The Tide: Hampton Roads Transit Light Rial

Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

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Table of Contents

Chapter Number

S.0 SUMMARY(839.83KB)........S-1

S.1 History of the Norfolk LRT Project........S-1

S.2 Purpose and Need.........S-3

S.3 Alternatives Considered.........S-6

S.4 Summary of Environmental Consequences........S-14

S.5 Financial Analysis and Investment Impacts..........S-26

S.6 Public Involvement.........S-31

S.7 SDEIS Comments and Responses........S-33

1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED(412.97KB).......1-1

1.1 Independent Utility and Logical Termini......1-3

1.2 Previous Planning Studies.......1-4

1.3 Study Area.......1-5

1.4 Goals and Objectives......1-11

1.5 Planning Context........1-14

1.6 Public Involvement Program Summary.........1-15

1.7 Role of the EIS in Project Development........1-15

2.0 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED(656.23KB)........2-1

2.1 No-Build Alternative...........2-1

2.2 Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative.......2-5

2.3 Preferred Alternative..........2-8

2.4 Capital Cost........2-18

2.5 Operating and Maintenance Costs.........2-21

3.0 LAND USE, COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY(576.42KB)...........3-1

3.1 Applicable Legal Authority.........3-1

3.2 Affected Environment........3-1

3.3 Environmental Impacts.........3-14

3.4 Mitigation Plan.......3-22

4.0 TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC AND PARKING(1.31MB).......4-1

4.1 Applicable Legal Authority........4-1

4.2 Affected Environment........4-1

4.3 Transportation Impacts.......4-9

4.4 Mitigation Plan(s)......4-39

5.0 NEIGHBORHOODS & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE(564.23KB).......5-1

5.1 Neighborhoods........5-1

5.2 Environmental Justice......5-4

Chapter Number

6.0 SOILS AND FARMLAND(126.01KB).........6-1

6.1 Applicable Legal Authority.......6-1

6.2 Affected Environment........6-1

6.3 Environmental Impacts........6-2

6.4 Mitigation Plan.........6-3

7.0 VISUAL IMPACTS ASSESSMENT(179.58KB).........7-1

7.1 Applicable Legal Authority.......7-1

7.2 Affected Visual Environment.......7-1

7.3 Visual Impacts.........7-4

7.4 Visual Impact Mitigation......7-8

8.0 AIR QUALITY(355.75KB)......8-1

8.1 Applicable Legal Authority..........8-1

8.2 Affected Environment.........8-3

8.3 Environmental Impacts......8-3

8.4 Mitigation Plan.......8-10

8.5 Conformity.......8-10

9.0 NOISE AND VIBRATION(1.99MB)......9-1

9.1 Noise............9-1

9.2 Ground-Borne Noise and Vibration.....9-23

10.0 ECOLOGY(159.21KB)............10-1

10.1 Applicable Legal Authority.......10-1

10.2 Affected Environment........10-1

10.3 Environmental Impacts............10-3

10.4 Mitigation Plan........10-5

11.0 WATER RESOURCES (326.98KB)........11-1

11.1 Applicable Legal Authority.......11-1

11.2 Affected Environment.........11-2

11.3 Environmental Impacts..........11-8

11.4 Mitigation Plan........11-10

Chapter Number

12.0 HISTORIC, CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES(249.37KB)....................12-1

12.1 Applicable Legal Authority..........12-1

12.2 Affected Environment.........12-3

12.3 Impacts.......12-9

12.4 Coordination..........12-11

13.0 PARKLANDS(166.20KB)..........13-1

13.1 Applicable Legal Authority...........13-1

13.2 Affected Environment.........13-1

13.3 Environmental Impacts............13-3

13.4 Mitigation.......13-4

14.0 SECTION 4(f) INVOLVEMENT(141.08KB).........14-1

14.1 Applicable Legal Authority............14-1

14.2 Identification and Evaluation of Section 4(f) Resources..........14-3

14.3 Recommended Mitigation of 4(f) Evaluation.......14-4

15.0 CONTAMINATION(517.64KB)............15-1

15.1 Applicable Legal Authority...............15-1

15.2 Affected Environment.......15-2

15.3 Environmental Impacts..........15-7

15.4 Mitigation Plan.........15-10

16.0 ENERGY USE(167.59KB)..........16-1

16.1 Applicable Legal Authority...........16-1

16.2 Regional Transportation System Energy Use..........16-1

17.0 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS(271.55K).........17-1

17.1 Overview of Construction Activities.........17-1

17.2 Construction Impacts and Mitigation............17-2

18.0 SAFETY AND SECURITY(143.92KB)...........18-1

18.1 Applicable Legal Authority...........18-1

18.2 Affected Environment...........18-2

Chapter Number

19.0 RELATED PROJECTS AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS(230.96KB).........19-1

19.1 Applicable Legal Authority.........19-1

19.2 Affected Environment........19-1

19.3 Environmental Consequences.......19-4

19.4 Mitigation Measures.......19-5

20.0 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS(557.50KB)..........20-1

20.1 Financial Planning Process and Structure.......20-1

20.2 Sources and Uses of Funds Analysis ...........20-4

20.3 Cash Flow Analysis.....20-15

20.4 Risks and Uncertainties............20-19

21.0 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES(1,022.59KB).......21-1

21.1 Evaluation Methodology.........21-1

21.2 Evaluation against the Goals and Objectives of the Project.......21-2

21.3 Section 5309 New Starts Evaluation Process........21-31

22.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT & REQUIRED PERMITS / APPROVALS(476.18KB)........22-1

22.1 Public Involvement Plan...........22-1

22.2 Participation Program Activities.........22-2

22.3 Required Permits and Approvals........22-11

23.0 SDEIS COMMENTS AND RESPONSES(909.06KB)........23-1

23.1 Comment Letters Received on the DEIS........23-1

23.2 3:00 pm Public Hearing Comments..........23-4

23.3 7:00 pm Public Hearing Comments........23-5

23.4 Response to Comments........23-7

24.0 LIST OF PREPARERS(201.64KB)........24-1

24.1 Organizations..........24-1

24.2 Individual Preparers.........24-1

25.0 DISTRIBUTION(156.34KB).........25-1

25.1 Legislators........25-1

25.2 Public Agencies.......25-2

25.3 Other Agencies/Organizations............25-3

25.4 Interested Parties.........25-4

Chapter Number

26.0 GLOSSARY/LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS(183.95KB)............26-1

26.1 Glossary.........26-1

26.2 List of Abbreviations..........26-7

27.0 TECHNICAL REPORTS, SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, AND RELATED STUDIES(160.74KB)........27-1

27.1 Technical Reports........27-1

27.2 Related Reports and Studies..........27-2

APPENDIX A MOUs AND CORRESPONDENCE(7.80MB).........A-1

A.1 Memoranda of Understanding............A-3

A.2 Letters of Support..........A-39

A.3 Correspondence & Agency Concurrence..........A-53

A.4 Memoranda of Agreement..........A-95

APPENDIX B SELECTION OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENT(435.75KB)............B-1

B1.0 History/Background of the Norfolk LRT Project.............B-1

B2.0 Scoping Alignment Options.............B-2

B3.0 Screening of Alignment Options..........B-6

B4.0 Selection of LRT Build Alternative............B-11

B5.0 Analysis of Additional East End Options...........B-15

B6.0 Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Facility Site Selection..........B-17

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Number

S-1 Old and New LRT Alignment.........S-2

S-2 LRT Project Study Area.........S-8

1-1 Old and New LRT Alignment.........1-2

1-2 Change in Station Area Population.........1-6

1-3 Change in Station Area Employment...........1-8

1-4 Year 2020 Traffic Conditions, LOS D Roadways...........1-10

1-5 Hampton Roads Regional Rail System..............1-10

2-1 No-Build Alternative Highway Improvements..........2-2

2-2 No-Build Alternative Transit Improvements..........2-2

2-3 TSM Alternative Transit Routes..........2-6

2-4 SDEIS LRT Alignment & FEIS Preferred Alternative LRT Alignment..........2-10

2-5 Concept Site Plan – Medical Center Station Site.......2-12

2-6 Concept Site Plan – York Street Station Site...........2-12

2-7 Concept Site Plan – Monticello Ave. Station Site..........2-12

2-8 Concept Site Plan – Plume Street Station Site............2-12

2-9 Concept Site Plan – Government Center Station Site..........2-12

2-10 Concept Site Plan – Harbor Park Station Site.........2-12

2-11 Concept Site Plan – Norfolk State University Station Site........2-12

2-12 Concept Site Plan – Ballentine Boulevard Station Site..........2-14

2-13 Concept Site Plan – Ingleside Station Site.........2-14

2-14a Concept Site Plan – Military Highway Station Site, Opening Year...........2-14

2-14b Concept Site Plan – Military Highway Station Site, Full Build-Out.........2-14

2-15 Concept Site Plan – Newtown Road Station Site...........2-14

2-16 Typical Center & Side Platform Design.........2-14

2-17 Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Facility............2-14

2-18 Low-Floor Light Rail Vehicle..........2-14

2-19 Traction Powered Substations...........2-16

2-20a LRT Bus Feeder System, Norfolk Area........2-16

2-20b LRT Bus Feeder System, Downtown Area Routes........2-16

3-1 Land Use - Medical Center/York Street Station Sites..........3-4

3-2Land Use - Norfolk CBD Station Sites..........3-4

3-3 Land Use - Norfolk State University Station Site......3-4

3-4 Land Use - Ballentine Boulevard Station Site..........3-4

3-5 Land Use - Ingleside Station Site............3-4

3-6 Land Use - Military Highway Station Site.........3-4

3-7 Land Use – Newtown Road Station Site..........3-4

3-8 Study Area Census Tracts.........3-10

3-9 Community Facilities.......3-12

3-10 Proposed Development Concept – Plume Street Station Site..........3-22

3-11 Proposed Development Concept – Military Highway Station Site.............3-22

3-12 Replacement Housing Values..........3-24

LIST OF FIGURES (continued)

Figure Number

4-1 At-Grade Crossings & Potential Road Closures...........4-20

4-2 Recommended Roadway and Driveway Closures..........4-44

4-3 Recommended Roadway and Driveway Closures ............4-44

4-4 Recommended Roadway and Driveway Closures................4-44

4-5 Recommended Roadway and Driveway Closures ...........4-44

4-6 Areas of Removal and Relocation of On-street Parking Spaces............4-48

4-7 Areas of Removal and Relocation of On-street Parking Spaces........4-48

4-8 Areas of Removal and Relocation of On-street Parking Spaces.......4-48

5-1 Study Area Neighborhoods..........5-2

5-2 Low Income and Minority Census Block Groups.........5-6

7-1 Photo Key Map.........7-2

7-2 Visual Impacts Assessment – EVMC to Monticello Avenue..............7-2

7-3 Visual Impacts Assessment – Monticello Avenue to Plume Street...........7-2

7-4 Visual Impacts Assessment – Government Center to NSU..............7-4

7-5 Visual Impacts Assessment – Ballentine Blvd. to Broad Creek.........7-4

7-6 Visual Impacts Assessment – Military Highway to Newtown Road.........7-4

7-7 Typical Station Platform Images............7-6

7-8 Concept Image of Elevated Station at NSU.............7-6

7-9 Concept Image of Monticello Avenue Station.........7-6

7-10 Concept Image of Ingleside Station.............7-6

7-11 Concept Image of Newtown Road Station................7-8

7-12 Concept Image of VSMF at NSU.............7-8

9-1 Typical A-weighted Sound Levels..........9-2

9-2 Noise Impact Criteria for Category 1, 2 or 3 Sites.........9-4

9-3 Noise Monitoring Locations............9-8

9-4 Impacted Noise Sensitive Receptors.............9-20

11-1 Resource Protection Areas.............11-2

11-2 Floodplains........11-4

11-3 Approximate Wetland Locations............11-6

11-4 Wetland Impacts – Ohio Creek..........11-10

11-5 Wetland Impacts – Moseley Creek......11-10

11-6 Wetland Impacts – Broad Creek...........11-10

11-7 Wetland Impacts – Military Highway...........11-10

11-8 Wetland Impacts – Mill Creek.........11-10

13-1 Parklands..........13-2

13-2 Proposed Elizabeth River Trail Alignment......13-2

15-1 Potentially Impacted Known Contaminated Sites and Underground Storage Tanks........15-8

LIST OF FIGURES (continued)

Figure Number

B-1 Preferred Alternative Alignment..........B-4

B-2 Phase II Screening Results – West End Options..........B-8

B-3 Phase II Screening Results – Downtown Options..........B-8

B-4 Phase II Screening Results – East End Options..........B-10

B-5 LRT Alignment Scenario One – Freemason District to Military Highway...........B-12

B-6 LRT Alignment Scenario Two – Freemason District to Kempsville Road............B-12

B-7 LRT Alignment Scenario Three – Freemason District to Military Circle Center........B-12

B-8 LRT Alignment Scenario Four – EVMC to Military Highway..............B-12

B-9 LRT Alignment Scenario Five – EVMC to Kempsville Road...........B-12

B-10 LRT Alignment Scenario Six – EVMC to Military Circle Center......B-12

B-11 I-64/I-264 Ramp to Kempsville Road Option........B-16

B-12 Kempsville Road, East Side Alignment Options........B-16

B-13 West Side of Kempsville Road at Church Parking Lot Option..........B-16

B-14 Final FEIS Preferred Alternative Alignment.........B-16

B-15 Vehicle Maintenance and Storage Facility Options..........B-18

LIST OF TABLES

Table Number Page Number

S-1 Summary of Station Characteristics..........S-9

S-2 Station Boarding Summary, Year 2026 Average Weekday Boardings........S-13

S-3 Vehicle Miles Traveled, Year 2026 Annual VMT........S-14

S-4 Summary of Environmental Impacts........S-15

S-5 Impacts to Minority and Low-Income Communities.........S-19

S-6 TSM Alternative Capital Cost Estimate...........S-27

S-7 Preferred Alternative Cost Estimate.........S-27

S-8 Horizon Year, 2026, Summary of Southside O & M Costs ........S-28

S-9 Sources and Uses of LRT Capital Funds...........S-29

S-10 Sources of Non-LRT Capital Funds..........S-30

S-11 HRT Operating Plan Summary over 20 years...........S-31

1-1 City of Norfolk Land Use Patterns.............1-6

1-2 City of Norfolk, Population Change..............1-7

1-3 City of Norfolk, Employment Change..........1-7

1-4 Full and Part-Time Employees by Major Industry by Place of Work, 2000........1-8

1-5 Proposed Improvements to Streets and Highways in Norfolk..........1-9

2-1 Summary of Recommended Station Characteristics..............2-10

2-2 TSM Alternative Cost Estimate..........2-19

2-3 Preferred Alternative Cost Estimate..........2-20

2-4 NET O&M Cost Model..........2-23

2-5 Horizon Yr. 2026, Annual Southside Operating Statistics..........2-25

2-6 Horizon Yr. 2026, Summary of Southside O & M Costs ........2-26

3-1 Existing Zoning at Proposed Station Locations.........3-2

3-2 Population Characteristics, 2000........3-9

3-3 Housing Characteristics, 2000..........3-10

3-4 Labor Force, Income and Disability Characteristics, 2000........3-11

3-5 Primary Choice of Travel to Work, 2000.................3-12

3-6 Households without Access to Cars, 2000..........3-12

3-7 Community Facilities...........3-13

3-8 Preferred Alternative Displacements.........3-19

4-1 Roadway Functional Classification..........4-3

4-2 City of Norfolk Year 2000 Average Daily Traffic (ADT)..........4-4

4-3 City of Norfolk Year 2000 Signalized Intersection LOS and Average Vehicular Delay........4-6

4-4 City of Norfolk ADT, No-Build, TSM and Preferred Alternatives.........410

4-5 Comparison of Year 2000 and 2026 Signalized Intersection LOS & Average Delay.......4-12

4-6 Traffic Impacts at Station Locations........4-14

4-7 Grade Separation Threshold Levels for Grade Crossings in the AM Peak Hour.........4-18

4-8 Grade Separation Threshold Levels for Grade Crossings in the PM Peak Hour.......4-19

4-9 Results of Grade Crossing Analysis.......4-20

4-10 On-Street Parking Spaces Displaced by the LRT Operation......4-22

4-11 Surface Lot and Garage Parking Spaces, Access Affected by LRT Operation........4-23

4-12 Access to Service/Delivery Areas Affected by LRT Operation...........4-24

4-13 No-Build Alternative Operating Characteristics........4-26

4-14 TSM Alternative Operating Characteristics.......4-27

4-15 Preferred Alternative LRT Travel Time Estimates........4-28

4-16 Horizon Year (2026) Operating Characteristics..........4-28

4-17 Comparison of Alternatives, Bus Horizon Year (2026) Operating Characteristics........4-29

4-18 Comparison of Alternatives, NET Horizon Year (2026) Operating Characteristics.......4-29

4-19 Station Boarding Summary, HBW, HBO, NHB Purposes.........4-33

4-20 Station Boarding Summary, Other Purposes......4-34

4-21 Station Boarding Summary, Peak and Off-Peak.......4-34

4-22 Station Boarding Summary, Peak Hour.........4-35

4-23 New Riders Summary, Year 2026, Average Weekday Linked Trips.......4-35

4-24 Line Loads – Peak Period, Year 2026 Average Weekday Line Loads (O-D).......4-36

4-25 Line Loads – Peak Hour, Year 2026 Average Weekday Line Loads (O-D).........4-36

4-26 Travel Time Savings/User Benefits.........4-37

4-27 Year 2026 Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled........4-38

5-1 Demographic Composition by Census Block Group, 2000, LRT Project Corridor........5-7

5-2 Low Income Populations by Census Block Group, 2000........5-8

5-3 Occupied Housing Units without Access to Cars........5-9

5-4 Impacts to Minority and Low-Income Communities..........5-10

8-1 National Ambient Air Quality Standards.........8-2

8-2 Air Quality Trends in the City of Norfolk........8-3

8-3 Year 2026 Regional Air Quality Impact Analysis and Results, Relative to the No-Build Alternative..........8-5

8-4 Intersection Screening Results.......8-6

8-5 Year 2026 Background CO Level Computations........8-8

LIST OF TABLES (continued)

Table Number Page Number

8-6 Year 2026 Maximum Predicted CO Computations..........8-9

9-1 Sources of Transit Noise for LRT.......9-3

9-2 Noise Levels Defining Impact for Transit Projects..........9-4

9-3 Noise Sensitive Receptors........9-6

9-4 Monitored Existing Noise Levels (dBA)........9-8

9-5 Assumptions for LRT Operations........9-10

9-6 Bus Traffic Volumes at LRT Stations.........9-11

9-7 Summary of Noise Impacts......9-14

9-8 Noise Mitigation Summary........9-22

9-9 Criteria for Impact for Human Annoyance and Interference to Use of Vibration Sensitive Equipment.......9-24

9-10 Distance Criteria for Vibration Screening Procedure..............9-25

9-11 Vibration Sensitive Receptors......9-26

9-12 Vibration Impact Assessment........9-30

11-1 Surface Watercourse Summary.......11-3

11-2 Summary of Wetland Characteristics and Estimated Impacts..........11-7

12-1 Previously Recorded Architectural Resources.........12-9

12-2 Summary of Architectural Resources Affected by the Project.....12-10

14-1 Architectural Resources Affected by the Project.......14-4

15-1 Environmental Database Report Summary.......15-3

15-2 Known Contaminated Sites........15-4

15-3 Other Sources of Hazardous Waste........15-6

15-4 Potentially Impacted Hazardous Waste Sites........15-8

15-5 Property Acquisitions........15-9

16-1 Year 2026 Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled..........16-1

16-2 Change in Regional Energy Consumption........16-3

17-1 Typical Construction Equipment Noise Emission Levels at 50 Feet......17-6

17-2 Acceptable Construction Noise Levels........17-7

17-3 Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment (From Measured Data).....17-8

17-4 Potentially Impacted Hazardous Waste Sites........17-12

19-1 Proposed Improvements to Streets and Highways in Norfolk.........19-4

19-2 Potential Cumulative Effects.........19-6

20-1 Sources of LRT Capital Funds.......20-4

20-2 Uses of LRT Capital Funds........20-8

20-3 Sources of Non-LRT Capital Funds..........20-9

20-4 Uses of Non-LRT Capital Funds.......20-11

20-5 Operating Sources and Uses of Funds.........20-13

 

LIST OF TABLES (continued)

Table Number

20-6 LRT and Non-LRT Operating and Maintenance Costs.........20-15

20-7 HRT 20-Year Cash Flow Analysis........20-16

21-1 Station Boarding Summary – All Markets......21-4

21-2 Year 2026 Annual Vehicle Miles of Travel.......21-4

21-3 Travel Time Savings/User Benefits.........21-5

21-4 City of Norfolk Year 2026 Signalized Intersection LOS and Average Vehicular Delay.......21-6

21-5 Cost-Effectiveness (Incremental Cost per Incremental Travel Time Savings)........21-9

21-6 Summary of Station Characteristics..........21-10

21-7 Summary of Environmental Impacts......21-17

21-8 Impacts to Minority and Low-Income Communities......21-20

21-9 TSM Alternative Cost Estimate........21-27

21-10 Preferred Alternative Cost Estimate........21-28

21-11 Horizon Year 2026, Summary of Southside O&M Costs.........21-29

21-12 Norfolk LRT Project Financial Plan Summary over 20 years...........21-30

21-13 HRT Operating Plan Summary over 20 years.....21-31

21-14 New Starts Mobility Improvements Criteria.........21-33

21-15 New Starts Environmental Benefits Criteria..........21-34

21-16 Operating Efficiencies Criteria.......21-35

21-17 Cost Effectiveness Criteria..........21-35

21-18 Local Financial Commitment Criteria........21-37

22-1 Scoping Meeting Participation.........22-2

22-2 Public Hearing Meeting Participation......22-3

22-3 Norfolk LRT Project Meetings/Workshops.......22-7

22-4 Permits.........22-11

Appendix B

B-1 Phase One Screening of Alignment Options.........B-7

B-2 Phase Two Screening of Alignment Options.......B-10

B-3 Additional East End-of-Line Options, Impacts & Issues.......B-16

B-4 Evaluation of VSMF Site Options..........B-18