Comment EI-16589
Received or sent (printed as 3/31/2009)
I have support support preserving, protecting, and reusing the National Register-eligible Embankment for open space while at the same time protecting the rail right of way (rail banking) for future use. Developing the Embankment as habitat-oriented open space and as part of the national East Coast Greenway, linking Maine to Florida, would provide Jersey City with an opportunity of a lifetime to link city neighborhoods and the greater region with off-road walking and bicycle trails. This linear park and trail will improve the quality of life of our residents and support residential development to the west of the Embankment where development is needed. To date the city has landmarked the Embankment, passed legislation to acquire the property, and successfully petitioned the federal Surface Transportation Board to assert its authority over Conrail, which sold the right of way before securing a necessary federal permit to abandon the line. Now is NOT the time to capitulate. The city must use every means it has to secure the site for public use. The Embankment Preservation Coalition helped the City raise more than $3 million, which can be used for acquisition and park and trail development. Environmental concerns include - Inadequate studies done of contaminants, failure of Conrail’s developer partner to submit environmental sampling study to STB, need for federal agency to enforce federal laws rather than burdening local governments and citizens Environmental justice issues, conrail’s neglect of site over decades and continuing bad faith seeking demolition permits. Abandonment will directly lead to demolition as and effects of demolition of this massive structure on - Abandonment will lead directly to demolition (Conrail and partner are seeking permits now) Effects of demolition of massive structure on * air quality * dust * noise * vibrations * heavy truck traffic through fragile historic districts * damage to buildings on two sides for one-half mile * removal of a cultural resource * health * release of contaminants * flooding (no half-mile of fill to absorb stormwater in flood plain) * water quality (increased burden on combined sewers; release of CSOs into Hudson Estuary) * release of contaminants * habitat destruction * wildlife, including migratory birds and monarch butterflies, and much local species * ecosystem (part of habitat corridor joining Hudson to Hackensack) * cultural loss for Holy Rosary historic festival and Italian community * loss of grade-separated transportation structure, ideal for urban area’s heavy traffic * loss of light rail linking Secaucus to waterfront * loss of light freight opportunities
Submitted by: DANIEL LEVIN · JERSEY CITY, NJ
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/AB-167/sub/1189X/comment/EI-16589 · back to the docket sheet