T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationalignment of Fully Relocated Airport Road. The Alternative B2 Fully Relocated Airport Road would bisect thedensely residential Spring Green Neighborhood.3.9.3.3 Wetland and Floodplain ImpactsAs shown in Table 3-12, Alternatives B2 and B4 would result in significant wetland and floodplain impacts.Alternative B2 would impact a total of 5.8 acres of wetlands, with impacts on the Runway 23 End andRunway 34 End. Alternative B4 has fewer acres of wetland impacts (5.0 acres) than Alternative B2 and limits thewetland impacts to the Runway 34 End only. Alternative B2 would result in a smaller area of floodplain loss (0.5acres) compared to Alternative B4 at 2.3 acres of floodplain impact. All floodplain impacts underAlternatives B2 and B4 could be mitigated.3.9.3.4 Surface Transportation ImpactsNeither Alternative B2 nor B4 would result in significant surface transportation impacts. Under Alternative B2,traffic operations are expected to improve relative to the No-Action Alternative at six intersections in 2020. TheFully Relocated Airport Road would provide a better east-west connection through the City, but would requirethat 66 residential units be acquired and cause significant impacts and fragmentation to the Spring GreenNeighborhood. Under Alternative B4, traffic operations are expected to improve relative to the No-ActionAlternative at eight intersections in 2020. Under Alternative B4, four intersections in 2020 that are projected tooperate at poor traffic conditions under the No-Action Alternative would remain at capacity. Alternative B4does not degrade the level of service at these intersections, but it also does not realize the benefit of regionaltraffic shifts away from the local roadway system that Alternative B2 offers. These shifts cannot occur withoutFully Relocated Airport Road.3.9.3.5 Historical Resources and Section 4(f) Resources ImpactsAlternatives B2 and B4 would result in significant historical resources and Section 4(f) resources impacts. Threehistorical properties within the Area of Potential Effect would be impacted including Hangar No. 1,Hangar No. 2, and the Rhode Island State Airport Terminal. Each of these properties is a part of the eligibleairport historic district on-Airport property. Therefore, an adverse effect to any of these historical propertiesconstitutes an adverse effect to the eligible airport historic district as well. Alternatives B2 and B4 require theremoval of Hangar No. 1 to enhance safety, resulting in an adverse effect to and a Section 4(f) use ofHangar No. 1 and the eligible airport historic district. Alternative B2 would result in a Section 4(f) use ofHangar No. 2 and an adverse effect because the Fully Relocated Airport Road would limit the public view andaccess to Hangar No. 2. Both Alternatives B2 and B4 would have minor physical impacts on Hangar No. 2, butwould not adversely affect this resource. Alternative B2 would also result in a Section 4(f) use of Rhode IslandState Airport Terminal as a result of the relocation of Airport Road to the north, which would affect the historicvantage point of the terminal building and constitute an additional adverse effect. Alternative B4 would have adirect impact on the landscaping along Airport Road that is associated with the Rhode Island State AirportTerminal resulting in an adverse effect and a Section 4(f) use of this historical property. In addition, underAlternative B4, the split Integrated Cargo Facility would block the public view and access to the Terminal fromAirport Road. Both Alternatives B2 and B4 would result in a physical use of Winslow Park. Impacts to WinslowPark can be mitigated under both Alternatives B2 and B4 through the replacement of impacted park facilities ata different location.Chapter 3 – Alternatives Analysis 3-45 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH03_Alternatives_JUL_2011.doc