iL)2: S"'*^'^^ SDMS DOCID 459005 BURLINGTON M 5000(1) FEDERAL HKJIWAY ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ENVIRONhENTAL STATEKENT ( ) DRAFT (X) FINAL ( ) SECTION 4(f) STATEMENT ATTACHED Additional Information concerning the proposal and statement may be obtained from: Director of Engineering and Construction Agency of Transportation State Administration Building Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Telephone: 802-828-2661 Division Administrator Federal Highway Administration U. S, Department of Transportation Federal Building Montpelier, Vennont 05602 Telephone: 802-223-5294 TABLE OF CONTENTS "EIS List of Maps, Graphs, and Charts iii Summary 1 Need for the Project 8 Project History and Present Status 11 Description of Proposed Action 13 The Social, Economic and Environmental Context of the Area. 1^ Land Use Planning 29 Description of the Alternates Considered 33 Justification for Selection of Alternate 33 1. No Build 39 2. Alternate Travel Modes 39 3. Selected Alternates 4. Pine Street Alternate ^^ The Probable Impact of the Proposed Action on the Environment 64 Primary and Secondary Impacts ^5 Natural, Ecological, or Scenic Resources ^^ Social Impacts 71 Relocation Impacts 73 Noise Impacts 78 Air Quality 84 Water Quality 90 Flood Hazard Evaluation 95 Wetlands 96 Stream Modification Impacts 98 Construction Impacts 100 -^ Probable Adverse Environmental Effects Which Cannot be Avoided 106 •»«. The Relationship Between Local Short-Term Uses of Man's Environment and the Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-Term Productivity '0' Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources. 108 Impacts on Properties and Sites of Historical and Cultural Significance 109 Comments-From and Responses.-to Corridor. Hearing. ....... 113 Comnents From and Responses to Draft Environmental Impact Statement 119 Department of the Army 121 Armand Beliveau 123 U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .... 126 General Electric Company 131 U. S. Department of the Interior 134 U. S. Environmental Protection Agency 141 Vermont Public Information Research Group 148 '^•' State Planning Office - Vermont Agency of Environmental Conservation 155 Department of Energy 169 City of South Burlington - Paul Farrar. ^^^ City of South Burlington - Catherine Neubert 164 Agency of Development and Community Affairs 167 City of Burlington 171 U. S. Coast Guard 174 Peter Judge 175 Robert M. Wilson 176 Public Involvement in Project Development 177 Bibliography 179 >i«pi' Index to Appendices 186 11 List of Maps, Graphs and Charts General Area Map 6 Project Area Map 7 Proposed Typical Section on Southern Connector 14 25 Existing Land Use Future Land Use 31 Tabulation of Alternatives Cross Sections of Existing Streets 35 •37 Traffic Map, Existing Streets Alternate Travel Modes ^' Selected Al ternate - — ^^ Traffic Map, Selected Alternate Sl Pine Street Alternate 69 Traffic Map, Pine Street Alternate .61 Noise Study Observation Points and Noise Level Tabulations­ -81 Air Pollution Tabulation—• .87 Historic and Cultural Resources in Project Corridor 111 111 y^^ SUMMARY BURLINGTON M 5000(1) FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ENVIRONhCNTAL STATEhENT ( ) DRAFT (X) FINAL ( ) SECTION 4(f) STATEMENT AHACHED Additional information concerning the proposal and statement may be obtained from: Director of Engineering and Construction Agency of Transportation State Administration Building Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Telephone: 802-828-2661 Division Administrator Federal Highway Administration U. S, Department of Transportation Federal Building Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Telephone: 802-223-5294 Description of Proposed Action Project Burlington M 5000(1) comprises construction of approximately 2% miles of highway known as the Southem Connector, in the City of Burllnqton, Chittenden County, Vermont; commencing at the Interchange of I 189 with Shelbume Street (US 7) and extending westerly and northerly to the inter­ section of Battery and King Streets in the Burlington Central Business District. The proposed highway will have four-twelve foot travel lanes for its entire length. From the beginning of the project to Pine Street, typical section will have ten foot outside shoulders, four foot inside shoulders, and a median tapering from 42 feet to 12 feet. From Pine Street to Home Avenue, the typical will have ten foot outside shoulders, and a 12 foot slope-edged median. From Home Avenue to the project terminus at King Street, there will be a two foot offset on either side with a curb typical. Turning lanes will be provided where necessary. Limited access with partial control is to be exercised from the beginning of the project to the area of the railroad yard. The project involves modification of the I 189­ Shelburne Street Interchange, including replacement of the structure over Shelbume Street and construction of additional ramps, to provide for all directional turning movements. Action Required by Other Federal Agencies "^i,,** U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - Section 404 Permit. Major Alternates Considered 1) No Build 2) Use of Alternate Travel Modes through the project corridor 3) New Location Alternate 4) Pine Street Alternate Summary of Environmental Impacts Implementation of the proposed action would result in a significant improvement in the quality of travel through the south end of Burlington City. Without this improvement, the existing street network will continue .^,r to deteriorate; eventually leading to a lower quality of travel, a lessen­ ing of residential desirability, and a reduction in business throughout the Right-of-way acquisition will Involve the taking of 41.1 acres and %• 16 families will be displaced. Based on the 1976 Grand List and Tax Rate, the estimated tax loss would be 1.04 percent with this project. Noise levels will exceed FHWA Design Noise Levels at some locations. At this time, no abatement measures are being contemplated. It is the finding of the Air Pollution Control Section of the Agency of Environmental Conservation that air quality will be within standards set by the State's Air Quality Implementation Plan. No natural, ecological, or archaeological resources within the project area will be significantly impacted. No significant effect on water supplies or water quality is anticipated. While there are several historic sites within the project corridor, none will be affected by this project. There will be some interference with the operation of the Vermont Railway resulting from loss of parking and storage areas at the railroad yard. A few businesses which use the railroad facility will also be inconvenienced. The only anticipated social impact would be the severing of a small portion of the south end neighborhood. This project, beinga controlled access highway, will divert more traffic from the existing streets, thus protecting businesses along Pine Street from increased congestion; and allowing faster travel times for buses, possibly encouraging more bus travel. Implementation of the project will be in accordance with detailed plans and specifications, and under the direction of the resident engineer. Adherence to specifications will ensure a minimum of adverse effects (erosion, siltation, water quality impairment, etc.) during the construc­ tion period. Agencies and Organizations from which comments were requested: Federal U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Administrator "Reply Received" U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Environmental Project Review "Reply Received" U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division "Reply Received" U. S. Department of Agriculture U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare U. S. Department of Commerce U, S. Department of Housing and Urban Development "Reply Received" U. S. Energy Administration "Reply Received" U. S. Coast Guard, Third Coast Guard District "Reply Received" State Vermont State Planning Office (Clearinghouse) "Reply Received" Vermont Agency of Environmental Conservation "Reply Received" Vermont Agency of Development and Community Affairs "Reply Received" Local Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Aldermen, City of Burlington "Reply Received" Councilmen, City of South Burlington "Reply Received" Burlington Planning Commission South Burlington Planning Commission Comments were also received from; Vermont Public Interest Research Group Mr. Armand J. Beliveau Mr. Peter Judge Mr. Robert Wilson General Electric Company Mrs. Catherine Neubert Date Draft EIS mailed to Council on Environmental Quality The draft environmental impact statement was mailed to the Council on Environmental Quality on September 26, 1977. Its availability was pub­ lished in the Federal Register, Volume 42, #195 October 7, 1977 and a period of 45 days from that date was established for review and coninent. '^^01 / / / Brookiidt / W E S / T F 0 / R D / / >-^__ ^ UALLSTTS / BAY / / / 9o« .. / C 0 L C\ H /E S T IE R / / E /S S E X / / Eiui / \( / k * ­ - BURUNGTON )1 \»"«/35KI / ev or ESSEX I \ JUNCTION' / \ / \ / \ o \ VBURLINSTON V MUNICIPAL X \ \ ^ * . • UKLINCTON \ ) \ \_ ^ ISL4ND PROJECT ^S AREA. / / W I LL I S T /O N r^y V V rR I C H M 0 N 0 \ \ SHELBUR/N E Shtl6urn*lla . lc E 0 R C E \ 3'jRLlNGTi GENERAL AREA MAP BURLINGTON PROJECT M5000 (I) ^Vlf \ SCALE OF MILES I 0.5 0 I 2 PROJECT AREA MAP SCALE FINAL ENVIRONftNTAL INPACT STATEMENT BURLINGTON M 5000(1) Need for the Project The City of Burlington extends for approximately seven miles along the eastem shore of Lake Champlain In Chittenden County, Vermont. As the City has grown from its late 18th Century beginnings, there