Environmental Impact Statement in Erie County, NY

Richard J. Marquis
Federal Highway Administration
20 December 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70263-70264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27420]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement in Erie County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. 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 (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
project known as the New York State (NYS) Route 5 (Buffalo Skyway) 
Project, in Erie County, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Cirillo, Regional Director, New 
York State Department of Transportation, 100 Seneca Street, Buffalo, 
New York 14203, Telephone: (716) 847-3238; or Richard Marquis, Division 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, New York Division, Leo 
W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th Floor, 11A Clinton Avenue, Albany, New 
York 12207, Telephone (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The New York State Department of 
Transportation (NYSDOT), in cooperation with FHWA, will prepare an EIS 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a 
proposal to remove the Buffalo Skyway bridge and its approaches, 
including portions of NYS Route 5 along the Outer Harbor, and realign 
the transportation network within the Buffalo Outer Harbor and South 
Buffalo areas.
    NYS Route 5 serves as the primary vehicular route connecting 
Buffalo's downtown to its southern suburbs. In recent years, the 
Buffalo Inner and Outer Harbors have undergone substantial 
redevelopment with recreational/mixed-use improvements. It has become 
apparent that the portions of NYS Route 5 along the Buffalo Outer 
Harbor, including the Skyway Bridge, present both a physical and visual 
barrier to continued development within this area. Infrastructure 
removal is needed to accommodate existing and planned recreational, 
mixed-use, and waterfront development and support waterfront economic 
development initiatives. The project is also needed to improve the 
transportation network to safely and efficiently accommodate the 
traffic currently carried by the Skyway Bridge and to address the 
safety, operational, and capacity deficiencies of the highway 
connections that serve economic development areas and local communities 
within South Buffalo.
    The purpose of the project is to realign the existing 
transportation network to support existing and planned recreational, 
mixed-use, and waterfront development in the Buffalo Outer Harbor area. 
The project will also address the safety, operational, and capacity 
deficiencies of the highway connections that serve economic development 
areas and local communities within South Buffalo.
    A reasonable range of alternatives is currently being considered 
and will be evaluated during the NEPA scoping process in consideration 
of agency and public comments received. Letters describing the proposed 
action and soliciting comments have been sent to Cooperating and 
Participating Agencies. Public and agency outreach will include formal 
Public Scoping Meetings, a Public Hearing, and consultation with 
Cooperating and Participating Agencies. Public notice will be given of 
the dates, times, and locations of the Scoping Meetings and Public 
Hearing.
    To assist in determining the scope of issues to be addressed and 
identifying the potential for significant issues related to the 
proposed action, the general public will have the opportunity to submit 
written comments at the Scoping Meetings and during a scoping comment 
period. A Draft EIS will be available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to the Public Hearing.
    Comments or questions concerning this proposed action should be 
directed to the NYSDOT and FHWA at the addresses provided above.


[[Page 70264]]


    Issued on: December 11, 2019.
Richard J. Marquis,
New York Division Administrator, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 2019-27420 Filed 12-19-19; 8:45 am]
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