Route 79/I-195 Interchange Improvements Study
Fall River, Massachusetts
January 26, 2011
Agenda
1. Preferred Alternative
updates and features
2. Key environmental issues
3. Proposed design and
construction schedule
4. Next steps: Public and
agency participation
going forward
Major Steps for Rte. 79/I-95 Interchange
Study and Project
Currently Underway
STEP 1
Value
Engineering
Study
This study –
required by FHWA –
suggested
investigating
removing Rte. 79
Viaduct at the I-195
Interchange.
April 2009
STEP 2
Feasibility
Study
Detailed review of
Value Engineering
Study to assess
feasibility of
removing Rte 79
Viaduct at the I-195
Interchange.
July 2009
STEP 3
Planning –
Alternatives
Study
The level of design
at the end of this
stage is
“conceptual.”
December 2009 –
July 2010
STEP 4
State (MEPA) &
Federal (NEPA)
Environmental
Review
This more detailed
engineering and
environmental
analysis will take
about 12 months
and the level of
design will be
between 5% and
10% complete.
August 2010 – May
2011
STEP 5
STEP 6
Preliminary
Engineering
Final Design or
Design/Build
This marks the first
intensive design
stage. This step will
take about 12-14
months and the
design at the end
will be 25%
complete.
This stage will take
about 48 months.
May 2011 – May 2012
Construction
complete Fall of
2016
Proposed Rte. 79 Interchange Study Work Flow
*
1
Project Initiation
Kick-off meeting / Study area limits
Communications / Task Force Members
2
Goals & Objectives
Goals & Objectives / Evaluation Criteria
Purpose & Need Statement
3
Existing Conditions
Draft & Final Existing Conditions Summary
4
No Build Analysis
Traffic / Socio-economic / Land Use
5
Alternative Development
6
Alternative Analysis
7
Report
Recommendations
8
Prepare ENF
Alternative Development / Screening of Alternatives
Mobility / Safety / Environmental
Socio-economic / Structures
Final Report / Public Meeting
Certificate from Secretary of EOEEA
*
Current stage
Updates
• Alternatives reviewed by MassDOT Highway
Division for general feasibility
• MassDOT Environmental Div. review underway
• FHWA meeting Jan. 20—Key issues
– NEPA process
– Metropolitan transportation-planning requirements
– Rte. 79 is part of the National Highway System
– Signalized intersections on Rte. 79
Refinements:
Alt. 1: Rte. 79 viaduct removed; 3 Rte. 79 signals
New Street
realigned
Accommodate Anawan
St. Br. improvements
No impact
to Mill Building
No signal
required
Minimized impacts
to stone arch bridge
Refinements:
Alt. 3D: Rte. 79 viaduct removed; Rte. 79-Milliken Connector
New signalized
intersection +
multiuse path
No impact to
Mill Building
I-195 EB
off-ramp
changed
Ramp L (Milliken to
I-195 WB) removed
I-195 WB
on-ramp
added
I-195
on ramp
improved
Milliken impacts
minimized
Hybrid At-Grade Alternative Features
1.
Safety improved – interchange weave sections
removed, local intersections improved
2.
Traffic operates at LOS D (acceptable) or better
for all study intersections
3.
No negative impact to regional network (Rte. 24
and I-195, freeway, weave, and ramp junctions)
4.
Bicycle and pedestrian connections improved at
local intersections
5.
Improved access to waterfront and downtown
Hybrid At-Grade Alt. Features, cont.
6.
Highway geometry will be maintained or improved
per AASHTO guidelines
7.
No major environmental issues
8.
Visual impact in historic district eliminated
9.
Reduces bridge structure by about 50%
10. Provides 75-year life span
11. Better ramp connections to local roads without
impacts to regional connections
12. Supported by Task Force
Hybrid At-Grade Alternative
Volume per Day (weekday)
HYBRID AT-GRADE ALTERNATIVE
Key Environmental Issues
Section 4(f) Resources
1. Parkland: no park impacts anticipated.
2. Heritage State Park: temporary slope easements
3. Taunton River designated Wild and Scenic in 2009
No changes expected from existing conditions
Storm water outfalls likely to remain; however, no
increase in impervious area expected
Key Environmental Issues, cont.
Historic Resources
• No adverse effect
anticipated
• No impact to Nat’l Register
American Printing Co.Metacomet Mill district
structures
• One driveway retaining
wall at Davol Street may be
impacted
Key Environmental Issues
Historic Resources
Central Street Bridge over
Quequechan River
– National Register eligible
– Expansion of Central
St./Rte. 79 intersection
will impact parapet walls
– Crack in arch will be
repaired as part of project
Key Environmental issues
Historic Resources
Borden and Remington
Company site
– Complex dates from
1890
– Potential minor impact to
parcel from Water St.
Connector
Proposed 2011 Work Plan
• Update MPO long-range plan to include new Rte. 79
project
• Resolve historic impact issues by spring 2011
• Finalize Interchange Modification Report by May
• Public meeting to kickoff Federal NEPA process
• File State ENF and Federal EA as combined
environmental document in June
• Hold public consultation session in July
• Continue with Preliminary Design
Proposed Design and Construction Schedule
• Complete Preliminary Design March 2012
• Issue RFP for contractor June 2012
• Begin construction January 2013
• Complete construction October 2016
Discussion and Next Steps
• Role of the Task Force in the ENF/EA environmental
review
• Role of the Task Force in upcoming design process
• How to engage the greater public
• Communications in the future
Discussion