Environmental Impact Statement on the North-South Rail Link, Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, MA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration

Environmental Impact Statement on the North-South Rail Link,

Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, MA

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Massachusetts

Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) intend to prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) on the proposed rail link connecting North and South

Stations in Boston, Massachusetts. The FTA and the MBTA will prepare

the EIS so that it also satisfies the requirements of the Massachusetts

Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).

This effort will be performed in cooperation with the Massachusetts

Highway Department and the Executive Office of Transportation and

Construction.

The EIS/EIR will evaluate the following alternatives: A Build

alternative consisting of an underground rail link tunnel (with an

option of two or four tracks) connecting North and South Stations along

the Central Artery alignment, a No-Build alternative, and a

Transportation System Management alternative which will be identified

during the scoping process. Although the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

has elected to pursue the North-South Rail Link corridor within the

Central Artery alignment, the FTA is interested in receiving comments

regarding whether a rail link along the Congress Street alignment

should be included in the Major Investment Study (MIS). Scoping will be

accomplished through correspondence with interested persons,

organizations, and Federal, State and local agencies, and through

public meetings.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Written comments on the scope of alternatives

and impacts to be considered should be sent to the MBTA by April 24,

1995. See ADDRESSES below. Scoping Meeting: A joint FTA and MEPA public

scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 1995 at 2:00 p.m. at

the State Transportation Building. See ADDRESSES below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the project scope should be sent to Mr.

Andrew D. Brennan, Manager of Environmental Affairs, MBTA, 10 Park

Plaza, Room 6720, Boston, MA 02116. A Scoping Meeting will be held at

the following location: State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza,

Boston, MA 02116.

See DATES above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Beth Mello, Deputy Regional

Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Region 1, (617) 494-

2055.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

The FTA and MBTA invite written comments for a period of 45 days

after publication of this notice (See DATES and ADDRESSES above.)

During scoping, [[Page 12820]] comments should focus on identifying

specific social, economic, or environmental impacts to be evaluated,

and suggesting alternatives that are less costly or less

environmentally damaging which achieve similar objectives. Comments

should focus on the issues and alternatives for analysis, and not on a

preference for a particular alternative. Individual preference for a

particular alternative should be communicated during the comment period

for the Draft EIS.

If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further

information as the project continues, contact Mr. Andrew Brennan at the

MBTA (see ADDRESSES above).

II. Description of Study Area and Project Need

The proposed project consists of an approximately 3 mile rail

tunnel linking North and South Stations in Boston, Massachusetts. The

northern tunnel portals will be located to the north of the Gilmore

Bridge and west of the I-93 highway viaduct in Somerville,

Massachusetts. There will be two southern tunnel portals: one on the

southern side of the Massachusetts Turnpike between Harrison and

Shawmut Avenues, and the other in the vicinity of the railroad yard

south of the West Fourth Street Bridge in South Boston. Three

underground passenger stations are proposed: (1) At the existing South

Station, (2) near the MBTA Blue Line adjacent to the Aquarium Station,

and (3) between Haymarket and North Stations. The project will also

define options for creating regional MBTA rail service by combining the

two currently separate north and south side commuter rail networks.

The construction of the rail link tunnel will close the gap in

intercity rail service along the Atlantic seaboard, and will create a

unified rail system for metropolitan Boston by combining the two

currently separate north and south side commuter rail networks. This

will reduce rapid transit system congestion in downtown Boston,

increase operational capacity at South Station, and improve regional

air quality by diverting automobile trips to the rail system.

III. Alternatives

The alternatives proposed for evaluation include: (1) No-action,

which involves no change to existing rail facilities at North and South

Stations,

(2) construction of a rail link tunnel connecting North and South

Stations along the Central Artery alignment. A two-track and a four-

track tunnel option will be considered, and

(3) a transportation system management alternative that will be

identified during the scoping process.

Although the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has elected to pursue

the North-South Rail Link corridor within the Central Artery alignment,

the FTA is interested in receiving comments regarding whether a rail

link along the Congress Street alignment should be included in the MIS.

IV. Probable Effects

FTA and the MBTA will evaluate all significant environmental,

social, and economic impacts of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS.

Impacts include changes in the natural environment (air and water

quality, rare and endangered species), changes in the social

environment (land use and neighborhoods, noise and vibration,

aesthetics, park lands, historic/archeological resources), disposal of

excavated material, public safety and changes in rail service and

patronage. An operational analysis of combined north and south side

commuter rail networks will be performed and project capital and

operating costs and revenues will be estimated. The impacts will be

evaluated both for the construction period and for the long term period

of operation, and financial information in support of the MIS will be

provided. Measures to mitigate significant adverse impacts will also be

addressed.

Issued on: March 2, 1995.

Richard H. Doyle,

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 95-5587 Filed 3-7-95; 8:45 am]

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