Action
Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS).
Summary
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations under 23 CFR Part 771, the FTA and the Westchester County Department of Transportation (WCDOT) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the impacts of a project known as the New Rochelle Intermodal Transportation Center. The EIS will also comply with the requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) and Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice. The project consists of a proposed multi-level garage and other vehicular and pedestrian circulation improvements to be constructed on the site of the existing at-grade parking lot along the southbound Metro-North railroad tracks at the New Rochelle Train Station in New Rochelle (Westchester County), New York. The proposed project is intended to be financed through FTA and local funding sources. The project is being administered by the City of New Rochelle (City) Department of Development on behalf of WCDOT. The proposed garage and station site redesign are intended to better serve Metro-North and Amtrak train operations, Westchester County bus service, taxi and private bus operations, and commuters parking at the station, and improve pedestrian and vehicle circulation. The proposed project includes a new 1,000-space parking structure, improved vehicular and pedestrian circulation, bicycle storage, and separate taxi, bus, and auto passenger pick up/drop off areas. The project will be designed to be in character with the New Rochelle train station building on the project site. In addition to assessing the proposed intermodal center, the EIS will evaluate the No Build alternative and any other reasonable alternatives determined through the scoping process. Scoping will occur both through correspondence with interested persons, organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies and through a public meeting. Involved agencies may include: National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), New York State Thruway Authority, Metro-North Railroad (MTA), and New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).