2013-1-10 hearing presentation - final.ppt · portageville bridge project public hearing state...

Portageville Bridge Project

Public HearingPublic HearingState Environmental Quality Review Act

State Railroad LawState Railroad Law

Eminent Domain Procedure Law

Thursday, January 10, 20136 PM – 9 PM

Genesee River Restaurant,Mount Morris, New York


IntroductionRay Hessinger

New York State Department of TransportationNew York State Department of Transportation


Introduction

• Welcome and Introductions

S f B i fi• Safety Briefing

• Purpose of the Meeting

• Presentation by the Project Team

• Public CommentsPublic Comments


Purpose of the Meeting

• State Environmental Quality Review ActP t i f ti i t f P j t

p g

– Present information on impacts of Project

• State Railroad Law– Establish public purpose for Project

• Eminent Domain Procedure Law– Present information on property acquisition

• Obtain public comment on all of aboveObtain public comment on all of above


Presentation Overview

• Project Background

P j Al i• Project Alternatives

• Environmental Analysis

• Right‐of‐Way Acquisition

• DEIS Public Review Process and Next StepsDEIS Public Review Process and Next Steps

• Public Comments

Project Background

Early Planning Activitiesy g

• Project InitiationP iti D l ti f I t t t P EIS– Positive Declaration of Intent to Prepare EIS, September 17, 2008

P j t S i• Project Scoping– Public Meeting October 1, 2008

• Community Advisory Committee–Meeting April 1, 2009

–Meeting November 12, 2009


Purpose and NeedPurpose and Need,Alternatives,

DesignK i H hildtKevin Hauschildt

Norfolk Southern Railway Company

Project Background

Purpose and NeedpPurpose

Provide a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River for NorfolkProvide a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River for Norfolk Southern on the Southern Tier route between Buffalo and Binghamton, capable of carrying current industry standard freight il l d t th t t d ibl ti FRA Cl 4rail loads, to the greatest degree possible meeting FRA Class 4

speeds, while reducing ongoing maintenance efforts and costs.

Needs

• Critical component of Norfolk Southern’s Southern Tier route

• At the end of its useful life as a freight structure; requires continuous inspection and frequent repair

• Imposes restrictions on the entire Southern Tier route• Imposes restrictions on the entire Southern Tier route

• Safety concerns for park users who trespass on the bridge

Project Background

Project Goalsj• Eliminate operational constraints along the Southern Tier route

caused by the existing Portageville Bridgey g g g

• Minimize difficult and costly maintenance

• Optimize existing infrastructure and planned improvements to the Southern Tier route as part of Norfolk Southern’s overall operational strategy in New York and in this region of the country

• Minimize dangerous interaction of railroad activities on theMinimize dangerous interaction of railroad activities on the Portageville Bridge and Letchworth State Park patrons that trespass on it

Project Alternatives

Alternatives ConsideredNo. Name Status

1 No Action / Maintenance Alternative Studied in DEISRetains existing route restrictions; bridge will ultimately have

to be taken out of service

2 Repair / Retrofit Existing Bridge RejectedRetrofit to meet Project objectives not practicable

3 New Bridge on Same Alignment RejectedNo rail operation during construction

4 New Bridge on Parallel Alignment / Remove Existing Bridge

Studied in DEIS

5 New Bridge on Parallel Alignment / Convey Existing Bridge

Studied in DEIS

6 New Southern Alignment / Remove Existing Bridge Rejectedi i dCommunity impacts and cost

7 New Southern Alignment / Convey Existing Bridge RejectedCommunity impacts and cost

8 Reroute Rail Traffic / Remove Existing Bridge Rejected8 Reroute Rail Traffic / Remove Existing Bridge RejectedEliminates important freight rail corridor

9 Reroute Rail Traffic / Convey Existing Bridge RejectedEliminates important freight rail corridor


Alt. 1—No Build/Maintenance/

• Required by SEQRA

R t i i ti b id f il• Retain existing bridge for rail operations with routine maintenance

• Does not meet need for Project: – Speed and weight restrictions and need for extensive maintenance remain

Jeopardizes viability of Southern– Jeopardizes viability of Southern Tier route; may ultimately become unusable and have to be taken out of service


Alt. 4—New Bridge / Remove Existing Bridgeg g g

• Build new bridge, 75 feet h f i i b idsouth of existing bridge

• Allow for 35 mph train operations

• Remove existing bridgeg g

• Open views of gorge

• Realign Park Road• Realign Park Road

• Replace Highbridge ki l tparking lot


Alt. 4—New Bridge / Remove Existing Bridgeg g g


Alt. 5—New Bridge / Convey Existing Bridgeg / y g g

• Build new bridge, 75 feet h f i i b idsouth of existing bridge

• Allow for 35 mph train operations

• Convey existing bridge to y g ga suitable owner

• Realign Park RoadRealign Park Road

• Replace Highbridge parking lotparking lot


Alt. 5—New Bridge / Convey Existing Bridgeg / y g g


Construction Stages: Rock Excavationg


Construction Stages: Bridge Structureg g


Construction Stages: Completiong p


Environmental AnalysisChris CalvertAKRF, Inc.AKRF, Inc.

Environmental Analysis

DEIS ConclusionsTopic No Impact Impact

Social Conditions ●

Economic Conditions ●

Wetlands ●

Surface Waterbodies and Watercourses ●Surface Waterbodies and Watercourses ●

Wild and Scenic Rivers ●

Navigable Waters ●Navigable Waters ●

Floodplains ●

Coastal Resources ●

Groundwater, Aquifers, and Reservoirs ●

Stormwater Management ●

General Ecology and Wildlife Resources ●

Critical Environmental Areas ●


DEIS ConclusionsTopic No Impact Impact

Historic and Cultural Resources ●

Parklands and Recreational Resources ●

Visual Resources ●

F l dFarmlands ●

Air Quality ●

Energy and Greenhouse Gases ●Energy and Greenhouse Gases ●

Noise ●

Asbestos ●

Hazardous Waste and Contaminated Materials ●

Construction Effects ●

Indirect Effects ●

Cumulative Effects ●


WetlandsImpact

Filling of 0.05‐acre freshwater gwetland near parking area

MitigationMitigation

Implement permit conditions, if any, to be set by U.S. Army Corps of Engineersof Engineers


Surface Waterbodies and WatercoursesImpacts

• Potential erosion and sediment loading into Genesee River

• If bridge piers are removed, river habitats could be disturbed

Mitigation

• Implement a Stormwater Pollution• Implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

• If existing piers are removed, obtain the required permits andobtain the required permits and implement suitable mitigation, such as turbidity curtains, pursuant to permit requirementspursuant to permit requirements


General Ecology and Wildlife ResourcesgyImpact

Removal of approximately 3 acres of forested habitat and disturbance of 1.1 acres pp yof cliff habitat

MitigationMitigation

• Implement a tree planting and revegetation program

• Establish an invasive species control program


Historic and Cultural ResourcesImpacts

• Removal (Alternative 4) or alteration ( )(Alternative 5) of the existing Portageville Bridge

• Alteration or removal of historic park pfeatures:

– Park Road

– Highbridge Parking AreaHighbridge Parking Area

– Stone walls and steps

– Relocation of trailheads of Gorge and Mary Jemison Trailsand Mary Jemison Trails


Historic and Cultural ResourcesMitigation

• Documentation of the Portageville B id d th ff t d hi t iBridge and other affected historic resources

• An interpretive kiosk with text and h t h t d t th hi tphotographs to document the history,

design, and use of the Portageville Bridge

F Alt ti 4 l f t f th• For Alternative 4, salvage features of the bridge for display or use in Letchworth State Park

R t f t ll f• Reuse stone from stone walls for replacement walls, to the extent feasible

• Use an appropriate paint color for the b id d l f li dnew bridge and apply form liners and

coloring to surfaces of all approach piers and abutment stems to resemble rock


Parks and Recreational ResourcesImpacts

• Acquisition of approximately 2.8 acres of parkland for the new right‐of‐wayq pp y p g y

• Relocation of park features, including Park Road, the Highbridge Parking Area, and portions of two trails


Parks and Recreational ResourcesMitigation

• Realign Park Road and construct new, expanded replacement parkingg , p p p g

• Replace a portion of the Mary Jemison Trail and a portion of the Gorge Trail, including its stone steps and stone walls

• Upgrade the entrance booth at the Castile Entrance to the parkUpgrade the entrance booth at the Castile Entrance to the park


Section 6(f)( )• Applies to parkland that received funding by the U.S. Land and Water Conservation

Fund Act; required for replacement of parkland used for Portageville Bridge Project

I l d P k t b tl t d t t t ti d t b• Includes Park areas to be permanently converted to transportation use and areas to be used during construction for more than 6 months

• National Park Service will make NEPA findings based on the SEQRA EIS

Total Conversion Area3.6 acres:2.8 acres permanent0 8 acres temporary0.8 acres temporary(for more than 6 months)

Total Replacement Area2.1 acres

Temporary conversion will be returned to park use fafter construction (total use

of less than 3 years)


Visual ResourcesImpacts

• Under Alternative 4, removal of the existing bridge would result in an adverse , g gimpact on visual resources in Letchworth State Park

• Under Alternative 5, two bridges side by side would result in an adverse impact on visual resources in Letchworth State Parkp

Alternative 4: New Bridge / Remove Existing Bridge

Alternative 5: New Bridge / Convey Existing Bridge


Visual ResourcesMitigation

• Align the new bridge to be parallel and close to the existing bridge location g g p g grather than introducing a new bridge elsewhere in the park

• Use an arch bridge to avoid obstructing views in the gorge

• Plant new vegetation to selectively screen portions of the new bridgePlant new vegetation to selectively screen portions of the new bridge structure

• Select an appropriate bridge color: an earth‐tone color would blend in more with the surrounding landscape than other colorswith the surrounding landscape than other colors

• Use tinted shotcrete and/or a metal mesh curtain on newly exposed rock areas of the gorge that must be excavated for the Project, to minimize the visibility of the excavationvisibility of the excavation

• Use form liners and coloring on the surfaces of all approach piers and abutment stems to resemble rock

• Consult with OPRHP with respect to the re creation of park features that must• Consult with OPRHP with respect to the re‐creation of park features that must be relocated for construction of the new bridge, such as stone walls at the Highbridge Parking Area and trailheads for the Mary Jemison and Gorge Trails


Wild and Scenic RiversImpact

• The bridge spans the Genesee River, a NYS Scenic River and a federal Wild and Scenic Study RiverScenic Study River

Mitigation

• Undertake consultation with the National Park Service

• Implement mitigation commitments for ecology and visual resources impacts


Construction EffectsImpacts

• Construction activities would temporarily• Construction activities would temporarily impact Letchworth State Park for a 3‐year period

• Cranes and other large equipment would be g q pvisible to park visitors

• The Portageville Entrance, a portion of Park Road, the Highbridge Parking Area, and a portion of the Gorge Trail and Mary Jemison Trail would be closed during construction; p g y g ;a portion of the Genesee Valley Greenway Trail would be closed occasionally

• Temporary use of parkland for construction staging

• Construction noise would be audible in the park, including at times at the Glen Iris Inn, its cottages, and at cabins within 1 mile

• Loss of 1.1 acres of shale cliff and talus community, which may be habitat for the rare coast creeping moss

l f d b f b ld l h b l h h• Potential for temporary disturbance to a pair of bald eagles that nest nearby, although they are already tolerant of frequent train noise


Construction EffectsMitigation

• Provide an upgraded entrance booth at the Castile Entrance to increase pgcapacity, to mitigate for the lack of access to the park through the Portageville Entrance

• Use measures during controlled blasting to minimize the size and volume of g grocks that may fall into the Genesee River

• Use drilled piles rather than driven piles to reduce noise

• Use erosion and sediment control measuresUse erosion and sediment control measures

• Use turbidity curtains or other control measures to limit effects on water quality if the piers of the existing bridge are removed in Alternative 4

• If dewatering is required conduct the discharge in accordance with applicable• If dewatering is required, conduct the discharge in accordance with applicable requirements


Construction EffectsMitigation (Continued)

• Obtain Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential disturbance to bald eagles and conduct construction in accordance with permit requirements

• Implement a Health and Safety Plan to protect workers p y p

• Implement measures to avoid accidental damage to park features near the construction zone, such as stone walls. Repair any such damage that occurs accidentallyy

• If the area on the east side of the river between Portageville Road and the existing railroad tracks is used as a staging area, take measures to avoid the potential for impacts to archaeological resourcesp p g

• Repair Park Road and Portageville Road once construction is complete


Property AcquisitionJoseph PicciottiHarris Beach PLLCHarris Beach PLLC

Right‐of‐Way Acquisition

Procedures and Process• Small area of parkland and private property to be acquired for new right‐of‐way

• Acquisition by Norfolk Southern in accordance with Section 6(f) process for parkland and NYS Eminent Domain Procedure Law (EDPL) and Railroad Law

• Acquisition will not displace residential property or businesses

• EDPL requires notice to property owners, public hearing concerning public purpose of d ff b d d l l d d facquisition, and an offer based on appraised value; EDPL also provides procedures if

parties do not agree on the purchase


ConclusionsRay Hessinger

New York State Department of TransportationNew York State Department of Transportation

DEIS Public Review Process and Next Steps

Schedule

December 17 ‐ 22, 2012

bli i f SPublic notice of DEIS

January 10, 2013

Public hearing

February 1, 2013

Comment period ends

Spring 2013

Publish FEIS and SEQRA Findings

Summer 2013

Begin construction


Viewing Locationsg

On‐line

d / ill b idwww.dot.ny.gov/portagevillebridge

RepositoriesN Y k S D f T i 50 W lf Rd Alb NY• New York State Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY

• New York State Department of Transportation, 1530 Jefferson Rd, Rochester, NY

• Letchworth State Park Visitors’ Center, Castile, NY

• Bell Memorial Library, 16 East St, Nunda, NY

• Mt. Morris Library, 121 Main St, Mount Morris, NY

• Cordelia A. Greene Library, 11 South Main St, Castile, NYCordelia A. Greene Library, 11 South Main St, Castile, NY

• Perry Public Library, 70 North Main St, Perry, NY

• Pike Library, 65 Main Street West, Pike, NY


Submission of Written Comments

By E‐mail

ill id @[email protected]

B M ilBy Mail

Raymond Hessinger

Director, Freight & Passenger Rail Bureau

NYSDOT

50 Wolf Road, POD 54

Albany, NY 12232

All comments are due by February 1, 2013

Public Comments

• Speaking order

Individuals who registered to speak– Individuals who registered to speak– Open the floor for any other comments

If l b f i di id l h i t d t• If a large number of individuals have registered to speak, NYSDOT and Norfolk Southern reserve the right to limit comments to three minutesto limit comments to three minutes

• Stenographer will record all comments

• Please begin by stating your name and organization for• Please begin by stating your name and organization for the record

• NYSDOT and Norfolk Southern will not be responding toNYSDOT and Norfolk Southern will not be responding to questions posed during public comment period tonight

SEQRA, EDPL, and Railroad Law Public Hearing

Submission of Written Comments

By E‐mail

ill id @[email protected]

B M ilBy Mail

Raymond Hessinger

Director, Freight & Passenger Rail Bureau

NYSDOT


Albany, NY 12232

All comments are due by February 1, 2013

For more information, please contact:

Raymond Hessinger

Director, Freight & Passenger Rail Bureau, g g

NYSDOT


Albany, NY 12232

(518) 457‐7331

[email protected]

2013-1-10 hearing presentation - final.ppt · portageville bridge project public hearing state...

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