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March 2006 i North Link Final SEIS Abstract

The following persons may be contacted for additional information about this document:

John Witmer Community Planner Federal Transit Administration Region X Jackson Federal Building, Suite 3142 915 Second Avenue Seattle, WA 98174-1002 (206) 220-4463

James Irish Link Environmental Manager Sound Transit Union Station 401 S. Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 398-5140 Brooke Belman Community Contact: North Link Sound Transit Union Station 401 S. Jackson Street Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 398-5238

Abstract

Sound Transit proposes to construct and operate a north extension of the Central Link light rail system providing urban transportation improvements in the Central Puget Sound metropolitan region. The North Link project will connect to the rail system’s Initial Segment in downtown Seattle and extend the system north to the University District and Northgate. This EIS for North Link is supplemental to the Central Link Light Rail Project Final EIS of November 1999. It provides additional information regarding impacts and alternatives and it discusses changes to the proposal since the 1999 EIS. Alternatives are considered in two geographic segments in this EIS. Segment A connects Northgate to the University District, and Segment B connects the University District to Downtown Seattle. Alternatives considered include Sound Transit’s Preferred Alternative, the No-Build Alternative, three light rail route alternatives in Segment A, seven light rail route alternatives in Segment B, and 19 station options (including park-and-ride lots). Options for shorter segments extending from downtown Seattle are also considered. Construction is expected to begin by 2009, with operation underway by 2016. The analysis and impact information in this EIS addresses potential long-term and short-term effects on transportation; acquisitions, displacements, and relocations; land use and economic activity; neighborhoods and populations; visual and aesthetic resources; air quality; noise and vibration; ecosystems; water quality; energy; geology and soils; hazardous materials; electromagnetic fields; public services; parklands; and historic and archaeological resources. The analysis also considers issues related to environmental justice, protected parkland and historic resources, and the cost, funding, and cost-effectiveness of the alternatives.

March 2006 iii North Link Final SEIS Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet

PROPOSED ACTION

Sound Transit (the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority) proposes to construct and operate an extension of an electric light rail transit system that would improve transportation in the Central Puget Sound region. The proposed light rail extension, known as North Link, would operate in an exclusive right-of-way between Northgate and downtown Seattle. This proposed project is a component of the Sound Move program for regional high-capacity public transportation.

The North Link corridor has been divided into two geographic segments: Segment A (Northgate to University District) and Segment B (University District to Downtown Seattle). Alternatives considered include Sound Transit’s Preferred Alternative, the No-Build Alternative, two other light rail route alternatives in Segment A, and seven other light rail route alternatives in Segment B. Each alternative route would connect two to five stations chosen from among 19 station options. The Segment A and B alternatives would be linked to create a complete, operable light rail segment that would connect with the Central Link Initial Segment. Shorter extensions north from the Central Link Initial Segment are also considered including “University Link” connecting north to an interim terminus at the University of Washington.

This is a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the Central Link Light Rail Transit Project Final EIS of 1999. It provides additional information regarding impacts and alternatives, and it discusses changes to the proposal since the 1999 FEIS. A Draft SEIS was issued in November 2003, an addendum was released in February 2004, and a second Draft SEIS was released in October 2005. Public hearings were conducted and public comments were accepted after each publication.

PROPONENT AND STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (SEPA) LEAD AGENCY

Sound Transit (Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority) Union Station 401 S. Jackson Street Seattle, Washington 98104 www.soundtransit.org

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) LEAD AGENCY

Federal Transit Administration 915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142 Seattle, Washington 98174-1002 www.fta.dot.gov/office/regional/region10/

DATES OF CONSTRUCTION AND OPENING

Sound Transit plans to begin construction of North Link by 2008-2009 and open all or part of North Link by 2015-2016.

SEPA RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL

Perry Weinberg, Environmental Compliance Manager Sound Transit

CONTACT PERSON

James Irish, Sound Transit Link Environmental Manager (see page i)

North Link Final SEIS iv March 2006 Fact Sheet

ANTICIPATED PERMITS AND APPROVALS

Federal

Section 106 and Section 4(f) Review U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of the Interior

Clean Water Act, Section 404 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Federal Endangered Species Act Review U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service Federal Highway Administration Approvals Washington State Department of Transportation Franchise for Use of Interstate Right-of-Way Washington State Department of Transportation

State and County Hydraulic Project Approval Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Aquatic Use Authorization: Aquatic Lease Washington Department of Natural Resources Public Utility Commission Permits Washington Public Utility Commission Section 106 Review Washington State Department of Archaeology and

Historic Preservation National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Stormwater Discharge Permit

Washington State Department of Ecology

Coastal Zone Management Consistency Certification


Temporary Modification of Water Quality Criteria Washington State Department of Ecology Underground Storage Tank Notification Requirement


Water Quality Certification: Section 401 Washington State Department of Ecology Air Space Lease: Interstate or State Routes Washington State Department of Transportation Major Discharge Authorization King County Department of Natural Resources

Cities Street Use Permits City of Seattle Construction Permits City of Seattle Right-of-Way Permit or Franchise for Use of City/County Right-of-Way

City of Seattle and King County

Environmental Critical Areas/Sensitive Areas Review

City of Seattle

Master Use Permit(s) City of Seattle Noise Variance City of Seattle Street and Alley Vacations City of Seattle Certificates of Approval City of Seattle Landmark Preservation Board Underground Storage Tank Removal City of Seattle

Other Various Approvals: Planning, Design, and Arts Commissions

City of Seattle

Possible Modification of Major Institution Master Plan(s)

University of Washington, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, and Swedish Hospital

Access Easements: Elevated and Subterranean Landowners Notification of Intent to Perform Demolition or Asbestos Removal

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

Pipeline and Utility Crossing: Permits Utility Providers Utility Approvals: Easements and Use Agreements Utility Providers Memorandum of Agreement University of Washington

March 2006 v North Link Final SEIS Fact Sheet

PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS

See Appendix G, List of Preparers.

DATE OF ISSUE OF THE FINAL SEIS

April 7, 2006.

COMMENT PERIOD

Sound Transit accepted public comments following publication of the 2003 Draft SEIS, the Modified Montlake Route Addendum, and the 2005 Draft SEIS. Comments on the 2003 Draft SEIS were accepted during a 70-day window beginning on November 21st, 2003 and ending on January 30th, 2004. Two public hearings were held; the first on January 7th, 2004 at Union Station located at 401 S. Jackson Street in Seattle, and the second on January 8th, 2004 at Kane Hall located on the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Comments on the Modified Montlake Route Addendum to the North Link Draft SEIS were accepted during a 30-day comment period beginning on February 11th, 2004 and ending on March 11th, 2004, with a public hearing at Kane Hall on the University of Washington Campus. Comments on the 2005 Draft SEIS were accepted during a 48-day period beginning on October 14th, 2005 and ending on November 30th, 2005. Two public hearings were held, the first on November 9th, 2005 at Lowell Elementary School in Seattle, the second on November 10th, 2005 at the University Heights Community Center in Seattle. The Final SEIS includes the public comments and Sound Transit’s and FTA’s responses to the comments.

NEXT ACTIONS

Following publication of the Final EIS, the Sound Transit Board will make a final decision on the route and stations to be built for the project. Also, after publication of the Final SEIS, the FTA is expected to issue its Record of Decision on the project.

RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS

• 2005 North Link Draft Supplemental EIS (Sound Transit/FTA, October 2005)

• Final Supplemental EIS on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan (Sound Transit, June 2005)

• Airport Link Environmental Assessment (Sound Transit, Port of Seattle, FTA, May 2005)

• Tukwila Addendum to the Tukwila Freeway Route Final Supplemental EIS (Sound Transit, August 2004)

• Modified Montlake Route Addendum to the North Link Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Sound Transit, February 2004)

• North Link Draft Supplemental EIS (Sound Transit/FTA, November 2003)

• Amended Record of Decision on Initial Segment (FTA, May 2002)

• Initial Segment Environmental Assessment (Sound Transit/FTA, March 2002)

• Tukwila Freeway Route Final Environmental Impact Statement (Sound Transit/FTA, November 2001)

• SEPA Addendum for the Initial Segment (Sound Transit, October 2001)

• Final Environmental Impact Statement, Destination 2030: Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the Central Puget Sound Region (Puget Sound Regional Council, May 2001)

• Chemical Stormwater Treatment Best Management Practices Addendum (Sound Transit, March 2001)

• Segment A Addendum (Sound Transit, June 2000)

North Link Final SEIS vi March 2006 Fact Sheet

• Central Link Light Rail Transit Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (Sound Transit, November 1999)

• Environmental Impact Statement on the Vision 2020 Update and Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Puget Sound Regional Council, March 1995)

• Regional Transit System Plan Environmental Impact Statement (Regional Transit Authority, March 1993)

• Downtown Seattle Transit Project Environmental Impact Statement (King County, March 1985)

North Link EIS Technical Back-Up The following technical background reports have been incorporated into the Final SEIS by reference:

• North Link Transportation Technical Report (Revised for the Final SEIS, March 2006) – Detailed presentation of the transportation impact analysis.

• North Link Transit Ridership Forecasting Technical Report (March 2006) – Detailed presentation of ridership methodology and forecast results.

• Historic, Cultural and Archaeological Resources Technical Report (March 2006) – Discussion of background research and coordination.

• Noise and Vibration Technical Report (March 2006) – Detailed discussion of noise and vibration impacts.

COST AND AVAILABILITY

This Final SEIS is available for public review in a variety of formats and locations. The Final SEIS is available on the Sound Transit Website (www.soundtransit.org). The Final SEIS is also available on CD-ROM at no cost from Sound Transit. Paper copies of the Final SEIS documents are available for the cost listed below.

• Executive Summary─No cost

• Final SEIS─$10.00

• Appendices to Final SEIS: Drawings and Maps─$10.00, Public Comments and Responses─$5.00, 2 Books─$5.00 each

• Technical Background Reports

− North Link Transit Ridership Forecasting Technical Report─$5.00

− North Link Transportation Technical Report─$5.00

− Historic/Cultural and Archaeologic Resources Technical Report─$5.00

− Noise and Vibration Technical Report─$5.00

Copies of the Final EIS documents and related documents listed above are available for review or purchase at the offices of Sound Transit, Union Station, 401 S Jackson Street, Seattle, Washington 98104. To review the document, please call Andrea Avni, Information Center Specialist, at (206) 398-5344 during normal business hours (weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) to arrange an appointment.

Paper copies of the Final SEIS documents are also available at the following public places.

Libraries King County Library System Seattle Libraries North Seattle Community College Library Seattle University Library

March 2006 vii North Link Final SEIS Fact Sheet

University of Washington Libraries Washington State Department of Transportation Library Washington State Library

City of Seattle Community Centers Greenlake Miller Montlake Ravenna Eckstein Yesler

City of Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers Downtown Capitol Hill Lake City – North Seattle Greenwood – Northwest Lake Union – Fremont University District & Northeast Seattle

March 2006 ix North Link Final SEIS Table of Contents

Table of Contents ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................................................................i FACT SHEET......................................................................................................................................................iii PROJECT NOMENCLATURE.......................................................................................................................xix PREFACE ..........................................................................................................................................................xxi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................. S-1

S.1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................. S-1 S.2 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................................... S-1 S.3 NORTH LINK ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................... S-2

S.3.1 The Preferred Alternative................................................................................................... S-2 S.3.2 The No-Build Alternative.................................................................................................... S-4 S.3.3 Segment A Alternatives (Northgate to University District) ................................................ S-4 S.3.4 Segment B Alternatives (University District to Downtown Seattle) ................................... S-7 S.3.5 Other Capital Facilities.....................................................................................................S-11 S.3.6 Interim Termini and Deferred Stations .............................................................................S-12

S.4 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES .................................................................................................. S-13 S.5 NORTH LINK PROJECT SCHEDULE ........................................................................................ S-13 S.6 SUMMARY OF PROJECT DESIGN CHANGES ........................................................................ S-14 S.7 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES.......................................................... S-15

S.7.1 No-Build Alternative .........................................................................................................S-20 S.7.2 North Link Alternatives .....................................................................................................S-20

S.8 PUBLIC COMMENTS .................................................................................................................. S-27 S.9 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS....................................................................................... S-27 S.10 SIGNIFICANT UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS............................................................ S-28 S.11 SECTION 4(F) ............................................................................................................................... S-28 S.12 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ..................................................................................................... S-29 S.13 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................. S-29

S.13.1 Comparative Capital Costs ...............................................................................................S-29 S.13.2 Operating Costs.................................................................................................................S-31 S.13.3 Sound Transit Draft 2006 Financial Plan.........................................................................S-31 S.13.4 Other Funding Sources for North Link .............................................................................S-32 S.13.5 University Link ..................................................................................................................S-32 S.13.5.3 Funding University Link....................................................................................................S-33

S.14 COST EFFECTIVENESS .............................................................................................................. S-33 S.14.1 Segment A..........................................................................................................................S-34 S.14.2 Segment B..........................................................................................................................S-34

S.15 CONSTRUCTION RISK IN SEGMENT B................................................................................... S-35 S.16 EVALUATION AND TRADEOFFS AMONG ALTERNATIVES .............................................. S-35

S.16.1 North Link .........................................................................................................................S-35 S.16.2 Segment A..........................................................................................................................S-36 S.16.3 Segment B..........................................................................................................................S-36

S.17 NEXT STEPS................................................................................................................................. S-38 S.18 BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES OF DELAYING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION........ S-39 S.19 ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED......................................................................................................... S-39

1. PURPOSE AND NEED............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.3 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.4 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES........................................................................................................... 1-2

2. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED.......................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.2 THE NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE.................................................................................................. 2-3 2.3 LIGHT RAIL PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................... 2-3

Table of Contents (Continued)

North Link Final SEIS x March 2006 Table of Contents

2.3.1 Light Rail Stations.............................................................................................................. 2-4 2.3.2 Alternative Profiles ............................................................................................................ 2-5 2.3.3 Summary of Project Design Changes................................................................................. 2-5 2.3.4 Segment A Alternatives (Northgate to University District) ................................................ 2-6 2.3.5 Segment A Station Options ................................................................................................. 2-9 2.3.6 Segment B Alternatives (University District to Downtown Seattle) ..................................2-12 2.3.7 Segment B Stations ............................................................................................................2-16 2.3.8 Potential Termini and Deferred Stations ..........................................................................2-19

2.4 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONS.............................................................................2-20 2.4.1 Traction Power Substations and Remote Vents.................................................................2-20 2.4.2 Crossovers and Tail Tracks...............................................................................................2-21 2.4.3 Maintenance Base .............................................................................................................2-22 2.4.4 Vehicles and Operations ...................................................................................................2-22 2.4.5 Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel .....................................................................................2-22

2.5 ROUTE AND STATION PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT...................................................2-23 2.5.1 Joint Development.............................................................................................................2-23 2.5.2 Transit-Oriented Development..........................................................................................2-23 2.5.3 Non-Motorized Access.......................................................................................................2-23

2.6 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS........................................................................................2-23 2.7 PROJECTED LIGHT RAIL RIDERSHIP ......................................................................................2-24 2.8 CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ...................................................................................................2-24 2.9 EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS.............................................................................2-25

2.9.1 Early Planning ..................................................................................................................2-25 2.9.2 Transportation and Rail Technology Alternatives ............................................................2-25 2.9.3 Central Link FEIS and the North Link SEIS......................................................................2-25 2.9.4 Alternatives No Longer Considered ..................................................................................2-26 2.9.5 Next Steps ..........................................................................................................................2-28

2.10 NORTH LINK PROJECT SCHEDULE .........................................................................................2-28 2.11 BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES OF DELAYING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.........2-29

3. TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS AND MITIGATION........................................................................ 3-1 3.1 REGIONAL TRAVEL ..................................................................................................................... 3-1

3.1.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 Impacts and Mitigation ...................................................................................................... 3-3

3.2 TRANSIT ......................................................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 3-5 3.2.2 Regional and Local Transit Impacts and Mitigation.......................................................... 3-6 3.2.3 Light Rail Transit Ridership..............................................................................................3-18

3.3 ARTERIALS AND LOCAL STREETS..........................................................................................3-26 3.3.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................3-26 3.3.2 Local Impacts and Mitigation ...........................................................................................3-31

3.4 FREIGHT MOVEMENT ................................................................................................................3-57 3.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................3-57 3.4.2 Impacts and Mitigation .....................................................................................................3-58

3.5 NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS .......................................................................................................3-58 3.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................3-58 3.5.2 Impacts and Mitigation .....................................................................................................3-59

4. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND POTENTIAL MITIGATION................................................. 4-1 4.1 ACQUISITIONS, DISPLACEMENTS, AND RELOCATION....................................................... 4-1

4.1.1 Acquisitions and Displacements by Route Alternatives...................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................... 4-8

4.2 LAND USE AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY................................................................................... 4-9 4.2.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................... 4-9 4.2.2 Land Use and Economic Impacts ......................................................................................4-17 4.2.3 No-Build Alternative .........................................................................................................4-33


March 2006 xi North Link Final SEIS Table of Contents

4.2.4 Potential Mitigation ..........................................................................................................4-33 4.3 NEIGHBORHOODS AND POPULATIONS .................................................................................4-33

4.3.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................4-34 4.3.2 Impacts ..............................................................................................................................4-41 4.3.3 Potential Mitigation ..........................................................................................................4-48

4.4 VISUAL RESOURCES AND AESTHETICS ................................................................................4-48 4.4.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................4-48 4.4.2 Impacts ..............................................................................................................................4-52 4.4.3 Potential Mitigation ..........................................................................................................4-59

4.5 AIR QUALITY ...............................................................................................................................4-60 4.5.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................4-60 4.5.2 Impacts ..............................................................................................................................4-63 4.5.3 Potential Mitigation ..........................................................................................................4-68

4.6 NOISE AND VIBRATION.............................................................................................................4-68 4.6.1 Introduction to Noise and Vibration..................................................................................4-68 4.6.2 Criteria and Methods ........................................................................................................4-70 4.6.3 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................4-73 4.6.4 Impacts ..............................................................................................................................4-76 4.6.5 Potential Mitigation ..........................................................................................................4-82 4.6.6 University of Washington ..................................................................................................4-84

4.7 ECOSYSTEMS ...............................................................................................................................4-97 4.7.1 Affected Environment ........................................................................................................4-97 4.7.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-103 4.7.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-105

4.8 WATER RESOURCES.................................................................................................................4-106 4.8.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-106 4.8.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-108 4.8.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-110

4.9 ENERGY.......................................................................................................................................4-111 4.9.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-111 4.9.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-111 4.9.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-113

4.10 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ..............................................................................................................4-113 4.10.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-113 4.10.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-115 4.10.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-116

4.11 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.......................................................................................................4-117 4.11.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-117 4.11.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-120 4.11.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-123

4.12 ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS..................................................................................................4-123 4.12.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-123 4.12.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-126 4.12.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-130

4.13 PUBLIC SERVICES .....................................................................................................................4-136 4.13.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-136 4.13.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-139 4.13.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-144

4.14 UTILITIES ....................................................................................................................................4-144 4.14.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-144 4.14.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-145 4.14.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-147

4.15 HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES..............................................................4-148 4.15.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-148 4.15.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-155 4.15.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-159


North Link Final SEIS xii March 2006 Table of Contents

4.16 PARKLANDS ...............................................................................................................................4-160 4.16.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-160 4.16.2 Impacts ............................................................................................................................4-162 4.16.3 Potential Mitigation ........................................................................................................4-169

4.17 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ......................................................................................................4-170 4.17.1 Construction Assumptions...............................................................................................4-170 4.17.2 Transportation.................................................................................................................4-175 4.17.3 Land Use and Economics ................................................................................................4-191 4.17.4 Neighborhoods ................................................................................................................4-195 4.17.5 Visual and Aesthetics ......................................................................................................4-198 4.17.6 Air Quality.......................................................................................................................4-199 4.17.7 Noise and Vibration ........................................................................................................4-201 4.17.8 Ecosystems ......................................................................................................................4-214 4.17.9 Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................4-215 4.17.10 Energy .............................................................................................................................4-216 4.17.11 Geology and Soils............................................................................................................4-216 4.17.12 Hazardous Materials.......................................................................................................4-220 4.17.13 Electromagnetic Fields....................................................................................................4-221 4.17.14 Public Services ................................................................................................................4-221 4.17.15 Utilities ............................................................................................................................4-223 4.17.16 Historic and Archaeological Resources ..........................................................................4-226 4.17.17 Parklands ........................................................................................................................4-231 4.17.18 No-Build Alternative .......................................................................................................4-233

4.18 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ...........................................................................................................4-233 4.18.1 Affected Environment ......................................................................................................4-233 4.18.2 General Cumulative Impacts...........................................................................................4-236 4.18.3 Cumulative Transportation Impacts................................................................................4-236 4.18.4 Cumulative Acquisition, Displacement, and Relocation Impacts....................................4-238 4.18.5 Cumulative Land Use and Economic Impacts.................................................................4-238 4.18.6 Cumulative Neighborhood and Population Impacts .......................................................4-239 4.18.7 Cumulative Visual Resource and Aesthetic Impacts .......................................................4-239 4.18.8 Cumulative Air Quality Impacts......................................................................................4-240 4.18.9 Cumulative Noise and Vibration Impacts........................................................................4-240 4.18.10 Cumulative Ecosystem and Water Resource Impacts......................................................4-241 4.18.11 Cumulative Energy Impacts ............................................................................................4-242 4.18.12 Cumulative Geology and Soil Impacts ............................................................................4-242 4.18.13 Cumulative Hazardous Material Impacts........................................................................4-242 4.18.14 Cumulative Electromagnetic Field Impacts ....................................................................4-243 4.18.15 Cumulative Impacts on Public Services ..........................................................................4-243 4.18.16 Cumulative Impacts on Utilities ......................................................................................4-243 4.18.17 Cumulative Impacts on Historic and Archaeological Resources ....................................4-243 4.18.18 Cumulative Parkland Impacts .........................................................................................4-244 4.18.19 Cumulative Construction Impacts ...................................................................................4-244 4.18.20 Cumulative Impacts of the No-Build Alternative.............................................................4-246 4.18.21 Mitigation for Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................4-247

5. FINANCIAL ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 SUBAREAS AND SUBAREA EQUITY ........................................................................................ 5-1 5.2 COSTS.............................................................................................................................................. 5-1

5.2.1 Capital Costs ...................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.2 Comparative Capital Costs ................................................................................................ 5-3 5.2.3 Operating and Maintenance Costs .......................................................................................... 5-7

5.3 SOUND TRANSIT DRAFT 2006 FINANCIAL PLAN.................................................................. 5-7 5.3.1 Sources of Funds ................................................................................................................ 5-8 5.3.2 Uses of Funds....................................................................................................................5-11 5.3.3 Other Funding Sources for North Link .............................................................................5-11

5.4 RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES....................................................................................................5-12


March 2006 xiii North Link Final SEIS Table of Contents

5.5 UNIVERSITY LINK.......................................................................................................................5-14 5.5.1 University Link Capital Costs ...........................................................................................5-14 5.5.2 University Link Operating Costs .......................................................................................5-14 5.5.3 Funding University Link....................................................................................................5-14

5.6 CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5-15 6 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES................................................................................................... 6-1

6.1 PURPOSE AND NEED ................................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 SYSTEMWIDE AND SEGMENT LEVEL EVALUATION .......................................................... 6-1

6.2.1 Transportation Goals: Enhance Mobility........................................................................... 6-1 6.2.2 Environmental Goal: Preserve Environmental Quality ..................................................... 6-4 6.2.3 Land Use Goal: Support Regional and Local Land Use Goals and Objectives................. 6-7 6.2.4 Financial: Achieve Financial Feasibility ........................................................................... 6-8 6.2.5 Community Support: Maximize Community Support ........................................................6-12 6.2.6 Construction Risk in Segment B ........................................................................................6-12

6.3 SUMMARY OF TRADE-OFFS .....................................................................................................6-14 6.3.1 North Link .........................................................................................................................6-14 6.3.2 Segment A..........................................................................................................................6-14 6.3.3 Segment B..........................................................................................................................6-15

6.4 NEW STARTS EVALUATION PROCESS FOR UNIVERSITY LINK .......................................6-17 6.4.1 Current Ratings for University Link..................................................................................6-17

7. COMMENT SUMMARY......................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 7-1 7.2 COMMENTS RECEIVED............................................................................................................... 7-2 7.3 MAJOR COMMENT ISSUES BY PROJECT AREA..................................................................... 7-2

7.3.1 Segment A – Northgate to University District .................................................................... 7-2 7.3.2 Segment B – University District to Downtown Seattle ....................................................... 7-3

7.4 OTHER COMMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 7-5 7.5 COMMENTS BY PUBLIC AGENCIES ......................................................................................... 7-5

7.5.1 University of Washington ................................................................................................... 7-5 7.5.2 Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) .................................................................. 7-6 7.5.3 King County ....................................................................................................................... 7-6 7.5.4 Seattle Planning Commission............................................................................................. 7-6 7.5.5 United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) .................................................... 7-6 7.5.6 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife .................................................................... 7-7 7.5.7 Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) ............................................................................. 7-7 7.5.8 Washington State Department of Transportation............................................................... 7-7 7.5.9 Seattle Public Schools ........................................................................................................ 7-7

7.6 COMMON COMMENTS ................................................................................................................ 7-7 7.6.1 Common Comments – Project ............................................................................................ 7-8 7.6.2 Segment A Common Comments.........................................................................................7-12 7.6.3 Segment B Common Comments.........................................................................................7-16

List of Figures FIGURE S-1 CORRIDOR PROJECT AREA ......................................................................................................... S-3 FIGURE S-2 SEGMENT A - NORTHGATE TO UNIVERSITY DISTRICT................................................................ S-5 FIGURE S-3 SEGMENT B - UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ................................................. S-8 FIGURE S-4 INCREASE IN SYSTEM-WIDE RIDERSHIP DUE TO NORTH LINK – 2030 ..................................... S-21 FIGURE S-5 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST ESTIMATES OF SEGMENT A AND B COMBINATIONS ................. S-31 FIGURE S-6 COST EFFECTIVENESS OF NORTH LINK VARIED SEGMENT B ROUTE ALTERNATIVES .............. S-34 FIGURE 2-1 CORRIDOR PROJECT AREA CENTRAL LINK LIGHT RAIL............................................................. 2-2 FIGURE 2-2 SEGMENT A NORTHGATE TO UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.................................................................. 2-7 FIGURE 2-3 TYPICAL LIGHT RAIL STATION CROSS SECTION....................................................................... 2-10


North Link Final SEIS xiv March 2006 Table of Contents

FIGURE 2-4 SEGMENT B UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ................................................. 2-13 FIGURE 3-1 INCREASE IN SYSTEM-WIDE RIDERSHIP DUE TO NORTH LINK – 2030 ..................................... 3-23 FIGURE 3-2 SEGMENT A PARKING AND TRAFFIC ANALYSIS LOCATIONS .................................................... 3-27 FIGURE 3-3 SEGMENT B PARKING AND TRAFFIC ANALYSIS LOCATIONS .................................................... 3-28 FIGURE 4.2-1 SEGMENT A LAND USE ZONING .............................................................................................. 4-12 FIGURE 4.2-2 SEGMENT B LAND USE ZONING IN STATION AREAS ................................................................ 4-14 FIGURE 4.3-1 SEGMENT A NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................. 4-35 FIGURE 4.3-2 SEGMENT B NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................. 4-36 FIGURE 4.6-1A TYPICAL MAXIMUM A-WEIGHTED NOISE LEVELS IN URBAN AREAS ...................................... 4-69 FIGURE 4.6-1B TYPICAL DAY AND NIGHT (LDN) NOISE LEVELS AND COMPATIBLE LAND USES ..................... 4-69 FIGURE 4.6-2 TYPICAL RMS VIBRATION LEVELS.......................................................................................... 4-70 FIGURE 4.6-3 FTA NOISE IMPACT CRITERIA FOR TRANSIT PROJECTS............................................................ 4-71 FIGURE 4.6-4 SEGMENT A NOISE AND VIBRATION MONITORING LOCATIONS ............................................... 4-74 FIGURE 4.6-5 SEGMENT B NOISE AND VIBRATION MONITORING LOCATIONS................................................ 4-75 FIGURE 4.6-6 SEGMENT A NOISE AND VIBRATION IMPACTS: NORTHGATE TO UNIVERSITY DISTRICT........... 4-78 FIGURE 4.6-7 SEGMENT B NOISE AND VIBRATION IMPACTS: UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO DOWNTOWN

SEATTLE................................................................................................................................... 4-79 FIGURE 4.6-8 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BUILDINGS WITH VIBRATION-SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT.............. 4-87 FIGURE 4.6-9 MITIGATED IMPACTS TO UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BUILDINGS WITH VIBRATION

SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................. 4-92 FIGURE 4.7-1 SEGMENT A AQUATIC RESOURCES, BENEFICIAL HABITAT, AND FLOODPLAINS..................... 4-100 FIGURE 4.7-2 SEGMENT B: AQUATIC RESOURCES, BENEFICIAL HABITAT, AND FLOODPLAINS.................... 4-101 FIGURE 4.12-1 BUILDINGS WITH EMF SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT ...................................................................... 4-125 FIGURE 4.12-2 MITIGATED IMPACTS TO UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BUILDINGS WITH EMF SENSITIVE

EQUIPMENT ............................................................................................................................ 4-133 FIGURE 4.13-1 SEGMENT A SCHOOLS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ............................................................... 4-137 FIGURE 4.13-2 SEGMENT B SCHOOLS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ............................................................... 4-138 FIGURE 4.15-1 SEGMENT A HISTORIC RESOURCES ........................................................................................ 4-150 FIGURE 4.15-2 SEGMENT B HISTORIC RESOURCES ........................................................................................ 4-151 FIGURE 4.16-1 SEGMENT A PARKLANDS ....................................................................................................... 4-163 FIGURE 4.16-2 SEGMENT B PARKLANDS....................................................................................................... 4-164 FIGURE 4.17-1 SEGMENT A GENERAL LOCATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION STAGING ........................................ 4-171 FIGURE 4.17-2 SEGMENT B GENERAL LOCATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION STAGING......................................... 4-172 FIGURE 5.2-1 UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO NORTHGATE COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST ESTIMATES................... 5-4 FIGURE 5.2-2 CONVENTION PLACE TO UNIVERSITY DISTRICT COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST ESTIMATES...... 5-5 FIGURE 5.2-3 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST ESTIMATES OF SEGMENT A AND B COMBINATIONS ................... 5-7 FIGURE 6.2-1 INCREASE IN SYSTEM-WIDE RIDERSHIP DUE TO NORTH LINK – 20301 ...................................... 6-3 FIGURE 6.2-2 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT A AND B COMBINATIONS...................................... 6-9 FIGURE 6.2-3 COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF NORTH LINK SEGMENT B ROUTE ALTERNATIVES ............................6-11

List of Tables TABLE S-1 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT RAIL ROUTE ALTERNATIVES ........................................................... S-2 TABLE S-2 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SEGMENT A STATION OPTIONS........................................................... S-6 TABLE S-3 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SEGMENT B STATION OPTIONS........................................................... S-9 TABLE S-4 SEGMENT A SUMMARY OF IMPACTS ............................................................................................ S-15 TABLE S-5 SEGMENT B SUMMARY OF PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IMPACTS.................................................. S-16 TABLE S-6 SEGMENT B SUMMARY OF IMPACTS FOR OTHER SEGMENT B ALTERNATIVES ............................ S-18 TABLE S-7 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT A ALTERNATIVES................................................... S-30


March 2006 xv North Link Final SEIS Table of Contents

TABLE S-8 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT B ALTERNATIVES ................................................... S-30 TABLE S-9 1997-2020 NORTH KING SUBAREA SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS (2002$ IN MILLIONS)........... S-32 TABLE S-10 1997-2020 NEW STARTS FINANCIAL PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY LINK (2002$ IN MILLIONS) .......... S-33 TABLE S-11 COST EFFECTIVENESS OF NORTH LINK SEGMENT A ROUTE ALTERNATIVES ............................... S-34 TABLE 2-1 CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT RAIL ROUTE ALTERNATIVES ........................................................... 2-4 TABLE 2-2 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SEGMENT A STATION OPTIONS......................................................... 2-11 TABLE 2-3 KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF SEGMENT B STATION OPTIONS......................................................... 2-16 TABLE 3.1-1 REGIONAL TRAVEL PERFORMANCE TRENDS ................................................................................. 3-1 TABLE 3.1-2 MODE CHOICE FOR AVERAGE DAILY PERSON TRIPS IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION ..................... 3-2 TABLE 3.1-3 EXISTING (1999) VOLUME TO CAPACITY (V/C) RATIOS ON REGIONAL HIGHWAYS IN VICINITY

OF NORTH LINK ............................................................................................................................. 3-3 TABLE 3.1-4A REGIONAL SOUND TRANSIT DISTRICT TRAVEL IMPACT COMPARISON SUMMARY OF 2015

CONDITIONS .................................................................................................................................. 3-3 TABLE 3.1-4B REGIONAL SOUND TRANSIT DISTRICT TRAVEL IMPACT COMPARISON SUMMARY OF 2030

CONDITIONS .................................................................................................................................. 3-4 TABLE 3.1-5 YEAR 2030 PM PEAK HOUR/PEAK DIRECTION SCREENLINE EQUIVALENT PERSON-CARRYING

CAPACITY FOR NORTH LINK NO-BUILD AND BUILD ALTERNATIVES ............................................ 3-5 TABLE 3.2-1 SERVICE FREQUENCY LEVEL OF SERVICE: URBAN SCHEDULE TRANSIT SERVICE ......................... 3-7 TABLE 3.2-2 PM HEADWAY SERVICE FREQUENCY LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR CORDON A AND SCREENLINES B

AND C: YEAR 2030 ........................................................................................................................ 3-8 TABLE 3.2-3 HOURS OF SERVICE LEVEL OF SERVICE ......................................................................................... 3-9 TABLE 3.2-4 AVERAGE HOURS OF SERVICE: YEAR 2030 ................................................................................... 3-9 TABLE 3.2-5A RELIABILITY LEVEL OF SERVICE: ON-TIME PERFORMANCE ........................................................ 3-10 TABLE 3.2-5B RELIABILITY LEVEL OF SERVICE: HEADWAY ADHERENCE .......................................................... 3-10 TABLE 3.2-6 PM PEAK HOUR RELIABILITY...................................................................................................... 3-10 TABLE 3.2-7 PASSENGER LOAD LEVEL OF SERVICE ......................................................................................... 3-12 TABLE 3.2-8 PM PEAK HOUR PASSENGER LOAD LEVEL OF SERVICE: YEAR 2030........................................... 3-12 TABLE 3.2-9 YEAR 2030 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF AVERAGE DOOR-TO-DOOR P.M. PEAK TRANSIT

TRAVEL TIMES............................................................................................................................. 3-14 TABLE 3.2-10 SEGMENT A: YEAR 2015 AND 2030 DAILY STATION USAGE (BOARDINGS)................................. 3-18 TABLE 3.2-11A SEGMENT B: YEAR 2015 DAILY STATION USAGE (BOARDINGS) BY LIGHT RAIL ALTERNATIVE . 3-19 TABLE 3.2-11B SEGMENT B: YEAR 2030 DAILY STATION USAGE (BOARDINGS) BY LIGHT RAIL ALTERNATIVE . 3-20 TABLE 3.2-12 DAILY STATION BOARDINGS FOR THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AND ASSOCIATED INTERIM

TERMINUS ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................................................... 3-24 TABLE 3.2-13 DAILY STATION BOARDINGS FOR HIGHEST RIDERSHIP FULL-LENGTH AND INTERIM TERMINUS

ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................ 3-24 TABLE 3.2-14 YEAR 2030 DAILY BOARDINGS COMPARISON FOR UNIVERSITY LINK – NEW STARTS VERSUS

SEIS ............................................................................................................................................ 3-25 TABLE 3.2-15 YEAR 2030 DAILY BOARDINGS NORTH LINK – SOUND TRANSIT PHASE 2 MODEL RESULTS....... 3-25 TABLE 3.3-1 LEVEL OF SERVICE CRITERIA FOR SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS.................................................. 3-26 TABLE 3.3-2 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE SUMMARY FOR EXISTING INTERSECTIONS OPERATING AT

LOS D, E, OR F............................................................................................................................ 3-29 TABLE 3.3-3 EXISTING (2002) ON-STREET UNRESTRICTED PARKING INVENTORY NEAR PROPOSED LIGHT

RAIL STATIONS............................................................................................................................ 3-31 TABLE 3.3-4 COMPARISON OF HIGHEST–RIDERSHIP ALTERNATIVE AND PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE 3-HOUR

PM PEAK PERIOD PERSON AND VEHICLE TRIP FORECASTS FOR SEGMENT A .............................. 3-32 TABLE 3.3-5A SEGMENT A: YEAR 2015 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE SUMMARY................................... 3-33 TABLE 3.3-5B SEGMENT A: YEAR 2030 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE SUMMARY................................... 3-34


North Link Final SEIS xvi March 2006 Table of Contents

TABLE 3.3-5C NORTHGATE STATION OPTIONS: YEAR 2015 AND 2030 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE COMPARISON ............................................................................................................................... 3-35

TABLE 3.3-6A SEGMENT A: NONMOTORIZED FACILITY IMPACT SUMMARY FOR THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.............................................................................................................................. 3-38

TABLE 3.3-6B PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES FOR SEGMENT A........................................................................ 3-38 TABLE 3.3-7A SEGMENT A: PARKING IMPACTS SUMMARY ................................................................................ 3-39 TABLE 3.3-7B PARKING IMPACTS IN STATION AREAS ........................................................................................ 3-39 TABLE 3.3-8 COMPARISON OF HIGHEST-RIDERSHIP AND PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE 3-HOUR PM PARK

PERIOD PERSON-TRIP FORECASTS FOR SEGMENT B..................................................................... 3-43 TABLE 3.3-9A SEGMENT B: YEAR 2015 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE SUMMARY ................................... 3-44 TABLE 3.3-9B SEGMENT B: YEAR 2030 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE SUMMARY ................................... 3-46 TABLE 3.3-9C NORTHERN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT STATION OPTIONS: YEAR 2015 AND 2030 PM PEAK HOUR

LEVEL OF SERVICE COMPARISON ................................................................................................ 3-48 TABLE 3.3-9D CAPITOL HILL STATION OPTIONS: YEAR 2015 AND 2030 PM PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE

COMPARISON ............................................................................................................................... 3-49 TABLE 3.3-10 SEGMENT B: NONMOTORIZED FACILITY IMPACT SUMMARY ....................................................... 3-52 TABLE 3.3-11 PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES FOR SEGMENT B ........................................................................ 3-54 TABLE 3.3-12A SEGMENT B: PARKING IMPACTS SUMMARY ALTERNATIVE ......................................................... 3-55 TABLE 3.3-12B SEGMENT B: PARKING IMPACTS IN STATION AREAS.................................................................... 3-55 TABLE 4.1-1 SUMMARY OF PROPERTY IMPACTS FOR SEGMENTS A AND B......................................................... 4-2 TABLE 4.2-1 INDIRECT EFFECTS ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN STATION AREAS ............... 4-29 TABLE 4.2-2 ESTIMATED BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES DISPLACED BY ALTERNATIVE................................... 4-30 TABLE 4.2-3 COMPARISON OF EMPLOYMENT GROWTH AND EMPLOYEES DISPLACED BY ALTERNATIVE ........ 4-31 TABLE 4.2-4 INITIAL PROPERTY TAX IMPACTS BY ALTERNATIVE.................................................................... 4-31 TABLE 4.3-1 RACIAL MAKE-UP OF CENSUS TRACTS LOCATED IN STATION AREAS ......................................... 4-37 TABLE 4.4-1 VIEWPOINTS AND PUBLIC VIEWS DESIGNATED IN SEATTLE SEPA ORDINANCE THAT OCCUR IN

THE VICINITY OF LIGHT RAIL OPTIONS........................................................................................ 4-50 TABLE 4.4-2 SCENIC ROUTES DESIGNATED IN SEATTLE SEPA ORDINANCE THAT OCCUR IN THE VICINITY

OF LIGHT RAIL ALTERNATIVES.................................................................................................... 4-50 TABLE 4.5-1 NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ........................................ 4-61 TABLE 4.5-2 AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITOR DATA..................................................................................... 4-61 TABLE 4.5-3 BURDEN ANALYSIS EMISSIONS (TONS PER DAY) UNDER THE BUILD VERSUS NO-BUILD

ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................................................ 4-64 TABLE 4.5-4 INTERSECTION SCREENING RESULTS: 2015 WORST-CASE TRAFFIC SCENARIO RESULTS............. 4-66 TABLE 4.5-5 EIGHT-HOUR CO CONCENTRATIONS UNDER EXISTING CONDITIONS, BUILD, AND NO-BUILD

CONDITIONS FOR SELECTED SEGMENT A INTERSECTIONS........................................................... 4-67 TABLE 4.5-6 EIGHT-HOUR CO CONCENTRATIONS UNDER EXISTING CONDITIONS, BUILD AND NO-BUILD

CONDITIONS SEGMENT B INTERSECTIONS ................................................................................... 4-67 TABLE 4.6-1 EXISTING CONDITIONS - MEASURED CORRIDOR NOISE LEVELS .................................................. 4-73 TABLE 4.6-2 LIGHT RAIL NOISE IMPACTS (IN DBA)......................................................................................... 4-76 TABLE 4.6-3 TRAFFIC NOISE IMPACTS (IN DBA).............................................................................................. 4-76 TABLE 4.6-4 GROUND-BORNE NOISE AND VIBRATION IMPACTS WITH AND WITHOUT MITIGATION

MEASURES................................................................................................................................... 4-77 TABLE 4.6-5 SUMMARY OF LINK LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMWIDE OPERATIONAL MITIGATION MEASURES.............. 4-82 TABLE 4.6-6 UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BUILDINGS WITH VIBRATION-SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT ................. 4-86 TABLE 4.6-7 POTENTIAL VIBRATION IMPACTS FOR UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON BUILDINGS WITH

SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................ 4-90 TABLE 4.7-1 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED AQUATIC RESOURCES IN THE NORTH LINK PROJECT........................... 4-99


March 2006 xvii North Link Final SEIS Table of Contents

TABLE 4.7-2 SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL LONG-TERM IMPACTS TO WETLANDS, WILDLIFE, AND AQUATIC/FISHERIES RESOURCES BY ROUTE ALTERNATIVE ............................................. 4-103

TABLE 4.8-1 WATER BODIES POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE NORTH LINK ALTERNATIVES....................... 4-106 TABLE 4.8-2 SUMMARY OF CATEGORY 5 POLLUTED WATERS WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ........................... 4-106 TABLE 4.8-3 SUMMARY OF CHANGES IN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE FOR SEGMENT A ALTERNATIVES ................ 4-108 TABLE 4.8-4 NEW IMPERVIOUS SURFACE AREA SEGMENT B STATION - PORTAGE BAY BASIN ..................... 4-110 TABLE 4.9-1 EXISTING MOTOR VEHICLE ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR THE REGION (2000) .......................... 4-112 TABLE 4.9-2 DAILY OPERATIONAL ENERGY DEMAND IN THE SOUND TRANSIT SERVICE AREA .................... 4-112 TABLE 4.11-1 TOTAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SITES IN THE AFFECTED AREA............................................... 4-119 TABLE 4.12-1 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED EMF RECEPTORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CAMPUS.... 4-124 TABLE 4.12-2 WORST-CASE PROJECTED MAGNETIC FIELD LEVELS FOR POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE RECEPTORS

ON UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CAMPUS ............................................................................... 4-127 TABLE 4.12-3 REMAINING EMF LEVELS AFTER QUADRUPOLE “HI-LO” MITIGATION..................................... 4-131 TABLE 4.15-1 NORTH LINK HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY SEGMENT A: NORTHGATE TO UNIVERSITY

DISTRICT.................................................................................................................................... 4-152 TABLE 4.15-2 NORTH LINK HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY SEGMENT B: UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO

DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ............................................................................................................... 4-152 TABLE 4.15-3 IMPACTS ON HISTORIC RESOURCES (BEFORE MITIGATION) SEGMENT A: NORTHGATE TO

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT ............................................................................................................... 4-156 TABLE 4.16-1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT PARKLAND INVENTORY SUMMARY ................................................. 4-161 TABLE 4.16-2 SUMMARY OF LONG-TERM IMPACTS TO PARKLANDS................................................................ 4-165 TABLE 4.17-1 SEGMENT A: SUMMARY OF TRUCKING PERIODS AND HAUL TRUCK VOLUMES ......................... 4-177 TABLE 4.17-2 SEGMENT A (NORTHGATE TO UNIVERSITY DISTRICT) CONSTRUCTION IMPACT SUMMARY ...... 4-177 TABLE 4.17-3 SEGMENT B: SUMMARY OF TRUCKING PERIODS AND HAUL TRUCK VOLUMES ......................... 4-182 TABLE 4.17-4 SEGMENT B (UNIVERSITY DISTRICT TO DOWNTOWN SEATTLE) CONSTRUCTION IMPACT

SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. 4-183 TABLE 4.17-5 CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT EXHAUST EMISSIONS (LB/DAY) AT A TYPICAL STATION SITE....... 4-200 TABLE 4.17-6 STANDARDS OF WASHINGTON STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND CITY OF SEATTLE NOISE

ORDINANCE ............................................................................................................................... 4-202 TABLE 4.17-7 ALLOWABLE SHORT-TERM NOISE EXCEEDANCE ....................................................................... 4-202 TABLE 4.17-8 ALLOWABLE CONSTRUCTION NOISE CRITERIA EXCEEDANCES ................................................. 4-202 TABLE 4.17-9 ALLOWABLE EXCEEDANCE FOR IMPACT EQUIPMENT ................................................................ 4-203 TABLE 4.17-10 SLIDING SCALE CRITERIA FOR NIGHTTIME NOISE LEVEL INCREASE ......................................... 4-203 TABLE 4.17-11 TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT NOISE LEVELS ............................................................... 4-204 TABLE 4.17-12 POTENTIAL VIBRATION CAUSING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ON UNIVERSITY OF

WASHINGTON CAMPUS.............................................................................................................. 4-211 TABLE 4.17-13 OVERALL RMS VIBRATION VELOCITY LEVELS (4 TO 100 HZ) FOR TYPICAL CONSTRUCTION

EQUIPMENT (MICRO-INCHES/SEC) .............................................................................................. 4-212 TABLE 4.17-14 ESTIMATED QUANTITIES OF EXCAVATED MATERIALS FROM TUNNELS ..................................... 4-217 TABLE 4.17-15 SUMMARY OF MAJOR UTILITY PROXIMITY TO SEGMENTS B AND A ALIGNMENTS.................... 4-224 TABLE 4.17-16 HISTORIC RESOURCES IN CONSTRUCTION VICINITY .................................................................. 4-227 TABLE 4.17-17 STATIONS AND LOCATIONS WHERE CONSTRUCTION MAY AFFECT HISTORIC

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES........................................................................................................... 4-230 TABLE 5.2-1 CAPITAL COST ESTIMATE LIMITATIONS ........................................................................................ 5-2 TABLE 5.2-2 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT A ALTERNATIVES..................................................... 5-3 TABLE 5.2-3 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT B ALTERNATIVES ..................................................... 5-4 TABLE 5.2-4 OTHER COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OPTIONS - SEGMENT B ...................................................... 5-6 TABLE 5.2-5 COMPARATIVE CAPITAL COST OF SEGMENT A AND B COMBINATIONS ......................................... 5-6


North Link Final SEIS xviii March 2006 Table of Contents

TABLE 5.3-1 2006 DRAFT FINANCIAL PLAN 1997-2020 NORTH KING SUBAREA SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS (2002$ MILLIONS).............................................................................................................. 5-8

TABLE 5.3-2 GROWTH RATE PROJECTIONS FOR SOUND TRANSIT’S SALES AND USE TAX REVENUES................ 5-9 TABLE 5.3-3 SALES & USE TAX REVENUE PROJECTIONS (MILLIONS 2002$) ..................................................... 5-9 TABLE 5.3-4 GROWTH RATE PROJECTIONS FOR SOUND TRANSIT’S MVET TAX REVENUES.............................. 5-9 TABLE 5.3-5 MVET REVENUE PROJECTIONS (MILLIONS 2002$) ....................................................................... 5-9 TABLE 5.5-1 1997-2020 NEW STARTS FINANCIAL PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY LINK (2002$ IN MILLIONS)

NORTH KING SUBAREA................................................................................................................ 5-15 TABLE 6.2-1 COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF NORTH LINK SEGMENT A ROUTE ALTERNATIVES .............................. 6-10

Appendices Attached with the Final SEIS

Appendix A Agency Coordination Appendix B Public Involvement Appendix C Distribution List Appendix D Glossary Appendix E List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Appendix F References Appendix G List of Preparers Appendix H Section 4(f) Evaluation Appendix I Environmental Justice Appendix K Elements of No-Build Appendix L Operating Plan Summary Appendix M Mitigation Plan P4.2 Land Use and Economic Information P4.3 Neighborhoods and Populations Information P4.4 Visual Simulations P4.10 Geology and Soils P4.18 Cumulative Effects Information

Additional Final SEIS Materials Appendix N Comments and Responses

North Link Maps and Drawings Appendix J Conceptual Design Drawings P4.1 Acquisitions, Displacements, and Relocations P4.11 Hazardous Materials

Technical Background Reports Transportation Technical Report Noise and Vibration Technical Report Historic and Archaeological Resources Technical Report Transit Ridership Forecasting Technical Report

March 2006 xix North Link Final SEIS Project Nomenclature

Project Nomenclature

The following summarizes definitions of project nomenclature, including the names of the light rail system components and several key plans and organizations. The Glossary in Appendix D of this Final SEIS provides definitions of other terms. Chapter 2 includes more complete descriptions of each alternative and option, including stations.

GENERAL PROJECT-RELATED TERMS

Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel (DSTT). The transit tunnel in Downtown Seattle, beginning at the south end at the International District and continuing to a Convention Place station at the north end, near I-5. The tunnel was constructed by King County Metro to improve bus speeds and reliability in downtown, and is currently being retrofitted for joint bus/light rail operations.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A comprehensive study of likely environmental impacts resulting from major federally-assisted or local projects; statements are required by the National Environmental Policy Act and State Environmental Policy Act.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA). FTA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The FTA administers the federal program of financial assistance to public transit, and is the lead National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) agency for this SEIS.

Initial Segment. The 14-mile light rail segment being constructed for the Central Link light rail project from the north end of the DSTT in downtown Seattle to S. 154th Street near Sea-Tac Airport. The Initial Segment includes joint bus and rail operations in the DSTT.

Interim terminus. Where the light rail line will end until it is extended further. Potential interim termini are listed in Chapter 2.

Light rail. A mode of mass transportation consisting of electric-powered rail vehicles traveling on steel tracks. Light rail may use shared or exclusive rights-of-way, high- or low-platform loading, and multicar trains or single cars. Sound Transit’s light rail system will mostly operate in exclusive and semi exclusive rights-of-way, at street level, on elevated structures, and in tunnels.

Link Light Rail Corridor Study. The full collection of studies and processes associated with the proposed Link Light Rail Project.

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The organization designated by local elected officials as being responsible for carrying out the urban transportation and other planning processes for an area. The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is the MPO for the Puget Sound region.

Minimum Operable Segment (MOS). A shorter segment of the overall full-length light rail project that could function independently if the other segments of the project were not constructed. The MOS must, therefore, include a maintenance facility and the terminus points must have appropriate turnback capabilities for the light rail vehicles. A MOS is often considered to be an interim phase of the overall project.

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). A comprehensive federal law requiring analysis of the environmental impacts of federal actions such as approval of grants; it also requires preparing an EIS for every major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the environment.

No-Build Alternative. Represents current conditions and reasonably foreseeable changes in background conditions by years 2015 and 2030. This includes committed transportation improvements and major new land uses expected by the same years. More information is provided in Chapter 2 and Appendix K.

North Link light rail. The proposed light rail system running from downtown Seattle to Northgate. Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC). Formerly the Puget Sound Council of Governments. PSRC is the

region’s MPO. Sound Move. The 10-year regional transit system plan for the Central Puget Sound Region, financing for

which was approved by voters in November, 1996. The plan includes a mix of Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, Regional Express bus service, and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) access improvements.

North Link Final SEIS xx March 2006 Project Nomenclature

Sound Transit. Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (CPSRTA), a municipal corporation authorized by RCW 81.104 and 81.112. The CPSRTA was generally referred to by the acronym RTA until 1997, when the Board chose to do business under the name of Sound Transit.

Station area. Generally, the area within one-quarter-mile radius surrounding a light rail station. This encompasses the area typically considered to be within walking distance of the station.

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). A comprehensive Washington State law requiring analysis of the environmental impacts of certain public and private actions.

System terminus. A transit station located at the end of a transit line that may include a tail track for short-term light rail vehicle storage and layovers between scheduled runs, a turnback, or crossover.

ALTERNATIVE AND OPTION NOMENCLATURE

North Link alternatives and options. Includes all actions being considered in this SEIS. Potential or optional station. Additional station options evaluated for some route alternatives in this SEIS. Route alternatives. Route alternatives specify the location and vertical profile (at-grade, elevated, or

underground) of light rail guideway within a given segment of the Link Corridor. Route options. Route options specify design variations to the same approximate route location or profile. Segment A (Northgate to University District). Refers to the segment from about 103rd Avenue NE in

Northgate to about NE 45th Street in the University District in the city of Seattle. Segment B (University District to Downtown Seattle). Refers to the segment from about NE 45th Street in

the University District to the Link Initial Segment in downtown Seattle.

March 2006 xxi North Link Final SEIS Preface

Preface

Sound Transit and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) prepared this Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) for the North Link Light Rail Project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and FTA.

The Final SEIS serves the following purposes:

• Describes alternatives and their potential impacts, updating the alternatives and impacts evaluated in the 1999 Central Link EIS.

• Provides environmental information to assist decision-makers in selecting the project to be built.

• Identifies measures to reduce or avoid impacts.

• Considers cumulative impacts as part of the planning process.

• Provides information for other environmental processes, including permitting, Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation, Section 106 protections for historic resources, Section 4(f) protections for parklands, recreation, and historic resources, and Environmental Justice considerations for minority and low-income populations.

The North Link project is the northern portion of the Central Link light rail project. Central Link is an element of the Sound Move Regional Transit Plan adopted by the Sound Transit Board in May 1996. Voters within the district authorized the local taxes required to implement the plan in November 1996. The proposed light rail project was defined through a regional systemwide planning process that compared a range of alternatives, including the No-Build Alternative, rail investments, transportation system management measures, and exclusive bus transit ways. The benefits that led to selecting the rail alternative were its capacity to meet the high end of projected transit demand, support transportation and land use plans, and contribute to reduced energy consumption and air pollutant emissions (Regional Transit System Plan Final EIS, March 1993). The Draft EIS of the Central Link light rail project was published in 1998, and the Final EIS was published in 1999, followed by the selection of the original project from NE 45th Street to S. 200th Street. Subsequent environmental documents for the Central Link project are identified in the Fact Sheet, but include the Tukwila Freeway Route SEIS, with a Final SEIS published in 2001, an Environmental Assessment for an Initial Segment of the project (covering the segments from downtown Seattle to near Sea-Tac Airport) published in 2002, and the Initial Segment SEPA Addendum published in 2001. Sound Transit has also released documents updating environmental information to reflect advanced engineering on the Tukwila segment, and for Airport Link, which were published in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The North Link Environmental documents preceding the Final SEIS are the 2003 Draft SEIS, the Modified Montlake Route Addendum, and the 2005 Draft SEIS.

This Final SEIS for the North Link segment of the Central Link project builds on the previous environmental documents. The scope of environmental review and range of alternatives evaluated in this Final SEIS responds to public and agency comments received during the public scoping process that began in October 2001. After the close of the formal scoping period, community participation was further extended through community workshops, stakeholder presentations, and agency coordination meetings.

The North Link light rail alternatives are defined to the “conceptual engineering” level of design at a minimum. Although conceptual engineering does not answer all of the design questions, it provides enough information to identify potentially significant impacts and measures available to mitigate them.

In order to comply with NEPA and SEPA and to enhance readability, this Final SEIS focuses on the most relevant information regarding project definition, significant impacts, and trade-offs among alternatives. The study area for the SEIS varies by topic and is described within each section of the document, as appropriate.

North Link Final SEIS xxii March 2006 Preface

The Final SEIS is organized as follows: The Executive Summary is a condensed version of the overall document. It briefly presents the project

setting objectives, purpose and need, and the alternatives being considered. It reviews the major impacts for each alternative, presents the project’s financial characteristics, and provides a brief evaluative comparison of the different alternatives. The executive summary concludes by identifying the major conclusions, areas of controversy, uncertainty, and the project’s next steps.

Chapter 1, Purpose and Need, describes the project’s purpose and need, describes the project background, and concludes with the proposed action’s goals and objectives.

Chapter 2, Alternatives Considered, describes the alternatives that are studied in this Final SEIS, including the Preferred Alternative. It also presents the process that was used to define the range of potential project alternatives and to screen them to the set studied in the SEIS. It concludes by explaining the project’s planning and decision making context, including the major steps in the environmental evaluation and project development process.

Chapter 3, Transportation Impacts and Potential Mitigation, describes the potentially affected existing and future regional and local transportation system, and identifies how the project alternatives could impact that system. It then describes potential mitigation strategies to reduce or eliminate transportation impacts. The transportation system elements include transit, highways, arterials, local streets, parking, freight movement, navigable waterways, and walking/bicycling.

Chapter 4, Environmental Impacts and Potential Mitigation, describes the potentially affected environmental (built and natural) conditions in the study area, and explains the impacts the project alternatives may cause. It then describes potential actions that could or would be taken to mitigate (reduce or avoid) impacts. It also lists those impacts that cannot be avoided. This chapter includes the following environmental elements:

• Acquisitions, displacement, and relocations

• Land use and economic activity

• Neighborhoods and populations

• Visual and aesthetic resources

• Air quality

• Noise and vibration

• Ecosystems

• Water resources

• Energy

• Geology and soils

• Hazardous materials

• Electromagnetic fields

• Public services

• Utilities

• Historic and archaeological resources

• Parklands

• Construction impacts

• Cumulative effects

Chapter 5, Financial Analysis, provides information on the projected cost and funding of the project alternatives.

March 2006 xxiii North Link Final SEIS Preface

Chapter 6, Evaluation of Alternatives, compares the alternatives in terms of how effectively they meet the project’s goals and objectives and how cost-effective they are. The chapter concludes by comparing the trade-offs and limitations of the different alternatives.

Chapter 7, Summary of Public Comments, discusses the public comments on the 2005 Draft SEIS, 2003 Draft SEIS, and the Modified Montlake Route Addendum, and provides responses to the most common public comments. A compilation of public comments and responses is provided in Appendix N.

The Appendices provide additional details on the project and the SEIS process, including the potential mitigation for the Preferred Alternative, agency coordination, and community participation. They include federally required reports on environmental justice and Section 4(f) resources (park and recreation areas, wildlife refuges, and historic sites). They define project terms, list references, and iden

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