Environmental Impact Statement: Queens County, NY

Jeffrey W. Kolb
Federal Highway Administration
September 7, 2010

[Federal Register: September 7, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 172)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54419]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se10-88]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Environmental Impact Statement: Queens County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA, United States Department 
of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Revised notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public 
that the FHWA will not be preparing an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the proposed Bridge Rehabilitation and Interchange 
Improvements Project on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) from the Grand 
Central Parkway (GCP) to the Van Wyck Expressway, Queens County, NY. A 
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on March 12, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey W. Kolb, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 9th Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl 
Street, Albany, New York 12207, Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

or

    Phillip Eng, Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 11; Hunters Point 
Plaza, 47-40 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, Telephone: 718-
482-4526.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation previously intended to prepare an 
EIS for the Bridge Rehabilitation and Interchange Improvements Project 
on the Long Island Expressway from the Grand Central Parkway to the Van 
Wyck Expressway, Queens County, New York.
    The purpose of the original Project was to address various 
geometric, operational, and structural deficiencies associated with the 
interchange. The project proposed direct connector ramps and new 
structures.
    An Expanded Project Proposal (EPP) was issued in 2002 and the 
project was programmed with a cost estimate of $130 million. During 
preliminary design, the cost estimate increased to approximately $250 
million and the operational improvements for the build alternatives 
were found not to be as effective in reducing congestion as expected. 
Also, the Region's capital program has been reduced and available 
funding has been re-allocated to more critical needs.
    Currently, the bridges within the interchange have a number of 
severely deteriorated elements, including the concrete decks and 
superstructures, that require prompt treatment to keep them in service 
and to address urgent safety concerns. The bridges also do not meet 
current geometric standards.
    Since the proposed operational benefits from the build alternatives 
were found not to be as expected, it is proposed to terminate the EIS. 
However, the three bridges carrying the LIE and service roads over the 
GCP have significant deck and steel superstructure deterioration that 
require prompt treatment to keep them in service. The infrastructure 
improvements being considered will not have a significant impact on the 
environment. To address these bridge conditions, a reduced scope 
project will be progressed as a NEPA Class II Categorical Exclusion.

    Issued on August 25, 2010.
Jeffrey W. Kolb,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Albany, NY.
[FR Doc. 2010-21768 Filed 9-3-10; 8:45 am]
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