[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20425-20426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10244]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for replacing the Magnolia Bridge (Seattle, Washington).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public, Tribes, 
and agencies that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be 
prepared for a proposed transportation improvement project in Seattle, 
King County, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Healy, Area Engineer, 
Federal Highway Administration, 711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 501, Olympia, 
WA 98501, Telephone (360) 753-9480 and Kirk T. Jones, Seattle 
Department of Transportation Project Manager, 700 Fifth Ave., Seattle 
98104, (206) 615-0862 or e-mail [email protected]. The Seattle 
Department of Transportation (SDOT) TDD number is 206-615-0476. Written 
comments should be sent to Kirk T. Jones, Seattle Department of 
Transportation, Key Tower, Suite 3900, 700-5th Avenue, Seattle, 
Washington 98104-5043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, the Washington State Department of 
Transportation (WSDOT), and the City of Seattle will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a transportation improvement 
project to replace the Magnolia Bridge which spans from the 
intersection of 15th Avenue West and West Garfield Street

[[Page 20426]]

to the intersection of West Galer Street and Dartmouth Avenue West in 
Seattle, Washington. The EIS will be prepared to satisfy both NEPA and 
the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).
    The project proposes to replace the Magnolia Bridge, which has been 
damaged in recent years by landslides and an earthquake. The City of 
Seattle has determined that performing ongoing retrofit and maintenance 
work on the existing bridge would approach the cost of building a new 
bridge, and is therefore proposing to build a new facility. The EIS 
will explore several alternatives, including a No Action alternative, 
to identify a preferred alternative that provides vehicular linkage to 
Magnolia from the greater Seattle area; remedies ongoing seismic 
safety, landslide, and maintenance concerns; and minimizes impacts to 
the human and natural environment.
    The existing Magnolia Bridge, an approximately 3,000-foot 
structure, connects the 15th Avenue West/Elliott Avenue West corridor 
to Magnolia along the extended alignment of West Garfield Street, 
serving as one of three transportation routes to Magnolia that cross 
the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks. Access to the 
bridge is provided via the West Galer Street Flyover on the east, and 
from West Galer Street on the west.
    Currently four alternatives are being evaluated for inclusion in 
the EIS, including three different alignment alternatives and a No-
Action alternative. The No-Action Alternative will provide the basis 
for comparison of the build alternatives. The No-Action Alternative 
would preserve the existing Magnolia Bridge and include necessary 
maintenance and retrofit projects to meet seismic standards. 
Alternative A replaces the Magnolia Bridge with a similar facility just 
south of the existing bridge, using the same connection points and 
creating a structure approximately 3,000 feet in length. Alternative D 
maintains the same endpoints as currently exist for the Magnolia 
Bridge, but arcs the alignment to the north, creating a longer bridge 
structure than the existing bridge. Alternative H provides two access 
routes between 15th Avenue West and Magnolia, one similar to that 
described for Alternative D, the other a northern bridge connecting 
Wheeler Street and Armory Way to Thorndyke Avenue at 23rd Avenue West. 
Each alternative would include some method of connection (e.g., ramps 
or surface-level intersections) to Port of Seattle property currently 
spanned by the bridge.
    The NEPA scoping process is designed to identify important issues 
to be studied in the EIS. FHWA and the City of Seattle invite all 
interested parties to submit comments on the scope of the proposed 
project. Public and agency scoping will continue until the Draft EIS is 
completed. Comments can be submitted by mail, e-mail, via the project 
Web site, or in person at public and agency scoping meetings. A packet 
on the proposed project, project alternatives, and the scoping process 
may be obtained from Seattle Department of Transportation. The 
information may also be obtained through a public Web site for the 
project, www.seattle.gov/transportation/magbridgereplace.htm.
    Letters soliciting comments on the scope of the EIS and describing 
the purpose, need, and potential alternatives will be sent to 
appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and to 
organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are known 
to have interest in this proposal. A Public Open House/Scoping Meeting 
will be held on May 22, 2003, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm PDT, at the 
Blaine K-8 School Cafeteria, 2550 34th Avenue West, Seattle, 
Washington. An Agency Scoping Meeting for Federal, State, and local 
agencies and Tribes will be held from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm PDT at the 
Alaska Building, Elliott Bay Room, 2nd Avenue and Cherry Street, 
Seattle, Washington. In addition, a public and agency hearing will be 
held following circulation of the Draft EIS. All meeting locations are 
accessible to persons with disabilities. Any individual with a 
disability who requires special assistance at upcoming meetings, such 
as a sign language interpreter, should contact Marybeth Turner at (206) 
684-8548 or e-mail [email protected] at least 48-hours in 
advance of the meeting in order for SDOT to make necessary 
arrangements.

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


    Issued on: April 18, 2003.
Elizabeth Healy,
Area Engineer, Olympia, Washington.
[FR Doc. 03-10244 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
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