Existing Conditions Report Alaskan Way Seawall Replacement Project Feasibility Study U.S. Army Corps of Engineers October 2008 Existing Conditions Report Alaskan Way Seawall Replacement Project Feasibility Study Environmental Impact Statement—Existing Conditions Prepared for: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District 4735 East Marginal Way South Seattle, WA 98124 Contact: Pat Cagney 206/764-3654 October 2008 Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2. Existing Conditions .......................................... 2.1-1 2.1. Transportation..................................................................2.1-1 2.1.1. Introduction and Overview .....................................2.1-1 2.1.2. Study Area .............................................................2.1-1 2.1.3. Methodology ..........................................................2.1-2 2.1.4. Highways and Streets ............................................2.1-4 2.1.5. Parking.................................................................2.1-10 2.1.6. Movement of Goods.............................................2.1-13 2.1.7. Transit..................................................................2.1-13 2.1.8. Waterborne Transportation ..................................2.1-15 2.1.9. Non-motorized Transportation..............................2.1-18 2.1.10. Railroad Operation.............................................2.1-23 2.2. Land Use and Shorelines.................................................2.2-1 2.2.1. Overview................................................................2.2-1 2.2.2. Methodology ..........................................................2.2-1 2.2.3. Land Uses..............................................................2.2-1 2.2.4. Development Activity and Trends...........................2.2-7 2.2.5. Seattle Municipal Code ..........................................2.2-9 2.2.6. Plans and Policies................................................2.2-14 2.3. Public Services and Utilities.............................................2.3-1 2.3.1 Overview.............................................................2.3-1 2.3.2 Methodology .......................................................2.3-1 2.3.3 Public Services ...................................................2.3-1 2.3.4 Utilities ................................................................2.3-6 2.4. Physical Oceanography...................................................2.4-1 2.4.1. Study Area .............................................................2.4-1 2.4.2. Natural Currents & Circulation................................2.4-3 2.4.3. Water Composition.................................................2.4-7 2.4.4. Nearshore Wave Action & Vessel Currents ...........2.4-7 2.4.5. Sea Level Change..................................................2.4-8 2.5. Water Resources and Water/Sediment Quality................2.5-1 2.5.1. Study Area .............................................................2.5-1 i October 2008 Existing Conditions Report 2.5.2. Methodology.......................................................... 2.5-1 2.5.3. Hydrology .............................................................. 2.5-2 2.5.4. Surface Water Quality ........................................... 2.5-2 2.5.5. Sediment Quality ................................................... 2.5-5 2.5.6. Upland Sites and Sources of Contamination ......... 2.5-7 2.6. Vegetation, Fisheries, and Wildlife .................................. 2.6-1 2.6.1. Study Area............................................................. 2.6-1 2.6.2. Methodology.......................................................... 2.6-1 2.6.3. Species and Habitats............................................. 2.6-3 2.6.4. Fishing................................................................. 2.6-17 2.7. Threatened and Endangered Species............................. 2.7-1 2.7.1. Overview ............................................................... 2.7-1 2.7.2. Study Area............................................................. 2.7-5 2.7.3. Methodology.......................................................... 2.7-5 2.7.4. Species and Habitat .............................................. 2.7-5 2.8. Native American Interests ............................................... 2.8-1 2.8.2. Areas Fished, Patterns and Seasons .................... 2.8-3 2.8.3. Traditional Cultural Properties............................... 2.8-4 2.9. Social Resources ............................................................ 2.9-1 2.9.1. Overview ............................................................... 2.9-1 2.9.2. Methodology.......................................................... 2.9-1 2.9.3. Study Area............................................................. 2.9-2 2.9.4. Population and Demographics............................... 2.9-5 2.9.5. Housing ............................................................... 2.9-13 2.9.6. Regional and Community Growth........................ 2.9-15 2.9.7. Educational Facilities........................................... 2.9-21 2.9.8. Social and Employment Services ........................ 2.9-22 2.9.9. Cultural and Social Institutions ............................ 2.9-22 2.9.10. Government Institutions and National Defense Installations ...................................................... 2.9-22 2.9.11. Neighborhood Cohesion.................................... 2.9-23 2.10. Visual Quality ................................................................ 2.10-1 2.10.1. Overview ........................................................... 2.10-1 2.10.2. Methodology...................................................... 2.10-1 2.10.3. Regulatory Context............................................ 2.10-4 2.10.4. Affected Environment ........................................ 2.10-4 2.11. Parks and Recreation.................................................... 2.11-1 2.11.1. Overview ........................................................... 2.11-1 ii Alaskan Way Seawall Replacement Project Table of Contents 2.11.2. Methodology ......................................................2.11-1 2.11.3. Existing Parks, Recreation and Public Shoreline Access Facilities ...............................................2.11-1 2.11.4. Green Streets...................................................2.11-17 2.11.5. Public Art Installation Locations .......................2.11-18 2.12. Economics .....................................................................2.12-1 2.12.1. Overview............................................................2.12-1 2.12.2. Methodology ......................................................2.12-1 2.12.3. General Role of the Local Economy...................2.12-1 2.12.4. Established Urban Villages ................................2.12-3 2.12.5. Employment.......................................................2.12-4 2.12.6. Local Government Revenues.............................2.12-7 2.12.7. Parking Inventory.............................................2.12-11 2.12.8. Ferry and Cruise Ship Facilities .......................2.12-11 2.12.9. Inventory of Existing Businesses......................2.12-12 2.12.10. Pioneer Square..............................................2.12-17 2.12.11. Central ...........................................................2.12-19 2.12.12. North Waterfront and Seawall........................2.12-20 2.13. Noise and Vibration........................................................2.13-1 2.13.1. Overview............................................................2.13-1 2.13.2. Noise Terminology .............................................2.13-1 2.13.3. Land Use and Noise-Sensitive Receivers..........2.13-2 2.13.4. Existing Noise Levels.........................................2.13-6 2.13.5. City of Seattle Construction Noise Regulation....2.13-6 2.13.6. Construction Equipment Noise.........................2.13-10 2.13.7. Underwater Noise Levels.................................2.13-11 2.13.8. Concepts of Vibration.......................................2.13-12 2.13.9. Vibration Impact Criteria...................................2.13-13 2.13.10. Existing Vibration Levels................................2.13-14 2.13.11. Vibration Levels of Construction Equipment...2.13-14 2.14. Air Quality ......................................................................2.14-1 2.14.1. Overview............................................................2.14-1 2.14.2. Local Meteorology..............................................2.14-1 2.14.3. Air Pollutants Considered...................................2.14-2 2.14.4. Air Quality Regulatory Requirements.................2.14-2 2.14.5. Regional Emissions............................................2.14-7 2.14.6. Local Ambient Air Pollutant Concentrations.......2.14-7 2.14.7. Typical Emissions from Construction Equipment……………………………………..…2.14-10 iii October 2008 Existing Conditions Report 2.15. Geology and Soils ......................................................... 2.15-1 2.15.1. Summary........................................................... 2.15-1 2.15.2. Methodology...................................................... 2.15-1 2.15.3. Topography and Geology.................................. 2.15-2 2.15.4. Seismicity .......................................................... 2.15-4 2.15.5. Geologic Hazards.............................................. 2.15-5