Updated July 1, 2008

With the environmental process complete, right-of-way acquisition is now under way for the second mile of Aurora Avenue (N 165th Street to N 185th Street).  The right-of-way agent hired by the City, Universal Field Services, has been working directly with property owners, scheduling and overseeing property appraisals, and preparing paperwork for easements and purchase offers.

Concurrently with right-of-way acquisition, the City’s design consultant, HDR Engineering, Inc., has reached 30% design for the second mile (N 165th Street to N 185th Street). With funding currently in place to complete construction on this mile, the design consultant will focus on completing final plans and specifications at this time.  Design and right-of-way acquisition will continue through 2008 with construction expected to begin in 2009 for the second mile from N 165th Street to N 185th Street.  HDR Engineering will also be working on completing 30% design for the third mile (N 185th Street to N 205th Street) by the end of 2009.

A Value Engineering (VE) Study was held April 8 – 11, 2008.  This is a requirement of the State of Washington Transportation Improvement Board, one of the funding sources for the Aurora Project.  The goals for the VE Study were to find ways to minimize impacts during construction, identify low impact development tools, discuss options for a shorter construction period, and identify ways to reduce maintenance costs.  A team of independent professionals was selected to participate in reviewing the project to identify concepts and tasks that will benefit the project and the community.  The City hired Olympic Associates Company to facilitate this process and provide a Value Engineering Study Report which is available on line at right for review.

Environmental Process

An extensive environmental review and detailed analysis was conducted 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.

On November 21, 2007, the City’s State Environmental Policy Act (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 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval signature from the Federal Highway Administration was attained on December 28, 2007.  With approval of documents in December 2007, the City completed the environmental process for the Aurora Corridor Improvement Project (N 165th to N 205th Streets).  Both NEPA and SEPA decisions concluded that there are no probable significant adverse environmental impacts from the project.

Per environmental requirements, a 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.  In January 2008, Shoreline City Council authorized moving forward with project design and right-of-way acquisition.

Background

The City 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.

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