July 2018 I-405, Downtown Bellevue Vicinity Express Toll Lanes Project (MP 11.9 to 14.6) Finding of No Significant Impact DEDICATION The I-405 Project Team dedicates this FONSI to Ross Fenton, P.E. Ross recently retired from the I-405 Program, and we thank him for the 22 years of engineering expertise, mentoring, and leadership that he provided as the lead project engineer for numerous successful projects associated with the I-405 Corridor Program. While he may no longer work on the I-405 Program, we carry all of the positive additions he brought to our team with us each day as we deliver these transportation projects for the state of Washington. I-405, DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE VICINITY E XPRESS TOLL LANES PROJECT (MP 11.9 TO 14.6) FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT I MPACT TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1-1 Where is the Project located? .......................................................................................... 1-1 Why is the Project needed? ............................................................................................. 1-1 What is the history of the Project? ................................................................................... 1-1 Description of Proposed Action ................................................................................... 2-1 What are the Project improvements? ............................................................................. 2-1 What are express toll lanes? ............................................................................................. 2-5 Coordination and Opportunities to Comment ........................................................... 3-1 Interagency and Tribal Coordination ............................................................................. 3-1 Comments and Responses on the EA ............................................................................ 3-2 Environmental Findings ................................................................................................. 4-1 National Environmental Policy Act Finding .................................................................... 4-1 Air Quality Conformity Statement .................................................................................... 4-1 Floodplain Finding .............................................................................................................. 4-2 Surface Water and Water Quality Finding ..................................................................... 4-2 Endangered Species Act Finding .................................................................................... 4-3 Magnuson-Stevens Act ..................................................................................................... 4-4 Farmland Finding ................................................................................................................ 4-4 Wetland Finding .................................................................................................................. 4-4 Section 106 Finding............................................................................................................. 4-4 Section 4(f) Finding ............................................................................................................. 4-5 Section 6(f) Finding ............................................................................................................. 4-5 Environmental Justice (EJ) Finding .................................................................................. 4-6 Noise Finding ....................................................................................................................... 4-6 List of Commitments Identified in the EA .................................................................... 5-1 EXHIBITS Exhibit 1. Project Area .................................................................................................................. 1-1 Exhibit 2. I-405 ETL Projects – Funded, Completed and in Progress ..................................... 1-2 Exhibit 3. Project Improvements, Sheet 1 of 2 .......................................................................... 2-3 Exhibit 3. Project Improvements, Sheet 2 of 2 .......................................................................... 2-4 Exhibit 4. Wetland Mitigation Sites ............................................................................................. 2-6 Exhibit 5. Effects Determinations ................................................................................................ 4-3 Table of Contents | Page i July 2018 I-405, D OWNTOWN BELLEVUE VICINITY EXPRESS TOLL L ANES PROJECT (MP 11.9 TO 14.6) FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT I MPACT ATTACHMENTS The following attachments are included in the USB flash drive included on the back cover of this document. Attachment 1. Comments with Responses Attachment 2. Errata to the EA Attachment 3. Notice of Adoption of EA under SEPA with Publication Listing Attachment 4. FONSI Distribution List Attachment 5 Correspondence with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Fisheries Division Table of Contents | Page ii July 2018 I-405, DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE VICINITY E XPRESS TOLL LANES PROJECT (MP 11.9 TO 14.6) FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT I MPACT INTRODUCTION This document explains the determination by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that the I-405, Exhibit 1. Project Area Downtown Bellevue Vicinity Express Toll Lanes Project (MP 11.9 to 14.6) (“the Project”) proposed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) in Bellevue, Washington, is not likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment. This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is made based on the information in the Environmental Assessment (EA) and considers comments received on the EA. The FONSI has been prepared by FHWA and WSDOT to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C § 4321) (NEPA), FHWA’s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts (64 Fed. Reg. 28545, May 6, 1999), and other related laws. Where is the Project located? The Project extends along I-405 approximately 2.7 miles from just north of the I-90 interchange (MP 11.9) to north of the NE 6th Street interchange (MP 14.6), as shown in Exhibit 1. Why is the Project needed? Our region needs the Project to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion in ways that are reliable and improve safety performance. I-405 is one of the most congested routes in the state, particularly during peak travel times. What is the history of the Project? In 1998, WSDOT joined with FHWA, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit), King County, and local governments to develop strategies for reducing traffic congestion and improving mobility in the I-405 corridor. In fall of 2002, the combined efforts of these entities culminated in the I-405 Corridor Program Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD identified a Selected Alternative that would allow for the future consideration Introduction | Page 1-1 July 2018 I-405, DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE VICINITY E XPRESS TOLL LANES PROJECT (MP 11.9 TO 14.6) FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT I MPACT of managed lane operations on I-405. The EIS and ROD did not specify how the lanes would be managed. In January 2010, WSDOT completed the I-405/SR 167 Eastside Corridor Tolling Study, which proposed a tolling strategy for managed lanes in the I-405/State Route 167 (SR 167) corridor. The I-405/SR 167 Executive Advisory Group endorsed a 40-mile express toll lane (ETL) system between Auburn and Lynnwood based on that study. The Project is one of several projects now being advanced as part of a phased implementation of the Selected Alternative for the I-405 Corridor Program. The 2015 Connecting Washington funding package passed by the state legislature provides funding for constructing the Project. FHWA and WSDOT issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) on April 2, 2018, for the Project. The EA analyzed and Exhibit 2. I-405 ETL Projects – Funded, Completed and in Progress documented whether the Project would have significant effects on the environment. Construction for the Project is anticipated to begin in 2019 and would be completed in 2024. What other improvements are being considered on I-405? The “I-405 Corridor Program” is a broad term for more than 150 unique, coordinated projects to relieve congestion and improve mobility for motorists, transit users, and freight users along the 30-mile, I-405 corridor. Additional funded improvements south of the Project going through environmental review include the I-405, Tukwila to I-90 Vicinity Express Toll Lanes Project (MP 0.0 to 11.9), which extends from the I-5/I-405 interchange in Tukwila to just north of the I-90/ I-405 interchange in Bellevue. The I-405, Tukwila to I-90 Vicinity Express Toll Lanes Project (MP 0.0 to 11.9) and this Project are anticipated to be constructed at the same time. When completed, both projects would connect to other ETLs on the north and south to create a 40-mile toll system on SR 167 and I-405 between Auburn and Lynnwood as shown in Exhibit 2. Introduction | Page 1-2 July 2018 I-405, DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE VICINITY E XPRESS TOLL LANES PROJECT (MP 11.9 TO 14.6) FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT I MPACT In addition, as part of the Sound Transit 3 funding package, Sound Transit plans to provide bus rapid transit service on the State Route 518 (SR 518) and