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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationThe conceptual relocation plan provided in Appendix G.4, Conceptual Relocation Plan, of this FEIS includes thefollowing:• An estimate of number of displaced households and businesses• General discussion of available housing• Discussion of relocation advisory services and benefits available• Estimate of costs to implement the program• General discussion of past challenges and impacts on market6.5 Surface TransportationOff-airport roadway improvements to the Airport Connector, Post Road, Airport Road, Warwick Avenue(under Alternative B2), and Main Avenue (under Alternative B4) have been proposed to ensure that the impactsof additional traffic demands are avoided or minimized. These roadway improvements would incorporatesidewalks, shoulders, and bus stops where possible so that pedestrians and bicyclists would be betteraccommodated. The proposed Main Avenue Realignment under Alternative B4 was modified to include adesign of the Runway 5 End in order to reduce the curve in Main Avenue for more efficient roadway design,avoidance of cemetery impacts, and reduced land acquisition.Based on the traffic analysis findings presented in Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences, there would be nosignificant impacts because there would be no permanent disruption to local traffic patterns that wouldsubstantially reduce the Level of Service (LOS) of roads serving the Airport and its surrounding communities.Where the traffic analysis revealed intersections with degraded LOS, mitigation measures were included in theproposed roadway improvement, so that the proposed roadways would meet RIDOT requirements.The following measures would be constructed concurrently with the Preferred Alternative and would becoordinated with the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies:• Geometry and signal improvements associated with construction of Partially Relocated Airport Road;• Relocation of existing traffic signals associated with the realignment of Main Avenue;• Optimization of study area traffic signal timings and phasing as necessary to support traffic volumes onstudy roadways at the time of construction.Alternative B4 would not cause an adverse impact at any of the signalized intersections in the Study Area in2015, 2020, or 2025. Once projected 2020 traffic volumes are realized, minor signal timing changes are proposed,as necessary, at the majority of study area intersections to support general traffic growth both related andunrelated to the Airport. It is envisioned that these changes would be designed and implemented duringconstruction of terminal roadway improvements. RIAC and FAA have continued to coordinate with FHWA andRIDOT on the design of the surface transportation improvements. No additional recommendations formitigation were made by FHWA and RIDOT on the conceptual level plans developed as part of the EIS process.Chapter 6 – Mitigation 6-19 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH06_Mitigation_JUL_2011.doc