Date:
Monday, March 19, 2007
Contact:
Joy Goldenberg, Customer and Community Relations, (206) 515-3411
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND - Washington State Ferries (WSF) received over 100 comments on the Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Improvement Project between November 20, 2006 and January 19, 2007. The comments, submitted as part of the project's official public scoping period, have been summarized in a report that is available online at the project webpage (www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/bainbridgeterminalMPU/).
Comment highlights include:
� Integrate community character and values at the terminal and create a visual "gateway" to Bainbridge Island.
� Improve and address pedestrian safety, especially at the SR305/Winslow Way intersection.
� Prioritize bicycle access and circulation improvements, including a connection to the Waterfront Trail.
� Analyze and integrate future rapid transit options into plans for transit access and circulation.
� Concern regarding the need to increase vehicle holding.
� Address environmental concerns such as air quality, shoreline management, stormwater run-off and noise.
Scoping is held early in the life of a project and helps determine the "scope" of issues and alternatives to be studied in the environmental review document. During scoping, the public was asked to comment on the proposed alternatives, draft screening criteria, and a draft purpose and need statement. To encourage public comment, open houses were held on December 6 and 7, and community briefings were offered. Comments could be submitted to WSF by electronic comment form, e-mail or mail.
WSF is using public comments received during the scoping period to help refine the project alternatives and assess public priorities and concerns in the environmental analysis. Public input will continue to shape the project, with the ongoing involvement of the Community Advisory Group, as well as public comment opportunities at community briefings and public meetings throughout the environmental review process. The scoping comment summary report and scoping meeting materials are available on-line at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/ferries/bainbridgeterminalMPU/.
The draft environmental review document, a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA), is scheduled to be released for public comment in early 2008.
For more information:
Joy Goldenberg, WSF Customer & Community Relations
206-515-3411
goldenj@wsdot.wa.gov
< Back to News Home