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Environmental Impact Statement: Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA

 

Environmental Impact Statement: Edmonds, Snohomish County, W



[Federal Register: March 16, 1995]







DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 


Environmental Impact Statement: Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA



AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.



ACTION: Notice of intent.






SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the Proposed 
Edmonds Multi-Modal Transportation Center project in the city of 
Edmonds, Snohomish County Washington.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gene K. Fong, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, 
Evergreen Plaza Building, 711 South Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, 
Washington 98501, Telephone: (360) 753-9413; Paul L. Green, Director/
CEO, Washington State Ferries, 801 Alaska Way, Seattle, Washington 
98104-1487, Telephone 206-464-7800; Paul Mar, Director of Community 
Services, City of Edmonds, 250 5th Avenue, Edmonds, Washington 98020, 
Telephone (206) 771-0220.



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Community Transit, and the city of 
Edmonds will prepare an EIS for a proposed Edmonds Multi-Modal 
Transportation Center project in the city of Edmonds, Snohomish County, 
Washington. The proposed action will integrate Edmonds' ferry, rail, 
and bus transportation needs in a new complex. More specifically, the 
multi-modal facility will provide: a ferry terminal that meets the 
operational requirements to accommodate forecasted ferry ridership 
demands; a train station that meets the inter-city passenger service 
and commuter rail loading requirements; a transit center that meets the 
local bus system and regional transit system loading requirements; and 
a linkage system between these station/terminals that meets the 
operational and safety requirements of each mode.
    This project is intended to address the conflicts between ferry, 
rail, auto, and pedestrian traffic in the confined area of downtown 
Edmonds. During ferry loading and unloading operations, all other nonferry 
traffic is disrupted. The lack of grade separation between the 
rail line and ferry access often creates slowdowns in ferry operation. 
These conflicts interrupt the efficient movement of people and goods in 
and through the downtown area, create an unsafe facility for users of 
all modes, complicate access to local businesses and, in general, 
stymie the economic development of the City's downtown. Relocating the 
terminal to another location away from the immediate downtown area is 
seen as a solution to these conflicts. Access to the ferry terminal is 
via SR 104 through the downtown area, bisecting the commercial district 
and the regional waterfront park. Relocating the ferry terminal and SR 
104 will thus separate ferry and non-ferry traffic and eliminate 
current conflicts. In addition, the existing ferry terminal is 
inadequate to handle today's ferry demands. The facility needs to be 
upgraded to include two landing slips and a separate loading/unloading 
facility for walk-on passengers. Currently, walk-on passengers loan and 
unload through the car deck, raising concern regarding safety and 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Finally, the existing 
train station does not meet ADA standards and needs major structural 
upgrading. To promote non-auto modes, the train station would be 
located close to the relocated ferry terminal.
    Two preliminary build alternatives and the no action alternative 
have been identified for analysis in the EIS. The two build 
alternatives would establish the proposed multi-modal center by 
relocating the existing Washington State Ferry terminal from Main 
Street to one of two sites: (1) Point Edwards Site located 
approximately \3/4\ mile south of Main Street, and (2) a Mid Waterfront 
Site located roughly half way between the Point Edwards site and Main 
Street. In both build alternatives, SR 104 would be realigned north of 
Pine Street to past through the existing Unocal owned site and provide 
direct access to the proposed multi-modal center.
    Major issues related to environmental resources have been 
identified for these preliminary build alternatives in the following 
areas: vegetation, wildlife, and fisheries; wetlands; hazardous waste; 
park lands and recreational facilities; water quality; floodplains; 
land use; air qualify; multimodal transportation; and visual quality.
    The no action alternative would maintain the ferry terminal at the 
existing Main Street location without any additional improvements to 
link ferry, rail, and bus transportation services.
    To begin a formal scoping period, letters describing the proposed 
action and soliciting comments will be sent to appropriate Federal, 
State and local agencies, affected Native-American groups, and private 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. A public scoping meeting has been 
tentatively scheduled for April, 1995 to solicit public input. An open 
house and public hearing will be held to receive comments on the draft 
EIS after it is approved for circulation. The draft EIS will be 
available for public and agency review and comment prior to the public 
hearing. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the 
scoping meeting, open house and [[Page 14318]] hearing, and of the 
availability of the draft EIS.

    To assure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS, or requests to 
be added to the mailing list, should be directed to the FHWA at the 
address provided above.



(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 20.205, Highway 
Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program)



    Issued on: March 8, 1995.

Jose M. Miranda,

Environmental Program Manager, Olympia Washington.
[FR Doc. 95-6495 Filed 3-15-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M

 
 

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