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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationThe Warwick-East Greenwich Bicycle Network was determined not to be a Section 4(f) resource because the networkis not a separate recreational facility and is used for transportation purposes. The Warwick-East Greenwich BicycleNetwork is limited to signs marking the bike route on existing public roads, and is not on a separate public right-ofway.Section 4(f) does not apply to bicycle routes or bicycle lanes within highway right-of-way because they do notconstitute a separate recreational facility. 211 RIDOT’s bicycle system map notes that the Warwick-East GreenwichBicycle Network includes statewide signage marking the bike route. 212 A Guide to Cycling in the Ocean State, which wasdeveloped by RIDOT and the Narrangansett Bay Wheelmen to assist experienced and commuter cyclists in planningtrips on roadways, indicates that the Warwick-East Greenwich Bicycle Network is a “suitable road” for bicycling. 213In 2004, the Wells Avenue Playground was included in the baseline assessment. It was similarly determined not to bea Section 4(f) resource because it is on land owned by RIAC, and was a temporary use of transportation land. At thetime of the FEIS filing, the Wells Avenue Playground is no longer in existence. The City of Warwick has removed allthe playground equipment on the property.Of the 23 parks and recreational areas within the Study Area, four are also Section 6(f) resources. Two of theseresources, Winslow Park and the Mickey Stevens Sports Complex, are within the Project Area and have thepotential to be directly impacted by the Airport Improvement Program. A portion of the land in Winslow Parkis a Section 6(f) resource as Land and Water Conservation Fund Act funds were provided to the City ofWarwick for various improvements in the 1970s and 1980s. The NPS received a copy of the DEIS for review.Since the filing of the DEIS, the FAA has consulted with the NPS State Liaision Officer and RIDEM to determinethe boundary of the Section 6(f) regulated portion of Winslow Park. The Section 6(f) boundary map on file withthe NPS was recently revised to include only the City-owned portion of Winslow Park. The L&WCF grantswere approved by the NPS approximately three years before the RIAC-owned land was leased to the City.Please refer to refer to Appendix J, Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) Resources, for the City of Warwick’s request toRIDEM’s State Liaison Officer for a boundary change limiting the Section 6(f) boundary to the City-ownedportion of the park. In May 2011, RIDEM’s State Liaison Officer for the NPS indicated that the boundary changerequest from the City was approved by the NPS. 214The Mickey Stevens Sports Complex is also a Section 6(f) resource. Land and Water Conservation Fund Actfunds were provided to the City of Warwick for the construction of multipurpose playing fields and aswimming pool at the Sports Complex.4.9 Wetlands and WaterwaysThis section summarizes the methodology for identifying wetlands resources, and describes the wetlandsresources within the T.F. Green Airport Project Area.4.9.1 MethodologyThe limits of existing wetlands resources located outside Airport property in the Project Area and Study Areaare based on the RIGIS 215 wetlands database. Each wetland depicted within the Study Area (Figure 4-22) was211 U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, FHWA Section 4(f) Policy Paper, March 1, 2005, pg. 21.212 State of Rhode Island Statewide Bicycle System 2010, www.dot.state.ri.us/img/content/bikeri/bikeplanfebruary2010.pdf.213 Rhode Island Department of Transportation, A Guide to Cycling in the Ocean State, 2009-2010.214 Dias, Joseph. Telephone communication with Kendra Beaver. May 19, 2011.215 Rhode Island Geographic Information System, www.edc.uri.edu/rigis.Chapter 4 – Affected Environment 4-51 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH04_Affected_Env_JUL_2011.doc