[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8635-8636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2356]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Mukilteo, WA

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public, agencies and Indian tribes that an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for proposed development of a 
multimodal ferry terminal in the City of Mukilteo, Snohomish County, 
Washington.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of alternatives and impacts to be 
considered in the EIS must be received no later than April 5, 2006, and 
must be sent to Washington State Ferries at the address indicated 
below.
    Scoping Meeting Dates: Two public information meetings will be held 
in March 2006, including: Tuesday, March 21, 2006, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., at 
the Mukilteo Water District, Administration Building, 7824 Mukilteo 
Speedway, Mukilteo, Washington; Wednesday, March 22, 2006, 6 p.m.-8 
p.m., Clinton Progressive Hall, 6411 Central Avenue, Clinton, Whidbey 
Island, Washington. Oral and written comments may be given at the 
public meetings.
    All public information locations are accessible to persons with 
disabilities who may also request this information be prepared and 
supplied in alternate formats by calling Joy Goldenberg, (206) 515-3411 
at least 48-hours in advance of the meeting for WSDOT/WSF to make 
necessary arrangement. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may 
access Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 7-
1-1 and asking to be connected to (206) 515-3411.

ADDRESSES: Comments or questions concerning this proposal will be 
accepted at the public meetings or can be sent to Kerry Ruth, P.E., 
Washington State Ferries, 2901 Third Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 
98121; by Fax at 206-515-3740; or by e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Ramos, Federal Transit 
Administration, 915 2nd Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle, WA 98174, 
Telephone: 206-220-4319 or Kerry Ruth, Washington State Ferries, 2901 
Third Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98121, Telephone: 206-515-3896. 
Additional information on the Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal can be 
found on the project Web site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/mukilteoterminal/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action Background

    The FTA and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 
Washington State Ferries (WSF) will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on proposed relocation and expansion of the Mukilteo 
Ferry Terminal as a multimodal ferry terminal in the City of Mukilteo, 
Snohomish County, Washington. The multimodal center will be located 
east of the existing ferry terminal at a former U.S. Department of 
Defense, Defense Fuel

[[Page 8636]]

Supply Point facility, known locally as the Tank Farm. Last rebuilt in 
1952, the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal has limited ability to meet current 
and projected demands for use. The Mukilteo-Clinton ferry route, part 
of State Route (SR) 525, is the major transportation corridor between 
Island County (Whidbey Island) and the central Puget Sound mainland and 
is the second busiest vehicle traffic route in the WSF system. 2014 
travel demand projections show a third boat and second ferry slip are 
necessary. The existing terminal is aging and in need of major repairs. 
It cannot efficiently handle current and projected growth on the route 
nor meet future security requirements. The multimodal ferry terminal 
will accommodate projected growth for both passengers and vehicles on 
the route. Access for ferry passengers to rail and bus connections and 
terminal operations will improve. The overall circulation and safety 
for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists will improve, including 
access to the waterfront.
    WSF concluded from several studies since the late 1970s, which 
examined alternative transportation routes across the Puget Sound, a 
focus on multimodal connections and passenger-only ferry service in 
long-range planning. A 1988 study by the Washington State 
Transportation Commission recommended three-boat service for the 
Mukilteo-Clinton route based on projected demand. A 1992 Clinton 
Terminal Plan confirmed the need for a three-boat schedule, and the 
reconstructed terminal at Clinton was completed in 2004. WSDOT 
concurred with a 1995 City of Mukilteo Multimodal Terminal Access Study 
State EIS preference for the Central Waterfront Alternative, which 
locates the multimodal center on the Tank Farm property. The proposal 
was incorporated into the City of Mukilteo comprehensive plan in 1996. 
A 1999 Memorandum of Understanding between several agencies, including 
the WSDOT/WSF, Cities of Mukilteo and Everett, the Port of Everett, and 
Sound Transit, sets forth development of the Tank Farm property to 
include the Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal and the Sound Transit 
commuter rail station, the Mukilteo Sounder Station. The 1999 Seattle-
to-Everett Commuter Rail EIS completed by FTA and Sound Transit 
determined the location of the commuter rail station in the Mukilteo 
central waterfront area.
    WSF built on the previous studies and agreements with the 2003-2004 
Master Plan for Mukilteo Waterfront that resulted in three multimodal 
ferry terminal options for further study in an Environmental Assessment 
(EA), No Action, a Compact Terminal, and an Upland Terminal. The 
Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal EA process began in October 2004 
with agency and public scoping, and resulted in a Public Scoping 
Summary Report completed in November 2004. Upon completing draft 
environmental discipline studies of possible effects of the potential 
alternatives for the terminal, it was determined the proposed action 
may substantially affect the quality of the human and natural 
environment and may benefit from the more detailed analysis, and 
therefore, it was elected to prepare an EIS.

Alternatives

    The EIS will address, at a minimum, the no action alternative and 
the following action alternatives:
    Compact Terminal Alternative: This alternative relocates and 
develops the ferry terminal as a multimodal center east of the existing 
ferry terminal with a capacity for 260 vehicles and a 2.6-acre vehicle 
holding area over water. Extension of First Street accesses the 
terminal and separates ferry traffic from the local traffic on Front 
Street. First Street will provide vehicle holding for ferry boarding 
lanes. A pedestrian bridge will connect the ferry terminal to the 
proposed Sound Transit commuter rail station and commuter parking 
(which are not part of this project). This joint-use parking garage 
will provide 275 to 400 parking stalls. The facility transit center 
will accommodate seven bus bays with a passenger pick-up and drop-off 
area.
    Upland Terminal Alternative: This alternative relocates and 
develops the ferry terminal as a multimodal center east of the existing 
ferry terminal with a capacity for 260 vehicles and approximately 12-
13-acres of vehicle holding area on land. Access to the terminal and 
transit station will be from Front Street and require vehicles 
approaching the center from State Route 525 to queue on First Street as 
vehicle holding for ferry boarding lanes. A pedestrian bridge will 
connect the ferry terminal to the proposed Sound Transit commuter rail 
station and commuter parking (which are not part of this project). This 
joint-use parking garage for this alternative will provide up to 480 
parking stalls. The facility transit center will accommodate seven bus 
bays with a passenger pick-up and drop-off area. Other alternatives 
presented during the scoping action will also be considered for 
evaluation in the EIS.

Probable Effects

    The FTA and WSF will evaluate all transportation, environmental, 
social, and economic effects of the alternatives. Potential areas of 
impact include: Noise and vibration; natural, cultural, and visual 
resources; environmental justice; and support of tribal government 
resource plans. All effects will be evaluated for both the construction 
period and the long-term period of operation. Secondary and cumulative 
impacts will also be evaluated. Measures to avoid, minimize and 
mitigate any significant effects will be developed.

Scoping

    Agency Coordination: The project sponsors are working with the 
local, state and federal resource agencies to implement regular 
opportunities for coordination during the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) process. This process will comply with SAFETEA-LU section 
6002.
    Tribal Coordination: The formal Tribal government consultation will 
occur through government-to-government collaboration.
    The dates and addresses of the scoping meeting are given in the 
DATES section above. The Washington State Dept. of Transportation 
(WSDOT) assures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, national 
origin and sex in the provision of benefits and services. For language 
interpretation services please contact Joy Goldenberg at (206) 515-
3411. For information on the WSDOT Title VI Program, please contact the 
Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7098.

(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: February 14, 2006.
R. F. Krochalis,
Regional Administrator, Region X, Federal Transit Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-2356 Filed 2-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P