January 2013
- Thank you to everyone who provided input on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). In May 2012, WSF selected Elliot Point 2 as the Preferred Alternative (pdf 811 kb). Selecting a Preferred Alternative is a required part of the process of preparing a Final EIS. View the latest project folio (pdf 1.3 mb) to learn more.
- Please continue to visit the project website for the latest information or contact us to sign up for the project listserv.
Overview
WSF and FTA are evaluating alternatives to replace or relocate the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. The environmental process for this project was re-initiated in February 2010 and is scheduled to be complete in summer 2013.
Why is WSDOT
considering improving or relocating the Mukilteo Terminal?
The Mukilteo/Clinton ferry route is part of State Route (SR) 525, the major transportation corridor connecting Whidbey Island to the Seattle-Everett metropolitan area. It is WSF’s busiest route for vehicle traffic and has the second highest annual ridership. Future usage is expected to increase by 73% by 2030.
The Mukilteo terminal has not had significant improvements since the early 1980s and components of the facility are aging. The current terminal layout makes it difficult for passengers to get in and out of the terminal and contributes to traffic congestion, safety concerns and conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The new terminal will improve operations and multimodal connections and safety.
The End Result
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that describes proposed project alternatives and identifies potential environmental effects. WSF and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are preparing an EIS in compliance with the National and State Environmental Policy Acts (NEPA/SEPA). FTA is the federal lead agency for the NEPA environmental review process. WSDOT is the state lead agency for SEPA. After conducting a scoping process in fall 2010 and incorporating public comments, WSF and FTA released a Draft EIS in January 2012 and selected a Preferred Alternative (pdf 1.3 mb) in May 2012. The two agencies will release a Final EIS in April 2013.
WSF analyzed four alternatives in the Draft EIS.
All alternatives, with the exception of the No-Build, include the following components:
- One operational ferry slip
- New multi-bay transit area
- Pick-up/drop-off area
- Holding lanes with dedicated staging for bicycles, carpools and priority vehicles
WSF will continue to refine the Preferred Alternative throughout the design and environmental review, but the overall footprint and its major elements will remain very similar to how the alternative appeared in the Draft EIS. All of the project alternatives will continue to be evaluated in the Final EIS, but the Preferred Alternative will be developed in more detail than the other alternatives.
Project Benefits
The new terminal will:
- Offer better and safer access for pedestrians, vehicles and bicycles
- Improve the efficiency and reliability of ferry operations, including vehicle and passenger loading and unloading
- Improve transit connections for riders who travel without a car and help ensure reliable multimodal connections
What is the project timeline?
- 2010-2013 - Environmental process
- 2013-2015 - Design
- 2015-2019 - Construction
Financial Information
Total budget for the Mukilteo Multimodal Project is $90.1 million, including a mix of state and federal funds. To date, WSF has secured $29 M in federal grants and current federal funding will allow WSF to complete the Final EIS. Because of its multimodal emphasis, the project is competitive for securing additional federal funding once the EIS process is complete.
The latest project cost and funding information is detailed in the 2012 Legislative Report (pdf 883 kb).
How can I get more information?
Contact:
Hadley Rodero, Communications Lead, at 206-462-6354 or roderoh@wsdot.wa.gov.
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