KEY FEATURES

The I-5 at 164th (Ash Way) Access Project will construct transit only ramps connecting the existing park-and-ride lot transit routes to and from Seattle along I-5 north and southbound. The Direct Access ramps will allow transit to enter and exit I-5 from the HOV lanes using the ramps into the freeway median, thus avoiding multiple lane changes necessitated by right hand on or off ramps. Transit north of 164th will not have access to the direct access ramps. Southbound buses from Everett and carpools will access the Ash Way Park-and-Ride Lot by way of the 164th and I-5 Interchange located south of the direct access facility.

BUDGET IMPACT SUMMARY

Project Description: I-5 at 164th Ash Way Direct Access Project.

Current Status: Advertising for construction bids.

Projected Completion Date: Third quarter 2004.

Action Outside of Adopted Budget:	Y/N	Y Requires Comment
This Line of Business	N
This Project	N
This Phase	N
This Task	N
Budget amendment required	N
Key Financial Indicators:	Y/N	Y Requires Comment
Contingency funds required	N
Subarea impacts	N
Funding required from other parties other than what is already assumed in financial plan	N

N = Action is assumed in current Board-adopted budget. Requires no budget action or adjustment to financial plan

BUDGET DISCUSSION

The budget amounts shown in the table below reflect the 2003 adopted project budget, approved by the Board on December 12, 2002. The budget contains sufficient funds for the proposed action.

REVENUE, SUBAREA, AND FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACTS.

The proposed action is consistent with the current Board-adopted budget and is affordable within Sound Transit’s current long-term financial plan and the subarea financial capacity.

M/W/DBE – Small Business Participation

Contingent upon FTA contracting clauses.

WSDOT is responsible for advertising, awarding and administering this construction project. During the construction phase of this task order agreement, WSDOT will be responsible for complying with their own M/W/BE goal of 9% of the contract total for combined M/W/BE participation. The construction management phase of this agreement will be with WSDOT’s and Sound Transit’s own staff, M/W/BE goals are not applicable.

SUMMARY FOR BOARD ACTION

History of Project Prior Board or Committee Actions and Relevant Board Policies

Motion or Resolution Number	Summary of Action	Date of Action
M2002-72   M2001-79   M99-61	Authorized the execution of an Umbrella Agreement with WSDOT for construction administration of Sound Transit projects to be constructed on WSDOT right-of-ways. Authorized the execution of Final design Phase II and extending term of project agreement through August 2002. Authorized the execution of Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation.	June 2002   August 2001   November 1999

 

As defined in Sound Move, the I-5 at 164th Ash Way Project would increase speed and reliability for buses by building transit only direct access ramps at 164th Street and I-5 in Snohomish County. The ramps will connect the north end of the Ash Way Park-and-Ride Lot to the HOV lanes on I-5 to and from the south. Sound Transit has been working with WSDOT since November 29, 1999, when Sound Transit and WSDOT entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to develop Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Documentation (PE/ED).

A Determination of Non-significance (DNS) issued under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) on July 9, 2001, preceded issuance of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Documented Categorical Exclusion (DCE). The DCE, approved on October 18, 2002, complies with the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Section 106 tribal consultation process. FHWA also approved the design file and Access Point Decision Report on October 22, 2002, allowing for the project to be advertised on December 16, 2002.

On September 13, 2002, the Sound Transit Board approved Motion No. M2002-72 authorizing Sound Transit and WSDOT to enter into an "Umbrella Agreement" GCA-3361, providing the framework for contact administration of Sound Transit projects to be constructed on WSDOT right-of-ways. The approval of this action for construction management represents the approval of a task order as defined by the provisions approved under the "Umbrella Agreement."

CONSEQUENCES OF DELAY

The direct result would be not meeting the project completion date of third quarter 2004 as shown in agency baseline schedule.

Regional Partnership and Cooperation

Through the establishment of the Project Management Team, Sound Transit has coordinated with the WSDOT, City of Everett, City of Kenmore, Snohomish County, and Community Transit to provide input during design of this direct access project.

Public Involvement

An open house was held on this project June 21, 2000. At this event the project team shared conceptual design layouts with the public and the intention to build the direct access ramps for transit-only use. The comments received from this open house were generally supportive of the proposed project.

In addition, the environmental checklist and DNS under SEPA have been made available to the public with comments requested during the period of June 22, 2001, through July 6, 2001. A copy of the DNS was placed on the Sound Transit website and a web page was developed to provide project information.

Sound Transit will continue to work closely with the community throughout construction of this project.

Legal Review

JW 12/27/02