B&P Tunnel Project · 2018-08-02 · Ventilation Plants • Above-grade structure that houses tunnel ventilation fans • Ventilate the tunnel during normal, maintenance, and fire

B&P Tunnel ProjectConsulting Parties Meeting #1

July 16, 2015

Project Funding

• MDOT was awarded a $60 million HSIPR grant from the Federal Railroad Administration

• Grant covers the NEPA study process and preliminary engineering efforts

• Grant does not include funds for final design or construction

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Project Team

RK&K: NEPA ConsultantDovetail CRG: Cultural Resources Subconsultant

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Project Status

Gathered information for inclusion in the Environmental Impact Statement

Developed preliminary project alternatives & screening criteria

Develop details on alternatives remaining for further study

Evaluate natural, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of alternatives

Document final impacts and mitigation commitments

Complete National Environmental Policy Act process

Summer 2014

Fall 2014

Spring 2015

Winter 2015

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Purpose and Need

The primary purpose is to address the structural and operational deficiencies of the B&P Tunnel, based on the following needs:

• The existing tunnel is approaching the end of its useful life with regard to its general physical condition;

• The existing tunnel does not provide sufficient capacityto support projected demands for regional and commuter passenger service;

• The existing tunnel is not suited for modern high-speed usage due to tight clearances and sharp curves, which limit train speeds through the tunnel to 30 mph; and

• The tunnel is a valuable resource and its dispositionshould be considered.

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Section 106

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• Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800

• Required for the Federally funded B&P Tunnel Project

• The process requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on architectural and archeological historic properties

• The Section 106 process is being coordinated with this project’s Environmental Impact Statement

• Consultation is an important part of the process

We Are Here

Study Area

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Alternative 1: No-Build

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• Continued use of existing tunnel with necessary maintenance

• Used as a baseline for comparing other alternatives

Alternative 2: Reconstruct and Modernize Existing Tunnel

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• Replacement of tunnel to modern design standards

• Tunnel horizontal clearance increase of +/- 18 ft.

• Tunnel vertical clearance increase of +/- 5 ft.

• Cut-and-cover construction for full width of the street along entire alignment

• All tracks would be closed during construction

Alternatives 3 and 11

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Options for Alternatives 3 and 11 have been created to minimize impacts and maximize operational benefits:

• Alternative 3— Option A

• Alternative 3— Option B

• Alternative 3— Option C

• Alternative 11— Option A

• Alternative 11— Option B

Alternatives 3 and 11

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Alternatives 3 and 11 include:

• Bored tunnel construction;

• Four tracks located in four separate bores;

• Ventilation plants; and

• Consideration for future of existing tunnel.

Track Requirements

• Four tracks are needed to eliminate a chokepoint and expand capacity to accommodate future high-frequency passenger train service on the Northeast Corridor (NEC).

• To ensure safety and operational standards are met, the four tracks for Alternatives 3 and 11 would be located in four separate bores.

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Ventilation Plants

• Above-grade structure that houses tunnel ventilation fans

• Ventilate the tunnel during normal, maintenance, and fire emergency operations

• Alternatives 3 (Options A, B, and C) and 11 (Options A and B) would each require three ventilation plants:

• one at the north portal• one at mid-tunnel• one at the south portal

• Footprint: up to 200 ft. by 100 ft. • Height: up to 55 ft.

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Example Renderings:THE-Dyer Avenue, New York City

Red Line Vent Plant, Inner Harbor, Baltimore

Ventilation Plants, cont.

Ventilation shafts:• Connect the vent building to tunnels to allow

airflow from the tunnel or supply to tunnel Tunnel ventilation fans: • Exhaust airflow from or supply airflow to the

tunnels Louvers: • Allow exhausting tunnel airflow to

atmosphere or supply of outside air to tunnels

Sound attenuators (silencers):• Reduce fan noise levels at building and in

tunnelsOperation and control rooms:• House electrical, mechanical and

communications for tunnel operations Emergency egress/access stairs: • Allow for passenger egress / fire department

access in an emergency

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Louvers

Electrical Panels Ventilation Fans

Proposed Red Line Vent Plant Rendering, Fells Point

Area of Potential Effects and Study Area

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Historic Architectural Area of Potential Effects and Study Area

National Register Criteria for Evaluation

The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:

Criterion A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or

Criterion B. That are associated with the lives of significant persons in our past; or

Criterion C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

Criterion D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.

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Historic Properties in the Area of Potential Effects

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• Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Railroad

• Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Bridge over Jones Falls Valley


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View south from the North Avenue Bridge at the Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Railroad


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View north from the North Avenue Bridge at the Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Bridge over Jones Falls Valley

that is part of the Baltimore and Ohio Belt Line Railroad


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• Baltimore and Potomac Railroad (B-5164)

• Howard Street Bridge (B-4529)

• North Avenue Bridge (B-4521)


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View southeast at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroadtracks and the Howard Street Bridge


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View northwest to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad tunnel and tracks, and North Avenue Bridge


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• Bolton Hill Historic District (B-64)


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1800 block of Eutaw Place (northeast side) in the Bolton Hill Historic District


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North corner at Eutaw Place and Laurens Street in the Bolton Hill Historic District


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• Reservoir Hill Historic District (B-1379)


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South corner of Whitelock Street and Linden Avenue in the Reservoir Hill Historic District


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West corner of Whitelock Street and Linden Avenue in the Reservoir Hill Historic District


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• Old West Baltimore Historic District (B-1373)

• Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Synagogue (B-3702)


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Northeast side of Madison Avenue, south of Presstman Street in the Old West Baltimore Historic District; a 1925 telephone exchange building

and the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Synagogue


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2000s block of Madison Avenue (northeast side), north of Presstman

Street in the Old West Baltimore Historic District


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View southeast along Etting Street, between Robert and Laurens Streets, in the Old West Baltimore Historic District


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• Old West Baltimore Historic District (B-1373)

• Vincent Street Bridge (B-4532)


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1977 Historic American Engineering Record photograph

Arrow points to the Vincent Street Bridge over the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. Both surrounded by the Old West Baltimore Historic District.


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• Western Maryland Railroad (B-1377?)


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View west, Western Maryland Railroad tracks through the P. Flanigan asphalt plant property


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• Carver Vocational-Technical High School


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View southeast at the Carver Vocational-Technical High School


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View southwest at the Carver Vocational-Technical High Schooltracks and building rear


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• Harlem Park Historic District (B-1320)

• Monroe-Riggs Historic District (B-5118)

• Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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Northeast corner of N. Monroe Street and Rayner Avenue in the Harlem Park Historic District, Monroe-Riggs Historic District, and Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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North side of Harlem Avenue and N. Payson Street in the Monroe-Riggs Historic District and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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800 block of N. Brice Street (west side) of the Monroe-Riggs Historic District and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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500 block of N. Pulaski Street (west side), just north of W. Franklin Street in the Monroe-Riggs Historic District and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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South side of Edmondson Avenue on the 2100 block in the Monroe-Riggs Historic District and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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2135 Edmondson Avenue (auto sales and service building built in 1947) on the south side of the street in the Monroe-Riggs Historic District

and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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2126 Edmondson Avenue (former Atlas Storage Company warehouse, built 1925) and 2124 Edmondson Avenue (filling station) on the north side of the street in the Monroe-Riggs Historic District and the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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Warehouse at 2026 Mosher Street (north side), located east

of the B&P Railroad tracks in the Midtown Edmondson Historic District

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• Bridge 2410 (B-4553)


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The former American Store Company warehouse of the

Midtown Edmondson Historic District at the north side of

West Lafayette Avenue and Bridge 2410 in the background


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View northeast at Bridge 2410

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• American Ice Company (B-1040)


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View northeast at the former American Ice Company, located at 2100 W. Franklin Street within the Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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View southwest at the rear of the former American Ice Company within the Midtown

Edmondson Historic District(photo from National Register nomination)


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Interior view of the former American Ice Company within the Midtown Edmondson Historic District (photo from National Register nomination)


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• Greater Rosemont Historic District (B-5112)

• Edmondson Avenue Historic District (B-5187)



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2140 Edmondson Avenue (north side), the former Ward Baking Company in the Greater Rosemont Historic District and Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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Southeast corner of Edmondson Avenue and N. Bentalou Street in the Greater Rosemont Historic District and Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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2235 Edmondson Avenue (south side), a former Baltimore and Potomac Railroad station in the Greater Rosemont Historic District and Midtown Edmondson Historic District


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600 block of N. Bentalou St at Arunah Ave (east side) in the Greater Rosemont Historic District and Edmondson Avenue Historic District


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2300 block of Lauretta Ave (south side) in the Greater Rosemont Historic District and Edmondson Avenue Historic District

Potential Impacts to Historic Properties

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Next Steps

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Documents

B&P Tunnel Project · 2018-08-02 · Ventilation Plants • Above-grade structure that houses tunnel ventilation fans • Ventilate the tunnel during normal, maintenance, and fire