[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13892-13893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2582]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Transit Administration


Environmental Impact Statement on Seattle Ferry Terminal--
Seattle, WA

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), U.S. 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

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

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit 
Administration are issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 
Washington State Ferries Seattle Ferry Terminal Project in Seattle, 
Washington.

DATES: Written comments on the purpose and need, scope of alternatives 
and impacts to be considered in the EIS must be received no later than 
May 19, 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 April 2006, including:
    Thursday, April 20, 2006, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at the Seattle 
Ferry Terminal, 801 Alaskan Way (Pier 52), Seattle, Washington;
    Tuesday, April 25, 2006, 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., at the Puget Sound 
Regional Council, 1011 Western Ave, 50,Seattle, Washington.
    Oral and written comments may be given at the public meetings.
    This and all other public meetings will be accessible to persons 
with disabilities. Any individual who requires special assistance 
should contact Hadley Greene at (206) 515-3913 at least 48 hours in 
advance of the meeting in order for WSF to make necessary arrangements. 
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) 515-3913.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that the full range of issues related to this 
proposed action are identified and addressed, comments and suggestions 
are invited from interested parties. Comments will be accepted at the 
public scoping meetings (either through written comments forms and/or 
orally through the court reporter) or they can be e-mailed to 
SeattleFerry [email protected] or mailed to Washington State 
Ferries, Hadlay Greene, Customer and Community Relations, 2901 Third 
Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 93121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Gehrke, Federal Transit 
Administration, Telephone: (206) 220-4463; or Steve Saxton, Federal 
Highway Administration, Telephone: (360) 753-9411; or Angela 
Freudenstein, Washington State Ferries. Telephone: (206) 382-5230. 
Additional information on the Seattle Ferry Terminal Project can be 
found on the project Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/projects/seattlecolmandock/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Propose Action Background

    The FHWA and FTA, as Federal co-lead agencies, in participation 
with the Washington State Ferries (WSF) will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed Seattle Ferry Terminal Project 
in Seattle, Washington. The project study area generally encompasses 
the southern portion of the Seattle downtown between King Street and 
Madison Streets along the waterfront.
    The existing Seattle Ferry Terminal at Colman Dock is both 
structurally deteriorated and lacks the capacity to meet either the 
current peak travel demand or future needs. The existing pier structure 
was built in 1964, reusing many timber piles from the original 1936 
pier. The south half of the dock was rebuilt in the 1990s. In 2002 WSF 
conducted and underwater inspection that indicated almost one-half of 
the timber piles were damaged or deteriorated. In addition, the 
transfer spans for loading cars and passengers onto the ferry vessels 
are aging and deteriorating. All of these facilities are nearing the 
end of their useful life and need to be replaced.
    The draft WSF Long-Range Strategic Plan indicates that the Seattle 
Ferry Terminal will experience considerable growth in both vehicle and 
passenger traffic between now and 2030. During the daily westbound PM 
peak travel period, when traffic is heaviest, the number of vehicles 
carried is expected to increase by over 125%. During the same travel 
period, the number of walk-on passengers is projected to triple. To 
accommodate this projected growth, and avoid continuing and worsening 
backups on nearby surface streets, the existing terminal's holding 
capacity will need to more than double.
    Currently, the Seattle Ferry Terminal does not have enough area to 
hold vehicles waiting to use the ferry on peak travel days, 
particularly on a Friday during the summer. As a result of limited 
space on the dock (currently there is room for a maximum of 
approximately 600 vehicles) vehicles back up on surface streets on 
several days each year. These waiting vehicles disrupt and conflict 
with through traffic at several roadway intersections. Backups are 
expected to worsen in the future if improvements at the terminal are 
not made.
    Foot passengers moving between the terminal and downtown encounter

[[Page 13893]]

mobility issues related to the surges of heavy pedestrian traffic in 
one direction or the other on an above-street bridge; inadequate 
lighting and poor pavement conditions along surface streets; lack of 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant facilities; and poor 
access and inconvenient connections to existing multi-modal 
transportation services.
    The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, part of the U.S. 
Coast Guard's Homeland Security mandate, requires a number of physical 
improvements be made at the Seattle Ferry Terminal, including areas for 
passenger and vehicle screening.

Project Objectives/Alternatives

    The primary objectives of the Seattle Ferry Terminal Project are to 
replace the aging and deteriorating dock structure, accommodate 
projected growth of both vehicle and passenger traffic, enhance 
operational effectiveness and thus decrease congestion on adjacent city 
streets, improve passenger connections to multi-modal transportation 
services and mobility into downtown, and incorporate physical 
improvements in conformance with ADA and Maritime Transportation 
Security Act requirements.
    All reasonable alternatives that meet the project objectives will 
be considered. The EIS will include a range of terminal improvements, 
as well as a No-Build Alternative.

Probable Effects

    The EIS will evaluate significant transportation, environmental, 
social, and economic impacts of the alternatives. Potential areas of 
impact include: overwater coverage, aquatic resources, land use, 
economics, historic and cultural properties, traffic, and environmental 
justice. All impacts will be evaluated for both the construction period 
and for the long-term period of operation. Measures to avoid, minimize, 
or mitigate any significant impacts will be developed.

    Issued on March 13, 2006.
R.F. Krochalis,
Regional Administrator, Region X, Federal Transit Administration.
Steve Saxton,
Area Engineer, Washington Division, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-2582 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M