Transportation Improvements

Transcription

1 Transportation Improvements 0 0 Volume II of the Final EIS for the DHS Headquarters consolidation at St. Elizabeths includes analysis to transportation improvements for the DHS Headquarters Consolidation at St. Elizabeths. While the DHS Headquarters consolidation at St. Elizabeths remains a single project, GSA has divided the analysis of the campus redevelopment and transportation improvements into two volumes to facilitate the review of the effects associated with the various parts of the proposed actions. This decision was made in response to comments received from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on the Draft EIS. GSA, in its Draft EIS and at the instruction of FHWA, included a draft evaluation of impacts to resources protected under Section (f) of the Department of Transportation Act of. As compliance with Section (f) is required only for the U.S. Department of Transportation, the FHWA is planning issue a revised draft Section (f) Evaluation under separate cover during the same public review period as this FEIS. Volume II takes into account the Section (f) analysis completed to date. Each of the Campus Redevelopment Alternatives presented in Volume I is compatible with each of the St. Elizabeths Transportation Improvement Alternatives in Volume II. Tables and graphics summarizing the combined impacts of the St. Elizabeths West Campus redevelopment alternatives and the transportation improvement alternatives are found in Volume IV, Appendix F..A Volume II Transportation Improvements Volume II of the Final EIS includes impact analyses of the transportation improvements required to support increased traffic volumes projected as a result of redeveloping St. Elizabeths for the DHS Headquarters consolidation. [] This analysis of roadway improvements includes the assumption that vehicular trips to St. Elizabeths will be limited by available parking and that the measures described in the project s Transportation Management Plan (TMP) will be undertaken [] Analysis of traffic generated under each of the Campus Redevelopment Alternatives includes traffic that would be generated by redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths East Campus. If Campus Redevelopment Alternative is selected for the DHS Headquarters consolidation, further tiered analysis of transportation improvements needed to support 0,000 gsf of development on the East Campus will be undertaken. Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements -

2 0 0 to promote alternate modes of travel and work patterns. The TMP will be included with the DHS Headquarters Consolidation Master Plan which will be submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for approval. As stated previously, the information in this volume was included with the Campus Redevelopment assessment in the Draft EIS, but has not been separated into a second volume for ease of review. The study area for Volume II is illustrated on Figure -. Volume II addresses the following elements: Chapter, Alternatives for Transportation Improvements, describes alternatives for improvements to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue (MLK Avenue), Firth Sterling Avenue, and the I-/Malcolm X Interchange as well as construction of a new road from Firth Sterling Avenue to Malcolm X Avenue to provide additional access to the St. Elizabeths West Campus. Chapter, Affected Environment, provides a description of the current natural, social, economic, and cultural environments for the transportation improvements. Chapter, Environmental Consequences, includes analysis of reasonably foreseeable direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with each of the alternatives for transportation improvements described in Chapter. The study area for the St. Elizabeths Transportation Improvements is shown in Figure -. The study area includes: The St. Elizabeths East and West Campuses which make up the St. Elizabeths National Historic Landmark (NHL). The NHL designation covers contributing resources on the East and West Campuses including buildings, landscapes, vistas of the river and city, and the West Campus Cemetery. The West Campus is owned by the Federal government and is under control of GSA. The East Campus is owned by the District of Columbia and includes the St. Elizabeths Hospital and the city s Unified Communications Center (UCC). Shepherd Parkway: The Shepherd Parkway which extends south of the West Campus, along the eastern side of I-, and which is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The Shepherd Parkway is part of the Fort Circle Parks, a series of parklands - Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements

3 0 0 which contain Civil War earthworks. The Shepherd Parkway is land that was set-aside by the United States to build a Fort Circle Drive. The road was never constructed and the Shepherd Parkway is managed by the National Park Service National Capital Parks- East. The parkland contains mature native hardwood forest, unique geologic features, and a bald eagle nest. There is also debris from unauthorized dumping on the steep slopes in the park. Within the study area, there are no recreational amenities or trails and no designated entrance into the park. Malcolm X/I- Interchange: I- is a four-lane freeway and Malcolm X Avenue is a local street consisting of two through lanes with parking on both sides of the street. The interchange currently consists of on- and off-ramps serving the northbound side of I-. Southbound traffic on I- can access Malcolm X by exiting at South Capitol which runs is parallel to I-. The South Capitol Street/Malcolm X interchange is a full movement interchange directly west of the I-/Malcolm X interchange. Firth Sterling Avenue: Firth Sterling Avenue from Barry Road/Sumner Road to the northern boundary of the St. Elizabeths West Campus. Firth Sterling is a four-lane road. Development on the south side of Firth Sterling consists of the Barry Farm neighborhood. Development on the north side of Firth Sterling consists of several commercial buildings..b Other Final EIS Volumes In addition to Volume II, there are three additional volumes in this Final EIS: Volume I, Campus Redevelopment; Volume III, Responses to Comments; and Volume IV, Appendices. Volume I focuses on the St. Elizabeths Campus Redevelopment needed to consolidate the DHS Headquarters on St. Elizabeths and includes: Chapter, Introduction and Background, includes information on GSA s mission, the DHS mission, the history of St. Elizabeths, and regulatory review requirements Chapter, Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action, describes the proposed action, the decision to redevelop St. Elizabeths; the need for a secure, consolidated headquarters for DHS; and the selection of DHS as the tenant at St. Elizabeths. Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements -

4 Figure -. Volume II Study Area - Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements

5 0 0 0 Chapter, Alternatives, describes alternatives considered for the redevelopment of St. Elizabeths for the DHS Headquarters. Three alternatives have been carried forward for detailed study in this EIS. Alternatives and consist of redevelopment of the West Campus with. million gsf of office and shared use space plus parking. Alternative consists of constructing approximately. million gsf of office and shared use space plus parking on the St. Elizabeths West Campus and approximately 0,000 gsf of office space plus parking would be constructed on a portion of the St. Elizabeths East Campus, which is under the control of the District of Columbia. Chapter, Affected Environment, provides a description of the current natural, social, economic, and cultural environments for the St. Elizabeths West Campus and the portion of the East Campus under consideration by GSA. Chapter, Environmental Consequences, analyzes reasonably foreseeable direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with each of the St. Elizabeths redevelopment alternatives under consideration. As noted above, Alternative includes construction of approximately 0,000 gsf of office space plus parking on the St. Elizabeths East Campus. This section includes a programmatic level analysis of potential impacts associated with development on the East Campus. If GSA selects Alternative, detailed NEPA analysis will be undertaken to assess impacts resulting from development on the East Campus. This subsequent NEPA analysis will include a more in depth analysis of the environmental consequences associated with the East Campus in accordance with 0 CFR 0.. Chapter, Summary of Impacts West Campus Development, provides a matrix comparing the impacts of each of the three development alternatives studied in detail in Chapter. Chapter, Mitigation and Commitments, describes mitigation measures which GSA is committed to incorporating into the selected alternative. Mitigaiton entails avoiding, minimizing, or rectifying impacts to the environment Chapter, Public Involvement and Agency Coordination, summarizes the opportunities during the NEPA process the public, agencies, and other stakeholders have had to comment on the proposed DHS headquarters consolidation. Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements -

6 0 0 Chapter, List of Preparers, provides information on the project team responsible for preparing this EIS. Chapter 0, Distribution and Notification List, provides information on the agencies and stakeholder that received copies of this EIS or notification of availability of this EIS. Chapter, References, provides a list of all sources cited or reviewed in the preparation of this EIS. Chapter, Acronyms and Index, provides a list of acronyms used in this EIS and an index of key terms. Volume III includes: Section A summary of the major issues raised in the comments and general responses to those comments Section A matrix, organized by Draft EIS chapter, of all substantive comments addressing issues in that chapter. Where possible, a specific page in the Draft EIS that is the subject of the comment is listed. Each comment is identified by author, and a response to each comment included. Section Copies of the original comments received on the Draft EIS Section - Transcript of the October, 00 Public Hearing Volume IV consists of the following appendices to this EIS: Appendix A DHS National Capital Region Housing Master Plan Appendix B DHS Consolidated Headquarters Collocation Plan Appendix C DHS Headquarters Consolidation Location Analysis Appendix D St. Elizabeths Key Decision Milestones Appendix E St. Elizabeths Hospital West Campus Consulting Party Working Group Consensus Document Appendix F Specimen Tree List and NPS Plant List - Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements

7 0 Appendix G Summary of Impacts Campus Redevelopment and Transportation Improvements GSA encourages you to review this Final EIS and provide comments on the transportation improvements in Volume II as well as the campus redevelopment alternatives (Alternatives,, and ) in Volume I. Comments on the Final EIS must be postmarked by December, 00. Written comments on the Final EIS may be sent via mail, fax, or to: Ms. Denise Decker General Services Administration 00 F Street, NW, Room Washington, DC 00 Fax 0-0- denise.decker@gsa.gov (Please include St. Elizabeths EIS comments in the subject line) Final EIS Volume II Transportation Improvements -

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