NOTICES
Finding
Philadelphia County
[41 Pa.B. 5044]
[Saturday, September 17, 2011]Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Director of the Bureau of Project Delivery as delegated by the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) is planning a project known as SR 0095, Section GR1 in the City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County. The project will relocate or reconstruct most of Richmond Street. Richmond Street will be relocated approximately 60 to 70 feet east, (measured from existing eastern most curbline to proposed eastern most curbline). Girard Avenue will also be reconstructed between Fletcher Street and Richmond Street. The project will include reconstruction of the Girard Avenue Bridge over northbound Aramingo Avenue, replacement of the four bridges carrying Conrail over relocated Richmond Street and construction of new retaining walls along Richmond Street.
Richmond Street will be reprofiled underneath the Conrail bridges to provide 14 feet, 6 inches under clearances to accommodate truck traffic under these structures. Associated detour route improvements will also be made such as temporary intersection improvements and signal retimings. This section also includes the SEPTA Route 15 Trolley relocation and associated catenary work and relocation of Conrail's Belt and Loop Lines. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities are present along Richmond Street. The pedestrian and bicycle facilities will be expanded under this project to include wider sidewalks and bike lanes. Appropriate pedestrian access will be provided by signalized crossings, refuge medians, signing, hand/man signals and visible pavement markings.
The project will also include the installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems devices such as dynamic message signs and closed circuit television cameras along the mainline and associated arterials between Broad Street and the Betsy Ross Bridge. Additionally, fiber connecting to the DVRPC infrastructure at the Commodore Barry Bridge will also be installed.
The proposed project will impact two contributing resources to the National Register Eligible Fishtown Historic District. The Section 4(f) resources that will be impacted by the proposed project are the I.P. Morris Co. Machine Shop 2 and the Standard Feather Company. The impacts described in the Section 4(f) Evaluation involve the acquisition and demolition of both Section 4(f) Resources. The project impacts resulted in an Adverse Effect determination.
In accordance with section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 establishing the Department, a Level 2 Categorical Exclusion Evaluation (CEE) has been developed for the subject project along with an Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation document to evaluate the potential environmental impacts caused by the subject project. The document also serves as the Section 2002 Evaluation.
Based upon studies, there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the proposed action. Mitigation measures will be taken to minimize harm as stipulated in the Level 2 CEE Reevaluation and Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation.
The environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 have been considered. It has been concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effects.
BRIAN G. THOMPSON, P.E.,
Director
Bureau of Project Delivery
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1616. Filed for public inspection September 16, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
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