Action
Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental draft environmental impact statement.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority/New York City Transit (MTA/NYCT) are issuing this notice to advise the public and interested agencies that a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) will be prepared by the FTA and MTA/NYCT on the Manhattan East Side Alternatives Project (MESA). The SDEIS will evaluate a "full-length" Second Avenue Subway alignment in Manhattan, extending from the vicinity of 125th Street in Harlem south along Second Avenue to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. The original Notice of Intent to prepare a DEIS for the MESA project was issued on June 30, 1995. The MESA DEIS/MIS (Major Investment Study), released to the public August 13, 1999, contained four alternatives. The build alternatives of that document included a Second Avenue subway alignment extending from the vicinity of 125th Street south to East 63rd Street; a composite build alternative also included complementary bus and light rail alternatives from 63rd Street to Lower Manhattan and Lower East Side. During the preliminary MIS, a full-length subway alternative had been considered, but consideration of that alternative was discontinued because of cost concerns. As a result of public comments and elected officials' concerns, the MTA has decided to fully evaluate a Second Avenue Subway line extending from 125th Street to Lower Manhattan. The SDEIS will present new information or circumstances relevant to the full-length Second Avenue Subway alignment and evaluate environmental impacts that were not evaluated in the MESA DEIS. In addition, the SDEIS will evaluate alternatives that improve transit access to the Lower East Side of Manhattan that may ultimately supplement Build Alternative 3 or progress as an independent project. The participation of the general public, interested parties, and agencies is encouraged and will be solicited. Public outreach meetings will be held to discuss the information to be included in the SDEIS.