Table Of Content

s 388.132 T6F0NSIYR 2008 1 Finding of No Significant Impact - NE Yellowstone River of Livingston >> ' ^ November 2008 ' BR 11-1(44)56 Control Number 4790 ^'w >v..<:>*i 'Wt^mm7i\ ,';y' »j\ amr%4n&gyou—tthpride MontanaStateLibrary 3 0864 1005 8524 2 FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for Project Number: BR 11-1(44)56 Project Name: Yellowstone River- NE ofLivingston Control Number: 4790 m Park Countv, Montana The Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) and the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have determined that the Preferred Alternative, as described in the attached Environmental Assessment (EA) dated January 2008, will have no significant impact on the human environment. This Finding ofNo Significant Impact (FONSI) is MDT FHWA based on the January 2008 EA. After independent evaluation of the EA, and conclude that the EA adequately and accurately discusses the needs, environmental issues and environmental impacts of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures. The EA provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining that an Environmental Impact MDT FHWA Statement (EIS) is not required. and take full responsibility forthe accuracy, scope, and content ofthe January 2008 EA. For purposes of compliance with the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) (ARM 17.4.609(3)0) and ARM 18.2.239(3XJ)), this FONSI and conclusion that an EIS is not required should be considered part ofthe EA. Moritana Department ofTransportation Date // // & /oe Federal Hichwav Administration Date Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Selection of Preferred Alternative 1 3.0 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation 3 3.1 Summary of Impacts 3 3.2 Summary of Mitigation 9 4.0 Coordination Process 19 4.1 Summary of Primary Public and Agency Concerns 20 5.0 Clarifications to the EA 25 6.0 Response to Comments and Questions on the EA 41 List of Tables Table 1. Summary of Impacts 3 Table 2. Summary of Mitigation for the Selected Alternative 9 Appendices Appendix A: Public Hearing Transcript Public Hearing Sign-In Sheets Comments Received During the Public Comment Period with Responses Appendix B: Publicity for Public Hearing - Advertisement, Press Release, Postcard Distribution List - Federal, State, and Local Entities Receiving EA Appendix C: Agency Correspondence Appendix D: Environmental Assessment Montana DepartmentofTransportation TOCi Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact This page left intentionally blank. TOC ii Montana DepartmentofTransportation Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact 1.0 Introduction This document summarizes the final coordination activities undertaken by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to complete the Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston Environmental Assessment (EA) and Nationwide Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation. The EA, which is attached as Appendix D, describes the potential environmental effects of replacing a bridge over the Yellowstone River and its roadway approaches in south central Montana in Park County on State Primary Route 11/US 89 (US 89) at mile post (MP) 55.94. This document affords MDT the opportunity to: present the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project; Identify the alternative that has been selected for this project; summarize the impacts of the selected alternative and the proposed mitigation; summarize the efforts undertaken to coordinate with the public and agencies; summarize the primary issues and concerns expressed by the public and agencies; modify the text of the EA distributed on January 30, 2008; and respond to written and verbal comments submitted at the February 2008 Public Hearing and during the comment period (January 30, 2008 to March 3, 2008). 2.0 Selection of Preferred Alternative Based on the Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston EA (Appendix D) and the public and agency comments and responses (Chapter 6), MDT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have selected the Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative is Alternative 1, which is described in Chapter 2 of the attached EA. Proposed improvements include replacing the existing bridge with a four-span, steel girder structure with single shaft piers (non-skewed). The proposed alignment would be offset downstream of the existing bridge (north towards the railroad bridge) by approximately 7.6 m (25 ft). The new structure, which would be longer than the existing 152-m (500-ft) long highway bridge, would be long enough to provide the optimum hydraulic opening with consideration given to cost versus hydraulic benefit and additionally would accommodate pedestrian paths along each side of the river. The primary consideration regarding the hydraulic opening is the backwater created by the bridge. The optimum hydraulic opening would be determined assuming that the adjacent railroad bridge may be lengthened by others at some point in the future, thereby opening up the channel. The bridge design also includes features that would allow it to be lengthened in the future if needed. Specific design features, such as the length of the proposed structure, were not included in the EA to retain some flexibility for final design. Montana DepartmentofTransportation Page 1 Yellowstone River- NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact The bridge would include one 3.6-m (12-ft) travel lane in each direction and 2.4-m (8-ft) shoulders with a 3-m (10-ft) multi-use path along the south side of the bridge deck. The roadway approaches would also be replaced and would transition from the proposed bridge cross-section to the existing roadway cross-section. The multi-use path would extend from the bridge to the project limits. The intersection of Bennett Street and US 89 would be reconstructed to a T-intersection as described on page 2-7 of the attached EA. The construction of gravel parking lots in the project area would be considered as potential enhancements if funding and right-of-way (ROW) are available. It is anticipated that these parking areas would be on the south side of US 89; one on the east approach and one on the west approach of the bridge. The Selected Alternative meets the project purpose and need by improving the safety of the Yellowstone River Bridge. The Selected Alternative would improve safety for vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. Additionally, the Selected Alternative would provide a beneficial impact by increasing the hydraulic opening, better aligning the bridge to the Yellowstone River, and reducing the number of piers in the water. The Code of Federal Regulations, 23 CFR 771.119 (i), states; "If, at any point in the EA process, the Administration determines that the action is likely to have a significant impact on the environment, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required." As summarized in Table 1, many of the impacts associated with this project would be beneficial and provide an improvement compared with the No-Build Alternative. The potential adverse impacts identified include negligible to minor long-term impacts and negligible to moderate temporary impacts. No significant impacts were identified due to the proposed project, and therefore, the Preferred Alternative was selected for this project. The impacts of both the Selected Alternative and No-Build Alternative are summarized in Table 1 of this document. Page 2 Montana DepartmentofTransportation Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact 3.0 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation 3.1 Summary of Impacts The Selected Alternative improves safety for vehicles as well as pedestrians and bicyclists on the Yellowstone River Bridge. The proposed improvements would also increase the hydraulic opening to provide better long-term hydraulic performance, improve the safety of boaters, and reduce the number of piers in the water. Table 1 summarizes the impacts of the No-Build and Selected Alternative for each of the impact topics discussed in the Environmental Assessment. Table 1. Summary of Impacts TopicArea No-Build Selected Alternative 1 AccessandTraffic Local Access No impact. Potential for reconfiguration ofshared accessto Rainbow Motel and KPRK Radio Station. Two new accesses added Ifproposed parking areasare implemented. us 89/Bennett Street Trafficflow would continueto Improved traffic flow with T-intersection and leftturn lane on Intersection be Impacted. Traffic queues US 89 at Bennett Street. would continue to form on US 89 and Bennett Streetwhile waiting fortrainsto clear. Traffic Flow Trafficflow impacted by narrow Improved traffic flowwith wider bridge. bridge, especially when trucks are diverted from 1-90 dueto closures. Safety Yellowstone River Current high accidentand Anticipated reduction in sideswipe-opposite direction crashes Bridge severity rates would continue. with wider bridge. US 89/Bennett Street Current high accidentand Anticipated reduction in rear-end crashes with T-lntersection Intersection severity rateswould continue. at US 89 and Bennett Street. Improved safety due to increased sight distance to bridge. Pedestriansand Bicycles Safety and Access Safety concerns related to Improved pedestrian/bicycle safety and access with new pedestrian and bicycle useof barrier-separated 3-m (10-ft) wide multi-use path on south bridge and roadwayapproaches side of bridge. would remain. Pedestrian and Bicycle The pedestrian elementsofthe A multi-use path across the bridge and accommodation of Plans Urban Design Framework multi-use paths underthe bridge would be consistentwith Master Plan or the the Urban Design Framework Master Plan and Livingston/Park County Trails Livingston/Park CountyTrails Plan. Plan would not be met. Parlcing Parking Capacity Vehicles would continue to Potential to increase parking capacity by providing formal encroach on US 89 when designated gravel parking areas. The provision ofparking parking areas are full. areas is dependenton the availability of ROW and funding. CommunityResources Access to Community No impact. Improved recreational accesswith new multi-use path across Facilitiesand the bridge and space forfuture multi-use paths underneath Recreation Areas the bridge. Montana DepartmentofTransportation Page 3 Yellowstone River - NE of Livingston November 2008 BR 11-1(44)56 CN 4790 Finding ofNo SignificantImpact Table 1. Summary of Impacts (continued) TopicArea No-Build SelectedAlternative 1 CommunityResources(continued) Emergency Services Difficult for emergency vehicles Adding shoulder width allows emergency vehiclesto pass and to pass due to lack ofshoulder may improve emergency responsetimes. width. BoaterSafety Safety issuesfor boaters would Minor improvementsto boater safetydue to the potential for remain. increased vertical clearance and fewer bridge piers. Single shaft pierswould maintain boater safetyovertime aschannel migration occurs. Localand Regional Economics Local Businesses No impact. Access to businesses in thecorridorwould be improved with bettertraffic flow. Regional Economics No impact. Riveroutfitters may benefitfrom improved safety. ProjectConstruction None 16.1 million (August 2008 estimate based on theanticipated Cost mid-pointofthe construction time frame. The anticipated yearforthis projectto be letto contract is 2011 with a construction mid-pointof2012; however, this isdependent on projectdevelopmentand funding.) Land Useand Local Plans Land Use No impact. Land use changeswould be from roadway-adjacent agricultural and vacant land totransportation or recreation. Local Plans The recommendations oflocal Consistentwith Urban Design Framework Master Plan and plans would not be the Livingston/Park CountyTrails Plan. implemented. Right-of-way(ROW)and Relocations MRL Easement No impact. A new easement may be required. Right-of-Way No impact. Approximately 0.3 ha (0.6 ac). Utilities Utilities No impact. Could accommodate water and sewer linesacrossthe bridge as perthe City's request. IftheCity would liketo extend utilities acrossthe bridge, they will need to submit a MDT Structure Encroachment Permitto MDT. Contaminated Sites/HazardousMaterials VOC Ground Water No impact. It is notanticipated thatthe proposed projectwould affect Plume the concentration ofVOCs orthe flow ofthe plume. Cultural/Archaeological/Historical Resources NRHP-Listed No effect. No Effect on the KPRK Radio Station. NRHP-Eligible Sites No effect. No Effect on Northern Pacific Railroad Grade and Bridge. No Adverse Effecton the Rainbow Motel. Adverse Effect on the Yellowstone River Highway Bridge. Farmland Direct Impacts to No impact. Approximately 0.2 ha (0.4 ac). Farmland of Local Importance Visual ResourcesandAesthetics Visual Quality No impact. Approximately 20 to 25 percent ofthe trees in the project area with a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 150 cm (6 in) or larger, including mature cottonwoods, could be removed as a resultofthe widening ofthe roadway approaches, reconstruction ofthe Bennett Street intersection, and the potential provision ofparking areas. Viewsfrom the riverwould be similartoexisting condition. Page4 Montana DepartmentofTransportation