[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 56380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27175]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; King County and Snohomish County, 
Washington

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 will be prepared for a proposed program 
of highway, arterial, and high-capacity transit projects in King County 
and Snohomish County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Fong, Division Administrator, 
Federal Highway Administration, 711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, 
Washington 98501-1284, Telephone: (360) 753-9413; or Michael Cummings, 
WSDOT Office of Urban Mobility, 401 Second Avenue So., Ste. 300, 
Seattle, Washington 98104-2862, Telephone: (206) 464-6223.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Washington 
State Department of Transportation, will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve Interstate 405 (I-405), 
adjacent arterials, and transit facilities in King County and Snohomish 
County, Washington. The proposed improvements potentially would include 
the construction of a range of highway, arterial, bus transit, high-
capacity transit, and non-motorized transportation improvements within 
the I-405 corridor study area between its southern intersection with I-
5 in the City of Tukwila and its northern intersection with Interstate 
5 (I-5) in Snohomish County, a length of about 30 miles.
    Improvements are considered necessary to improve movement of people 
and goods throughout the corridor and to reduce foreseeable traffic 
congestion. Alternatives are expected to include: (1) Taking no action; 
(2) implementing a range of transportation system management (TSM) and 
transportation demand management (TDM) measures; (3) expanding the 
capacity of the existing I-405; (4) expanding the capacity and 
improving the continuity of the adjacent arterial network; (5) 
expanding the capacity of the existing bus transit system; (6) 
implementing new high-capacity transit within the corridor; and/or (7) 
a combination of elements of the preceding alternatives. Also, a 
variety of land use and development controls by local agencies may be 
identified in the EIS, but these are not within the jurisdiction of the 
FHWA.
    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, affected 
Indian tribes, and to private organizations and citizens who have 
previously expressed or are known to have interest in this proposal. A 
series of agency and public scoping meetings will be held in the 
corridor during October 1999. In addition, a public hearing will be 
held. Public notice will be given of the time and place of the meetings 
and hearing. The draft EIS will be available for public and agency 
review and comment prior to the public hearing.
    To ensure 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 should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program 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: October 4, 1999.
Sharon R. Price,
Environmental Program Manager, FHWA Washington Division.
[FR Doc. 99-27175 Filed 10-18-99 8:45 am]
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