final environmental impact statement section ii...final environmental impact statement section ii.c...

Final Environmental Impact Statement Section II.C

Kosciuszko Bridge Project II-78 September 2008

LIRR operates passenger trains on these tracks Monday through Friday, serving Long Island City and Jamaica. The typical service consists of one locomotive and four or five passenger cars. Between ten and twelve passenger trains travel on these three tracks each weekday.

The existing minimum vertical clearance under the bridge at the railroad is approximately 22.6 m (74'-0") and the minimum horizontal clearance between the centerline of track and the closest bridge column is approximately 6.1 m (20'-0").

C.1.u. Visual Environment

This section discusses the existing visual environment of the project area including the existing visual resources of the area, established districts, key viewpoints, and user groups within the project area. A more comprehensive discussion of the visual environment and visual impacts is provided in Appendix J, Visual Resource Assessment (VRA).

PROJECT AREA

The project area for this analysis encompasses the areas adjacent to the bridge that are viewed by motorists, residents, and workers from adjacent streets, residences, and industrial areas and while traveling over the bridge. These views include the approach and Main Span trusses, structural columns and closure walls. Visual districts within the project area were also established. These areas include the Kosciuszko Bridge and other areas adjacent to the bridge where changes in land use, topography and development levels are distinguishable by motorists traveling across the bridge. The limits of the visual resources study area and established districts are illustrated in Figure II-41, “Visual Districts”. These districts include:

Bridge District – includes the Kosciuszko Bridge itself, an elevated structure that extends from Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn to the LIE/BQE interchange in Queens. Throughout the 1.1-mile corridor that encompasses this district the bridge consists of the Brooklyn Connector (concrete viaduct), the Brooklyn Approach (deck truss), the Main Span (through truss) over Newtown Creek, and the Queens Approach (deck truss). Throughout the corridor, the bridge varies from six to eight lanes in width. Access ramps are provided to/from Vandervoort Avenue in Brooklyn and to/from the LIE in Queens.

Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg – includes the communities of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg, which border the western limit of the project area. They consist of established, densely populated residential communities with supporting commercial businesses.

Newtown Creek Industrial Area District – includes areas located in both the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens that are adjacent to or near the shorelines of Newtown Creek. It is essentially a flat area with varied land uses, but predominately supports manufacturing, industrial, warehouse, storage yards, freight forwarding and some evidence of commercial and residential uses. Above ground storage tanks and railroad tracks are also notable features within this district.

Newtown Creek Waterway District - includes Newtown Creek as it separates the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens and passes beneath the Main Span of the Kosciuszko Bridge.



Old Calvary Cemetery District – includes a large, open parcel of land that slopes slightly toward the BQE and is located in the northwest quadrant of the project area. This land consists entirely of the cemetery’s grassy areas with trees and monuments and narrow asphalt access roads.

VISUAL CHARACTER OF THE PROJECT AREA

The visual character of the project area consists of an urban setting which includes: the Kosciuszko Bridge; the grassy hillside of Old Calvary Cemetery; varying size rooftops of rectilinear buildings within the manufacturing/industrial area; Newtown Creek; flat vacant land along the shoreline of Newtown Creek; and a mixed-use residential/commercial neighborhood. Motorists using the BQE would have unobstructed views of changes between districts and distant views of the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens Skylines. Aerial photographs depicting the bridge in relation to existing facilities are provided in Figures II-42 through II-47:

FIGURE II-42: AERIAL VIEW OF THE BROOKLYN APPROACH LOOKING SOUTHWEST

FIGURE II-43: AERIAL VIEW OF THE BROOKLYN APPROACH AND WESTBOUND EXIT RAMP

FIGURE II-44: AERIAL VIEW OF THE BROOKLYN CONNECTOR (CONCRETE VIADUCT AND CLOSURE WALL) AT VARICK AVENUE

FIGURE II-45: AERIAL VIEW OF THE MAIN SPAN ABOVE NEWTOWN CREEK LOOKING EAST



FIGURE II-46: AERIAL VIEW OF QUEENS APPROACH LOOKING NORTHEAST

FIGURE II-47: AERIAL VIEW OF QUEENS APPROACH LOOKING EAST

Visual Quality of Project Area

The project area is a densely populated urban environment with diverse uses. Reflecting the industrial history of the area, the dominant uses include: single story manufacturing and industrial buildings; open truck and storage yards and parking areas; and vacant land adjacent to Newtown Creek. To the west and north, the older residential neighborhoods of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg in Brooklyn are very dense with small, attached buildings and only a few community parks. The uniformity of building type and architecture within these residential areas provides some visual appeal.

The open green space within Old Calvary Cemetery and Sergeant William Dougherty Playground provides limited relief for viewers from the surrounding hardscape, very limited streetscape amenities (e.g., trees, planting areas, pavers, benches) are typically not present within the project area. The area beneath the bridge is inaccessible to the public as it is used for private and leased storage of automotive related uses. In Brooklyn, a visually unattractive waste transfer station exists beneath and adjacent to the bridge. Newtown Creek separates and provides some visual relief from the industrial areas of Brooklyn and Queens.

KEY VIEWPOINTS

Twelve key viewpoints within the five districts were selected as representative of views from the bridge, project area, and visual districts:

Viewpoint 1 – View from the westbound Queens approach looking toward the Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Bridge District)

Viewpoint 2 – View from the westbound Queens approach looking toward the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines (Bridge District)

Viewpoint 3 – View from the eastbound Brooklyn approach looking toward the Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Bridge District)

Viewpoint 4 – View from the eastbound Brooklyn approach looking toward the south in Brooklyn (Bridge Visual District)



Viewpoint 5 – View from Old Calvary Cemetery (Queens) looking southeast at the Queens approach and Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Old Calvary Cemetery District)

Viewpoint 6 – View from Laurel Hill Boulevard (Queens) looking south towards the Queens Approach and Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Old Calvary Cemetery District)

Viewpoint 7 – View from 56th Road and 43rd Street (Queens) of the Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Residential/Commercial District)

Viewpoint 8 – View from the Newtown Creek waterway looking northwest at the Brooklyn approach and Kosciuszko Bridge Main Span (Newtown Creek Waterway District)

Viewpoint 9 – View from the intersection of Meeker Avenue and Vandervoort Avenue (in East Williamsburg) looking north at the Brooklyn Connector (Newtown Creek Industrial Area District)

Viewpoint 10 – View from the westbound exit ramp looking southwest along Meeker Avenue toward Apollo Street (Residential/Commercial District)

Viewpoint 11 – View from the intersection of Meeker Avenue and Morgan Avenue looking northeast along the Brooklyn Connector (Residential/Commercial District)

Viewpoint 12 – View from the intersection of Hausman Street and Meeker Avenue looking east along the Brooklyn Connector (Residential/Commercial District).

The twelve viewpoints were considered to be the most representative within the project area due to their accessibility and likelihood of impact to the most number of viewer groups. The locations of these viewpoints are shown in Figure II-48, “Key Viewpoints.” It is noted that the twelve viewpoints are only representative of many viewpoints within the viewshed of the project area, particularly the Kosciuszko Bridge and Old Calvary Cemetery. In addition, views from the two large visual districts, Old Calvary Cemetery and Newtown Creek, have views of the Kosciuszko Bridge that would vary greatly with proximity and angle. Visual effects would change as a viewer group moved closer to or further away from the bridge.



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Viewpoint 1 – View from the westbound Queens Approach toward the Main Span (Bridge District)

The first viewpoint selected is from a motorist’s perspective while traveling westbound on the Queens Approach toward the Main Span. This view was selected because of the high number of motorists whose views of the travelway and bridge will be affected with the bridge widening, elevation changes and removal of the Main Span through truss (shown in Figure II-49, “Viewpoint 1”).

Viewpoint 2 – View from the westbound Queens Approach looking toward the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines (Bridge District)

The second viewpoint selected is from the westbound Queens Approach (near the Main Span) looking toward the Manhattan skyline. It is from the perspective of a motorist, within the Bridge Visual District. This view would be lowered for motorists under Alternatives BR-2, BR-3 and BR-5 (shown in Figure II-50, “Viewpoint 2”).

This view would become visible to a new user group of pedestrians and bicyclists.

FIGURE II-49: VIEWPOINT 1




Viewpoint 3 – View from the eastbound Brooklyn Approach toward the Main Span (Bridge District)

The third viewpoint selected is from the perspective of a motorist traveling eastbound on the Brooklyn Approach toward the Main Span. This view includes details of the Main Span through truss, lighting and bridge rail treatments, as well as the relationship of the eastbound and westbound travelways. Motorists’ views of the travelway and bridge would be affected by the bridge widening, elevation changes and removal of the Main Span through truss (shown in Figure II-51, “Viewpoint 3").

Viewpoint 4 – View from the eastbound Brooklyn Approach looking south (Bridge District)

The fourth viewpoint selected is from the eastbound Brooklyn Approach (near the Main Span) looking in the southwest direction toward Brooklyn. While this perspective is not readily available to motorists, pedestrians or bicyclists, it illustrates a perspective that would be visible under the Build Alternative RA-5 (shown in Figure II-52, “Viewpoint 4”). Under RA-5, the bikeway/walkway would be constructed adjacent to the eastbound (eastern) side of the Main Span.





Viewpoint 5 – View from Old Calvary Cemetery (Queens) looking southeast at the Queens Approach and Main Span (Old Calvary Cemetery District)

The fifth viewpoint, from Old Calvary Cemetery, is a westbound elevation (side) view of the Queens Approach and Main Span. The viewer observes a panoramic view of the bridge including profile. The views would be affected by profile changes, through truss and deck truss removal, and column locations (shown in Figure II-53, “Viewpoint 5”).


Viewpoint 6 – View from Laurel Hill Boulevard (Queens) looking south towards the Queens Approach and Main Span (Old Calvary Cemetery District)

The sixth viewpoint selected is from Laurel Hill Boulevard directly adjacent to the Queens Approach. A viewer from Old Calvary Cemetery or motorist traveling on Laurel Hill Boulevard would have close views of the existing concrete columns, deck truss, and at-grade streets and a distant view of the Main Span through truss. This view will be affected by the horizontal and vertical alignment of the alternatives, the relationship between the new bridge and Laurel Hill Boulevard, structure type, column locations, surface treatments, and landscape amenities

provided (shown in Figure II-54, “Viewpoint 6”).




Viewpoint 7 – View from 56th Road and 43rd Street (Queens) of the Main Span (Newtown Creek Industrial Area District)

The seventh viewpoint selected is a southwest elevation view of the Main Span through truss, approaches, existing concrete columns and steel piers, from a motorist, pedestrian, and worker perspective from the Newtown Creek Industrial Area District. This view will be affected by the horizontal and vertical alignment of the alternatives, the structure type, column locations, and design treatments incorporated in the Build Alternatives (shown in Figure II-55, “Viewpoint 7”).

Viewpoint 8 – View from the Newtown Creek waterway looking northwest at the Brooklyn and Queens Approaches and Main Span (Newtown Creek Waterway District)

The eighth viewpoint selected is a distant view of the approach deck truss, Main Span through truss and steel piers from a boater’s perspective from the Newtown Creek Waterway District. The view would be affected by structure type, profile, and column spacing (shown in Figure II-56, “Viewpoint 8”).





Viewpoint 9 – View from the Intersection of Meeker Avenue and Vandervoort Avenue (in East Williamsburg) looking North at the Brooklyn Connector (Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg)

The ninth viewpoint selected is a north view of the Brooklyn Connector at Vandervoort Avenue from a motorist, pedestrian, and park user perspective within the Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. The roadway is also seen in elevation beyond the sycamore shade trees of Sergeant William Dougherty Playground as the road continues east. The effects of the design alternatives on Vandervoort Avenue and the playground and the widening of the Brooklyn Connector will be more visible from this viewpoint than the others

selected for analysis (shown in Figure II-57, “Viewpoint 9”).

Viewpoint 10 – View from the Meeker Avenue/Morgan Avenue exit ramp looking southwest along Meeker Avenue toward Apollo Street (Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg)

The tenth viewpoint selected is of the closure walls along the Brooklyn Connector, at Van Dam and Apollo Streets, at-grade streets and adjacent residences from a resident, pedestrian or motorist perspective from the Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. Residents have the longest duration of view and are therefore most sensitive to the view due to visibility and the time it takes to travel through this viewpoint. The view would be affected by the structure type, closure wall treatment, abutment and parapet





treatment, at-grade intersection re-alignments, streetscape amenities, and the creation of additional landscape buffer areas adjacent to the residences (shown in Figure II-58, “Viewpoint 10”).

Viewpoint 11 – View from the intersection of Meeker Avenue and Morgan Avenue looking northeast along the Brooklyn Connector (Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg)

The eleventh viewpoint selected is of the closure walls along the Brooklyn Connector at Morgan Avenue, at-grade streets, and adjacent businesses from the perspective of a motorist, pedestrian and resident within the Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. This view would be affected by the structure type, closure wall treatment, abutment, and parapet treatment, widening of the Brooklyn Connector over Meeker Avenue, and streetscape amenities (shown in Figure II-59, “Viewpoint

11”).

Viewpoint 12 – View from the intersection of Hausman Street and Meeker Avenue Looking East along the Brooklyn Connector (Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg)

The twelfth viewpoint selected is of the Brooklyn Connector adjacent to the residences looking east on Meeker Avenue from Hausman Street. It is from the perspective of a motorist, pedestrian and resident within the Residential/Commercial District of Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. This view would be affected by the structure type, closure wall treatment, abutment and parapet treatment, widening of the Brooklyn Connector toward the residences, and

streetscape amenities (shown in Figure II-60, “Viewpoint 12”).



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