Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project
The Calladium Group supported Amtrak and the prime consultant in preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) for the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project, located along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between the City of Havre de Grace and the Town of Perryville, Maryland. The EA was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As the recipient of a federal high-speed rail grant, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) was the project sponsor for the NEPA and preliminary engineering phase, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) served as the lead federal agency. The existing bridge is located in an area rich with historic, aesthetic, and natural resources with approaches in two established residential communities.
Together with the NEPA team, the firm completed comprehensive analyses of the project’s effects on wetlands, forested areas, aquatic species, historic districts, visual effects, and much more. The Calladium Group was responsible for preparation of many of the EA analyses, including compliance with Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Act. The Calladium Group led an extensive public outreach and agency coordination program—entailing multiple public information sessions, Section 106 consulting party meetings, and presentations at Maryland’s Interagency Review Meetings, which resulted in successfully obtaining written agency concurrence at several key project milestones, including alternatives development and screening.
NJ TRANSITGRID Traction Power System
The Calladium Group is supporting the prime consultant in the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on behalf of NJ Transit. The project is known as “NJ TRANSITGRID Traction Power System,” a first-of-its-kind electrical microgrid capable of supplying highly reliable power during storms and other times when the centralized power grid is compromised. The project will consist of a central natural gas power plant and transmission lines, and provide a resilient energy supply for a targeted portion of railroad infrastructure. The project is a result of a partnership between NJ Transit, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The Calladium Group was initially retained for technical editing services, and was subsequently engaged for a larger role—performing a comprehensive NEPA consistency review; supplementing environmental analyses (including visual and aesthetic resources, electromagnetic fields, land use, community facilities, and a Section 4(f) evaluation); overseeing a substantial historic architectural and archaeological resources investigation pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and leading agency coordination.
LIRR Expansion Project – Floral Park to Hicksville
The Calladium Group is supporting the consultant joint venture in the delivery of preliminary engineering and environmental services to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority–Long Island Rail Road (MTA-LIRR) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). The project included preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The firm’s specific tasks entailed: preparing the purpose and need statement, project description, and other EIS chapters; technical editing of engineering reports and memoranda; liaising between the public outreach team, environmental team, and engineering team to ensure timely and accurate information exchange; incorporating community commitment and mitigation measures into contract documents; and synthesizing, summarizing, and responding to more than 1,500 public comments.
As part of an unprecedentedly robust community outreach program, The Calladium Group led the planning and execution of six heavily-attended public hearings held within a span of three days. This high-profile project is progressing on an expedited schedule, and the SEQRA process was successfully completed within approximately one year. In 2016, Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled 14 signature proposals—one including the LIRR Expansion Project and another increasing opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE). As a certified WBE, The Calladium Group is proud to serve a role in advancing both of these signature proposals.
NYCDCP Jerome Avenue Rezoning
The New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) is proposing a series of land use actions including zoning map amendments, zoning text amendments, and city map changes in support of various plans and studies for the Jerome Avenue neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. The Calladium Group is supporting the prime consultant in preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 73-block rezoning area, which spans multiple neighborhoods and community districts. The EIS is being prepared in accordance with the New York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) methodologies. The firm is responsible for several technical analyses, including public health, construction, and a very complex assessment of the project’s impacts to community facilities. This assessment entails a multi-district school capacity evaluation, along with detailed studies of the project’s potential impacts to health care facilities, library services, police and fire services. The Calladium Group is also providing technical editing services on behalf of the project team.
Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is proposing the replacement of the Sawtooth Bridges, which carry the Northeast Corridor over NJ Transit’s Morris & Essex Line, the PATH Newark-World Trade Center Line, and the former Conrail Center Street Branch. The aging bridges are nearing the end of their functional life, and their two speed-restricted tracks limit the efficiency and reliability of rail operations along this critical rail segment. The primary purpose of the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project is to enhance resiliency and provide continued connectivity along the Northeast Corridor.
As a key member of the project team, The Calladium Group is leading the preparation of Categorical Exclusion documentation in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and playing an integral role in managing compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, including coordination with consulting parties and the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office (NJHPO). The NEPA studies include detailed analyses of natural resources, wetlands, floodplains, historic and archaeological resources, contaminated materials, land use, transportation, and more. The firm is also serving as liaison between the environmental and engineering teams to ensure timely information exchange and development of implementable mitigation measures.