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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationVisual ImpactsUnder Alternative B2, new on-Airport program elements including relocated taxiways, expanded passengerterminal, new ground support, belly cargo, and fuel farm facilities, expanded automobile parking facilities, andreconfigured terminal access roadways, are not expected to have an impact on the visual environment. Theseelements will not look substantially different from what exists today at T.F. Green Airport in terms of theirarchitecture, location, and use.The visual setting of the eligible airport historic district would be changed. Hangar No. 1, a contributingelement to the eligible historic district, would be demolished under Alternative B2 to enhance safety. Anychanges in the visual context or setting of these historical properties would result in an Adverse Effect underSection 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and in a use under Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department ofTransportation Act. 460 These visual effects would be addressed and mitigated as part of the Section 106 andSection 4(f) processes (see Chapter 6, Mitigation).Runway 5-23 would be extended both north and south, resulting in visual changes at both ends of the runway.Residences north of the Airport and south of the Airport would be eligible for acquisition as a result ofsignificant noise impacts or from their location in the RPZ. Residences that remain in those neighborhoodswould have different views.Visual changes would also occur at the Runway 16 End, particularly at the intersection of Post Road andAirport Road. A substantial number of commercial properties in this area would be acquired and demolished toaccommodate the safety areas surrounding the Runway 16 End (RSA, ROFA, and RPZ), changing the visualcontext in this area.Significant Impacts: Alternative B2 would not result in significant lighting impacts since the project-relatedlighting elements would not create annoyance that would interfere with normal activities in the surroundingareas, and visual impacts would be consistent with the existing visual environment.5.18.4.3 Alternative B4The following section describes lighting impacts and visual impacts associated with on- and off-airportcomponents for Alternative B4.Light EmissionsConsideration is given to on-light emissions associated with Airport elements and off-Airport roadways.On-Airport Program ComponentsThe expanded passenger terminal, South Service Area, expanded parking facilities, and terminal accessroadways are the same for Alternative B4 as for Alternative B2 and have been described in the previous section.Under Alternative B4, the split Integrated Cargo Facility lighting would be similar to the cargo facility lightingat this location under the No-Action Alternative. The facility is located on Airport property and is not near460 U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f), 49 USC, section 303(c).Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-273 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc