Environmental Impact Statement; Queens County, NY

Peter W. Osborn
Federal Highway Administration
1 June 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 104 (Thursday, June 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 25497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11303]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Queens County, NY

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for a proposed 
construction project known as the Van Wyck Expressway Capacity & Access 
Improvements to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport, in Queens County, New 
York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harold Fink, Deputy Chief Engineer, 
New York State Department of Transportation, Hunters Point Plaza 47-40 
21st Street, Long Island City, New York 11101, Telephone: (718) 482-
4683; or Peter W. Osborn, Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, New York Division, Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building, 7th 
Floor, Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12207, 
Telephone: (518) 431-4127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the New York 
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on a proposal to provide increased 
capacity on the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) between the Kew Gardens 
Interchange and JFK Airport.
    The Van Wyck Expressway is the major transportation corridor 
providing access to and from JFK Airport. JFK Airport is a major 
international gateway to the United States that handles 58.9 million 
passengers with over 400,000 aircraft operations annually. The Van Wyck 
Expressway also serves as the major route for commercial truck traffic 
to get to and from the airport. The project is needed to provide 
increased capacity on the Van Wyck Expressway to and from JFK Airport; 
improve operations and geometry of ramps within the identified project 
limits; and address structural deficiencies on the bridges within the 
project limits.
    The purpose of the project is to provide increased capacity on the 
Van Wyck Expressway between the Kew Gardens Interchange and JFK Airport 
to improve vehicular access to and from the airport. In addition, the 
project will address the operational, geometric, and structural 
deficiencies on the Van Wyck Expressway between the Kew Gardens 
Interchange and JFK Airport.
    A reasonable range of alternatives is currently being developed and 
will be refined during the NEPA scoping process in consideration of 
agency and public comments received.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to Cooperating and Participating Agencies. Public and agency 
outreach will include a formal public scoping meeting, a public 
hearing, and meetings with Cooperating and Participating Agencies. 
Public notice will be given of the date, time, and location of the 
scoping meeting and hearing. To assist in determining the scope of 
issues to be addressed and identifying the significant issues related 
to the proposed action, the general public will have the opportunity to 
submit written comments at the scoping meeting and during a scoping 
comment period. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    Comments or questions concerning this proposed action should be 
directed to the NYSDOT and FHWA at the addresses provided above.

    Issued on: May 24, 2017.
Peter W. Osborn,
Division Administrator, Albany, New York.
[FR Doc. 2017-11303 Filed 5-31-17; 8:45 am]
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