[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3541-3544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-01949]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions, King County, Washington

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Central Puget 
Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) intend to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the benefits and 
impacts of the proposed West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions 
(WSBLE), a light rail transit extension project. The project would 
improve public transit service along the WSBLE corridor between and 
through the West Seattle, Downtown, and Ballard neighborhoods in 
Seattle, King County, Washington. It would respond to a growing number 
of transportation and community needs identified in the agency's 
regional transit system plan, Sound Transit 3 (ST3).
    FTA and Sound Transit will prepare the EIS in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FTA environmental 
regulations, Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), 
and Washington's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). This Notice 
initiates formal scoping for the EIS, provides information on the 
nature of the proposed transit project, invites participation in the 
EIS process, provides information about the purpose and need for the 
proposed transit project, includes the general set of alternatives 
being considered for evaluation in the EIS, and identifies

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potential environmental effects to be considered. It also invites 
comments from interested members of the public, tribes, and agencies on 
the scope of the EIS and announces upcoming public scoping meetings. 
Alternatives being considered for evaluation include a No-Build 
alternative and various build alternatives to develop light rail in the 
WSBLE corridor. The alternatives were developed through a local 
planning process including a Regional Transit Long-Range Plan, a 
regional system plan of transit investments (ST3), and a SEPA early 
scoping and alternatives development process specific to the WSBLE 
corridor. Results of the SEPA early scoping process, the alternatives 
development process and findings, and other background technical 
reports are available at Sound Transit's office located at 401 S 
Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104-2826, on the project website: 
www.soundtransit.org/WSBLink, or by contacting the project line at 
(206) 903-7229.

DATES: The public scoping period will begin on the date of publication 
of this Notice and will continue through March 18, 2019 or 30 days from 
the date of publication, whichever is later. Please send written 
comments on the scope of the EIS, including the draft purpose and need 
statement, the alternatives to be considered in the EIS, the 
environmental and community impacts to be evaluated, and any other 
project-related issues, to the Sound Transit address listed in 
ADDRESSES below.
    Public scoping meetings will be held at the times and locations 
indicated in ADDRESSES below. Sound Transit and FTA will accept written 
(via mail and online) and verbal comments recorded by a court reporter 
at those meetings. FTA and Sound Transit have also scheduled a meeting 
to receive comments from agencies and tribes who have an interest in 
the proposed project (on March 5, 2019). Invitations to the agency and 
tribal scoping meeting have been sent to appropriate Federal, tribal, 
state, and local governmental units.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the scope of the EIS must be received by 
March 18, 2019 or 30 days from the publication of this Notice, 
whichever is later. Please send comments to: WSBLE (c/o Lauren Swift, 
Central Corridor Environmental Manager) Sound Transit, 401 S. Jackson 
Street, Seattle, WA 98104-2826, or by email to 
[email protected]. Comments will also be accepted at 
the public scoping meetings which will be held at:
    1. February 27, 2019, 6:00-8:30, Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th 
Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116.
    2. February 28, 2019, 6:00-8:30, Ballard High School, 1418 NW 65th 
St., Seattle, WA 98117.
    3. March 7, 2019, 5:00-7:30, Sound Transit, Union Station, 401 S. 
Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 98104.
    All public meeting locations are accessible to persons with 
disabilities. To request materials be prepared and supplied in 
alternate formats or languages, please call the project line, (206) 
903-7299/TTY Relay 711 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. 
Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may call (888) 713-4900/TTY 
Relay 711.
    Information about the proposed project, the alternatives 
development process, scoping, and the EIS process will be available at 
the scoping meetings, at Sound Transit offices, on the project website: 
http://www.soundtransit.org/WSBLink, or by contacting the project line 
at (206) 903-7229.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Assam, FTA Environmental 
Protection Specialist, phone: (206) 220-4465 or Lauren Swift, Sound 
Transit Central Corridor Environmental Manager, phone: (206) 398-5301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background. NEPA ``scoping'' (40 CFR 1501.7) has specific and 
fairly limited objectives, one of which is to identify the light rail 
alignment alternatives' significant issues that will be examined in 
detail in the EIS, while simultaneously limiting consideration and 
development of issues that are not truly significant. The NEPA scoping 
process should identify potentially significant environmental impacts 
caused by the project and that give rise to the need to prepare an EIS; 
impacts that are deemed not to be significant need not be developed 
extensively in the context of the impact statement. The EIS must be 
focused on impacts of consequence consistent with the ultimate 
objectives of the NEPA implementing regulations--``to make the 
environmental impact statement process more useful to decision makers 
and the public; and to reduce paperwork and the accumulation of 
extraneous background data, in order to emphasize the need to focus on 
real environmental issues and alternatives . . . [by requiring] impact 
statements to be concise, clear, and to the point, and supported by 
evidence that agencies have made the necessary environmental 
analyses.'' Executive Order 11991, of May 24, 1977. Transit projects 
may also generate environmental benefits, which should also be 
highlighted; the EIS process should draw attention to positive impacts, 
not just negative.
    The Proposed Project. Sound Transit is proposing to expand Link 
light rail transit service from downtown Seattle to West Seattle's 
Alaska Junction neighborhood, and to Ballard's Market Street area. The 
project corridor is approximately 11.8 miles long. The project is part 
of the ST3 Plan of regional transit system investments, approved for 
funding by voters in the region in 2016. The ST3 Plan is available on 
Sound Transit's website at: https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/documents-reports/st3-2016-guide.
    Purpose of and Need for the Project. The Purpose and Need statement 
establishes the basis for developing and evaluating a range of 
reasonable alternatives for environmental review and assists with the 
identification of a Preferred Alternative. The purpose of the WSBLE 
project is to expand the Link light rail system from downtown Seattle 
to West Seattle and Ballard, to make appropriate community investments 
to improve mobility, and to increase capacity and connectivity for 
regional connections in order to:
     Provide high quality rapid, reliable, and efficient light 
rail transit service to communities in the project corridor as defined 
through the local planning process and reflected in the ST3 Plan (Sound 
Transit, 2016).
     Improve regional mobility by increasing connectivity and 
capacity through downtown Seattle to meet projected transit demand.
     Connect regional centers as described in adopted regional 
and local land use, transportation, and economic development plans and 
Sound Transit's Regional Transit Long-Range Plan Update (Sound Transit, 
2014).
     Implement a system that is technically and financially 
feasible to build, operate, and maintain.
     Expand mobility for the corridor and region's residents, 
which include transit-dependent, low-income, and minority populations.
     Encourage equitable and sustainable urban growth in 
station areas through support of transit-oriented development and 
multimodal integration in a manner that is consistent with local land 
use plans and policies, including Sound Transit's Transit Oriented 
Development and Sustainability policies.
     Encourage convenient and safe non-motorized access to 
stations such as bicycle and pedestrian connections

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consistent with Sound Transit's System Access Policy.
     Preserve and promote a healthy environment and economy by 
minimizing adverse impacts on the natural, built, and social 
environments through sustainable practices.
    The project is needed because:
     When measured using national standards, existing transit 
routes between downtown Seattle, West Seattle and Ballard currently 
operate with poor reliability. Roadway congestion in the project 
corridor will continue to degrade transit performance and reliability 
as the city is expected to add 70,000 residential units and 115,000 
jobs by 2035, without any major expansions in roadways.
     Increased ridership from regional population and 
employment growth will increase operational frequency in the existing 
downtown Seattle transit tunnel requiring additional tunnel capacity.
     Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), the regional 
metropolitan planning organization, and local plans call for High 
Capacity Transit (HCT) in the corridor consistent with VISION 2040 
(PSRC, 2009) and Sound Transit's Regional Transit Long-Range Plan 
Update (Sound Transit, 2014).
     The region's citizens and communities, including transit 
dependent residents and low-income and minority population, need long-
term regional mobility and multimodal connectivity as called for in the 
Washington State Growth Management Act.
     Regional and local plans call for increased residential 
and/or employment density at and around HCT stations, and increased 
options for multimodal access.
     Environmental and sustainability goals of the state and 
region, as established in Washington state law and embodied in PSRC's 
VISION 2040 and 2018 Regional Transportation Plan, include reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions by decreasing vehicle miles traveled.
    Proposed Alternatives. Three light rail transit (LRT) build 
alternatives have been identified for the WSBLE project, as well as a 
no-build alternative, as required under NEPA, that serves as a baseline 
against which to assess the impacts of the proposed alternatives. The 
mode and corridor served for the proposed project were identified 
through the years-long planning process for the Sound Transit Regional 
Transit Long-Range Plan and ST3 Plan. The three LRT alternatives were 
developed through an alternatives development process which built off 
of the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan and ST3 planning work. The 
planning and alternatives development processes included technical 
analysis, public engagement, and input from affected local 
jurisdictions. Sound Transit developed an initial range of alternatives 
from agency and public input during the SEPA early scoping process 
(February 2 through March 5, 2018). The project Elected Leadership 
Group (ELG), a comprehensive group of elected officials that represent 
the service corridor, and the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG), an 
advisory group consisting of members of the community appointed by the 
ELG, then recommended how to narrow and refine these alternatives based 
on additional analysis and community, agency, and tribal input. 
Consistent with 23 CFR part 450.318, FTA is relying on the results of 
these local planning processes to inform the mode, corridor, and range 
of reasonable alternatives to be evaluated during the environmental 
process.
    FTA and Sound Transit invite comments on these alternatives. The 
input received during the scoping period will help FTA and Sound 
Transit identify alternatives to evaluate in the Draft EIS. After 
scoping concludes, the Sound Transit Board is expected to consider the 
scoping comments received and then act on a motion addressing the 
purpose and need for the project, the scope of environmental review, 
and identifying the preferred alternative and other alternatives to be 
considered in the Draft EIS.
    No Build Alternative. The No Build Alternative reflects the 
existing transportation system plus the transportation improvements 
included in PSRC's Transportation Improvement Program.
    Light Rail Transit Alternatives. Each LRT alternative is 
approximately 11.8 miles and includes fourteen stations that serve the 
following areas: Alaska Junction, Avalon, Delridge, SODO, the sports 
stadiums, International District/Chinatown, Midtown, Westlake, Denny, 
South Lake Union, Seattle Center, Smith Cove, Interbay, and Ballard. 
FTA and Sound Transit may also examine several design options and 
potential minimal operable segments for the proposed alternatives. 
Information about the proposed project, the alternatives development 
process, scoping, and the EIS process will be available at the scoping 
meetings, at Sound Transit offices, on the project website: http://www.soundtransit.org/WSBLink, or by contacting the project line at 
(206) 903-7229. For purposes of the Notice, the proposed alternatives 
can be generally described as follows:
    In West Seattle, the alternatives include several elevated and 
tunnel station options in the Alaska Junction area in the vicinity of 
SW Alaska Street on either 41st Avenue SW, 42nd Avenue SW, or 44th 
Avenue SW. From the Alaska Junction, the alternatives travel east in 
either an elevated or tunnel configuration with elevated or tunnel 
station options at Avalon, and continue in an elevated configuration 
along SW Genesee Street with an elevated station in Delridge along or 
west of Delridge Way SW. The alternatives then cross the Duwamish River 
on a high level fixed bridge parallel to the existing West Seattle 
Bridge on either the north or south side. The alternatives continue 
east in an elevated configuration before turning north following the 
alignment of the E3 Busway to a new elevated or at-grade SODO station 
and an at-grade Stadium station and connect to the existing downtown 
Seattle transit tunnel.
    A new downtown tunnel would begin in the vicinity of the Stadium 
station, it would head north with alignments under 4th Avenue S or 5th 
Avenue S through the International District/Chinatown and then travel 
northwest along 5th Avenue or 6th Avenue through Midtown and Westlake. 
The alternatives would then continue in a tunnel configuration along 
Westlake Ave N to South Lake Union with a station near Denny Way before 
turning northwest with a station near Aurora Ave N between Harrison and 
Roy streets. The alternatives would continue in tunnel towards Seattle 
Center with a station on either Republican or Mercer streets. The 
alternatives then turn north and begin to transition to at-grade or 
elevated configurations to serve a Smith Cove station along Elliott 
Avenue W. From the Smith Cove station, the alternatives either continue 
in an elevated configuration along 15th Avenue W or transition to at-
grade along the east side of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) 
railway tracks to a station in Interbay near W Dravus Street. From the 
Interbay station, one alternative would continue in an elevated 
alignment along 15th Avenue W and cross Salmon Bay with a movable 
bridge. The other alternatives transition to the east of 15th Avenue W 
and cross Salmon Bay with a high level fixed bridge or tunnel. Station 
options in Ballard include elevated and tunnel stations near NW Market 
Street on 15th Avenue NW or 14th Avenue NW.
    The build alternatives could also include transit related roadway, 
bicycle, maritime, and pedestrian projects by

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Sound Transit or others. These improvements may be eligible for federal 
funding and could be part of the transit project or constructed 
together with it as part of a joint effort with agency partners, 
thereby meriting joint environmental analysis. This could include 
access improvements around station areas and over waterway crossings. 
Sound Transit would identify these improvements and could include them 
as it works with partner agencies.
    Possible Adverse Effects. Consistent with NEPA, FTA and Sound 
Transit will evaluate, with input from the public, tribes, and 
agencies, the potential impacts of the alternatives on the natural, 
built, and social environments. Likely areas of investigation include, 
transportation (including navigable waterways), land use and 
consistency with applicable plans, land acquisition and displacements, 
socioeconomic impacts, park and recreation resources, historic and 
cultural resources, environmental justice, visual and aesthetic 
qualities, air quality, noise and vibration, energy use, safety and 
security, and ecosystems, including threatened and endangered species 
and marine mammals. The EIS will evaluate short-term construction 
impacts and long-term operational impacts. It will also consider 
indirect, secondary and cumulative impacts. The EIS will also propose 
measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate significant adverse impacts.
    In accordance with FTA policy and regulations, FTA and Sound 
Transit will comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, 
and executive orders applicable to the proposed project during the 
environmental review process.
    Roles of Agencies and the Public. NEPA, and FTA's regulations for 
implementing NEPA, call for public involvement in the EIS process. FTA 
and Sound Transit therefore invite Federal and non-Federal agencies to 
participate in the NEPA process as ``cooperating'' or ``participating'' 
agencies. FTA will also initiate government-to-government consultation 
with Indian tribes and will invite them to participate in the process.
    Any agency or tribe interested in the project that does not receive 
such an invitation should promptly notify the Sound Transit Corridor 
Environmental Manager identified above under ADDRESSES.
    FTA and Sound Transit will prepare a draft Coordination Plan for 
agency involvement. Interested parties will be able to review the draft 
Coordination Plan on the project website. The draft Coordination Plan 
will identify the project's coordination approach and structure, will 
provide details on the major schedule milestones for agency and public 
involvement, and will include an initial list of interested agencies 
and organizations.
    Combined FEIS and Record of Decision. Under 23 U.S.C. 139, FTA 
should combine the Final EIS and Record of Decision if it is 
practicable. The EIS will be a joint document under NEPA and SEPA; 
therefore, FTA and Sound Transit have determined that this is not 
practicable to combine the Final EIS and Record of Decision.
    Paperwork Reduction. The Paperwork Reduction Act seeks, in part, to 
minimize the cost to the taxpayer of the creation, collection, 
maintenance, use, dissemination, and disposition of information. 
Consistent with this goal and with principles of economy and efficiency 
in government, FTA limits as much as possible the distribution of 
complete sets of printed environmental documents. Accordingly, unless a 
specific request for a complete printed set of environmental documents 
is received before the document is printed, FTA and Sound Transit will 
distribute only the executive summary of the environmental document 
that will include a compact disc of the complete environmental document 
and a link to the project website where it can be accessed online. A 
complete printed set of the environmental document will be available 
for review at the Sound Transit's offices and local libraries; an 
electronic copy of the complete environmental document will also be 
available on Sound Transit's project website.

Linda M. Gehrke,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-01949 Filed 2-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P