Sound Transit FWLE DA Alteration No. 2SOUND TRANSIT
FEDERAL WAY LINK EXTENSION
FWLE Development Agreement Alteration No. 2
March 1, 2020 Land Use and Transportation Committee
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Policy Question
Should the City Council approve the change to the Federal Way Link Extension Project Development Agreement between the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit)
and the City of Federal Way?
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Presentation Outline:
Project History
Background on Federal Way Transit Center Design
Proposed Change to the Agreement
Key Findings
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Project History – Federal Way Link Extension:
Sound Transit 2 passed in 2008 approving the project
2015: Resolution 15-686 recommending I-5 alignment
Sound Transit 3 passed in 2016 approving project funding
2017: Interstate 5 Project alignment selected by Sound Transit Board
2017-2018: Letters of concurrence and partnership during Sound Transit pre-engineering efforts
2019: Transit Way Agreement executed
2019: City adopts the Project Development Agreement permitting the project to proceed as a Design-Build project.
2019: Selected Kiewit Infrastructure West as Design/Build Contractor and issue NTP.
2019 – Present: The Design-Build review process and implementation of the project begins.
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The Issue:
Most of the agreement, including key mitigation measures, the process for Sound Transit selling any surplus property in the future, and the basis for its approval as an essential public
facility, remains the same as it was originally approved.
This second alteration to the Development Agreement is about changes to the project elements and specific exhibits necessary for staff to move forward in permitting the final station
area design.
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The Issue:
The City based the original approval of the Development Agreement on a conceptual design that included a number of project elements and station facilities. The original plan had some
operational and design shortfalls that could not be resolved.
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The Issue:
When Kiewit Infrastructure West was hired as the Design-Build Contractor, they put forward an alternative design.
Both the City and Sound Transit identified concerns with regards to pedestrian safety early in the development review process.
Introduced the concept of expanding the existing parking garage.
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The Issue:
A final design has now been put forth that resolves the issues found in the previous designs.
Changes to the Development Agreement are meant to enable this design.
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The Issue: Pedestrian Safety
Based on projected ridership, the new concept has a 35% reduction in total pedestrian lane crossings from the original concept and a 75% reduction in total pedestrian lane crossings
from the contractor’s concept design.
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Key Changes to the Development Agreement:
Adding a separate bus layover lot as a project element as well as temporary bus layover spaces on 317th St. The original concept had the layover as being primarily located on the ground
floor of the new parking garage and the contractor’s concept extended the existing bus terminal to accommodate these spaces.
Language clarifying the parking garage is not proposed to be a new parking garage, but an extension of the existing parking garage. The number of new parking spaces required remains
the same.
Changing language regarding the extension of 317th St. and reconstruction of 23rd Ave. The change is related to stormwater management and adding on-street bus layover spaces.
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Key Changes to the Development Agreement Exhibits:
(Exhibit B) Roadways exhibit to reflect the new street layout and facility locations.
(Exhibit D) Landscaping exhibit that supports where typical landscaping is modified due to clearance requirements from the guideway.
Exhibit (P) Conceptual operations and maintenance exhibit. The underlying maintenance principles did not change, but the maintenance responsibilities of a number of areas did change.
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Key Facts & Findings:
Sound Transit and the City have a standing Development Agreement for this project and the changes are limited to those necessary for the final design to be approved.
The new design improves upon safety by reducing points of conflict between vehicles and pedestrians in the future station area. The Federal Way Comprehensive Plan supports a pedestrian-friendly
City Center.
Sound Transit is lead agency for purposes of environmental review (SEPA) and has done the required analysis to verify that the new design is consistent with the Environmental Impact
Statement.
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Summary:
In 2016 Sound Transit submitted a conceptual design that was the basis for the original Environmental Impact Statement and Development Agreement.
A new design has been refined collaboratively with City staff, Sound Transit, and the Design-Build Contractor. The new design requires some changes to the project elements in the Development
Agreement.
The question before City Council is whether to enact an ordinance allowing changes to the Agreement to allow staff to permit this new design.
Note: Only the changes noted in the Ordinance Attachment will be made. Everything else remains the same.
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Options Considered
This item is scheduled for the Council meeting tomorrow, March 2nd. If the Committee desires, the Chair may provide feedback or a verbal recommendation to the full Council.
Support the proposed ordinance ahead of the City Council Public Hearing on March 2, 2021.
Do not support the proposed ordinance and provide direction to staff.
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Mayor’s Recommendation
The Mayor recommends Option 1 to support the proposed ordinance.
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QUESTIONS?
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