Aurora Corridor Project, N 165th to N 205th Streets
Once the environmental process was complete, in January 2008 Shoreline City Council authorized moving forward with project design and right-of-way acquisition. Per environmental requirements, a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) “Notice of Action” was released by the City’s SEPA Responsible Official to let the community know the City has taken action and is moving forward with the project.
The City’s design team, HDR Engineering, Inc., is working on design plans and meeting with individual property owners to discuss design issues such as sidewalks, driveways, utilities, business signs and other property-specific issues. Universal Field Services has been meeting with individual property owners explaining the right-of-way acquisition process. The design process will continue through 2008 with construction of the mile between N 165th and N 185th Streets expected to begin in 2009.
Environmental Process
In December 2007, the City completed the environmental process for the Aurora Corridor Improvement Project (N 165th to N 205th Streets). Both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) decisions concluded that there are no probable significant adverse environmental impacts from the project.
To reach this decision, extensive environmental review and detailed analysis was completed throughout 2007 by the City and presented to and reviewed by state and federal agencies. The Discipline Reports, Technical Reports and additional analytical documents compiled for this review are available to download at right.
Background
The City of Shoreline began the environmental review process in October 2006 with the selection of the consultant Jones & Stokes. The environmental review analyzed the impacts of the design alternatives in a variety of areas such as traffic, land use, air, noise, socio-economics and cultural/historical resources. Additional analysis was done on economics and natural and conventional stormwater management approaches.
The Aurora Business and Community (ABC) Team, a group of 23 volunteers representing a wide variety of interests and viewpoints, assisted the City during the environmental review process by providing additional input. The ABC Team had its final meeting June 27, 2007 where it unanimously agreed to recommend that the Council adopt the revised Implementation Strategies (formerly the "32 Points") and the Draft Recommended Alternative.
At the July 16, 2007 City Council Aurora public hearing, an overwhelming majority of people spoke in favor of this preferred project alignment. At its July 23 meeting, Shoreline City Council unanimously selected the Draft Recommended Alternative as the Preferred Alternative alignment for the Aurora Corridor N 165th Street to N 205th Street Project. Staff was then able to move forward to complete the environmental process and submit paperwork to the appropriate agency officials.
On November 21, 2007, the City’s SEPA official determined the project would not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. A Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) was issued with a three week public comment period which ended December 12, 2007.
In November 2007, the City submitted an Environmental Classification Summary (ECS) and attachments to the state. The final NEPA approval signature from the Federal Highway Administration was attained on December 28, 2007.
Translation Available
If you would like to communicate with the City of Shoreline about the Aurora Corridor Project in another language, please send your questions and contact information to the email or address below.
aurora@ci.shoreline.wa.us
Kris Overleese, City of Shoreline
17544 Midvale Avenue N, Suite 100
Shoreline, WA 98133
