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Home My WebLink AboutTIS 2023-03-06 Item 2G - Update - Allentown Truck Reroute Environmental Impact Statement OutreachCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor Public Works Department - Had Ponnekanti, Director/City Engineer INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee FROM: Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director/City Engineer BY: Mark Hafs, EIS Project Director DATE: March 3, 2023 SUBJECT: Allentown Truck Reroute EIS Project No. 92110405 Outreach Update ISSUE Provide an update on the Allentown Truck Reroute EIS scoping process and outreach. BACKGROUND Truck Traffic accessing the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) multi -modal facility causes adverse effects in the Allentown community such as noise, vibration, vehicle emissions, surface water pollution, and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists. An EIS is required by the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). It will help identify potential alternatives, determine how they might impact the project area and the people in it, and select alternatives that best achieve project goals. The process is focused on making project decision open and transparent, and ensuring that documents prepared as part of the EIS are clear and understandable to members of the public and stakeholders who want to review and comment on project planning and design. In 2021, Council voted to fund an EIS that would consider alternative routes that would reduce the level of impacts of truck traffic in Allentown. DISCUSSION The first step of the EIS process is to gather feedback from residents, businesses, and the greater community to learn about their needs, desires, and concerns, and places and things in the project area that they value and want to protect. A Determination of Scoping Notice begins a 30 -day public comment period during which residents, stakeholders, and agencies comment on potential truck reroute alternatives and what they believe the EIS should be analyzing. The 30 -day comment period for the scoping notice and determination of significance began on February 14, 2023 and an open house was held on February 28, 2023, at 5:30 pm, at the Tukwila Community Center to provide residents and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide public comment in-person. Public comment can still be provided by email at AllentownTruckReRoute@TukwilaWA.gov or via a survey that can be mailed to the City. The survey can be found on the project website at www.TukwilaWA.gov/Allentown. Public and stakeholder comments are due by 5:00 p.m., March 15, 2023. Tukwila City Hall • 6200 5rruthcentor-$aulovard • Tukwila, WA 98158 • 206.433-3800 • Website: TukwilaWA.go 45 Info Memo, Page 2 At the end of the scoping period, our consultant team at HDR will take the community feedback they've gotten and use it to help narrow down the alternatives to be further studied. Throughout the EIS process, City staff and HDR will continue to have forums for community input as initial draft alternatives are being considered, including a second open house where the community will have a chance to look at and comment on the project engineers' initial draft for truck reroute alternatives. FINANCIAL IMPACT Cost Estimate HDR Contract $ 796,274.00 Expended to date 10,595.06 Remaining $ 785,678.94 RECOMMENDATION Discussion only. ATTACHMENT: 2023 CIP, Pagel 1 Project Schedule Environmental Review Process Handout Consultant Budget $1,000,000.00 Phone; 206-433-12GO • Email: Mayor@TukwillaWA.gov + Website: TukwilaWA.gov 46 CITY OF TUKWILA CAPITAL PROJECT SUMMARY 2023 to 2028 PROJECT: Allentown Truck Reroute Project No. 92110405 Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will consider rerouting the freight truck traffic that DESCRIPTION: currently uses surface streets in Tukwila's Allentown neighborhood to access BNSF Railway Company's South Seattle Intermodal Facility. The City has committed to addressing the Allentown community's ongoing concerns about the adverse effects of JUSTIFICATION: truck traffic from BNSF's intermodal facility on the Allentown neighborhood — e.g. noise, vibration, truck emissions, and the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. In 2021, City Council allocated $1.2 Million for the EIS. Using that budget, the City hired a project manager, who STATUS: has reviewed documentation from the City's past truck reroute efforts for Allentown, established a working relationship with the Allentown community, and coordinated the hiring of a consultant team. Consultant work on the project is expected to begin in October of 2022, and will take approximately 18 to 24 months to complete. MAINT. IMPACT: Because the project is an environmental study, no maintenance impacts are expected. The project has been coordinated with other City efforts in Allentown, including the 42nd Ave. S Bridge COMMENT: replacement, the Allentown traffic calming project, and overlay work. Discussion of these efforts has been included in regular community engagement meetings at the TCC to ensure a regular flow of information to Allentown residents and businesses, and to encourage public buy -in of City projects. FINANCIAL Through Estimated (in $000's) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 BEYOND TOTAL EXPENSES Project Location *,,,,_ N , `� 0N Bo e ces_. r wy'r tg Design - 300 900 0, \ lk 1,200 Land (R/W) - X11 I r` 1, \F k s l\ ob ,,, 11 0 Const. Mgmt. 12 all RI 128` ,Na 0 Construction 30 St at °' glig, \® 0 TOTAL EXPENSES 0 300 900 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,200 FUND SOURCES Awarded Grant 0 Proposed Grant 0 Mitigation Actual BNSF 0 Mitigation Expected 0 Council Allocation 0 300 900 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,200 TOTAL SOURCES 0 300 900 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,200 2023 - 2028 Capital Improvement Program 47 Project Location *,,,,_ N , `� 0N Bo e ces_. r wy'r tg 0, \ lk v. - X11 I r` 1, \F k s l\ ob ,,, 11 s12�-!\ 12 all RI 128` ,Na �S 30 St at °' glig, \® 2023 - 2028 Capital Improvement Program 47 Project Schedule- Allentown EIS WE ARE HERE PHASE1 -3-4 MONTHS Scoping ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PHASE 2 Formal public comment period: February 14 through March 15 -9 MONTHS Draft EIS -3 MONTHS Final EIS Formal public Formal public comment period: TB D comment period: TBD Notice of Final EIS Public Meting • Public C+xnrnarst Public Hearing 48 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: How can community members be involved in this process? Leave a scoping comment! The formal EIS scoping comment period is February 14, 2023 to March 15, 2023. During this time, we invite you to share your input on what issues and alternatives we should analyze in the EIS. There are multiple ways to provide a comment: In-person - Submit your comment in-person during today's community meeting. Will we hear updates while the Draft EIS is being produced? Yes, periodic updates will be issued via the project update email. You can join the project email list on our website. Scan the QR code on the front cover. Does the EIS only analyze current alternatives, or will new alternatives be considered? Submit an online comment form on our project website. Email your comment to AllentownTruckReRoute@TukwilaWA.gov. Mail your comment to Mark Hafs 6300 Southcenter Blvd. Suite 200 Tukwila, WA 98188 Mailed comments must be postmarked by March 15, 2023 de's, Previously considered alternatives as well as new alternatives are up for consideration in the Draft EIS. Alternatives will be determined through a two-step scoping process. During the first scoping period, which will occur from February 14, 2023 to March 15, 2023, we are asking for input on ideas for alternatives to be considered in the EIS. A second scoping period, which is expected around May 2023, will request input on the proposed set of alternatives. Following the second scoping period, the final set of alternatives will be developed for inclusion in the Draft EIS. Are other agencies, like King County, Sound Transit, etc., notified about the suit +' scopin ti Fel,ruary 14, 2023 and OarCI.1 r,' ., •- Does the City of Tukwila have a ,,. preferred alternative to reroute traffic?- The City has no preferred option fo,alternative' access to BNSF's facility. City funds will cover th€-most of the El ,YIILq� O/ Z ALLENTOWN TRUCK REROUTE PROJECTS;?�, \9O! ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS OVERVIEW The City of Tukwila is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate alternatives to reroute existing BNSF truck traffic in Allentown An EIS is a process to evaluate potential effects that a proposal may have on the built and natural environment. The first step in the EIS is called scoping. Scoping is where we ask you to share your input on what issues and alternatives should be analyzed in the EIS. Per State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) guidelines, all formal comments must be written and submitted within the formal scoping comment period. The formal EIS scoping comment period is February 14th through March 15th. Here are ways you can provide input: COMMENT OPTIONS 0 In-person - Submit your comment in-person during today's community meeting. Submit an online comment form on our project website. Email your comment to AllentownTruckReRoute@TukwilaWA.gov. Mail your comment to Mark Hafs 6300 Southcenter Blvd. Suite 200, Tukwila, WA 98188 Mailer comments must be postmarked by March 15, 2023 Scan QR code to learn more and leave a comment! 49 PURPOSE AND NEED The purpose and need for this project is to develop an alternative route to the BNSF Intermodal Facility in Allentown to improve livability and safety in Allentown, without compromising the operations of the intermodal facility. PROJECT HISTORY • BNSF's South Seattle Intermodal Facility is located on the east side of the Allentown neighborhood. For many years, trucks traveling to and from the BNSF facility have accessed it mainly via a route that uses 42nd Ave. S (over the 42nd Ave. S Bridge) and S 124th Street. • In 2015, the City undertook a study to find a new truck route that would reduce the impacts of trucks in Allentown. The BNSF Railway Intermodal Facility Access Study was completed in late 2016. • The study proposed four alternative truck routes that would not travel through Allentown, and one alternative that considered the impacts of leaving the current truck route in place. • As part of the study, the City held open houses where the public gave input about the needs of the Allentown community and commented on the proposed truck route alternatives. • Using the 2016 study as a starting point, the City will now prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) which will take a more in-depth look at the truck route options identified in the 2016 study, and update the study's findings to include today's conditions, improved project understanding, and additional community input. • Moving forward with work on the EIS, the City is committed to clear and open communication with the public - of its findings, its intentions, and it actions. EIS PROCESS WE ARE HERE PHASE 1 -3-4 MONTHS Scoping ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PHASE 2 715 The City has open formal scoping to request input on alternatives and issues that should be analyzed in the EIS. Formal public comment period: February 14 through March 15 The City and consultants will reconsider the technical feasibility of rerouting alternatives evaluated in the 2016 BNSF study, as well as new alternatives, including those introduced by community members in the Phase 1 scoping period. The City will share technical information regarding rerouting alternatives, and host a second community meeting. Formal public comment period: Dates TBD STUDY AREA 0 N S BoeingAccess Rd m co S SeathO Cay Light S 112th St aa,_snvfsslon ourAdor Qm N ▪ S 115th St S 116th St N ID A to ALLENTQWNJ5 122nd St BNSF SOUTH SEATTLE INTERMODAL FACILITY S 124thStl 900 A N Cs Foster Golf (6,G Links ^6a -9 MONTHS Draft EIS 0 • Public Meeting • Public Comment • Public Hearing The City will take input from the Phase 2 scoping meeting to determine the final set of alternatives to be analyzed in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS will describe the alternatives, document environmental impacts, and identify ways to mitigate those impacts. The Draft EIS will be made available for public and agency review. Formal public comment period: Dates TBD -3 MONTHS Final EIS The Final EIS will formally respond to all comments submitted on the Draft EIS and make any updates to the analyses in the EIS as appropriate. Notice of Final EIS The City will present the Final EIS and final rerouting alternative decision to the City Council and Allentown community and provide notice that the final EIS has been completed. J TOPICS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED o PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Climate, geology, soil type and distribution, groundwater characteristics, air quality, and noise levels Q BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Location and distribution of flora and fauna, wildlife characteristics O SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND HEALTH CONDITIONS Demography, culture, heritage sites, social and health status of the people and their environment WHAT MAKES A GOOD EIS COMMENT? • Tell us about resources you'd like to protect and valuable sites in your community • Be specific about issues and locations • Write legibly • All EIS comments must be written All formal comments received during the formal comment period will be documented. The formal EIS scoping comment period is February 14, 2023 to March 15, 2023. Share your input on what issues and alternatives should be analyzed in the EIS by March 15th. ' MARCH ' 15 50