Public Scoping Meeting

2. Portageville Bridge Project Public Scoping Meeting National Environmental Policy Act Tuesday, November 19, 2013 4 PM – 7 PM Genesee River Restaurant, Mount Morris, New York

3. Portageville Bridge Project Introduction Ray HessingerNew York State Department of Transportation

4. Portageville Bridge Project Introduction • Welcome and Introductions • Safety Briefing • Purpose of the Meeting • Presentation by the Project Team • Public Comments

5. Portageville Bridge Project Purpose of the Meeting • National Environmental Policy Act • Initiate project’s environmental review to receive federal funding • National Historic Preservation Act • Solicit public interest to serve as consulting parties with regard to potential effects on historic resources • Obtain public comment on all of above

6. Portageville Bridge Project Presentation Overview • Project Background • Project Alternatives • NEPA Process and Next Steps • Public Scoping Process and Public Comments

7. Project BackgroundEarly Planning Activities • SEQRA Milestones • Positive Declaration of Intent to Prepare SEQRA EIS, September 17, 2008 • SEQRA Scoping Meeting, October 1, 2008 • Publish SEQRA Draft EIS, November 26, 2012 • SEQRA Public Hearing, January 10, 2013 • Community Advisory Committee Meetings held on April 1, 2009 and November 12, 2009 • NEPA Milestones • Identification of CMAQ Funds, July 2013 • Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS, October 31, 2013

8. Portageville Bridge Project Project Presentation Chris Calvert AKRF, Inc.

9. Project BackgroundPurpose and Need Purpose Provide a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River for Norfolk Southern on the Southern Tier route between Buffalo and Binghamton, capable of carrying current industry standard freight rail loads, to the greatest degree possible meeting FRA Class 4 speeds, while reducing ongoing maintenance efforts and costs. Needs • Critical component of Norfolk Southern’s Southern Tier route • At the end of its useful life as a freight structure; requires continuous inspection and frequent repair • Imposes restrictions on the entire Southern Tier route • Safety concerns for park users who trespass on the bridge

10. Project BackgroundProject Goals • Eliminate operational constraints along the Southern Tier route caused by the existing Portageville Bridge • Reduce the need for ongoing maintenance and concomitant costs • Optimize existing infrastructure and planned improvements to the Southern Tier route as part of Norfolk Southern’s overall operational strategy in New York and in this region of the country • Minimize the risk of trespassing on the Portageville Bridge by Letchworth State Park patrons

11. Project AlternativesAlternatives Considered Alternative was studied In SEQRA DEIS Alternative was rejected in SEQRA DEIS

12. Environmental ReviewNEPA Process

13. Next StepsNEPA DEIS Prepare a NEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that will… • Build on the prior SEQRA DEIS, using as much relevant information as possible • Identify and address public comments previously received on the SEQRA DEIS • Address public comments received during the NEPA scoping period • Address requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act • Identify mitigation commitments that have been developed in consultation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation since publication of the SEQRA DEIS

14. Next StepsNEPA DEIS Prepare a NEPA EIS that will… • Identify a preferred alternative for the project • Address federal regulatory requirements pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplains) and Executive Order 11990 (Wetlands) • Address the requirements of Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act

15. Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

16. Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

17. Next StepsSEQRA DEIS Conclusions The NEPA DEIS will revisit and incorporate all relevant information and conclusions from the SEQRA DEIS.

18. Portageville Bridge Project Public Scoping Process Ray HessingerNew York State Department of Transportation

19. Public Scoping ProcessSchedule October 31, 2013 Notice of Intent November 19, 2013 Public scoping meeting December 19, 2013 Scoping comment period ends Winter/Spring 2014 Publish NEPA DEIS Spring 2014 NEPA DEIS Hearing

20. Public Scoping ProcessSubmission of Written Comments By E-mail PortagevilleBridge@dot.ny.gov By Mail Raymond Hessinger Director, Freight & Passenger Rail Bureau NYSDOT 50 Wolf Road, POD 54 Albany, NY 12232 All comments are due by December 19, 2013

21. Public Scoping ProcessOral Comments • Speaking order • Individuals who registered to speak • Open the floor for any other comments • If a large number of individuals have registered to speak, NYSDOT may limit comments to three minutes • Stenographer will record all comments • Please begin by stating your name and organization for the record • NYSDOT and Norfolk Southern will not be responding to questions posed during public comment period tonight