[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14317-14318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6495]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
Environmental Impact Statement: Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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 non-
ferry 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]
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