Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Multimodal Project in Allston, Massachusetts

Jeffrey McEwen
Federal Highway Administration
18 October 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56009-56010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22796]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
a Multimodal Project in Allston, Massachusetts

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

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that it 
is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Allston Multimodal 
Project sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation 
(MassDOT). MassDOT proposes to address roadway deficiencies of 
Interstate 90 in Allston, Massachusetts. The proposed project takes 
into consideration current transportation deficiencies, current and 
future transportation facility safety, multimodal mobility, and access 
to the Charles River Reservation within the project area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey McEwen, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 55 Broadway, 10th Floor, 
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, Phone: 617-494-1788. Michael O'Dowd, 
Acting Director of Bridge Project Management, Massachusetts Department 
of Transportation, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 6340, Boston, Massachusetts 
02116, Phone: 857-368-9292.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the 
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Allston Multimodal 
Project. The FHWA intends to issue a combined Final EIS/ROD document 
pursuant to 23 CFR 771.124, unless FHWA determines the regulatory 
criteria or practicability considerations preclude issuance of a 
combined document.
    The purpose of the project is to address roadway deficiencies, 
address safety issues, improve mobility of Interstate 90 mainline and 
Interstate 90 interchanges 18, 19, and 20, and improve multimodal 
transportation

[[Page 56010]]

access to and within the Charles River Reservation. Proposed 
improvements are needed within the project area due to existing roadway 
deficiencies which include a structurally deficient viaduct on the 
Interstate 90 mainline and substandard geometric elements on both the 
mainline and within the interchange; existing safety deficiencies which 
include substantially higher than average crash rates for the mainline 
and the interchange; existing mobility deficiencies which include a 
deficient level-of-service within the interchange, commuter rail 
limitations, lack of multimodal connections, and inadequate bicycle and 
pedestrian facilities; and limited multimodal access to the Charles 
River Reservation.
    The EIS will evaluate a range of build alternatives and a no-build 
alternative. Possible build alternatives include improvements to the 
roadway network to incorporate improvements to transit, rail, bus, 
bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
    The EIS will evaluate potential impacts from construction and 
operation of the proposed project, including, but not limited to, the 
following: Traffic impacts, air quality and noise impacts; water 
quality impacts including stormwater runoff; impacts to waters of the 
United States; impacts to floodplains; impacts to historic and 
archaeological resources; socio-economic impacts including 
environmental justice and limited English proficiency populations; 
impacts to land use, vegetation and wildlife; impacts to or potential 
displacement of residents and businesses; and impacts to aesthetic and 
visual resources. Anticipated state and Federal approvals may include, 
but are not limited to, the following: United States Army Corps of 
Engineers (USACE) Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit, USACE 
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act Permit, United States Coast 
Guard (USCG) Section 9 Bridge Permit, Massachusetts Department of 
Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Section 401 Water Quality 
Certification, MassDEP Chapter 91 License, MassDEP Wetlands Protection 
Act Permit, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act consultation, and Section 
4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act evaluation. The 
project will comply with the Clean Air Act, Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act, and Executive Order 12898 ``Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations'' and other applicable state and Federal laws. Cooperating 
Agencies identified include the USACE, USCG, U.S. Department of 
Transportation's Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, MassDEP, and the Massachusetts Department of 
Conservation and Recreation.
    Public involvement is a critical component of the project 
development process and will continue throughout the development of the 
EIS. All individuals and organizations expressing interest in the 
project will be able to participate in the process through various 
public outreach opportunities. These opportunities include, but are not 
limited to public meetings and hearing(s), the project website (https://www.mass.gov/allston-multimodal-project), and press releases. Public 
notice will be given of the time and place of all public meetings and 
hearing(s). To ensure that the full range of issues related to this 
proposed project are addressed, and all significant issues are 
identified, comments and suggestions are invited from all interested 
parties. Scoping input on the proposed project will be invited during 
the scoping review period and through public informational meetings, 
which will occur after release of the Scoping Report. Advanced notice 
of release of the Scoping Report and date, time and location of the 
public informational meetings will be provided to the public through 
the project website, public notices, and press releases. Such comments 
or questions concerning this notice, the scope of the EIS including the 
purpose and need, alternatives to be considered, and impacts to be 
evaluated may be submitted via the project website or in writing to 
FHWA or MassDOT at the addresses provided above.

    Issued on: October 9, 2019.
Jeffrey McEwen,
Massachusetts Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-22796 Filed 10-15-19; 4:15 pm]
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