Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...
Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ... Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...
Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project FEIR Chapter 1.0: Changes Since the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Resolution of Additional Issues maintained for marine traffic. The bridge piers for both structures will be constructed in the same east-west alignment. The permanent bridge structures will increase vertical and horizontal clearance and there will be no adverse impacts to navigation. The project incorporates a Shared-Use Path as a means of providing increased transportation connectivity for alternative transportation modes and a connection to existing and planned bicycle/recreational trails within the project area. The Shared-Use Path will make a significant advancement in the Merrimack Valley region bicycle/trail network with connections to the Exit 57 Park-and-Ride lot in Newburyport through to the Ghost Trail in Salisbury (which connects to U.S. Route 1): Providing for the eventual hub connection to the Amesbury Powwow Riverwalk and Salisbury Point Ghost Trail; Providing connections to existing and planned trails; and Improving access to and interconnections between Moseley Woods and Maudslay State Park and other regional recreational resources. The incorporation of the Shared-Use Path will be consistent with the USDOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations (March 15, 2010) and MassDOT‘s GreenDOT initiatives policy. The cost to construct the path is estimated as $8.5 million. Impact on Abutters and Surrounding Community The project will improve an existing interstate highway and the surrounding developed area. No community changes will be associated with the project. The communities will gain an improved roadway with an additional lane of traffic and the construction of a Shared-Use Path for alternative modes of transportation. The project will improve regional mobility, improve safety by reducing the potential for crashes and fatalities, and shift through traffic from minor arterials and collector roads back onto the interstate. Since the project will be constructed entirely within the state highway layout, there will be no direct impact to any abutters. Enhancement to the Property In addition to providing a new 75-year bridge with adequate capacity for future traffic volumes, the project incorporates a Shared-Use Path as a means of providing increased transportation connectivity for alternative transportation modes and providing a connection to existing and planned bicycle/recreational trails within the project area. The Shared-Use Path will make a significant advancement in the Merrimack Valley region bicycle/trail network with connections to the Exit 57 Park-and-Ride lot in Newburyport through to the Ghost Trail in Salisbury (which connects to U.S. Route 1): Providing for the eventual hub connection to the Amesbury Powwow Riverwalk and Salisbury Point Ghost Trail; Providing connections to existing and planned trails; and Improving access to and interconnections between Moseley Woods and Maudslay State Park and other regional recreational resources. 1-58
Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project FEIR Chapter 1.0: Changes Since the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Resolution of Additional Issues The incorporation of the Shared-Use Path will be consistent with the USDOT Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations (March 15, 2010) and MassDOT‘s GreenDOT initiatives policy. Benefits to the Public Trust Rights in Tidelands or Other Associated Rights The project design includes three sets of piers for each bridge structure, totaling six piers in the Merrimack River for the northbound and southbound structures. There would be four spans or openings beneath both bridges, with the existing navigable federal and steamboat channels maintained for marine traffic. The bridge piers for both structures will be constructed in the same east-west alignment. The distance between the existing piers within the federal channel is approximately 280 feet, while distance between the proposed piers will provide a wider 360-foot opening beneath the bridge. Similarly for the steamboat channel, the opening will increase from approximately 200 feet between the piers to a width of 360 feet. 1.4.13 Stormwater Management Minor revisions have been incorporated into the proposed stormwater management system as a result of the coordination with MassDEP and in response to the various comments received during the wetlands permitting process. Additional documentation has been provided to the conservation commissions to demonstrate how the new development components of the project comply with the stormwater performance standards. Supporting information has also been provided to demonstrate how the redevelopment components of the project comply to the maximum extent practicable and improve existing conditions. MassDOT has also submitted additional documentation which demonstrates how the project qualifies for Low Impact Development (LID) disconnection credits for a small portion of the project in Salisbury. Additional recharge and detention provisions have been incorporated into the design for the portion of the project that is tributary to land in Amesbury referred to as the Golden Triangle. The bottom elevation of proposed recharge basins have been raised to provide the required separation distances between estimated seasonal high groundwater and the bottom of the basins. Check dams have been incorporated into the design of the water quality swales to induce additional recharge. Finally, MassDOT has prepared and submitted to the conservation commissions a project-specific Operation and Maintenance Plan (O&M) and Long Term Pollution Prevention Plan (LTPPP). A copy of the document is included in Appendix A. 1-59
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<strong>Whittier</strong> <strong>Bridge</strong>/I-<strong>95</strong> Improvement Project FEIR<br />
Chapter 1.0: Changes Since the Draft <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Report</strong> and Resolution of Additional Issues<br />
maintained for marine traffic. The bridge piers for both structures will be constructed in the same<br />
east-west alignment. The permanent bridge structures will increase vertical and horizontal clearance<br />
and there will be no adverse impacts to navigation.<br />
The project incorporates a Shared-Use Path as a means of providing increased transportation<br />
connectivity for alternative transportation modes and a connection to existing and planned<br />
bicycle/recreational trails within the project area. The Shared-Use Path will make a significant<br />
advancement in the Merrimack Valley region bicycle/trail network with connections to the Exit 57<br />
Park-and-Ride lot in Newburyport through to the Ghost Trail in Salisbury (which connects to U.S.<br />
Route 1):<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Providing for the eventual hub connection to the Amesbury Powwow Riverwalk and Salisbury<br />
Point Ghost Trail;<br />
Providing connections to existing and planned trails; and<br />
Improving access to and interconnections between Moseley Woods and Maudslay State Park<br />
and other regional recreational resources.<br />
The incorporation of the Shared-Use Path will be consistent with the USDOT Policy Statement on<br />
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations (March 15, 2010) and<br />
MassDOT‘s GreenDOT initiatives policy. The cost to construct the path is estimated as $8.5 million.<br />
<strong>Impact</strong> on Abutters and Surrounding Community<br />
The project will improve an existing interstate highway and the surrounding developed area. No<br />
community changes will be associated with the project. The communities will gain an improved<br />
roadway with an additional lane of traffic and the construction of a Shared-Use Path for alternative<br />
modes of transportation. The project will improve regional mobility, improve safety by reducing the<br />
potential for crashes and fatalities, and shift through traffic from minor arterials and collector roads<br />
back onto the interstate. Since the project will be constructed entirely within the state highway<br />
layout, there will be no direct impact to any abutters.<br />
Enhancement to the Property<br />
In addition to providing a new 75-year bridge with adequate capacity for future traffic volumes, the<br />
project incorporates a Shared-Use Path as a means of providing increased transportation<br />
connectivity for alternative transportation modes and providing a connection to existing and planned<br />
bicycle/recreational trails within the project area. The Shared-Use Path will make a significant<br />
advancement in the Merrimack Valley region bicycle/trail network with connections to the Exit 57<br />
Park-and-Ride lot in Newburyport through to the Ghost Trail in Salisbury (which connects to U.S.<br />
Route 1):<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Providing for the eventual hub connection to the Amesbury Powwow Riverwalk and Salisbury<br />
Point Ghost Trail;<br />
Providing connections to existing and planned trails; and<br />
Improving access to and interconnections between Moseley Woods and Maudslay State Park<br />
and other regional recreational resources.<br />
1-58