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Supplemental EIS on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan

Supplemental EIS on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan. Sound Transit. Connecting the region. Sounder commuter trains ST Express buses Light rail Transit centers, park-and-rides. The environmental process & SEPA. SEPA governs agency decision-making

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Supplemental EIS on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan

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  1. Supplemental EIS on the Regional Transit Long-Range Plan

  2. Sound Transit Connecting the region • Sounder commuter trains • ST Express buses • Light rail • Transit centers, park-and-rides

  3. The environmental process & SEPA • SEPA governs agency decision-making • SEPA informs projects and non-project actions/decisions • SEPA supports and informs Board’s adoption of Long-Range Plan and ST 2 Plan

  4. Plan-level Environmental Review • Broad coverage and analysis • “Programmatic” • Part of “phased review” under SEPA • Followed by project-level review • Examples of plan vs. project-level analysis

  5. SEIS Builds on 1993 EIS for Regional Transit System Plan • 1993 EIS studied broad range of alternatives and technologies • Rail/TSM alternative led to Sound Move and Long-Range Vision • Much of 1993 EIS still relevant • SEIS updates previous analysis • Focused range of alternatives for SEIS Supplemental EIS and Previous Environmental Documentation

  6. What’s covered in Supplemental EIS • Long-Range Plan alternative— largely the 1996 Vision • Options • No Action alternative is baseline • Updated land use and employment data (2030) • Updated transportation analysis (2030) • Updated environmental conditions • Updated environmental regulations • Incorporates extensive project-level documentation • SEIS intended to inform ST Board decision-making • for Long-Range Plan Adoption as well as ST 2 Plan

  7. 2005 • Jan: open houses/public hearings • Feb: DSEIS comment response • April: Draft Long-Range Plan (tentative) • May: Public comment • May/June: Final SEIS • June: ST Board adopts Long-Range Plan • 2006 • Feb: Board Identifies Draft ST2 Plan (tentative) • Feb-May: Public Comment • May: Board adopts ST2 Plan • Fall: Earliest possible vote for ST 2 Planning Process Overview

  8. NEPA Approach for Long-Range Plan and Phase 2 (ST 2) • FTA coordination, no NEPA review required now • Project-level NEPA if federal decisions or project funding • Environmental Justice analysis included

  9. SEIS Key Results • Reduced air emissions • Saves over 36,000 gallons of gasoline a day • Transit ridership increase 151% by 2030 • Faster transit travel times • Improved peak-hour congestion • Greater access for low-income and minorities • Reduced urban sprawl

  10. Adverse Built and Natural Environment Impacts • Traffic, noise, visual, and other impacts during construction • Some impacts to natural resources • Disruptions and displacements of residences and businesses • Mitigation measures would help reduce impacts

  11. Comments on Draft SEIS • Agencies: Generally supportive • Jurisdictions: Specific projects for their area • Public: Support for various technologies

  12. Draft SEIS comment period closed • Final SEIS preparation begins • Detailed responses to Draft SEIS comments • Final SEIS issued Spring 2005 • ST Board adopts Long-Range Plan The Next Steps

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