Environmental Review Process

Why did we study this?

Emissions from vehicles may release toxins and small particles of soot, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide into the air. Pollutants like these are damaging to the environment and can make it harder for people to breathe.

What did we find out?

Based on the analysis presented in the report, the River Crossing portion will cause an increase in the emissions of the pollutants, greenhouse gases, and other toxins studied. This expected increase in pollution is due to a predicted rise in the number of vehicles, including trucks, traveling through the project area. However, this increase in traffic includes cars and trucks that would have used other, longer routes to reach their destination if the newer, shorter route did not exist. Fewer vehicle miles traveled means the project will reduce pollution regionally.

As more cars and trucks take advantage of the faster route, air quality will decrease. But regionally, air quality will improve because cars and trucks will be taking a more direct route to their destination and traveling fewer miles overall.

The full report is available here.

Why did we study this?

All construction projects in the Pacific Northwest take place on land that has been inhabited by indigenous people for over 14 centuries, and some projects may impact historically important buildings and structures. Before we start digging or demolishing, we want to know if we will uncover or disturb any sites or structures of historical or cultural relevance. Pierce County is committed to mitigating impacts to archaeological sites; historic buildings, roads, and bridges; and places on the landscape that are historically significant to Washington State.

What did we find out?

Cultural resources

‍While the project area is within the bounds of the historic Puyallup Tribe of Indians reservation, it has already been heavily altered by logging, farming, river channel modifications such as levees, and development prior to this project. The project team found evidence of organic material near the historic confluence of the Puyallup River and Clarks Creek as well as shell deposits that were likely the result of natural river activity. The team also uncovered evidence of a buried land surface from before European colonization of the area. This area, near the confluence of the Puyallup River and Clarks Creek, on the north bank of the river, may contain archeologic artifacts at 25 feet below the surface. The report recommends an archeological monitor be present during construction in this area, or that the project team conduct a more thorough investigation before the project begins.

Historic resources

The project will result in the removal and replacement of the Milroy Bridge. Although the bridge is a rare Washington State example of a Pennsylvania petit truss bridge, it is functionally obsolete, and it sits over the land of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians which would prefer to see it removed. Pierce County may be required to make the existing bridge available for a different use, such as a pedestrian bridge in a different location, provided a responsible party agrees to maintain and preserve it. Because the Milroy Bridge has lead paint, its new home should not be over water.

Pierce County will develop further measures to minimize harm to historic resources in consultation with Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, the FHWA, and WSDOT.

Pierce County will also need to purchase part of the property once owned by Bert Smyser, a locally renowned architect and designer whose 1941 Streamline Modern house was known as the “Home of Tomorrow.” The house itself will not be impacted by the project.

The Puyallup River Levee, an early example of a concrete channel being used for flood protection, will be temporarily impacted by the construction of the bridge, but those impacts will be minor and reversible.

This map shows where the project sits within the historic boundaries of the Puyallup Tribe ofIndians reservation.

This report is still in progress.

What did we find out?

While stormwater will eventually make its way into the Puyallup River, the project is designed so that little to no untreated stormwater will go into the river. This is an improvement over current conditions, in which untreated stormwater flows directly into the river.

In the City of Fife, stormwater collected within the project limits will drain to artificial wetlands and retaining ponds. These wetlands and ponds will slow the flow of the stormwater and treat it before it is discharged into Old Oxbow Lake.

In unincorporated Pierce County, stormwater collected in the project limits will also be treated in artificial wetlands and retaining ponds before being released to Clarks Creek or to existing bioswales along River Road East and from there to the Puyallup River.

This graphic shows how stormwater will be collected in retention ponds and bioswales and cleaned by filters before being released into Clarks Creek or the Puyallup River.

This report is still in progress.

What did we find out?

The report concludes that during construction, Chinook Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout may be impacted by temporary increases in erosion, underwater noise, and lighting. To minimize harm, the project will follow best practices in erosion control in the construction area, eliminate in-water construction, plant and maintain native trees, shrubs and groundcover in the project area along the Puyallup River and Clarks Creek, and monitor the water quality close to the construction site.

Following construction, there may be some permanent loss of habitat and increased shading from the new bridges. The new road surfaces may also result in increased stormwater runoff. On the other hand, the new stormwater collection, retention, and treatment facilities installed by the project will ensure that much less untreated runoff enters the river than is the case currently.

Treating stormwater will create better conditions for fish passing through the project area.

This report is still in progress.

What did we find out?

There are six sites within the project area that may be sources of hazardous materials that would need to be disposed of, contained, mitigated, or considered in the project design to minimize risk to workers and the environment during and after construction. According to the report, the risk of contamination ranges from low to high. For all but one site the report recommends further investigation to better understand the existing contamination.

This map shows sites where potentially hazardous materials may be present. Red: high risk site. Yellow: medium risk site. Green: low risk site.

The full report is available here.

Why did we study this?

Traffic can be noisy. If the noise exceeds a certain level, we may need to take measures to reduce the noise that reaches residents.

What did we find out?

The study team used expected traffic volumes and existing noise monitoring information from a previous study to model the expected noise levels at 113 locations in the project area and predict the noise impacts of the project. The model assumed increased development, extension of other planned roadways, and an increase in traffic. The model predicted that under those conditions, 16 residences would have noise levels that approach, meet, or exceed the criteria to consider solutions to reduce noise, also known as noise abatement.

Under Washington State Department of Transportation regulations, for noise abatement to be included within a project, the abatement solution must:

• benefit at least three first-row residences with a noise reduction of at least five decibels
• be cost-effective
• achieve a noise reduction goal of at least seven decibels

Of the 16 residences identified as approaching, meeting, or exceeding the requirements to consider noise abatement, eight did not meet either the benefit, cost-effectiveness, or design goal requirement.

Some residences at the Ardena Gale Mobile Home Park, along what will become 74th Avenue East, met all three criteria for noise abatement. The proposed solution recommended in the report is a 318 foot long wall ranging from 6—8 feet in height which will provide a barrier between the traffic noise and the residences.

When a noise wall is recommended, the final decision about including it in the project is made by the residents and property owners who would be protected by the wall: in this case, the residents of the Ardena Gale Mobile Home Park. Pierce County is currently planning how to conduct this community poll.

These graphics shows how a noise wall can protect homes from traffic noise. In the first image, most of the traffic noise flows over the low shoulder barrier and hits the houses below the roadway. In the second image, the noise wall deflects the traffic noise away from the houses below the roadway.

The full report is available here.

Why did we study this?

Under Section 4(f) of the UDOT, projects that receive funding or approval by USDOT must avoid impacts to Section 4(f) properties. When a project cannot avoid Section 4(f) properties, Section 4(f) requires documentation and approval by the federal lead USDOT agency (in this case, the FHWA).

What did we find out?

Within the project area the current draft of the report identifies three Section 4(f) properties that will be impacted by the project.

• The Milroy Bridge, built in 1931 and one of the few remaining examples of bridges of its type in Washington State, will be replaced. The project team is working with state agencies to remove it in a way that recognizes its historic significance.
• The Lower Puyallup River Levee, an early example of a concrete channel being used for flood protection, will be temporarily impacted by the construction of the bridge, but those impacts will be minor and reversible.
• The City of Fife Levee Pond and Community Garden, located at 7400 48th Street East in the City of Fife, includes a small pond, a walking trail, a community garden, and open green spaces. The project will permanently use approximately 2,000 square feet of the park, impacting the existing gravel driveway and the community garden area. The project could temporarily use an additional 2,200 square feet for use during construction. The project team is coordinating with the City to relocate the garden to an equally desirable location.

Three 4(f) properties likely to be impacted by the project are the Milroy Bridge, the City of Fife Levee Pond and Community Garden, and the Lower Puyallup River Levee.

This report is still in progress.

What did we study?

The traffic report examines how the proposed changes to the roadway will impact traffic.

Why did we study this?

It is important to understand how the changes proposed in the project will affect how efficiently and safely vehicles move through the area.

What did we find out?

With the improvements in place, intersections in the project area are expected to operate at a steady flow during morning and evening peak hours in 2040. Left turn delays and queue lengths at signalized intersections will be managed by left-turn pockets and signal timing. The project will reconfigure the five-leg intersection at River Road East and 66th Avenue East to a three-leg intersection and remove three intersections, reducing conflict points and the likelihood of crashes. However, this will be partially offset by increased traffic volumes at two other intersections, and potential conflict points introduced by the new intersections created by the new 74th Avenue East.

This map shows where the project will add, modify, or remove intersections.

This report is still in progress.

What did we find out?

Because of the relatively flat terrain and existing trees and shrubs, most residents will not have views of the new four-lane road and bridges over the Puyallup River and Clarks Creek.

A small number of properties adjacent to the project will have clearer views of the project elements. However, those elements are designed to be similar to the existing visual character of the area, so those views should become routine over time. The project will also add trees and shrubs that will grow and over time reduce visual impacts.

November 1, 2020 photo of 52nd Street East in front of Picha Farms, looking east.

Visualization of 52nd Street East in front of Picha Farms, after construction, looking east.

The full report is available here.

Why did we study this?

Historically some people and communities, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, or who are from minority groups, or who do not speak English as a first language, have borne the brunt of infrastructure projects that, in theory, benefit the larger community. Title VI requires that every proposed project receiving federal funding examine the impacts to communities to ensure that historically disadvantaged communities are not harmed by that project more than other groups.

What did we find out?

We are still evaluating if and how the project will impact minority or low-income populations.

• Community cohesion – The report finds that the project improves vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle access to and from neighborhoods, businesses, and recreational amenities, benefiting the entire population.
• Property access and relocations – The project will likely need to purchase a limited number of both residential and commercial properties. It will also change the way residents and visitors access Ardena Gale Mobile Home Park. Finally, the project will acquire some portion of several other properties in the project area.
• Noise – See Noise, above.
• Air quality – See Air Quality, above.
• Visual character – See Visual and aesthetic impact, above.
• Exposure to hazardous materials – See Hazardous materials above.
• Traffic – See Traffic above.
  

Better connections mean people in the project area will have more ways to more easily get where they want and need to go.

This report is still in progress.