Colonial Road Improvement Project - Environmental Assessment

Notice of Availability

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), are issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Colonial Road Improvement Project (the Project), located in the Village of Thomaston, Town of North Hempstead, Nassau County. 

PROPOSED ACTION
The EA evaluates the potential economic, social, and environmental effects of replacing the existing Colonial Road Bridge with a new structure, extending the existing railroad pocket track along the Port Washington Branch at Colonial Road to accommodate one additional 12-car train, and drainage improvements at the track level.  Associated railroad improvements will also include modifications/additions of utility relocations, crossovers, signal system, retaining walls, and new landscaping.

DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY
The EA and its appendices are available electronically:

• Environmental Assessment Volume I
  
• Environmental Assessment Volume II
  
• Environmental Assessment Volume III

Hard copies are available for review at the Great Neck Public Library – Station Branch, 26 Great Neck Road, Great Neck, NY, 11021, and at the LIRR offices in Jamaica (144-41 94th Avenue, Jamaica, Queens).  To review the EA at the LIRR offices, please contact Hector Garcia at 718-558-7305. 

COMMENTS
The deadline to submit comments is January 14, 2013.  Written comments may be submitted via post or e-mail to: 
Hector Garcia
Colonial Road Improvement Project                              
MTA Long Island Rail Road, MC 1131                
Jamaica Station Building                                      
Jamaica, NY  11435 
hgarcia@lirr.org
Phone calls may be directed to Hector Garcia @ 718-558-7305       

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS
The FTA is the lead federal agency under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as amended, and LIRR is the project sponsor.  The EA has been prepared pursuant to NEPA, in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR part 1500) and FTA’s Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR part 771). 
The EA also satisfies the requirements of the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), codified at Article 8 of the New York Environmental Conservation Law, and the implementing regulations codified at 6 NYCRR Part 617.