Action
Notice of intent to prepare a Major Investment Study/ Environmental Impact Statement.
Summary
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) intend to prepare a Major Investment Study (MIS) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the FTA/Federal Highway Administration's Statewide Planning, Metropolitan Planning regulations under 23 CFR part 450 and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508) to study transportation improvements for access to the lower portion of Manhattan in the City of New York. This study will also comply with the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). The MTA will ensure that the EIS also satisfies the requirements of the State of New York Environmental Quality Review Act and the City of New York Environmental Quality Review Act. The MIS/DEIS will investigate how the transportation system serving Lower Manhattan can be improved. Lower Manhattan is an area that: (1) Is experiencing growth in new sectors (residential, recreation and tourist) resulting in a changing mix of land uses and activities; (2) is highly-dependent on quality transit services for continued economic viability; and (3) is perceived to be difficult to access, particularly from commuter railroad terminals in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The purpose of this Lower Manhattan Access Alternatives MIS/DEIS study is to (1) develop feasible, cost-effective, and broadly beneficial transportation solutions that can meet the area's transportation shortcomings; (2) maintain or improve Lower Manhattan's environmental quality; and (3) provide meaningful and significant opportunities for business, civic and community input throughout the study process. Among the alternatives that the MIS/DEIS will evaluate are the No- Build Alternative; Transportation System Management (TSM) alternatives; high quality shuttle services; new subway services; extended commuter rail services; and other new alternatives generated through the scoping process. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and federal, state and local agencies, and afternoon and evening public scoping meetings.