Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) Route 440 Extension Environmental Assessment Project Sponsor: Prepared by: AKRF, Inc. BEM Systems, Inc. Gannett Fleming Inc. InGroup, Inc. Richard Grubb & Associates, Inc. Techniquest Corporation September 2013
Table of Contents Executive Summary... S-1 Chapter 1: Project Identification and Purpose and Need... 1-1 1.0 Introduction... 1-1 1.1 Purpose and Need... 1-1 1.2 Project Background... 1-1 1.2.1 Future Development Plans... 1-2 1.2.2 Mobility Needs... 1-3 1.2.3 Transit Service Needs... 1-4 1.2.4 Pedestrian Safety Needs... 1-4 1.3 Goals and Objectives... 1-5 Chapter 2: Project Alternatives... 2-1 2.0 Introduction... 2-1 2.1 Existing HBLR System... 2-1 2.2 Preferred Alternative... 2-2 2.2.1 Description of the Preferred Alternative... 2-2 2.2.1.1 New Viaduct Structure from West Side Avenue Station to Bayfront Station... 2-2 2.2.1.2 Modifications to Existing West Side Avenue Station and Parking Lot... 2-5 2.2.1.3 New Bayfront Station... 2-7 2.2.2 Property Interests... 2-7 2.2.3 Operations... 2-8 2.2.4 Cost... 2-8 2.2.5 Completion Year... 2-8 2.3 No Action Alternative... 2-8 2.4 Other Alternatives Considered... 2-9 Chapter 3: Environmental Considerations... 3-1 3.0 Introduction... 3-1 3.1 Social Conditions... 3-1 3.1.1 Land Use... 3-1 3.1.2 Zoning... 3-3 3.1.3 Public Policy... 3-3 3.1.4 Displacement and Relocation... 3-4 3.1.5 Community Facilities and Services... 3-4 3.1.6 Parklands and Open Space... 3-5 3.1.7 Visual Resources... 3-5 3.1.8 Population and Employment... 3-6 TOC-1 September 2013
HBLR Route 440 Extension Environmental Assessment 3.1.9 Conclusions... 3-6 3.2 Historic Resources... 3-7 3.2.1 Archaeological Resources... 3-8 3.2.2 Historic Architectural Resources... 3-9 3.3 Transportation... 3-10 3.3.1 Traffic... 3-10 3.3.2 Parking... 3-11 3.3.3 Hblr Operations... 3-12 3.3.4 Pedestrian Circulation and Accessibility... 3-12 3.4 Air Quality, Energy, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions... 3-13 3.5 Noise and Vibration... 3-13 3.6 Infrastructure... 3-15 3.7 Hazardous Materials... 3-16 3.8 Natural Resources... 3-18 3.8.1 Geology, Topography, and Soils... 3-18 3.8.2 Water Quality... 3-18 3.8.3 Floodplains... 3-19 3.8.4 Wetlands... 3-19 3.8.5 Coastal Zone Consistency... 3-20 3.8.6 Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat... 3-21 3.8.7 Threatened and Endangered Species... 3-21 3.9 Construction Impacts... 3-21 3.9.1 Description of Construction Activities... 3-21 3.9.2 Traffic... 3-23 3.9.3 Utility Relocation... 3-24 3.9.4 Water Quality... 3-24 3.9.5 Air Quality... 3-25 3.9.6 Noise and Vibration... 3-25 3.10 Safety and Security... 3-26 3.11 Commitment of Resources... 3-26 3.12 Indirect Effects and Cumulative Impacts... 3-27 Chapter 4: Environmental Justice...4-1 4.0 Introduction... 4-1 4.1 Methodology... 4-1 4.2 Delineation of the Study Area... 4-2 4.3 Identification of Environmental Justice Populations... 4-2 4.4 Identification of Disproportionate Adverse Effects... 4-5 4.5 Public Participation... 4-5 Chapter 5: Public Participation... 5-1 5.0 Introduction... 5-1 5.1 Regulatory Process... 5-1 5.2 Agencies Consulted... 5-2 5.3 Public Involvement Program... 5-2 5.3.1 Development of Mailing List... 5-2 September 2013 TOC-2
Table of Contents 5.3.2 Coordination Meetings... 5-3 5.3.3 Targeted Resident Meetings... 5-3 5.3.4 Tac Meetings... 5-3 5.3.5 Public Meetings... 5-3 5.3.5.1 Outreach Materials... 5-3 5.4 Section 106 Coordination... 5-4 5.5 Environmental Justice... 5-4 5.6 Contact Information... 5-5 Chapter 6: List of Preparers... 6-1 SECTION 4(F) EVALUATION PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT APPENDIX A: CULTURAL RESOURCES CORRESPONDENCE APPENDIX B: TRAFFIC COUNTS AND RIDERSHIP PROJECTIONS APPENDIX C: NOISE AND VIBRATION APPENDIX D: NATURAL RESOURCES TOC-3 September 2013
List of Tables S-1 Goals and Objectives... S-2 S-2 Summary of Environmental Considerations... S-6 1-1 Goals and Objectives... 1-5 3-1 Noise Receptor Sites and Existing Noise Levels... 3-14 3-2 Noise Impact Evaluation... 3-15 3-3 Vibration Impact Evaluation... 3-15 3-4 Sites Identified for Further Investigation... 3-17 3-5 Conceptual Construction Sequence and Duration... 3-22 TOC-4 September 2013
List of Figures S-1 Project Location S-2 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan Overview 1-1 Project Location 1-2 Western Waterfront Future Development 2-1 Hudson-Bergen Light Rail System Map 2-2 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan Overview 2-3 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan West Side Avenue Station 2-4 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan West Side Avenue to Mallory Avenue 2-5 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan Mallory Avenue to Route 440 2-6 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan Route 440 to Bayfront 2-7 Preferred Alternative Conceptual Plan Bayfront Station 3-1 Existing Land Use 3-2 Study Area Land Uses 3-3 Future Land Use 3-4 Existing Zoning 3-5 Existing and Proposed Publicly Accessible Open Space 3-6 APE Archaeology 3-7 Areas of Archaeological Sensitivity 3-8 APE Architecture 3-9 Photographs 3-10 Noise Receptor Locations 3-11 Properties Evaluated in Hazardous Materials Assessment 3-12 Floodplains 3-13 Historic Floodplains 3-14 USGS Hurricane Sandy Storm Tide Mapper 3-15 Wetlands Mapped by National Wetlands Inventory and NJDEP 4-1 Environmental Justice Study Area TOC-5 September 2013