Environmental Impact Statement: Washington, Kent, and Providence Counties, RI

Gordon G. Hoxie
Federal Highway Administration
May 23, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 98 (Monday, May 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-12487]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Washington, Kent, and Providence 
Counties, RI

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
environmental impact statement will be prepared for the proposed 
construction of a third track for freight rail service between Central 
Falls and North Kingston, Rhode Island.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gordon G. Hoxie, Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, 380 Westminster Mall, room 547, Providence, Rhode 
Island, Telephone: (401) 528-4541, or Thomas J. Queenan, Project 
Manager, Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Two Capitol Hill--
room 372, Providence, RI 02903, telephone: (401) 277-2694.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Rhode 
Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve freight 
rail service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Central Falls 
and North Kingston, Rhode Island. The proposed improvement would 
involve the construction of a new third track parallel to the NEC 
mainline along the entire corridor for a distance of about 35 
kilometers (22 miles).
    Improvements to the corridor are considered necessary to alleviate 
impacts to freight rail service resulting from the proposed Amtrak 
Northeast Corridor electrification project. Construction of 
electrification facilities and associated changes in intercity 
passenger operations are expected to reduce vertical and horizontal 
clearances at overhead bridges along the corridor, limit daytime 
freight movements to existing levels, and restrict additional freight 
movements to nighttime hours. Alternatives under consideration include 
(1) Taking no action; (2) construction of a continuous third track 
parallel to the NEC mainline including ancillary modifications to 
overhead bridge structures; and (3) other reasonable alternatives 
identified during the scoping process.
    Public scoping meeting(s) will be held in Cranston, RI between June 
and July 1994. In addition, a public hearing will be held. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings and hearing. 
The draft EIS will be available for public and agency review prior to 
the public hearing.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation of Federal programs and other activities apply to this 
program)

    Issued on: May 17, 1994.
Gordon G. Hoxie,
Division Administrator, Providence, Rhode Island.
[FR Doc. 94-12487 Filed 5-20-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M