Public Interest Transportation Forum - http://www.bettertransport.info/pitf
Response to the Seattle Link Light Rail Initial Segment Environmental Assessment (EA), an informational document prepared under rules established in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), provided an occasion during February and March 2002 for citizens to submit public comment on the Central Link Light Rail project, which Sound Transit claims it will begin constructing in 2002.
On May 8, 2002, the official reaction to these comments from the Federal Transit Administration was issued under the signature of the FTA Region 10 Acting Administrator: a Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact (FONSI) and the conclusion that a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is not necessary. A 20 page Record of Decision was issued, which clears the way for Sound Transit to negotiate a new Full Funding Grant Agreement to replace the one what was abandoned when the initial operating segment of the Central Link light rail project was substantially changed during the summer of 2001.
Members of the Sane Transit coalition believe that there are remaining issues on which the project should be challenged, some of which were not addressed at all in the Environmental Assessment, and others that were addressed incompletely.
Download the Record of Decision document (pdf, 1.4 megabytes) Appendices listing required mitigation measures and summarized public comments with official response, are not yet available in electronic format.
The Record of Decision states that 116 comment letters and 23 oral testimonies were received during the 30 day comment period on the Environmental Assessment.
Over 100 citizens sent copies of their comments on the EA to former King County Councilmember Maggi Fimia, who assembled them into a notebook that has been distributed to the elected officials who provide transportation leadership in the central Puget Sound region. Copies are available for $20.00 (check made out to SANE Transit) and mailed to Maggi Fimia, 729 N. 148th Shoreline, WA 98133.
Selected excerpts from the Environmental Assessment book of comments (all in Adobe Acrobat pdf):
Sound Transit refused several citizens' requests to post the Environmental Assessment full text, online.
