Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Ballard Link Extension Project, King County, Washington, 85001-85003 [2024-24585]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85001-85003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24585]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Ballard Link Extension Project, King County, Washington

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 (FTA), as lead Federal 
agency, and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound 
Transit), as local project sponsor and joint lead agency, issue this 
notice to advise the public that they intend to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Ballard Link Extension Project 
(Project) located in the City of Seattle, King County, Washington.

DATES: Comments related to the NEPA review of this project must be 
received on or before December 9, 2024. FTA will consider comments 
received after that date to the extent practicable. FTA will consider 
all comments received during this NEPA scoping period and those 
previously submitted during the Washington State Environmental Policy 
Act (SEPA) scoping process. Commenters who previously provided SEPA 
scoping comments do not need to resubmit those same comments for 
consideration under NEPA, but may elect to do so.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of the EIS should be directed to: 
Lauren Swift, Central Corridor Environmental Manager, 401 South Jackson 
Street, Seattle, WA 98104, by email to: [email protected], 
or by phone at 206-398-5301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For FTA: Erin Littauer, 
[email protected], 206-220-7521. For Sound Transit: Lauren Swift, 
[email protected], 206-398-5301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Project would extend existing light rail 
service along a 7.7-mile corridor through downtown Seattle, from SODO 
to Ballard, and include a new 3.3-mile light rail-only tunnel from 
south of the Chinatown-International District to South Lake Union and 
Seattle Center/Uptown. Stations would serve the following areas: 
Chinatown-International District, Midtown, Westlake, Denny, South Lake 
Union, Seattle Center, Smith Cove, Interbay, and Ballard. FTA has 
created the following ``Unique Identification Number'' that will be 
included on all environmental documents for this project: EISX-021-36-
R10-1728553542.
    FTA, as NEPA Federal lead agency, and Sound Transit, as joint lead 
agency for NEPA and lead agency under the Washington State 
Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), issued a Notice of Intent/Scoping 
Notice in February 2019 and later published a combined NEPA/SEPA Draft 
EIS in January 2022 that evaluated both the West Seattle Link Extension 
and the Ballard Link Extension together as a single project: the West 
Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Project (WSBLE). The extensions 
were evaluated together in the WSBLE Draft EIS because of their 
location, schedule, and review efficiencies for partner agencies.
    In July 2022, the Sound Transit Board directed Sound Transit staff 
to prepare further studies evaluating additional station options and 
other refinements for the Ballard Link Extension (BLE). Some of these 
project options and refinements required additional conceptual 
engineering and environmental review. Rather than delay completion of 
the environmental review process for the West Seattle Link Extension 
while additional review was conducted for BLE, Sound Transit and FTA 
decided to move forward under separate environmental reviews for each 
extension. As described in the WSBLE Draft EIS, the two extensions will 
operate as separate lines, and the extensions are stand-alone projects 
with independent utility.
    Because the environmental review processes are now separated for 
the two extensions, Sound Transit is preparing a SEPA Supplemental 
Draft EIS that evaluates the new station options and refinements for 
the BLE. FTA has determined that a new NEPA Draft EIS be prepared for 
the BLE, because it is now being evaluated independently from the West 
Seattle extension. The NEPA process requires that project scoping be 
repeated with a 30-day public comment period. Scoping for BLE has been 
extended with a 45-day public comment period. The scoping process and 
Draft EIS for the BLE will build on the analysis completed for the 
WSBLE Draft EIS.
    Comments made during the previous scoping process (February 19 
through April 2, 2019) will be carried forward and considered, as will 
all of the relevant analysis of alternatives and environmental impacts 
included in the 2022 Draft EIS. At the conclusion of the NEPA scoping 
process, FTA and Sound Transit anticipate issuing the Draft NEPA EIS 
and SEPA Supplemental Draft EIS, including the new information and 
analysis.
    FTA has determined that the project will not be evaluated as a 
major project as defined in 23 U.S.C. 139(a)(7).

I. Purpose and Need for the Project

    The purpose of the project is to expand the Sound Transit Link 
light rail system from SODO to Ballard, to make appropriate community 
investments to improve mobility, and to increase capacity and 
connectivity for regional connections in order to achieve the 
following:
     Provide 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 regional transit system 
plan, Sound Transit 3 Plan (https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/documents-reports/sound-transit-3).
     Improve regional mobility by increasing connectivity and 
capacity through Downtown Seattle to meet the 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 (https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/2015123_lrpupdate.pdf).
     Implement a system that is technically and financially 
feasible to build, operate, and maintain.
     Expand mobility for the corridor and the region's 
residents, which include transit-dependent residents, low-income 
people, and communities of color.
     Encourage equitable and sustainable urban growth in 
station areas through support of transit-oriented development and 
multi-modal integration in a manner that is consistent with local land 
use plans and policies, including Sound Transit's Equitable Transit-
Oriented Development Policy (https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/creating-vibrant-stations/transit-oriented-development) and 
Sustainability Plan (https://

[[Page 85002]]

www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/documents-reports/2019-
sustainability-plan).
     Encourage convenient and safe non-motorized access to 
stations, such as bicycle and pedestrian connections, consistent with 
Sound Transit's System Access Policy (https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/creating-vibrant-stations/connecting-to-stations).
     Preserve and promote a healthy environment and economy by 
minimizing adverse impacts on the natural, built, and social 
environments through sustainable practices.
    The need for the project is as follows:
     When measured using national standards, existing transit 
routes between SODO 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 approximately 287,000 people and approximately 214,000 jobs 
between 2018 and 2050 (Puget Sound Regional Council 2023).
     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 (the regional metropolitan 
planning organization) and local plans call for high-capacity transit 
in the corridor consistent with VISION 2050 (https://www.psrc.org/planning-2050/vision-2050) and the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan 
(https://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/2015123_lrpupdate.pdf).
     The region's residents and communities, including transit-
dependent people, low-income people, and communities of color, need 
long-term regional mobility and multi-modal connectivity as called for 
in the Washington State Growth Management Act (Revised Code of 
Washington 36.70A.108).
     Regional and local plans call for increased residential 
and/or employment density at and around high-capacity transit stations, 
and increased options for multi-modal access. VISION 2050 has a goal 
for 65 percent of the region's population and 75 percent of the 
region's employment to occur in regional growth centers and within 
walking distance of transit.
     Environmental and sustainability goals of the State and 
region, as established in Washington State law and embodied in Puget 
Sound Regional Council's VISION 2050 (2020) and 2022-2050 Regional 
Transportation Plan (2022), include reducing greenhouse gas emissions 
by prioritizing transportation investments that decrease vehicle miles 
traveled.

II. Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives

    Each light rail extension build alternative is approximately 7.7 
miles long and includes up to nine stations that serve the following 
areas: Chinatown-International District, 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 are available on the project 
website: https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/ballard-link-extension, by contacting the project sponsor at 
[email protected], or the project phone line at (206) 903-
7223. For purposes of this notice, the proposed build alternatives can 
be generally described as follows:
    A new downtown tunnel would begin in the vicinity of the Stadium 
station in SODO, head north with alignments between 4th Avenue S and 
6th Avenue S through the Chinatown-International District, then travel 
northwest below 4th Avenue, 5th Avenue or 6th Avenue through Midtown 
and Westlake. The alternatives would continue in a tunnel configuration 
along Westlake Avenue N to South Lake Union with a station near Denny 
Way before turning northwest with a station near Aurora Avenue N 
between Harrison and Roy streets. The alternatives would continue in a 
tunnel towards Seattle Center with a station on either Republican or 
Mercer Streets. The alternatives then turn north and begin to 
transition to elevated or retained cut 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 a retained cut along the east side of the 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway tracks to an elevated or 
retained cut station in Interbay near W Dravus Street. From the 
Interbay station, alternatives transition to the east of 15th Avenue W 
and cross Salmon Bay in a tunnel or on a high-level fixed bridge. One 
alternative would continue in an elevated alignment along 15th Avenue W 
and cross Salmon Bay on the west side of 15th Avenue W on a movable 
bridge. 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 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 part of the project as it 
works with partner agencies.

III. Summary of Expected Impacts

    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, socioeconomics, 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 and cumulative impacts. The EIS will also 
propose measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate significant adverse 
impacts.
    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.

IV. Anticipated Federal Permits and Other Authorizations

Federal Transit Administration

NEPA Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Review
United States Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f)
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, Section 6(f) (if needed)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Conditional Letter of Map Revision (if needed)

[[Page 85003]]

Letter of Map Revision (if needed)

United States Army Corps of Engineers

Clean Water Act, Section 404 (if needed) (including WA Department of 
Ecology Water Quality Certification: Clean Water Act Section 401)
Rivers and Harbors Act, Section 10 (if needed)
United States Code Title 33 Section 408 Review (if needed)

United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard Bridge Permit (if needed)

United States Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Endangered Species Review

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service

Federal Endangered Species Review
Essential Fish Habitat Review
Marine Mammal Take Incidental Harassment Authorization (if needed)

United States Department of the Interior

National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Review
United States Department of Transportation Act of 1966, Section 4(f)

V. Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    Below is a tentative schedule for the decision-making process, 
including environmental review milestones:
    Draft EIS publication: April 2025.
    Confirmation or modification of the Preferred Alternative: July 
2025.
    Final EIS publication: May 2026.
    Record of Decision: October 2026.
    As noted in the tentative schedule, the Agencies intend to complete 
the EIS for the Project within two years, measured from the date of the 
publication of this notice to the date the record of decision (ROD) is 
signed. The Agencies will accept public comments on the scope of the 
EIS (i.e., the information presented in this notice and at https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/ballard-link-extension) until 
December 9, 2024. The Agencies will then consider those comments as 
they prepare the Draft EIS. The Agencies will announce the availability 
of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register and via local media outlets. 
Sound Transit expects the Draft EIS will be available for a minimum of 
45 days for the public comment period in Spring 2025. The Draft EIS 
will be distributed and available for public and agency review and 
comment prior to a public hearing. The Agencies will consider 
substantive comments timely submitted during the public comment period 
and comments previously submitted for WSBLE and then anticipate 
preparing a Final EIS in Spring 2026 and ROD in Fall 2026. The Final 
EIS will identify a preferred alternative and any necessary mitigation 
commitments. The Agencies expect that all Federal environmental 
authorization decisions for the construction of the Project will be 
completed within a reasonable period following issuance of the ROD.
    Notices of public meetings, including hearings, have been, and will 
continue to be, given through a variety of media providing the time and 
place of the meeting along with other relevant information. Meeting 
date, time, and location information can be found on the Project 
website at https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/ballard-link-extension.
    Public meeting locations will comply with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act. People requesting special accommodations should 
contact Sound Transit via email at [email protected].

Susan K. Fletcher,
Regional Administrator, FTA Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2024-24585 Filed 10-23-24; 8:45 am]
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