Tier 1 EIS
Tier 1 Draft EIS
The Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Tier 1 Draft EIS) for NEC FUTURE presents an evaluation of the broad impacts of an investment program to improve passenger rail service within the Study Area. The FRA evaluated three Action Alternatives for NEC improvements in comparison with a No Action Alternative, and considered impacts to transportation, the economy, the built environment, and natural resources. The FRA considered the results of this evaluation, along with public comments received on the Tier 1 Draft EIS and U.S. DOT policy, to identify a preferred investment program (Preferred Alternative).
A brief explanation of each chapter and appendix contained in the Tier 1 Draft EIS is provided below.
View the Highlights Brochure, a brief illustrated summary of the Tier 1 Draft EIS
Tier 1 Draft EIS Chapters for Download
- Cover, Title and Signature Pages View as PDF View as web page
- Abstract View as PDF View as web page
- Table of Contents View as PDF View as web page
- Summary View as PDF View as web page
- 1. Introduction View as PDF View as web page
Answers common questions about the Tier 1 Draft EIS and explains how the document can be used in the future
- 2. Readers' Guide View as PDF View as web page
Familiarizes the reader with the document and define key concepts, methodologies, and terminologies used in the environmental analysis
- 3. Purpose and Need View as PDF View as web page
Provides the detailed statement of purpose and need for NEC FUTURE
- 4. Alternatives Considered View as PDF View as web page
Describes the various alternative investment programs considered within this Tier 1 Draft EIS
- 5. Transportation View as PDF View as web page
Analyzes regional and local effects of the No Action and Action Alternatives on the multimodal transportation network, including changes in mode of travel, volume of travel, and services offered
- 6. Economic Effects and Growth, and Indirect Effects View as PDF View as web page
Analyzes direct and indirect economic and induced growth effects of the No Action and Action Alternatives, including employment, construction activity, monetized total values for transportation effects, and long-term market effects
- 7 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation
Analyzes existing conditions and potential effects of the No Action and Action Alternatives on the built and natural environments select to unroll/roll up sub-chapters
- 8. Construction Effects View as PDF View as web page
Presents an overview of the potential construction activities associated with each of the Action Alternatives and related short-term effects associated with those activities
- 9. Evaluation of Alternatives View as PDF View as web page
Compares the No Action and Action Alternatives based on a range of metrics to evaluate how well they perform relative to service, operations, ridership, economic benefits, environmental effects, and other evaluation criteria
- 10. Phasing and Implementation View as PDF View as web page
Describes preliminary phasing plans and associated costs and benefits, as well as implementation opportunities and challenges, for each Action Alternative
- 11. Agency and Public Involvement View as PDF View as web page
Summarizes agency and public involvement activities undertaken as part of the development of this Tier 1 Draft EIS
- 12. References View as PDF View as web page
Lists sources and references for the analysis and documentation presented
- 13. Glossary View as PDF View as web page
Explains terminology and acronyms used throughout this Tier 1 Draft EIS
- 14. List of Preparers View as PDF View as web page
Identifies persons involved in the analysis and development of this Tier 1 Draft EIS
- 15. Index View as PDF View as web page
Guides the reader in finding specific terms within this Tier 1 DIES
Appendices
- Appendix A: Mapping Atlas View as PDF
Presents maps of each Action Alternative from Washington, D.C., through New York City and into Boston in relation to mapped resources
- Appendix B: Alternatives Documentation View as PDF
Provides technical reports and memoranda that support the development of the Action Alternatives presented in Chapter 4 select to unroll/roll up appendix B.01-B.09
- Appendix B.01: No Action Alternative Report View as PDF
- Appendix B.02: Initial Alternatives Report View as PDF
- Appendix B.03: Preliminary Alternatives Report View as PDF
- Appendix B.04: Preliminary Alternatives Evaluation Report View as PDF
- Appendix B.05: Tier 1 EIS Alternatives Report View as PDF
- Appendix B.06: Capital Costs Technical Memorandum View as PDF
- Appendix B.07: Stations Location and Access Analysis Technical Memorandum View as PDF
- Appendix B.08: Ridership Analysis Technical Memorandum View as PDF
- Appendix B.09: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Costs Technical Memorandum View as PDF
- Appendix C: Transportation View as PDF
Provides the effects-assessment methodology and technical data that support the transportation analysis presented in Chapter 5
- Appendix D: Economic Effects View as PDF
Provides the effects-assessment methodology and technical data that support the economic effects and indirect effects analysis presented in Chapter 6.
- Appendix E: Environmental Resource Documentation
Provides detailed documentation that supports Chapter 7. Each resource presented in Chapter 7 has its own corresponding section within Appendix E; each of these sections is organized geographically and by alternative to provide more detailed information at the state and county level. select to unroll/roll up appendix E.01-E.20
- Appendix E.01: Introduction to Appendix E View as PDF
- Appendix E.02: Land Cover View as PDF
- Appendix E.03: Agricultural Lands (Prime Farmlands and Prime Timberlands) View as PDF
- Appendix E.04: Parklands and Wild and Scenic Rivers View as PDF
- Appendix E.05: Hydrologic/Water Resources (Coastal Zones and Saltwater Wetlands) View as PDF
- Appendix E.05: Hydrologic/Water Resources (Floodplains) View as PDF
- Appendix E.05: Hydrologic/Water Resources (Freshwater Resources) View as PDF
- Appendix E.05: Waterbody Analysis View as PDF
- Appendix E.06: Ecological Resources View as PDF
- Appendix E.07: Geologic Resources View as PDF
- Appendix E.08: Hazardous Waste and Contaminated Materials View as PDF
- Appendix E.09: Cultural Resources and Historic Properties View as PDF
- Appendix E.10: Visual and Aesthetic Resources View as PDF
- Appendix E.11: Environmental Justice And Demographics View as PDF
- Appendix E.12: Noise and Vibration View as PDF
- Appendix E.13: Air Quality View as PDF
- Appendix E.14: Energy View as PDF
- Appendix E.15: Climate Change View as PDF
- Appendix E.16: Section 4(f) and 6(f) Resources View as PDF
- Appendix E.17: Electromagnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Interference View as PDF
- Appendix E.18: Safety View as PDF
- Appendix E.19: Cumulative Effects View as PDF
- Appendix E.20: Construction Effects View as PDF
- Appendix F: Agency and Public Involvement View as PDF
Provides supporting documentation for the agency and public involvement described in Chapter 11
- Appendix G: Section 106
Provides documentation relevant to compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and a draft Programmatic Agreement for public review and comment
Section 106 Documentation View as PDF
Section 106 Programmatic Agreement View as PDF
- Appendix H: Preliminary Section 4(f) and Section 6(f) Evaluations View as PDF
Documents the preliminary assessment and evaluation of Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act and Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCF Act) resources that could be affected by the Action Alternatives