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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationSignificant Impacts: Based on the traffic analysis, under Alternative B2, there would be no substantial reductionin the LOS of roads serving the Airport and its surrounding communities. Alternative B2 would improve trafficcirculation surrounding the Airport, specifically with the Fully Relocated Airport Road and the Airport gatewayimprovements on Post Road.Parking Impacts – 2020/2025In addition to the No-Action Alternative and 2015 Alternative B2 parking impacts, by 2020 Alternative B2would increase the parking supply on-Airport by constructing a new 2,000-space long-term commercial parkingGarage G on part of the existing long-term parking lot adjacent to Strawberry Field Road. The three-storygarage would result in a net increase of approximately 1,300 long-term commercial parking spaces, as700 spaces from the existing Long-Term Parking Lot would be lost to this construction. Employee parkingwould be consolidated in Long-Term Parking E.Public Transportation Impacts – 2020/2025Alternative B2 would result in minor changes to some of the RIPTA bus routes in the Study Area. The routesthat serve the Airport directly (Routes 14, 20, and 66) would see minor changes in circulation patterns on theAirport. The routes that currently use Post Road to access the Airport (Routes 14 and 20) would use the newPost Road “Gateway Entrance” instead. Routes 1 and 20, which operate on Post Road north of the Airport,could see minor changes such as relocated bus stop locations along that section of Post Road. Route 3, whichoperates on Warwick Avenue, could see similar changes. Other RIPTA routes that operate in the area(Routes 8 and 29) would be unaffected by Alternative B2.The RIDOT Park-and-Ride lot on the north side of Airport Road at Evergreen Avenue would be relocated aspart of Alternative B2.Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Impacts – 2020/2025None of the designated Statewide Bicycle Routes or Neighborhood Bicycle Routes in the Study Area would beaffected by Alternative B2. Roadway widening along Warwick Avenue and the increased traffic could impactthe designation of the roadway segment as a “Suitable Road” for bicycle travel by RIDOT. Squantum Drive isclassified as a “Most Suitable Road” for cycling. This designation could be altered due to the proposedalignment of Squantum Drive with Fully Relocated Airport Road. The Fully Relocated Airport Road wouldmake appropriate accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists.Neighborhood Circulation Impacts – 2020/2025The roadway infrastructure modifications under Alternative B2 would alter traffic circulation through roadclosures, discontinuances, and new connections. While plans are at the conceptual level, portions of severalresidential public streets are likely to have modified access and circulation resulting from the relocation ofAirport Road, including:• Wyoming Avenue• Minnesota Avenue• Alabama AvenueChapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-132 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc