Environmental Impact Statement; King County, Washington |
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Daniel M. Mathis
Federal Highway Administration
September 26, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59414-59415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23446]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement; King County, Washington
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to
advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be
prepared for a proposed project to (1) manage congestion and traffic
flow on I-90 between I-5 and I-405, which is in the Cross-Lake
Washington Corridor, and (2) contribute revenue to the sustainable,
long-term funding for timely completion of the SR 520 Bridge
Replacement and HOV Program and maintenance and future transportation
improvements on I-90. The total length of the corridor is approximately
seven (7) miles. The scoping period for this EIS is October 7, 2013
through November 6, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lindsey Handel, Urban Transportation
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, Washington Division, 711 S.
Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, WA 98501; telephone: 360-753-9550; and
email: lindsey.handel@dot.gov. Washington State Department of
Transportation (WSDOT) agency coordination contact: Angela Angove, I-90
Tolling Environmental Manager, Washington Department of Transportation
(WSDOT); 999 Third Ave, Seattle, WA 98104; telephone: 206-805-2832;
email: angovea@wsdot.wa.gov. Additional information on the I-90 Tolling
Project can also be found on the project Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/CrossLakeWATolling.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 2012 Transportation Budget Bill, ESHB
2109, the Washington State Legislature directed WSDOT to ``undertake a
comprehensive environmental review of tolling Interstate 90 between I-5
and I-405 for the purposes of both managing traffic and providing
funding for construction of the unfunded SR 520 from I-5 to Medina
project . . . ''
The Cross-Lake Washington Corridor includes the I-90 and State
Route (SR) 520 bridges, which are part of two parallel highways that
along with portions of I-5 and I-405 operate as one larger system to
connect the region's major employment and population centers over Lake
Washington, a 22-mile-long body of water. The FHWA is issuing this
notice to advise the public that an EIS will be prepared by FHWA and
WSDOT on a proposed project to introduce tolling to I-90 between I-5 in
Seattle and I-405 in Bellevue, Washington. The specific boundaries of
the project study area will be defined in the EIS.
FHWA and WSDOT initially planned to prepare an environmental
assessment (EA) for this project and conducted the first round of
scoping between January 22, 2013 and February 22, 2013. FHWA and WSDOT
received approximately 3,400 comments, most of which expressed concern
with or opposition to tolls on I-90. Between the time that the scoping
comment period ended in February 2013 and the time that the Scoping
Summary Report was published in June, the Washington State Legislature
passed Engrossed Substitute Senate bill 5024, amending their previous
direction to WSDOT by requiring an EIS for the project. Given the type
of comments received during scoping urging FHWA and WSDOT to prepare on
EIS in conjunction with the new state law, FHWA and WSDOT will move
forward with an EIS to evaluate potential effects of the Project.
Based on input received during the first scoping period, FHWA and
WSDOT have revised the purpose and need statement. These changes
include a revised purpose statement, as well as added clarification on
the need to manage congestion on I-90, and the need for additional
revenue to complete the SR 520, I-5 to Medina: Bridge Replacement and
HOV Project. The revised purpose and need statement is available on the
project Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/I90/CrossLakeWATolling.
Three tolling scenarios were introduced during the first scoping
period. These included tolls collected between Seattle and Mercer
Island, tolls collected between Bellevue and Mercer Island, and partial
tolls collected on trips within a segment. In addition to these three
tolling scenarios, several alternatives to tolling were suggested by
the public and agencies. Suggested alternatives included, but are not
limited to, other funding mechanisms for the SR 520 program such as gas
tax, increasing tolls on SR 520, and vehicle miles traveled tax. Other
alternatives suggested include tolling other facilities, increased
transit service, and adding high occupancy toll lanes to I-90. All
reasonable alternatives recommended by the Washington State
Legislature, the public, and agencies will be considered and evaluated
in the EIS to determine if they meet the purpose and need of the
project: the EIS will also include a No-Build Alternative.
Agency Coordination: The lead agencies are coordinating with the
local, state and federal resource agencies during the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.
Tribal Coordination: Formal Tribal government consultation will
occur through government-to-government coordination.
An agency and tribal scoping meeting will be held Thursday, October
10, 2013. WSDOT will send invitations to agencies and Tribes.
Public Meetings: Three public information meetings will be held in
October 2013, including:
Monday, October 10, 2013, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., at the
Bellevue College located at 3000 Landerholm Circle, SE., Bellevue, WA
98007;
Tuesday, October 21, 2013, 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Mercer
Island High School located at 9100 SE 42nd Street, Mercer Island, WA
98040; and
Thursday, October 23, 2013, 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., at the
Northwest African American Museum located at 2300 Massachusetts Street,
Seattle, WA 98144.
Agencies, Tribes, and the public are encouraged to submit comments
on the revised purpose and need and preliminary range of alternatives
during the scoping period. Comments must be received by November 6,
2013 to be included in the formal scoping record.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: All public
information meeting locations are accessible to persons with
disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance, such as a
sign language interpreter, should contact Colleen Gants, WSDOT Toll
Division
[[Page 59415]]
Communications and External Affairs at 206-716-1150 or
gantsc@consultant.wsdot.wa.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the
meeting in order for WSDOT to make necessary arrangements.
Comments received during the initial scoping process held January
22-February 22, 2013 will be considered in the preparation of this EIS.
To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action
is addressed, and all significant issues identified, new or additional
comments and suggestions are invited from interested parties during the
second scoping period. Comments concerning this proposal will be
accepted at the public meetings or can be sent by mail to I-90 Tolling
Project, Attention: Angela Angove, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 2200,
Seattle, WA 98104 or email sent to i90EIScomments@wsdot.wa.gov.
Comments must be received by November 6, 2013 to be included in the
formal scoping record.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205,
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 139, 23 CFR 771, and 40 CFR 1500-1508
Dated: September 20, 2013.
Daniel M. Mathis,
Division Administrator, Olympia, WA.
[FR Doc. 2013-23446 Filed 9-25-13; 8:45 am]
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