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Bigfork North/South EA Environmental Assessment & Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation For Bigfork North & South STPP 52-1(18) 27 Control No. 4035 Prepared for: Montana Department of Transportation June 2004 Environmental Assessment & Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation For Bigfork North and South STPP 52-1(18) 27 Control No. 4035 This document is prepared in conformance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) requirements and contains the information required for an Environmental Assessment under the provisions of ARM 18.2.237(2) and 18.2.239. It is also prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for an Environmental Assessment under 23 CFR 771.119. Submitted Pursuant to 42 USC 4332(2)(c) 49 U.S.C. 303 & Sections 2-3-104, 75-1-201 M.C.A. By the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration And the Montana Department of Transportation Submitted by: Date: Montana Department of Transportation Environmental Services Reviewed and Approved for Distribution: Date: Federal Highway Administration One may contact the following people for additional information regarding this document: Jean A. Riley, P.E. Craig Genzlinger Engineering Section Supervisor Missoula Operations Engineer Environmental Services Bureau Montana Division Montana Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration 2701 Prospect Avenue 2880 Skyway Drive PO Box 201001 Helena, Montana 59602 Helena, MT 59620-1001 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................ES-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ES-1 Summary of Impacts..............................................................................................................ES-1 Major Issues Raised During the Stakeholder Process ...............................................................ES-5 Summary of Mitigative Measures............................................................................................ES-7 Permits ....................................................................................................................................ES-9 Positive Results of the Proposed Action ...................................................................................ES-9 Chapter One: Purpose & Need..............................................................................................1-1 1.1 Study Area Description.....................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Capacity Analysis ............................................................................................................1-6 1.2.1 Rural LOS Measurements.........................................................................................1-6 1.2.2 Urban LOS Measurements .......................................................................................1-8 1.3 Existing Traffic Volume & Vehicle Characteristics..............................................................1-10 1.3.1 Traffic Volume & Vehicle Characteristics .................................................................1-10 1.3.2 Existing LOS Analysis .................................................................................................1-11 1.4 Traffic Projections .............................................................................................................1-11 1.4.1 Projected AADT Volumes .........................................................................................1-11 1.4.2 Peak Hour Projections..............................................................................................1-11 1.4.3 Future No-Action LOS Result ....................................................................................1-14 1.5 Safety/Crash Data ............................................................................................................1-14 1.6 Local Access/Circulation..................................................................................................1-14 1.7 Roadway Deficiencies .....................................................................................................1-16 1.7.1 Inadequate Shoulder Width ....................................................................................1-16 1.7.2 Clear Zone ..............................................................................................................1-16 1.7.3 Sharp Curves ...........................................................................................................1-16 1.7.4 Passing Accommodations.......................................................................................1-16 1.7.5 Local Access Character..........................................................................................1-16 1.7.6 Non-Motorized Facilities..........................................................................................1-17 1.7.7 School Bus Stops......................................................................................................1-17 1.7.8 Parking ....................................................................................................................1-17 1.7.9 Operating Speed ....................................................................................................1-17 1.7.10 Mail Delivery..........................................................................................................1-17 1.8 Swan River Bridge Deficiencies ........................................................................................1-18 1.9 Segment Road Description & Needs...............................................................................1-19 1.9.1 Segment 1 (RP 26.36 to RP 27.1), Woods Bay through Woods Bay Hill ....................1-19 1.9.2 Segment 2 (RP 27.1 to RP 30.7), Woods Bay Hill to Highway 209 ............................1-19 1.9.3 Segment 3 (RP 30.7 to RP 31.1), Highway 209 to Grand Avenue............................1-24 1.9.4 Segment 4 (RP 31.1 to RP 32.5), Grand Avenue to Ice Box Canyon .......................1-24 1.9.5 Segment 5 (RP 32.5 to RP 33.27), Ice Box Canyon to End of Project ......................1-29 1.10 Relationship to Transportation Planning..........................................................................1-32 1.10.1 Flathead Lake East Shore/West Shore Corridor Study (1993) .................................1-32 ii 1.10.2 Preliminary Field Review Report (1999) .................................................................1-32 1.10.3 MDT Signing Project (2000)....................................................................................1-32 1.11 Economic Development ...............................................................................................1-32 1.12 Summary of Purpose & Need ........................................................................................1-33 Chapter Two: Alternatives Considered .................................................................................2-1 2.1 Alternative Development................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Design Options Considered.............................................................................................2-1 2.2.1 Segment 1, Woods Bay through Woods Bay Hill ......................................................2-2 2.2.2 Segment 2, Woods Bay Hill to SH-209......................................................................2-2 2.2.3 Segment 3, SH-209 to Grand Avenue .....................................................................2-7 2.2.4 Segment 4, Grand Avenue to Ice Box Canyon .......................................................2-7 2.2.5 Segment 5, Ice Box Canyon to End of Project ........................................................2-12 2.3 Intersection Alternatives ...................................................................................................2-15 2.3.1 SH-209 & MT-35 .......................................................................................................2-15 2.3.2 Bridge Street, Sunset Drive & MT-35.........................................................................2-15 2.3.3 Grand Avenue, Holt Drive & MT-35 ..........................................................................2-15 2.3.4 Lake Hills Drive & MT-35 ...........................................................................................2-16 2.4 Alternatives Advanced.....................................................................................................2-18 2.4.1 No-Action Alternative ..............................................................................................2-18 2.4.2 Preferred Alternative ...............................................................................................2-18 2.5 The Preferred Alternative & Context Sensitive Design........................................................2-25 Chapter Three: Affected Environment, Impacts & Mitigation Measures .................................3-1 3.1 Land Use Zoning & Land Use Planning .............................................................................3-1 3.1.1 Affected Environment ..............................................................................................3-1 3.1.2 Zoning .....................................................................................................................3-1 3.1.3 Land Use Plans.........................................................................................................3-1
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