................... 55 3.3.2 Noise Impact Criteria ................................................. 56 3.3.3 Noise Assessment Method .............................................. 57 3.3.4 Existing Conditions ................................................... 57 3.3.5 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 58 3.3.6 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 58 3.3.7 Construction Noise Impact and Mitigation .................................. 59 3.3.8 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 60 3.4 Ground-borne Vibration ..................................................... 60 3.4.1 Summary .......................................................... 60 3.4.2 Vibration Impact Criteria .............................................. 60 3.4.3 Ground-Borne Vibration Assessment Method ............................... 60 3.4.4 Existing Conditions ................................................... 61 3.4.5 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 62 3.4.6 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 62 3.4.7 Construction Vibration Impacts .......................................... 62 3.4.8 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 62 3.5 Air Quality ............................................................... 62 3.5.1 Summary .......................................................... 62 3.5.2 Pollutants of Concern, Impact Criteria, and Standards ......................... 63 3.5.3 Regulatory Setting ................................................... 64 3.5.4 Analysis Methodology ................................................. 66 3.5.5 Analyzed Locations ................................................... 66 3.5.6 Existing Conditions ................................................... 67 3.5.7 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 67 ii PENNSYLVANIA STATION REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3.5.8 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 67 3.5.9 2003 Build Conditions with Project Traffic Improvements ...................... 68 3.5.10 Construction Impacts ................................................. 69 3.5.11 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 69 3.6 Natural Environment ........................................................ 70 3.6.1 Summary .......................................................... 70 3.6.2 Existing Conditions ................................................... 70 3.6.3 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 70 3.6.4 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 70 3.6.5 Construction Impacts ................................................. 70 3.6.6 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 70 3.7 Land Use, Community Facilities, and Socioeconomics .............................. 70 3.7.1 Summary .......................................................... 70 3.7.2 Existing Conditions ................................................... 70 3.7.3 Impacts of the No-Build Alternative ...................................... 72 3.7.4 Impacts of the Build Alternative ......................................... 72 3.7.5 Construction Impacts ................................................. 74 3.7.6 Comparison of the Current and 1995 Build Alternatives ....................... 74 3.7.7 Environmental Justice ................................................. 74 3.7.8 Secondary and Cumulative Impacts ....................................... 75 3.8 Historic and Archeological Resources ........................................... 76 3.8.1 Summary .......................................................... 76 3.8.2 Historical Overview and Existing Conditions ................................ 77 3.8.3 Evaluation of Potential Effect