Renton Nickel

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Renton Nickel

• Its your nickel, watch it work!

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A Little Background

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• P stands for Policy
• Signed into law by President Nixon
• NEPA documentation started out simply enough
• Quickly proceeded to get very complicated
• Documentation now driven by litigation

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I-405 Corridor

• Started in 1965, completed in 1971
• Two lanes in each direction from Tukwila to
  Lynnwood (I-5 to I-5) right at 30 miles
• High occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes added in the
  1990s.
• Made three lanes in each direction

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I-405 Corridor Master Plan 2002

• Developed a corridor master plan
• Used a Tiered NEPA approach
• First step
• Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
• Second step
• Record of Decision
• Third step
• How to fund it?
• Fourth Step
• Additional NEPA documentation and Permitting

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FEIS Recommendations

• Add two additional lanes in each direction
• Improve interchanges
• Add up to two lanes each direction along SR 167
• Bus rapid transit throughout corridor including
  east west connections (not fixed guide way)
• HOV direct access
• Anybody seen the Totem Lake HOV direct access?
• Could add a 4 buffer between HOV and GP lanes
• Why?

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Record of Decision

• The FTA in coordination with FHWA, WSDOT, KCDOT,
  and Sound Transit concurs that the Selected
  Alternative meets the Purpose and Need of the
  I-405 Corridor Program, finds that the Draft and
  Final Environmental Impact Statement represent
  detailed statements required by NEPA and by 42
  U.S.C. Section 4332 on
• the environmental impacts of the proposed action
• the adverse environmental effects which can not
  be avoided should the proposed action be
  implemented
• alternatives to the proposed action
• And mitigation measures required to minimize the
  harm of irreversible and irretrievable impacts on
  the environment should the proposed action be
  implemented
• and finds that, on a corridor level, the
  requirements of NEPA and of 49 U.S.C. Section
  5324(b) have been satisfied or met.

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How do we fund it?

• Nickel gas tax of 2003
• Funded 4 billion in Washington state projects
• 485 million on I-405
• Added 5 cents a gallon of gasoline and diesel
• Transportation Partnership Account (TPA)
• Funded an addition 7 billion
• 972 million for I-405
• 9.5 cents more per gallon in fuel taxes

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Nickel projects along I-405

• Kirkland Nickel (partly constructed)
• 164 million
• Would add a lane in each direction (520 to 522)
• Staged construction
• Will be fully constructed with a later project
• Bellevue Nickel (mostly constructed)
• 186 million
• Would add a lane each direction (NE 4th to I-90)
• Staged construction
• Removed the Wilburton tunnel
• Renton Nickel
• 136 million
• What was proposed to be funded is not exactly
  whats being constructed
• Staged construction

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Remember the Master Plan?

• Based on two lanes in each direction?
• BRT (Bus rapid transit)
• SR 167 improvements
• Other elements

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Renton Nickel is now Renton Stage I

• Renton Stage I
• Combination of Nickel Funds and TPA funds
• Allowed for one lane in each direction from I-5
  to SR 167
• Allowed for one additional south bound lane on SR
  167
• 91.5 million construction cost

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Renton Nickel EA

• Environmental Assessment was one of the first
  supported by the corridor ROD
• EA and permitting from early 2005 through late
  2006
• FONSI early 2007
• Two year environmental process
• Design-Build Contract awarded in June 2007
• Construction is a portion of what was covered by
  the EA

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Renton Nickel Wetland Impacts

• There were 19.4 acres of total wetlands within
  the EA limits
• Permanently fill 1.66 acres
• Temporarily disturb 0.64 acres
• Mitigation
• Accomplished at the Springbrook Mitigation site

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Typical Wetlands
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Renton Nickel Stream Impacts

• 0.07 acres of stream impacts
• Some associated with new bridge over Springbrook
  creek
• Box culvert removal
• Side channel reconstruction
• Some associated with SR 167 changes
• About 2 lengthening of a non-fish bearing
  culvert

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Tribal Resources

• Court cases have determined that the tribe has
  rights to fish and shell fish resources
• The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (MIT) have usual
  and accustom fishing areas in Renton and most
  other I-405 areas
• The Tribe has generally weighed in during Corps
  404 permitting

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So, What does Environmental Do?

• Determine resources
• IDT field visits
• Determine impacts with preliminary design
• Make reconditions for modified designs
• Pursue permitting and mitigation
• Monitor construction and make permit
  modifications as construction proceeds

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Todays site visit

• We will see the stream mitigation site
• Adding a main channel by-pass
• Removing the main channel box culvert
• Re-watering the main channel
• Enhancing the side channel
• Will all need to be completed in this years fish
  window
• June 15 September 1st

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Safety

• Active construction site
• Likely not live today
• Slips, trips, and falls are most common
• Watch for traffic
• Stay together
• Others?