b&p tunnel project · 2018-08-02 · b&p tunnel project consulting parties meeting #5 march...

B&P Tunnel ProjectConsulting Parties Meeting #5

March 23, 2016

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Project Status and Updates

NEPA Milestones

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Draft EIS: Completed December 2016

Public Open House: April 6 and 16, 2016

Initial response to DEIS comments Major themes of Noise, Air Quality, Vibration, Freight, Vent Plant Location

Present alternative refinements

Initiate mitigation discussion

Community Meetings: Summer 2016

Discuss potential mitigation for preferred alternative

Final EIS: October 2016

Record of Decision: March 2017

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Revised Project Build Alternatives

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Refinements to Project Build Alternatives Since DEIS

3A Revised

Refined to include narrower limits of disturbance. Track spacing narrowed near south portal.

3B Revised Refined to include narrower limits of disturbance. Revised alignment to narrow track spacing and reduce impacts to historic

properties near south portal.

3C

Refined to include narrower limits of disturbance. Alternative is being eliminated as a result of environmental impacts.

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South Portal – Alternative 3A Revised

South Portal – Alternative 3B (DEIS)

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South Portal – Alternative 3B Revised

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Alternative 3B Revised

South Portal – Alternative 3B Revised

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South Portal – Alternative 3C

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Alternatives Evaluation Process

The DEIS contained Alternative 3A, Alternative 3B, Alternative 3C, and a No‐Build Alternative (Alternative 1).

Each of the Build Alternatives was revised based on opportunities to reduce environmental impacts.

Alternative 3A Revised is still under consideration because it has the least impacts of the Build Alternatives.

Alternative 3B and Alternative 3C best meet the Project Purpose and Need and have two additional benefits compared to Alternative 3A:

• Better travel times• Superior West Baltimore MARC Station location and accessibility

Alternative 3B and Alternative 3C were compared and Alternative 3C has been eliminated.

Rationale for Eliminating Alternative 3C

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Alternative 3C was eliminated due to the following differences with Alternative 3B:

Alternative 3B Revised Alternative 3C

Capital Cost $4.0 billion $4.2 billion

Ward Baking Company building (historic property)

Building Avoided Demolished

Fire Department Engine Company No. 36 building (historic property)

Building Avoided Demolished

P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc. business and jobs

Minimal impact Substantial impact

Surface right‐of‐way required 12.0 acres 13.6 acres

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Intermediate Ventilation Plant Locations

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Intermediate Ventilation Plant Locations Considered

Potential Intermediate Ventilation Plant Locations: Whitelock Street

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Community GardenSouth side of Whitelock Street between Mason Alley and Brookfield Avenue

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Potential Intermediate Ventilation Plant Locations: W. North Avenue

Madison Park North Apartments850 W. North Avenue

Built in the early 1970s

Madison Park Medical Center920 W. North AvenueBuilt in circa 1970

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1940s (www.kilduffs.com)

The Madison Park Medical Center is located where this

block of rowhouses once stood

Madison Park Medical Center: Then and Now

Today

Both views look northwest toward the north side of W. North Avenue at Jordan Street

Intermediate Ventilation Plant Comparison

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Site Positive Negative920 W North Ave (Madison Park Medical Center)

Situated on periphery of Reservoir Hill neighborhood and historic district

No historic structure

Active businesses including medical facility, daycare, IT Company

Rowhome immediately adjacent Public perception of proximity to elementary school Greater cost relative to Whitelock St Longer distance of drill/blast relative to Whitelock St Drill/blast underneath homes Overall public perception unknown

850 W North Ave (Vacant Housing Complex)

Situated on periphery of Reservoir Hill neighborhood and historic district

All residential buildings vacant, could avoid use of Baltimore City Public Schools building

No homes immediately adjacent (roadway on all sides) No historic structures Large site, flexible boundaries Most of drill/blast could occur under Linden Ave ROW Potential for working in concert with private developer

to improve site

Public perception of proximity to elementary school Greater cost relative to Whitelock St Longer distance of Drill/Blast relative to Whitelock St Overall public perception unknown Uncertainty of availability of ROW due to developer

interest in site

Whitelock Street at Brookfield Ave (Community Garden)

Lowest cost Shortest distance of drill/blast Further from elementary school No structures, no historic building impact Recommended optimum location by Amtrak/PE

Situated in central area of Reservoir Hill neighborhood and historic district

Site occupied by community garden Substantial community opposition

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Public Comments from DEIS / Hearing

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DEIS Public Comments Summary

DEIS Comment Period ended February 26, 2016

Perceived potential for operational noise, vibration, air quality, property value impacts in Reservoir Hill

Intermediate vent plant: community farm, visual, noise, air quality impacts in Reservoir Hill

Questions on need for four tracks

General concern that low‐income and minority areas are targeted

Concerns about damage to historic houses/foundations due to vibration from construction and rail operations, questions about compensation for damage

Perception that the project will increase freight through the City and new tunnel, safety concerns for derailments or explosions

Support for better passenger rail service and new connections in Baltimore

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Effects on Historic Properties

Alternatives Evaluation

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* Contributing resources counted once per element; includes buildings and structural elements of historic districts

Criterion Alternative 3A (DEIS) Alternative 3A Revised Alternative 3B (DEIS) Alternative 3B Revised

Travel Time Savings over No‐Build (Min:Sec)

Acela: 1:56Regional: 1:46MARC: 1:26




Capital Cost Estimate (YOE $) $3.7 billion $3.8 billion $4.0 billion $4.0 billion

Surface Right‐of‐Way Acreage Required

7.8 acres 7.2 acres 17.1 acres 12.0 Acres

Number of Surface Parcels Impacted

10 9 100 51

Section 4(f) Properties Impacted 5+3 (No Use)

5+3 (No Use)

8(+2 No Use)(+3 De Minimis)

8(+1 No Use)(+2 De Minimis)

Likely Adverse Effects for Historic Properties *

6 (8 contributing elements impacted, including 2 demolitions)

6 (7 contributing elements impacted, including 1 demolition)

8 (83 contributing historic elements impacted, including 51 demolitions)

9 (62 contributing historic elements impacted, including 30 demolitions)

Area of Surface Disturbance within Historic District

14.2 Acres – Baltimore & Potomac Railroad and Midtown Edmondson Historic Districts

14.2 Acres – Greater Rosemont, Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, and Midtown Edmondson Historic Districts

25.3 Acres – Edmondson Avenue, Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, Greater Rosemont, and Midtown Edmondson Historic Districts

19.8 Acres – Baltimore & Potomac Railroad, Edmondson Avenue, Greater Rosemont, Midtown Edmondson Historic Districts

Residential Displacements 0 0 46 22Business Displacements 2 2 9 6Community Facility Displacements 0 0 5 4

Average Depth of Tunnel 130 feet 120 feet 130 feet 115 FeetPermanent On‐Street Parking spaces lost

0 0 150 85

ROW Impacts within Minority and Low Income Areas

Minority: 5.8 AcresLow Income: 0.9 Acres




Alternative 3B Section 106 Adverse Effects

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# Name MIHP/NR #NRHP Criteria 3A Revised 3B Revised

1Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Railroad

B‐5287 A and C

Direct Adverse Effect Limestone pier of the bridge over Jones Falls Valley (see directly below) demolished and/or relocated

Direct Adverse Effect Limestone pier of the bridge over Jones Falls Valley (see directly below) demolished and/or relocated

2Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Bridge over Jones Falls Valley

B‐5288 A and CDirect Adverse Effect Limestone pier demolished and/or relocated

Direct Adverse Effect Limestone pier demolished and/or relocated

3Baltimore & Potomac Railroad (Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad)

B‐5164 A and C

Direct Adverse Effect Railroad catenary lines removedand railroad track bed alignments widened

Direct Adverse Effect Railroad catenary lines removed; railroad track bed alignments widened; B&P Railroad Edmondson Avenue Station demolished; and direct effects to W. Mulberry Street Bridge, W. Franklin Street Bridge, and possibly N. Warwick Avenue Bridge

4 Reservoir Hill Historic District B‐1379 A and C

Direct and Indirect Adverse Effect Physical, visual, atmospheric, and audible changes to the streetscape and surrounding area, with the potential to diminish integrity

Direct and Indirect Adverse Effect Physical, visual, atmospheric, and audible changes to the streetscape and surrounding area, with the potential to diminish integrity

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Alternative 3B Section 106 Adverse Effects (cont.)

# Name MIHP/NR # NRHP Criteria

3A Revised 3B Revised

5Midtown Edmondson Historic District A and C

Direct Adverse Effect The American Stores Company Warehouse clipped and Bridge BC 2410 altered (see directly below for details)

Direct and Indirect Adverse Effect27 buildings demolished: including the rear building at the Atlas Safe Deposit and Storage Company Warehouse Complex and the lumber warehouse on Mosher Street2 bridges altered: Bridge BC 2410 (see directly below for details) and the Edmondson Avenue Bridge over Amtrak

6Bridge BC 2410 (Lafayette Avenue over Amtrak)

B‐4553 CDirect Adverse Effect Bridge superstructure elevated and substructure potentially modified

Direct and Indirect Adverse Effect Bridge superstructure elevated and substructure potentially modified

7Atlas Safe Deposit and Storage Company Warehouse Complex

B‐5188‐2 A and CDirect Adverse Effect The rear warehouse building demolished

8 Greater Rosemont Historic District B‐5112 A and C

Direct Adverse Effect 5 buildings demolished, including the B&P Railroad Edmondson Avenue Station and rowhouses

9 Edmondson Avenue Historic District B‐5187 A and CDirect Adverse Effect2 rowhouses demolished

TOTAL HISTORIC PROPERTIES WITH ADVERSE EFFECT6 9

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Minimization and Mitigation Measures

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Project Design Construction Protection Plans Documentation Interpretive Material and Education Community Preservation Efforts/Stabilization and Rehabilitation

In addition, stipulations would include additional Section 106 identification and evaluation efforts for archeology.

Section 106 Mitigation Ideas

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Advancing the Programmatic Agreement or Memorandum

of Agreement

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Next Steps

b&p tunnel project · 2018-08-02 · b&p tunnel project consulting parties meeting #5 march...

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