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Historic Properties

The Long Bridge is a contributing resource to the East and West Potomac Parks Historic District and is, therefore, a “historic property” for the purposes of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) completed a Section 106 process for the Long Bridge Project (Project), consisting of the existing Long Bridge and other historic properties within or adjacent to the Long Bridge Corridor, which extends approximately 1.8 miles from the RO Interlocking in Arlington, Virginia, to the L’Enfant (LE) Interlocking near 10th Street SW in the District of Columbia.

The Section 106  process culminated in a Programmatic Agreement (PA) which contains conditions and stipulations regarding the Project. The FRA, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the National Park Service, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the State Historic Preservation Officers for the District of Columbia and the State of Virginia executed the PA on July 30, 2020  The PA is included in Appendix B of the Record of Decision.  

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Overview

Section 106 of the NHPA requires that Federal agencies consider the effects of their projects on historic properties. Historic properties are any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) maintained by the Secretary of the Interior.

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Section 106 implementing regulations in 36 CFR Part 800 define a four-step decision-making process for compliance with Section 106. The four steps are:

  1. Initiate consultation;
  2. Identify properties that may be affected by the project and determine if the property or properties are eligible for or listed in the NRHP;
  3. Determine if the undertaking will have an effect on those historic properties; and
  4. Resolve any identified adverse effects on historic properties by developing and evaluating alternatives that could avoid, minimize, or mitigate those effects. The result of consultation could be a legally binding Memorandum of Agreement or a PA.

For more information, FRA encourages you to review the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review.

Consultation Process

Section 106 of the NHPA requires Federal agencies to identify and consult with State Historic Preservation Officers, Federally recognized Indian tribes, and other consulting parties regarding the project.

Consulting Parties in the Section 106 Process are:

  • Applicants for Federal assistance (including approvals);
  • State Historic Preservation Officers;
  • Federally recognized Indian tribes / Tribal Historic Preservation Officers;
  • Local governments;
  • Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; and
  • Other individuals/organizations with interest due to the nature of their legal or economic relation to the project or affected properties, or their concern for the project’s effects on historic properties (subject to FRA approval).

Potential Roles of the Consulting Parties:

  • Discuss views
  • Help identify historic properties
  • Review pertinent historic preservation information provided by FRA
  • Help develop and consider possible solutions to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects to historic properties
  • Implement mitigation measures

Consultation Meetings and Materials