chicago to joliet high-speed rail (hsr) tier 2 ... · 2014 scoping meetings mid 2014 late 2014...
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Thank you for attending tonight’s meetingfor the
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail (HSR) Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
WELCOME!
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
At tonight’s meeting, which is being held in an open house format, attendees will:
• Learn about the Chicago to Joliet HSR Tier 2 EIS Project• Meet the Study Team• Provide input
Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting
Study Overview 11STATION
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
A phased environmental review used in the development of complex projects. • Tier 1 EIS addresses broad, corridor-level issues and alternatives• Tier 2 EIS addresses individual component projects of the Selected Alternative from the Tier 1 EIS in more detailThe Chicago to Joliet HSR Tier 2 EIS represents one of the Tier 2 projects that were identified in the Chicago to St. Louis Tier 1 EIS to be studied in greater detail. It will evaluate high-speed rail passenger service along the Metra Rock Island District line.
Tiered EIS Process
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
EIS Process
Scoping – coordination with agencies and the general public to initiate the environmental review process; present the project purpose and need under consideration; encourage public participation in determining the scope of the environmental review; and to identify the potential range of alternatives.
Record of Decision (ROD) – documents the identification of a Selected Alternative by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) based on its ability to address the project’s purpose and need, impacts, costs, and public and agency comments.
Purpose and Need – identification of existing and future transportation needs and how the project will address these needs (i.e., project purpose).
Preliminary Alternatives Screening – development and screening of a range of preliminary alternatives to be carried forward for more detailed analysis in the Draft EIS.
Alternative Analysis and Environmental Studies – a more detailed evaluation of the preliminary alternatives that were carried forward into the Draft EIS using established evaluation criteria.
Draft EIS – documents the impacts of the project alternatives for public and agency review and comment.
Final EIS – documents the responses to public and agency comments on the Draft EIS and identifies a Preferred Alternative.
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping is a part of the EIS process through which a federal agency describes a proposed action and possible alternatives and seeks input from the public and other agencies on potentially affected resources, environmental issues to be considered, and the agency’s planned approach to analysis. The scoping meeting aims to: • Initiate the environmental review process• Present the preliminary project purpose and need• Encourage public participation in determining the scope of the environmental review• Identify the potential range of alternatives
What is Scoping?
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
The Tier 2 EIS will evaluate impacts for the following:Socioeconomic Resources• Land Use• Population/Employment• Environmental Justice (Low Income and Minority Populations)• Residential and Commercial Displacements• Community Services• FarmlandNatural Resources• Wetlands• Water Quality/Resources• Threatened and Endangered Species• Vegetation and WildlifePublic Parks and Recreation Areas/Section 4(f)FloodplainsSpecial WasteVisual and AestheticsNoise and VibrationTraffic/TransportationAir QualityEnergyCultural Resources/Section 106 and Section 4(f)• Historic Properties• Archaeological Sites
Environmental Impacts
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Potential Range of Alternatives
Passenger Round Trips Per Day
Route
Operating Speed
Rail Infrastructure Improvements
Grade Crossing Improvements
Station Upgrades
New HSR Station
Feature No Build Alternative Build Alternative
5 Increases in frequencies will be considered and evaluated.
Use existing route (along Canadian National/Metra Heritage Corridor Route).
Use Metra Rock Island District Route.
Up to 79 mph Up to 110 mph will be considered and evaluated.
None
To be considered and evaluated: additional mainline tracks/sidings, 21st Street Bridge, St. Charles Air Line Connection, 40th Street Connection, CN/EJ&E Railroad Flyover, Joliet Connection.
NoneGrade crossing warning device improvements and new grade separations will be considered and evaluated as part of the Build Alternative.
None. (Joliet Union Station improvements/modifications are planned as part of a separate project.)
Safety improvements to existing Metra Stations will be considered and evaluated to accommodate HSR through traffic.
NoneA new HSR station or improvements to an existing Metra Station to accommodate HSR service will be considered and evaluated.
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Project Schedule
* The Public Hearings will be held following the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS and during the 45-day public comment period.
Notice of Intent (NOI)
EnvironmentalStudies and Alternative Analysis
Prepare Draft EIS
Prepare Final EISand ROD
Early2014
ScopingMeetings
Mid2014
Late2014
Early2015
Mid2015
PublicMeetings
PublicHearings*
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
• 2004 Chicago-St. Louis HSR Project Record of Decision (ROD) Improvements limited to between Dwight and Alton Allows for trains to operate at 110 mph between Dwight and Alton Primarily included HSR upgrades to the existing single mainline track and at-grade crossings with the addition of some mainline tracks and sidings in limited areas This project is funded for construction. Construction began in 2010 and most of the infrastructure improvements have been completed to date
• 2011 Union Pacific Railroad Track Improvements Project from Joliet to Dwight EA Track upgrades (36 miles) to accommodate HSR, including eight miles of additional mainline track and two miles of additional siding Construction of these improvements began in 2012 and is ongoing
• 2012 Chicago to St. Louis HSR Tier 1 ROD Eight HSR round trips Additional mainline track through the entire corridor Identified Tier 2 projects, including the Chicago to Joliet HSR Tier 2 EIS
• 2012 Springfield Rail Improvements Project Tier 2 ROD Relocation of the existing Union Pacific freight and passenger rail corridor to a new location which would include the construction of two new mainline tracks, new grade separations, and the closure of some existing at-grade crossings. This project is currently in the final design phase.
Project History
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
St. Louis
Chicago
Pontiac
Dwight
Bloomington-NormalLincoln
Carlinville
Alton
Springfield
Summit
Joliet
New StationPlanned
New StationPlanned
New StationPlanned
Higher speed service began in this segment on November 22, 2012
Pedestrian crossing and second platform planned
StationRehabilitation
Planned
StationRehabilitation
Planned
New StationPlanned
Tier 2 EIS In Progress
Tier 2 EIS In Progress
Tier 2 EA In Progress
Springfield Flyover
Infra
stru
ctur
e in
pla
ce to
sup
port
spee
ds u
p to
110
mph
2012
- 20
15
2017
Chicago to St. LouisHSR Corridor Status
Purposeand Need 22
STATION
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Chicago to St. Louis Tier 1Purpose and Need
Purpose of the proposed Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail Program:
Enhance the passenger transportation network in the Chicago-St. Louis corridor
Improve high speed passenger rail service
Spur new private investment and tourism in station communities
Needs of the proposed Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail Program:
Inadequate capacity - single track restricts existing and projected passenger train traffic
Infrequent rail service - single track limits frequency of service
Travel times too long
Poor rail reliability - on-time performance for passenger service between Chicago and St. Louis has ranged from 38% (2007) to 75% (2010)
Aging infrastructure - poor condition of rail infrastructure limits speeds and travel times
Safety
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Chicago to Joliet Tier 2Preliminary Purpose and Need
Preliminary purpose of the proposed Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Project:
Same purpose as for the overall Chicago to St. Louis corridor
Enhance the passenger transportation network in the corridor
Improve high speed passenger rail service
Preliminary needs of the proposed Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Project:
Poor passenger rail reliability (i.e., on-time performance)
Infrequent rail service
Travel times too long
Inadequate capacity for expanded service
Alternative modes subject to unreliability due to congestion, weather, crashes, and construction
Safety
Vital link to the overall Midwest Regional Rail System
* The Purpose and Need is subject to change based on agency and public comment and as the project progresses.
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Chicago to Joliet HSR Tier 2Preliminary Purpose and Need
Measures of EffectivenessThe following measures of effectiveness (i.e., project goals) will be used to determine whether proposed project alternatives meet the project’s purpose and need.
Reduced travel times
Improved service reliability/on-time performance
Increased frequency of trips
Increased capacity
Increased percentage of travelers using passenger rail versus other modes of transportation
* The Purpose and Need is subject to change based on agency and public comment and as the project progresses.
Public Involvement and Next Steps 33
STATION
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Review Public and Agency Scoping Comments (Mid 2014)
Next Steps
Complete Environmental Surveys (Mid 2014)
Complete Preliminary Alternatives Evaluation (Mid 2014)
Hold Second Round of Public Meetings (Mid 2014)
Draft EIS / Public Hearings(Late 2014)
Final EIS / ROD(Mid 2015)
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Your Input Is Needed!
Here’s how you can be involved: Attend the public meetings and hearings and submit commentsVisit the project website and submit commentsSign up to receive project newslettersInvite IDOT to meet with your community
Contact Us: Website: www.idothsr.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/IllinoisHighSpeedRailPhone: 1-855-IDOT-HSR (436-8477)Mailing Address: Illinois Department of Transportation Attention: John Oimoen, Deputy Director, DPIT James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph Street, Suite 6-600 Chicago, Illinois 60601-3229
Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement
Section 106
Because the proposed Chicago to Joliet High-Speed Rail Project represents a
federal action/undertaking that could potentially impact historic properties, it
must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of
1966 (NHPA). The NHPA created the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
(ACHP) that developed regulations to implement Section 106, which are set
forth in 36 CFR Part 800.
Applies to Historic Properties
Listed on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)Eligible for NRHP or waiting to be evaluated
CriteriaHistory: property associated with significant history People: property associated with significant person in history Architecture: property representative of a type, period or method of construction Archaeology: property likely to yield important information in pre-history or history
ProcessIdentify and coordinate with Consulting Parties such as the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), Native American tribes, and any individuals or organizations with a demonstrated interest in the undertaking.Identify historic properties within the project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE) that are listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.Determine whether the project will have an adverse effect on historic properties.Develop a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that identifies measures to mitigate/minimize any adverse effects.
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