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Home My WebLink AboutAppendix K - Env Justice DR I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project, I-5 to SR 169 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DISCIPLINE REPORT October 2005 %&e( !"b$ AÉ !"`$ !"`$ Aæ %&e( Bothell Kirkland Bellevue Renton AÊ AÐ Aí Aô AÌ Aí Aç AÅ Lake Washington Arterial Road Freeway Municipality Lake Park M0 2 Miles I-405 Project Area Renton Nickel Improvement Project ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DISCIPLINE REPORT I-405, Renton Nickel Improvement Project Prepared for Washington State Department of Transportation Urban Corridors Office And Federal Highway Administration Prepared by Erika Harris, Parametrix October 25, 2005 Title VI WSDOT ensures full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex in the provision of benefits and services resulting from its federally assisted programs and activities. For questions regarding WSDOT's Title VI Program, you may contact the Department's Title VI Coordinator at 360. 705.7098. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information If you would like copies of this document in an alternate format—large print, Braille, cassette tape, or on computer disk, please call 360.705.7097. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call the Washington State Telecommunications Relay Service, or Tele-Braille at 7-1-1, Voice 1.800.833.6384, and ask to be connected to 360.705.7097. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report i P:\w\WDOT00000359\0600INFO\EP\DRs\Renton Nickel Env Justice DR_completed.doc T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Glossary ..............................................................................................................................................ii Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report ......................................................................................ii Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................2 What is the Renton Nickel Improvement Project?........................................................................................2 What is the No Build Alternative?................................................................................................................................2 What is the Build Alternative?.....................................................................................................................................2 How will stormwater from the project be managed? ...................................................................................................2 What environmental and utilities issues influenced the project design and what was done to avoid and minimize project effects?......................................................................................................................................2 What is planned for wetland and stream mitigation?....................................................................................2 What benefits will the project provide?........................................................................................................................2 How will the project incorporate community design preferences?...............................................................................2 How will the project be constructed?...........................................................................................................................2 Why do we consider environmental justice as we plan this project?.................................................................2 How can transportation projects affect populations protected under environmental justice?..................................2 What are the key points of this report?......................................................................................................2 Existing Conditions ...............................................................................................................................2 How did we collect information on environmental justice for this report?...........................................................2 What is the study area for this analysis and how was it determined?...............................................................2 Does the study area have populations that are protected under environmental justice?........................................2 Why is it important to involve tribal governments in the project?......................................................................2 Are there gathering places, businesses, or services that are important to environmental justice populations?...........2 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................2 Why is public involvement important?.......................................................................................................2 What public involvement activities have occurred since the I-405 Corridor EIS?.................................................2 What public involvement activities are ongoing?.........................................................................................2 Potential Effects ....................................................................................................................................2 What methods did we use to evaluate potential effects on environmental justice populations?...............................2 How will the No Build Alternative affect minority and low-income populations?...................................................2 Will the project affect minority and low-income populations?..........................................................................2 How will the project benefit minority and low-income populations?..................................................................2 Will project construction affect minority and low-income populations?..............................................................2 Does the project have indirect effects?.....................................................................................................2 Measures to Avoid or Minimize Project Effects ..........................................................................................2 What will be done to avoid or minimize long-term adverse effects on minority and low-income populations?.............2 What will be done to avoid and/or minimize construction effects?....................................................................2 Environmental Justice Determination .......................................................................................................2 Will this project have disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority or low-income populations?...............2 References ...........................................................................................................................................2 Appendix A – Service Provider Interviews B - Public Schools in the Study Area TABLE OF CONTENTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project ii Environmental Justice Discipline Report E XHIBITS Exhibit 1. Project Vicinity Map..........................................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 2. Project Overview Section 1..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 3. Project Overview Section 2..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 4. Project Overview Section 3..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 5. Project Overview Section 4..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 6. Project Overview Section 5..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 7. Project Overview Section 6..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 8. Project Overview Section 7..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 9. Project Overview Section 8..............................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 10. Demographic Information for the Study Area Part 1......................................................................................2 Exhibit 11. Demographic Information for the Study Area Part 2......................................................................................2 Exhibit 12. Service Provider Interview Findings...............................................................................................................2 Exhibit 13. Noise Effects Locations..................................................................................................................................2 Exhibit 14. Noise Effects..................................................................................................................................................2 Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report iii P:\w\WDOT00000359\0600INFO\EP\DRs\Renton Nickel Env Justice DR_completed.doc GLOSSARY Adverse Effects The totality of significant individual or cumulative human health or environmental effects, including interrelated social and economic effects, which may include, but are not limited to: bodily impairment, infirmity, illness or death air, noise, and water pollution and soil contamination destruction or disruption of man-made natural resources destruction or diminution of aesthetic values destruction or disruption of community cohesion or a community’s economic vitality destruction or disruption of the availability of public and private facilities and services vibration adverse employment effects displacement of persons, businesses, farms, or nonprofit organizations increased traffic congestion, isolation, exclusion or separation of minority or low- income individuals within a given community or from the broader community denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits of DOT programs, policies, or activities Acquisition The purchasing of property or businesses for use as right-of-way or for other purposes necessary for completion of the project. Auxiliary Lane An auxiliary lane is a lane added between interchanges—from one on-ramp to the next off-ramp. It is dedicated to traffic entering and leaving the freeway and provides motorists with more time and extra room to accelerate or decelerate and merge when getting on and off the freeway. Block Group A block group is a subdivision of a census tract. It is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau provides sample data. Census Tract Census Tract: Census tracts are small, fairly permanent subdivisions of a county. Their delineations are determined by a local committee of users of census data in order to present such data. They are designed to contain somewhat homogeneous population and economic characteristics as well as living conditions. Census tracts average 4,000 inhabitants. Community/Neighborhood Cohesion Refers to the ability of people to communicate and interact with each other in ways that lead to a sense of community as reflected in the neighborhood’s ability to function and be recognized as a singular unit. Disproportionately High and Adverse Effect An adverse effect that: (a) is predominately borne by a minority population and/or a low-income population, Or (b) will be suffered by the minority population and/or low-income population and is appreciably more severe or greater in magnitude than the adverse effect that will be suffered by the non-minority population and/or non-low-income population GLOSSARY Renton Nickel Improvement Project iv Environmental Justice Discipline Report Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898 provides that each federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. Exit Gore An exit gore is the roadway feature that separates an exiting lane from the main lanes. They can be either painted or built or a combination of both. Gathering Places Locations where people spend time together, such as parks, community centers, churches, pubs, and stores. Geographic Information System (GIS) A digital computer mapping system that can overlay data such as land use and provides a spatial analysis. Indirect Effects Effects that are delayed or distant from the project. Low-Income Individuals listed in the 2000 Census as living at or below the federally designated poverty level. Minority Individuals listed in the 2000 Census as Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa); Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race); Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); American Indian/Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original people of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition); or some other race. Noise Abatement Criteria The FHWA noise abatement criteria specify exterior and interior noise levels for various land activity categories such as residential and commercial. All noise sensitive uses within the Renton Nickel Improvement Project study area are residential or Category B uses. WSDOT considers a noise impact to occur if predicted equivalent hourly noise levels (Leq (h)) approach within 1 dBA of the noise abatement criteria, which is 67 dBA for residential uses. Thus if a noise level is 66 dBA or higher, it will approach or exceed the FHWA noise abatement criterion of 67 dBA for residential uses. Poverty Following the Office of Management and Budget's Directive 14, the Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to detect who is poor. If the total income for a family or unrelated individual falls below the relevant poverty threshold, then the family or unrelated individual is classified as being “below the poverty level”. Section 8 Housing Assistance Section 8, or the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a Federal housing program which provides housing assistance to low-income renters and homeowners. This assistance comes in the form of rental subsidies, limiting the monthly rent payment of the assistance recipient. Section 8 is a Federal program administered nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program is administered locally by public housing authorities or other designated agencies and organizations. Throughput The number of vehicles being carried on a facility. This is usually measured at a specific point on the roadway facility for a predetermined period of time. Windshield Survey Observing a study area by touring the area in a car. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report v P:\w\WDOT00000359\0600INFO\EP\DRs\Renton Nickel Env Justice DR_completed.doc ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS REPORT DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement DOT Department of Transportation EA Environmental Assessment EIS Environmental Impact Statement ESL English as a Second Language FEIS Final Environmental Impact Statement FHWA Federal Highway Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration GIS Geographic Information System HOV High Occupancy Vehicle MAP Multi-agency Permitting NEPA National Environmental Policy Act PSCAA Puget Sound Clean Air Agency TEA Transportation Equity Act WSDOT Washington State Department of Transportation Renton Nickel Improvement Project vi Environmental Justice Discipline Report This page intentionally blank. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 1 P:\w\WDOT00000359\0600INFO\EP\DRs\Renton Nickel Env Justice DR_completed.doc INTRODUCTION What is the Renton Nickel Improvement Project? The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is a highway expansion project that will improve mobility and safety through Tukwila and Renton. On I-405, this project begins just east of the I-5/I-405 interchange in Tukwila and extends north past the Cedar River to the SR 169 (Maple Valley Highway) interchange. The project will build an additional lane both northbound and southbound between I-5 and SR 169. On SR 167, the project will extend the southbound high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane north to I-405 and add a southbound auxiliary lane from I-405 to the SW 41st Street off-ramp. These limits comprise the study area for the project. Prior to planning this specific project, WSDOT created the I-405 Corridor Program. This program provides a comprehensive strategy to reduce congestion and improve mobility throughout the I-405 corridor. The corridor begins at the I-5 interchange in the city of Tukwila and extends northward 30 miles to the I-5 interchange in the city of Lynnwood. The program’s purpose is to provide an efficient, integrated, and multimodal system of transportation solutions. Using the I-405 Corridor Program’s Selected Alternative as the Master Plan to improve I-405, WSDOT developed relatively low cost, congestion relief roadway improvements as an interim step in achieving the Master Plan. As part of this effort, WSDOT began to define the Renton Nickel Improvement Project. The Renton Nickel Improvement Project was developed as part of a first step in providing a focused strategy to improve I-405 between I-5 in Tukwila and SR 169 in Renton and SR 167 southbound from I-405 to SW 41st Street, see Exhibit 1. This discipline report analyzes two project alternatives: the No Build Alternative and the Build Alternative. Exhibit 1. Project Vicinity Map G r e en R i v e r C e d ar Riv er Interurban TrailCedar River Interpretive Trail Panther Creek Wetlands Green River TrailBlack River Riparian Forest Fort Dent Park Cedar River Park Liberty Park SW 41st St S W 3 4 t h S t S W 2 7 t h S t SW 16th St Southcenter ParkwayW Valley HwyI n t e r u r ban Ave SMa ple V alley H w yRainier Ave SS W Sun s e t B lvdS W 7 t h S t S W G r a d y W a y Lind Ave SWTUKWILA RENTON S pri n g br ook CreekBenson Rd SSW 23rd St Talbot Rd SBenson Dr SI-405 Northern Project Limit at SR 169 I-405 Southern Project Limit at I-5 !"`$ %&e( Aæ Aç Aí SR 167 Southern Project Limit at SW 41st St 0 0.25 0.5 Miles M AÅ Arterial Road Freeway Trail Stream Lake Park Municipality INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 2 Environmental Justice Discipline Report What is the No Build Alternative? The No Build Alternative assumes that only routine activities such as road maintenance, repair, and safety improvements would take place over the next 20 years. This alternative does not include improvements to increase roadway capacity or reduce congestion. For these reasons, it does not satisfy the project’s purpose—improve I-405 between I-5 in Tukwila and SR 169 in Renton and SR 167 southbound from I-405 to SW 41st Street. The No Build Alternative has been evaluated in this discipline report to establish a baseline for comparing the effects associated with the Build Alternative. What is the Build Alternative? The new lanes that will be built under this project are: An I-405 northbound general-purpose (GP) lane from I-5 to the SR 167 off-ramp. An I-405 northbound auxiliary lane from the SR 167 to I-405 on-ramp to the SR 169 off-ramp. An I-405 southbound auxiliary lane from the SR 169 to I-405 on-ramp to the SR 167 off-ramp. An I-405 southbound GP lane from the SR 167 to I-405 on-ramp to the I-5 off-ramp. A SR 167 southbound auxiliary lane from I-405 to the SW 41st Street off-ramp. Also, the existing inside HOV lane will be extended north to I-405 from its present starting point in the vicinity of SW 21st Street. See Exhibits 2 through 9 show the project features. In addition to adding lanes to I-405 and SR 167, this project will provide the following improvements. Improve Interchanges Minor modifications will be made to the ramps at the SR 167 interchange: The one-lane ramp from northbound I-405 to SR 167 will be widened to a 2-lane off connection, which provides a dedicated lane to southbound SR 167 and a dedicated lane to northbound Rainer Avenue. See Exhibit 5. Traffic from two consecutive single-lane on- ramps from southbound I-405 to SR 167 will be separated by a concrete barrier. This will provide a smoother transition to the mainline and reduce congestion on the on-ramps. What is an auxiliary lane? An auxiliary lane is a lane added between interchanges—from one on-ramp to the next off-ramp. It is dedicated to traffic entering and leaving the freeway and provides motorists with more time and extra room to accelerate or decelerate and merge when getting on and off the freeway. 89:P 89:T Existing On-ramp On-ramp with proposed auxiliary lane INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 3 T u k w i l a P a r k w a y I-405 Southern Project Limit at I-5 Gilliam Creek Cottage Creek Westfield Shoppingtown MallSouthcenter ParkwaySouthcenter Blvd 65th Ave STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northboundbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. I-405 Southbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. M0250500 Feet I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel Ecology EmbankmentÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW Areas of Construction New ROW Exhibit 2. Project Overview Section 1 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 4 Environmental Justice Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃInterurban TrailFort Dent Park W Valley HwyInterurban Ave S RENT ONT UKWI L AG r e en RiverSouthcenter B lv d65th Ave SAí %&e( %&e(UP RRBNSF RRBridge Restripe Only Bridge Rail Replacement Bridge Rail Replacement M o n s t e r R d S WTUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. I-405 Southbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. M0250500 Feet I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed %&e( Retaining Wall Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 3. Project Overview Section 2 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 5 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ SW 16th St S W G r a d y W a y SW G ra d y W a y Oakesdale Ave SWSW 16th St %&e( Potential Staging Area Bridge Replacement S prin g br o o k Cr eekBridge Replacement TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. The existing Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue bridges will be replaced and the existing culvert will be removed. I-405 Southbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 70 feet to the outside at some locations. The existing Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue bridges will be replaced and the existing culvert will be removed.M0250500 Feet I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 4. Project Overview Section 3 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 6 Environmental Justice Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ SW 19th StLind Ave SWS G r a d y W a y Aæ %&e( Potential Staging Area Noise Wall Renton CinemaRolling Hills Creek Panther Creek Wetlands SW 16th St Lake AveSouthRainier Ave STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northbound Improvements: A general-purpose lane will be added up to the SR 167 interchange and an auxiliary lane will be added from the SR 167 to I-405 on-ramp north. These lanes will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. I-405 Southbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added up to the I-405 to SR 167 on-ramp and a general-purpose lane will be added south of the interchange. These lanes will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. SR 167 Southbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping existing pavement and adding up to 19 feet of pavement at the outside at some locations. The existing HOV lane will be extended north from SW 21st Street to the interchange with I-405.M0250500 Feet I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed SR 167 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel Proposed Noise Wall ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 5. Project Overview Section 4 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 7 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃPanther Creek Wetlands S W 2 7 t h S t Talbot Rd SEast Valley RdTalbot Rd SPotential Staging Area SW 23rd St TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí SR 167 Improvements: In addition to extending the HOV lane north from SW 21st Street, an auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 19 feet to the outside at some locations. M0250500 Feet SR 167 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton RentonÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 6. Project Overview Section 5 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 8 Environmental Justice Discipline Report ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃSW 41st St S W 3 3 r d S t Panther CreekEast Valley RdTalbot Rd SLind Ave SWAæ SR 167 Southern Project Limit at SW 41st St TUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí SR 167 Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 19 feet to the outside at some locations. The new lane will tie into the existing ramp connection to SW 41st Street. M0250500 Feet SR 167 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 7. Project Overview Section 6 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 9 ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃS G rady W ayB e a c o n S 7 t h S tWilliams %&e( Potential Staging Area Replace Bridge Bridge Widening Existing Bridge to be Demolished Thunder Hills Creek Rolling Hills Creek Noise Wall Benson Rd STalbot Rd STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec, 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. I-405 Southbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 24 feet to the outside at some locations. Benson Rd S Improvements: The Benson Rd S overpass will be replaced and realigned to the west of its current location. The new overpass will have 2 lanes with 5-foot bike lanes on both sides and a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side.M0250500 Feet I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton Parcel Acquisition New ROW Existing ROW Easement Acquisition Areas of Construction New Pavement Stormwater Flow Control Facility Retaining Wall ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Proposed Noise Wall Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel Exhibit 8. Project Overview Section 7 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 10 Environmental Justice Discipline Report C edar River Cedar River Interpretive Trail Cedar River Park Liberty Park Ma p l e V a ll e y H w y H o u s e r W a y S N 3 r d S t Bronson Wa y N%&e( I-405 Northern Project Limit at SR 169 Aç Restripe Only Main AvenueCedar Ave SRenton Ave STUKWILA RENTON!"`$ %&e( Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec. 3 Sec. 4 Sec. 5 Sec. 6 Sec. 7 Aæ Aç Sec. 8 Aí I-405 Northbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. I-405 Southbound Improvements: An auxiliary lane will be added by restriping the existing pavement and adding pavement up to 15 feet to the outside at some locations. M0250500 Feet I-405 NORTHBOUND Existing Proposed I-405 SOUTHBOUND Existing Proposed Renton Renton Piped River/Creek Channel Open River/Creek Channel ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃ Ecology Embankment Retaining Wall Stormwater Flow Control Facility New Pavement Areas of Construction Easement Acquisition Parcel Acquisition Existing ROW New ROW Exhibit 9. Project Overview Section 8 INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 11 Improve Benson Road The Benson Road overpass will be replaced and realigned to accommodate the southbound auxiliary lane on I-405 as well as future improvements to I-405 as shown on Exhibit 8. Improvements on Benson Road include a 6-foot sidewalk on the west side and 5-foot bike lanes on both sides. Widen and replace bridges Several bridges within the study area will be widened or replaced based on present location, cost, and existing soil conditions. To construct the new lanes, the project will: Widen Talbot Road Bridge on both the northbound and the southbound sides. See Exhibit 8. Replace Springbrook Creek Side Channel Bridge and Oakesdale Avenue Bridge with new southbound and northbound structures and remove the Springbrook Creek box culvert. See Exhibit 4. Replace the rail on the I-405 bridges over SR 181 and the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads. The project will not affect the I-405 bridges over the Green River, Lind Avenue, or the Cedar River. The project will also not affect the Cedar Avenue or Renton Avenue overpasses. The roadway will be restriped in these areas to accommodate the new lanes. Use retaining walls Widening I-405 and SR 167 will require retaining walls to minimize the construction footprint and right-of-way acquisition. Retaining walls will also help avoid and minimize effects to wetlands and other sensitive areas. Improve culverts WSDOT anticipates that construction will affect some existing stormwater cross culverts and one stream culvert. Associated culvert improvements include extending the existing structures due to widening the roadway and stabilizing culvert ends with rock or retaining walls. The I-405 Team will conduct a hydraulic analysis of the culverts to ensure that the modifications will have no effect on the base flood elevations. See the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Discipline Report for detailed discussion on fish passage. Why rebuild Benson Road on a new alignment over I-405? By building the new overpass to the west on a new alignment, the new structure can be constructed while the existing structure remains open to traffic. Traffic can then be shifted onto the new structure, while the old overpass is demolished. What does a “rail” replacement involve? Typically, a bridge rail replacement project consists of making minor adjustments to the width of the bridge deck and replacing the guard rail or barrier. This type of project does not include adding new bridge columns or footings. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 12 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Build a noise wall One noise wall will be built on the northbound side of the freeway as shown on Exhibits 5 and 8. The wall will begin at the intersection of South 14th Street and South 15th Street and follow South 14th Street east to Talbot Road. This wall will be approximately 2,150 feet long and 18 feet tall. How will stormwater from the project be managed? Stormwater from the project will be managed for both quality and peak flows using currently accepted best management practices (BMPs). The I-405 Team has designed the stormwater management facilities to comply with the following guidelines and procedures: WSDOT Highway Runoff Manual M 31-16 WSDOT Hydraulics Manual M 23-03 Stormwater treatment facilities The project will add new impervious surface within the study area, most of which will be within the Springbrook Creek basin. This project will treat runoff for an area equal to 100 percent of these new surfaces. The project will use BMPs that the HRM lists as enhanced treatment facilities. The I-405 Team has proposed that stormwater be treated using a combination of these facilities. In most of the study area, ecology embankments will be used to capture runoff from the edge of the pavement and provide water quality treatment. Ecology embankments also serve to convey treated runoff to receiving waters or to flow control facilities as required. The project also includes a combined stormwater quality wetland and detention facility that addresses water quality and flow control in one facility. Exhibits 2 through 9 show the location of stormwater facilities that will be built for this project. Ecology Embankment Cross-Section What are the guidelines for stormwater management facilities? Water quality treatment will be provided for an area equal to the new impervious surfaces created on the project. Impervious surfaces, such as pavement, are those that do not allow water to penetrate into the ground. Stormwater from new impervious surfaces or an equal area will be controlled in detention facilities. This process allows water to be held (detained) and thus released at rates that are equal to existing conditions. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 13 Drainage Collection and Conveyance Some changes to existing drainage will be necessary to provide flow control and water quality treatment to address the new impervious area added by the project. However, existing storm drainage systems will be kept to the greatest extent possible and existing flow patterns will be maintained. Where roadway widening affects drainage ditches that convey water from adjacent private properties, the project design will assure that existing conveyance capacities are maintained. What environmental and utilities issues influenced the project design and what was done to avoid and minimize project effects? Throughout the development of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project design, environmental elements were reviewed and design features were modified to avoid or minimize negative effects to the environment. Influence on the project design came from: Soil Conditions: the soils in the project area are highly prone to accentuate earthquake shaking, which influences how bridges can be widened or replaced. Noise: highway noise in the project area already exceeds acceptable levels, which means that including noise walls as part of the project had to be considered. Wetland Locations: many wetlands are located along the edges of the highway, which influence whether the widened sections will use retaining walls or fill slopes. Historical Sites: some historic sites exist within the study area, so the project design was coordinated to avoid these properties. Because the I-405 Team planned for these environmental considerations, several design features have the benefit of avoiding or minimizing potential effects due to the project. These design features are described from south to north below. I-405, I-5 to SR 167 WSDOT will construct a retaining wall from west of the 68th Avenue structure over I-405 at Tukwila Parkway What are detention facilities? These facilities control stormwater runoff so that it can be released at a controlled rate. Two types are commonly used: Ponds. Vaults. Similar to a pond, but with a hard-sided construction. These concrete structures function like a pond but also provide detention storage. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 14 Environmental Justice Discipline Report The proposed design modifications allow the additional lanes to be added over the Green River by restriping instead of bridge widening. This avoids effects on the river, stream habitat, floodplain, and Interurban Trail. to the Green River. This wall avoids the need to construct a fill slope that would extend into Gilliam Creek. See Exhibit 2. WSDOT will provide a narrower outside shoulder on northbound I-405 at the Green River Bridge. The shoulder will vary from 10 to just over 3 feet at the west abutment of the existing bridge. Narrowing the shoulder avoids modifications to the existing bridge. As a result, the design also avoids effects to the river, the 100-year floodplain, the ordinary high water level, and adjacent riparian zones. At the SR 181 interchange, the bridge and ramp will be restriped to provide the new general-purpose lane and ramp improvements. This approach minimizes the need to widen the existing SR 181 Bridge, reconstruct the SR 181 interchange, or modify the Southcenter Boulevard crossing of the Green River. This in turn avoids relocating or diverting the Interurban Trail, which goes under the bridge. See Exhibit 3. Near the Westfield Shoppingtown Mall, a large Seattle Public Utilities water transmission line parallels I-405. WSDOT will line this pipe so that is can support the loads from the new roadway embankment. This approach allows the line to stay in its present location. WSDOT will remove the existing I-405 bridges over the Springbrook Creek side channel and Oakesdale Avenue and replace them with a single northbound and a single southbound bridge. This approach will allow for the removal of the Springbrook Creek box culvert. Construction of the new bridges will be phased with the southbound bridge built slightly to the north of the existing roadway. This phasing minimizes the need to construct temporary roadway to maintain traffic operations. WSDOT also evaluated the location of the new bridge piers and selected locations that will minimize the effect on the existing stream, stream buffer, and trail that crosses under the bridge. WSDOT will construct a narrower exit gore from I-405 to the northbound ramp at the SR 167 interchange as shown in Exhibit 5. By building a narrower exit gore, the project can be constructed within the existing right- of-way. This has the benefit of avoiding right-of-way acquisition, avoiding effects to the wetland outside the right-of-way, and avoiding effects to the existing Lind Avenue Bridge. What is an exit gore? An exit gore is a roadway feature that separates an exiting lane from the main lanes. An exit gore can be defined either by paint stripes, raised buttons, physical barriers, or a combination of these. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 15 Retaining walls will help to avoid and minimize effects on the Panther Creek wetlands along SR 167 SR 167, southbound from I-405 to SW 41st Street WSDOT will build a retaining wall along a large portion of the west edge of SR 167 southbound instead of an earth fill slope. See Exhibits 6 and 7. The retaining wall minimizes effects on three wetlands. The retaining wall has the added benefit of minimizing right-of-way needs and reduces the effect on existing utility crossings, in particular, the City of Seattle’s 60- inch water line and Olympic Petroleum’s two high pressure pipelines, which all cross under SR 167. I-405, SR 167 to SR 169 WSDOT will add a lane by restriping I-405 northbound next to the Talbot Hill retaining wall immediately east of the SR 167 interchange. Restriping instead of widening avoids the need to reconstruct the existing Talbot Hill retaining wall and avoids effects on properties south of I-405 in this area. Between Talbot Road and the “S-Curves”, northbound I-405 will be widened to achieve standard lane and shoulder widths. Most of this length will be supported by retaining walls to minimize effects to Thunder Hills Creek, adjacent properties, and the existing cut slope south of I-405. To support the fill required to widen the roadway on the north side of I-405 next to the outfall for the original Rolling Hills Creek culvert, the design uses a retaining wall. By using the retaining wall, the project improvements at this location can be constructed without affecting the existing culvert. WSDOT will use a non-standard design for the I-405 to SR 167 exit ramp. The changes from the design standards include not providing a recovery lane, narrowing the distance between the through lane and ramp, and providing narrower shoulders. While these changes deviate from WSDOT design standards they are an improvement over existing conditions. These features will avoid effects to the existing Rolling Hills Creek/Thunder Hills Creek channel located between I-405 and the Renton Cinema complex as shown in Exhibit 5. Using retaining walls along the west side of Benson Road avoids effects to Rolling Hills Creek and the wetlands east of Talbot Road. WSDOT will use retaining walls to support widening southbound I-405 south of the Cedar Avenue overpass. Using retaining walls versus a fill slope, avoids encroaching on Cedar Avenue and Main Avenue in Renton. What is a recovery lane? A recovery lane is a paved area adjacent to an off-ramp. This area gives drivers, who find themselves exiting the freeway unintentionally, room to maneuver back onto the freeway. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 16 Environmental Justice Discipline Report WSDOT also plans to replace the existing Benson Road overpass on a new alignment. The new bridge will be located slightly to the west of the existing bridge. This will allow traffic to continue to use the existing overpass until the new one is completed. This will minimize disruption for local traffic and to emergency response vehicles. Where northbound and southbound I-405 passes under the Renton Avenue and Cedar Avenue overpasses, WSDOT will add lanes by restriping. This design avoids replacing the two overpasses; however, the available area does not allow the standard shoulder and lane widths. WSDOT shifted a proposed stormwater facility to avoid effects to the existing Renton Coal Mine Hoist Foundation site south of Benson Road. This site is on the Washington Historic Register. What is planned for wetland and stream mitigation? WSDOT will compensate for unavoidable effects to wetlands with credits from the Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank. Mitigation is needed for 1.66 acres of wetlands. The Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank is being developed as a joint effort between WSDOT and the City of Renton. This ‘bank’ will construct a new high quality wetland complex that will serve to replace other wetlands that are filled in by projects such as the Renton Nickel Improvement Project. The location of the bank is shown to the left. In addition to wetland mitigation, the site will also provide flood storage mitigation. The Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank will be one of the first urban mitigation banks to be certified in Washington. To mitigate project effects on streams, WSDOT will remove the existing Springbrook Creek box culvert. With the new I-405 southbound and northbound bridges that will span both Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue, the box culvert is no longer needed. After the new bridges are in place, the box culvert will be removed and the streambed in that area will be restored. This will improve fish habitat within Springbrook Creek. Any additional stream mitigation required to offset project effects will be accommodated within the project vicinity. Renton Coal Mine Hoist Foundation site looking west r Interurban TrailPanther Creek Wetlands Green River TrailFort Dent Park SW 41st St S W 3 4 t h S t S W 2 7 t h S t SW 16th St W Valley HwyS W 7 t h S t S W G r a d y W a y Lind Ave SWS pri n g br ook CreekSW 23rd St Aæ Aí M 0 0.25 0.5 Miles 100 Year Floodplain 500 Year Floodplain Park Renton Tukwila Springbrook Creek Wetland & Habitat Mitigation Bank Wetlands Local Road Legend Trail Arterial Road Freeway River/Creek Channel Study Area Limits Springbrook Creek Wetland and Habitat Mitigation Bank INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 17 What benefits will the project provide? The Build Alternative will benefit the area by reducing congestion at chokepoints, reducing the duration of congestion during peak commuter travel hours, and improving freight movement. This section of I-405, from the I-5 interchange to SR 169, is congested due to large traffic volumes and merging and diverging traffic. The new lanes will help relieve congestion by adding roadway capacity. This in turn will improve safety by providing drivers with more time and extra room to accelerate or decelerate and move into and out of the stream of traffic when getting on and off the freeway. This provides a smoother transition for motorists as they get on and off I-405 in Tukwila and Renton and helps decrease rear-end and sideswipe collisions. The project reduces congestion approaching the SR 167 interchange, and it complements the completed southbound I-405 to southbound SR 167 flyover ramp. This project will construct one noise wall along northbound I-405 from the intersection of South 14th Street and South 15th Street east to Talbot Road. This wall will benefit residents in that area by lowering the overall noise levels. Another benefit of this project is that it continues the application of the Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) design choices made by the communities within the I-405 corridor. The Benson Road realignment will reflect the most comprehensive application of these design choices as explained further in the next section. How will the project incorporate community design preferences? The Renton Nickel Improvement Project is being planned, developed, and designed according to CSS guidelines. These guidelines establish the community design preferences used to design the project features. Working within the framework for the overall I-405 corridor, the Urban Design Guidelines will be adapted to incorporate the communities’ design preferences. These preferences will be included in the contract documents prepared for the Renton Nickel Improvement Project. The selected I-405 theme of “Culture, Nature, and Progress,” with nature being the dominant theme, will be carried into corridor-wide and local I-405 designs. The new Benson Road overpass is the main project feature that will receive CSS treatment. The new southbound and northbound bridges over Springbrook This rendering shows the new Benson Road overpass with the CSS Guidelines applied INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 18 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Creek and Oakesdale Avenue will also receive CSS treatments. The rest of the project elements will be designed to match in color and vegetation type only, as many of these elements will be affected by construction of future Master Plan projects. During future Master Plan phases for the overall I-405 corridor, the approved CSS guidelines will be applied throughout. How will the project be constructed? Construction of the entire Renton Nickel Improvement Project is expected to take two years, beginning in early 2008 and being completed in late 2010. However, construction activity will not be constant for the entire study area throughout this time, and in some locations, the work will take substantially less time than two years. Construction will pose some minor inconveniences because of localized travel delays due to temporary lane closures and narrowed lanes and shoulders. At-grade construction At-grade construction, which occurs on the same elevation as the existing lanes, will be staged to minimize traffic delays and detours. Typically, lanes are shifted toward the median. WSDOT then places a concrete barrier to close off the shoulder. Staging allows construction to occur safely without closing lanes for the duration of construction. Access to construction areas will occur from the roadway side to minimize property effects. Bridge construction Construction of the I-405 bridges will occur in multiple stages to minimize traffic delays and detours. The following describes typical staging for bridge construction. As the first stage, traffic is shifted toward the I-405 median and the existing lanes and shoulders are narrowed slightly to allow widening of the existing structure or construction of the new bridge depending on the design. In the next stage, traffic is shifted onto the new bridge area. If the bridge is being replaced rather than simply widened, the old structure is demolished after traffic is shifted to the new bridge. The new Benson Road overpass will also be staged. The new structure will be built to the west, while the existing overpass remains in service. After traffic has been shifted onto the new overpass, the existing structure will be demolished. At-grade construction for this project will likely be staged similar what is shown above. Here, the southbound lanes of I-5 were shifted toward the median and a concrete barrier closed off the shoulder to provide crews a safe work area. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 19 Staging areas Construction staging areas along I-405 and SR 167 will be within the WSDOT right-of-way. Potential staging areas have been identified as shown on Exhibits 2 through 9. Traffic control Detour agreements with the local agencies will be obtained after WSDOT awards the contract. A traffic control plan will be approved by WSDOT prior to starting construction. The plan’s primary objectives will be to provide a safe facility, to streamline the construction schedule, and to minimize reductions to existing traffic capacity. To lessen effects on traffic, the duration of activities will be minimized and reductions in capacity will be limited and will be targeted to a period when they will have the least effect. Why do we consider environmental justice as we plan this project? President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898 requiring federal agencies to identify and avoid “disproportionately high and adverse” effects on minority and/or low-income populations for federal programs that affect human health or the environment. Incorporating environmental justice principles throughout the transportation planning and decision-making processes supports the principles of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Environmental Justice principals support Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, TEA-21, and other DOT statutes, relocation regulations, and guidance that affect social, economic, environmental, public health, and public involvement. How can transportation projects affect populations protected under environmental justice? Transportation projects can improve mobility, enhancing access to jobs, services, schools, social opportunities, and recreational facilities. Improvements to transit are especially beneficial to What does environmental justice mean? Executive Order 12898 provides that each federal agency shall make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. How do we determine disproportionately high and adverse effects? An adverse effect that: (a) is predominately borne by a minority population and/or a low-income population, or (b) will be suffered by the minority population and/or low-income population and is appreciably more severe or greater in magnitude than the adverse effect that will be suffered by the non-minority population and/or non-low-income populations. INTRODUCTION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 20 Environmental Justice Discipline Report minority and low-income populations, because they are more likely to use transit than other groups. Analysts of the National Household Travel Survey found that minority and low-income households account for 63 percent of the nation’s transit riders.1 On the other hand, if we do not avoid and/or minimize adverse effects, transportation projects can negatively impact neighborhood cohesion, degrade air quality, increase noise, and reduce the overall quality of life. Transportation projects can also disrupt transit service on which many minority and low-income populations depend daily. What are the key points of this report? Minority and low-income populations are located throughout the Renton Nickel Improvement Project study area. Within the study area, minority populations are in the 14 to 46 percent range and low-income populations are in the 0 to 18 percent range. African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations are represented in substantial numbers throughout the study area. WSDOT has involved minority and low-income populations in the project decision-making process in several ways. For example, we have translated project information into several languages and interviewed organizations that provide services to minority and low-income populations. Based on the benefits and effects discussed in this report, we have determined that the project will not have disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and/or low-income populations. Minority and low-income populations will experience some benefits from the project, primarily due to improvements to HOV lanes. 1 Pucher, John and Renne, John. 2003. Transportation Quarterly. Summer 2003. Available at: http://policy.rutgers.edu/papers/14.pdf. How are adverse effects identified? The totality of significant individual or cumulative human health or environmental effects, including interrelated social and economic effects, which may include, but are not limited to: bodily impairment, infirmity, illness or death air, noise, and water pollution and soil contamination destruction or disruption of man-made natural resources destruction or diminution of aesthetic values destruction or disruption of community cohesion or a community’s economic vitality destruction or disruption of the availability of public and private facilities and services vibration adverse employment effects displacement of persons, businesses, farms, or nonprofit organizations increased traffic congestion, isolation, exclusion or separation of minority or low-income individuals within a given community or from the broader community denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits of DOT programs, policies, or activities Renton Transit Center Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 21 EXISTING CONDITIONS How did we collect information on environmental justice for this report? We collected information from a variety of sources. The U.S. Census Bureau website provided 2000 Census statistics on race, ethnicity, and poverty status. The National Center for Education Statistics website provided demographic information on schools in the study area for the 2002/2003 school year. The I-405 Team developed the public involvement plan to ensure inclusiveness of minority and low- income populations, including populations with limited ability to understand English. Consistent with the public involvement plan, we met with organizations that provide services to minority and low-income populations (service providers). In these meetings, we shared information about the project, learned about the organization’s clients, and discussed the organization’s view of the project’s potential effects. Exhibit 12 and Appendix A contain more information on the service provider interviews. The Social Discipline Report, Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report, and Cultural Resources Discipline Report prepared for this project provided information on social conditions, tribes in the area, and schools in the area. What is the study area for this analysis and how was it determined? We set the study area limits to include the area where the project could affect community/neighborhood resources. We anticipate that most project effects will not extend farther than about one half (0.5) mile from project activities along I-405 and SR 167. Because the neighborhoods and census block groups used to characterize the community/neighborhood resources near the project tend to extend beyond one half (0.5) mile, the study area boundary varies depending on the boundaries of the neighborhoods and census areas. The study area consists of the following block groups: Census Tract 253 Block Group 3 Census Tract 253 Block Group 4 What is a census tract? Census tracts are small, fairly permanent subdivisions of a county. Their delineations are determined by a local committee of users of census data in order to present such data. They are designed to contain somewhat homogeneous population and economic characteristics as well as living conditions. Census tracts average 4,000 inhabitants. What is a block group? A block group is a subdivision of a census tract. It is the smallest geographic unit for which the Census Bureau provides sample data. EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 22 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Census Tract 256 Block Group 2 Census Tract 257.01 Block Group 1 Census Tract 257.01 Block Group 2 Census Tract 257.01 Block Group 6 Census Tract 258.01 Block Group 2 Census Tract 258.01 Block Group 3 Census Tract 262 Block Group 1 Census Tract 262 Block Group 3 Census Tract 262 Block Group 4 Exhibits 10 and 11 show the study area limits used for the Environmental Justice Discipline Report. We analyzed information about the highlighted census block groups shown in Exhibits 10 and 11. Does the study area have populations that are protected under environmental justice? We identified low-income and minority populations in the study area using 2000 Census data on race/ethnicity (including Hispanic/Latino) and poverty status (populations living at and below the poverty level). Individuals who have limited ability to understand English were also identified using Census data. Race and ethnicity information is depicted in Exhibits 10 and 11. African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations are represented in substantial numbers throughout the study area. Most block groups exceed the King County percentage of African Americans (5 percent) and Hispanics (5 percent), and many exceed the King County percentage for Asians (11 percent) (U.S. Census Bureau 2000). Census tract 262 block group 3 and census tract 258.01 block group 3 have the highest overall percentages of non-white populations, with over 40 percent non-white populations each. How do we define minority? Individuals listed in the 2000 Census as Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa); Hispanic (a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race); Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); American Indian/Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original people of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition); or some other race. How do we define low-income? Individuals listed in the 2000 Census as living at or below the federally designated poverty level. How do we define poverty? An income that falls below a threshold which varies by family size and composition. EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 23 Exhibit 10. Demographic Information for the Study Area Part 1 EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 24 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Exhibit 11. Demographic Information for the Study Area Part 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 25 Information on race/ethnicity is useful in identifying populations with limited ability to understand English and the need for translation services to communicate project information. The U.S. Department of Justice recommends that agencies consider providing language translation services if an ethnic group with a primary language other than English composes 5 percent or more of an area. For example, if 5 percent or more of an area’s population is Hispanic, there is a strong possibility that individuals may be limited in their ability to understand English, thereby limiting their ability to participate in the project decision- making process. In this case, we should consider translation and interpreter services. We will provide translation and interpreter services in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian to help persons with limited understanding of English to use project materials and participate in the decision- making process. The decision to provide these services was based on census data and information learned from service provider interviews. Exhibits 10 and 11 indicate that block groups in the study area have Hispanic and Asian populations that constitute 5 percent or more of the population. Service provider interviews indicated the need for materials to be translated into Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Russian. We further confirmed the presence of minority and low-income populations in the study area by obtaining school data from the 2002/2003 school year. School data for the four public schools in the study area are depicted in Exhibit B-1 in Appendix B. The school data reflect higher levels of low-income populations (represented by students eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program) and minority populations as compared to the Census data. Why is it important to involve tribal governments in the project? WSDOT consults with Indian tribes that could be affected by the project. WSDOT sent letters providing information on the project to the Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie, Tulalip, Yakama, and Duwamish (not federally recognized) Tribes and will continue to coordinate with the tribes. These tribes have crucial information on natural, cultural, and archaeological resources in the study area which WSDOT can EXISTING CONDITIONS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 26 Environmental Justice Discipline Report incorporate into the environmental and design processes. Tribal coordination efforts are further enforced by a WSDOT Executive Order signed in 2003 that directs WSDOT employees to enter consultation with tribes who have ancestral homelands in affected areas. Are there gathering places, businesses, or services that are important to environmental justice populations? Knowledge of gathering places for minority and low- income populations in the study area can help identify places where the project should avoid or minimize effects and identify avenues for reaching out to minority and low-income populations. A windshield survey and service provider interviews helped identify some of these gathering places for minority and low- income populations that are in or near the study area. We list examples of such gathering places below. Service providers such as ARISE, Renton Youth and Family Services, Renton Technical College, Renton Schools, Catholic Community Services (men’s shelter, counseling and emergency services), Salvation Army Food Bank, YWCA, Chinese Information and Service Center, King County Community Health Centers, Eastgate Public Health Center, Family Services (United Way), Hopelink Emergency Shelters and Food Banks, Jewish Family Services Multi-Ethnic Centers, and Ukrainian Community Center are important places for minority and low-income populations. Most of these services are not in the study area, but low-income and minority residents who live in the study area travel to these services. Parks often provide gathering places for environmental justice populations. Some of the parks in the study area include Tukwila Park, Ikawa Park, Duwamish/Green River Trail, Interurban Trail, Springbrook Trail, Freeway Park, Cedar River Trail, Cedar River Park, and Liberty Park (see the photo to the left). Churches are important gathering places for some cultures. A Hispanic Church (see the photo to the left) is in the North Renton neighborhood. Hispanic Church in Renton Liberty Park What is a gathering place? Locations where people spend time together, such as parks, community centers, churches, pubs, and stores. What is a windshield survey? Observing a study area by touring the area in a car. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 27 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Why is public involvement important? FHWA and WSDOT have identified public involvement as a key to involving all people in the decision making process as well as identifying adverse effects on a community. Public involvement includes providing meaningful access to public information concerning the human health, social, or environmental effects of a project and soliciting input from affected minority and low-income populations. These efforts are reflected in our Public Involvement Plan. The goals of the plan are to support the successful delivery of the project; educate the public about the mobility, economic, and environmental benefits of the project; identify and address through mitigation any disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and/or low-income populations; provide information on construction; reinforce positive relationships with other agencies, individuals, and groups; and educate the public about the need, vision, and context for the project. Key stakeholders for the project include area residents, businesses, schools, agencies, elected officials, tribes, organizations, and special populations such as elderly, disabled, minority, and low-income populations. We summarize past and ongoing public outreach efforts below. What public involvement activities have occurred since the I-405 Corridor EIS? Public involvement related to the Renton Nickel Improvement Project has been ongoing since 1999, when we conducted scoping for the I-405 Corridor Program EIS. Public involvement has been an essential element of the environmental analysis, documentation, and review process. The I-405 Corridor EIS study area was the entire 30- mile I-405 corridor and included over 500,000 people. To reach minority and low-income populations, we developed a unique special populations outreach approach that focused on service providers in the corridor that offer minorities, refugees, immigrants, and economically disadvantaged persons services PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project 28 Environmental Justice Discipline Report such as English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, citizenship classes, counseling, food, and housing assistance. We contacted a wide range of service providers (approximately 20) to identify interests and preferences for presentations and distributing information to their clients. Most service providers preferred written materials and offered to display or distribute information to their clients. The focus for the written outreach materials was the issuance of the I-405 Corridor Program Draft EIS and opportunities to participate in the public hearings, interact through the web site, send in comments, or attend committee meetings and offer comments. A special project fact sheet was developed and translated into Chinese, Russian, and Spanish for distribution through the service providers. The fact sheet highlighted opportunities to participate and where to obtain project information, including copies of the EIS. Service organizations, local libraries, and city halls distributed these translated fact sheets. The I-405 Corridor Program’s public involvement process has been inclusive of all members of the public. All meetings for the project conformed to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and we provided materials in formats accessible by everyone. All public meetings and hearings were accessible by public transit and clear directions for how to access the appropriate bus lines were made available. The DEIS and FEIS were distributed to all public libraries in the corridor. In 2003, the Nickel Gas Tax funded three Nickel Improvement Projects in Kirkland, Bellevue, and Renton. At this time, a Public Involvement Plan specifically addressed goals and outreach plans for the Renton Nickel Improvement Project. The plan is described in the Renton Nickel Improvement Project EA. We held an agency and public scoping meeting for the Renton Nickel Improvement Project in January 2005. Approximately 65 people attended the public scoping meeting. To inform the public of the scoping meeting, we sent a flyer to over 4,500 recipients, including: Property owners and residents within approximately 500 feet of the alignment Section 8 housing assistance recipients (over 900 units) living along the I-405 corridor All interested residents as included on the corridor-wide mailing list What is Section 8 housing assistance? Section 8, or the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a Federal housing program. It provides housing assistance to low- income renters and homeowners. This assistance comes in the form of rental subsidies, limiting the monthly rent payment of the assistance recipient. Section 8 is a Federal program administered nationally by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program is administered locally by public housing authorities or other designated agencies and organizations. Public Meeting PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 29 In addition, we sent an email alert to the project email lists, major employers, and advocacy groups, and we placed ads in the following publications: El Mundo Issaquah Press King County Journal Mercer Island Reporter Newcastle News Northwest Asian Weekly Renton Reporter Russian World Sammamish Review Seattle Medium Seattle Times Seattle Post-Intelligencer We determined where to focus environmental justice outreach by starting with demographic data (based on the 2000 U.S. Census) as a base. We verified the Census information by cross-referencing it with City of Renton demographic information. The information helped us identify block groups having low income levels and/or high levels of minority populations. This provided the basis for focused outreach to specific low-income housing facilities, and to areas where large numbers of residents with limited ability to understand English live. We posted flyers at ethnic grocery stores, libraries, and community centers. Posters were placed at shared community living areas at Section 8 and other low-income housing complexes. Invitations to the public scoping meetings were sent through the mail to the entire I-405 Project contact list, including Section 8 housing addresses in the area. We translated project fact sheets into Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and Vietnamese for the scoping meeting and other outreach efforts. Multilingual I-405 team members were identified so that if interpreters were needed, they would be present. The scoping meeting was accessible by public transit and clear directions for how to access the appropriate bus lines were made available. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project 30 Environmental Justice Discipline Report We learned more about minority and low-income populations and their transportation needs through the service provider meetings. During these interviews, we explained the project to the service providers and received feedback on how the project and proposed alternative could benefit or adversely affect their clients, staff, and volunteers. We provide below a list of service providers interviewed for the project, their concerns about the project, and potential measures to address their concerns. Although not all of the service providers interviewed are located in the study area, they do provide services to people living in the study area. Most service providers were concerned about construction delays and would like information on construction activities in order to plan for delays or alternate routes. Most service providers wanted to be included on the project’s email list and offered to post or distribute information to their clients. What public involvement activities are ongoing? In addition to the activities described above, we are conducting the following outreach throughout the duration of the project: We distribute a corridor-wide monthly newsletter via email. A project brochure (or “folio”) tells the I-405 story, while fact sheets on frequently asked questions target specific areas of interest. We are briefing affected property owners throughout the project through one-on-one meetings, citizen group meetings, or neighborhood coffee hours. We offered to provide interpreters at these meetings. We are keeping the media informed through press releases, media releases, press kits, meetings with reporters, and editorial board briefings. Salvation Army Office in Renton PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 31 A website on the Renton Nickel Improvement Project provides information on project public involvement opportunities, finances, benefits, timeline, etc. We periodically brief City of Renton staff on the project. We discuss any communication issues and recommendations, including environmental justice outreach. A Speakers Bureau made up of I-405 project team staff meets with civic organizations in the area to brief their members on project progress and to answer questions. WSDOT will continue to meet with neighborhood associations in Renton to update residents on the EA, project vision, planned improvements, and potential effects. These neighborhood briefings are as inclusive as possible and include minority and low-income populations. We have met with the following neighborhoods: o Renton Hill o Talbot Hill o Highlands These neighborhood meetings were held in English. Before each meeting, I-405 staff ask if there is need for an interpreter. To date, there has not been need for one. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project 32 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Exhibit 12. Service Provider Interview Findings Name Concerns Mitigation Suggested by Organization ARISE ARISE said that most men staying in their shelter are reliant on public transportation, so it is important to maintain bus service. The organization requested regular information. Catholic Community Services The organization is concerned about additional traffic congestion during construction, especially its effect on buses and emergency services. The organization would like to be kept informed and offered to leave translated materials in their lobby. Chinese Information and Service Center The Center is concerned about people having a harder time getting to their services during construction. Changes in bus service are especially difficult for people who can’t speak English. Good communication about construction activities can help. The Center would like us to give them flyers in Chinese and provided suggestions on effective translations. City of Kent Housing and Human Services. The agency is concerned about increased traffic delays during construction. Letting the organization’s clients know of construction activities in advance will allow them to make plans. Translations into Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Spanish and Arabic will be helpful. City of Seattle Human Services Department, Aging and Disabilities The Department is concerned about the effect of construction traffic delays on staff commuting to work and making field visits to homebound clients. Keeping construction delays to nighttime hours would avoid effects to their services. The Department would like to be kept informed of the project. Community Health Centers of King County The organization is concerned about clients missing appointments due to construction delays. The organization felt we could minimize this outcome by making information available in multiple languages such as Russian, Korean, Spanish, and Somali. We could make posters or flyers available to clients in the clinic waiting rooms. Eastgate Public Health Center The Health Center is concerned about clients and staff arriving late due to project construction. The organization said that we can minimize this outcome by sending information (construction activity locations and alternate routes) to the Health Center on a timely basis. We can make Spanish and Russian translations of this information available in the waiting rooms. East King County Catholic Community Services The staff is concerned about increased taxes and construction delays, especially changes in bus service. Access to Transportation Demand Management (carpools, vanpools, and public transit programs) efforts by those with lower incomes was also a concern. The organization suggested coordinating with transit service providers and informing the organization of construction activities. We will send information about King County’s Jobs Access Transportation Program to the organization. (http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/jobaccess/jobseeker.html) Eastside Human Services Forum The organization is concerned about disruptions to bus service during construction. They are also generally concerned about transportation access. The organization suggested we reduce these effects by providing construction information to the organization. The primary languages spoken by clients are Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian/Ukrainian, Korean, and Chinese. Family Services – South King County The organization is concerned about construction delays for drivers and bus riders. Delays add stress and frustration to clients who are already highly stressed. Advance warning of additional congestion would help as they can warn their clients to plan for additional travel time. The organization offered to post project information in their waiting room. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 33 Exhibit 12. Service Provider Interview Findings (continued) Name Concerns Mitigation Suggested by Organization Hopelink Hopelink is primarily concerned about delays for emergency service providers. The organization suggested that we coordinate construction activities with transportation providers and emergency service providers. In addition, Hopelink can distribute flyers to clients and place information in their newsletter. We should provide information in multiple languages. Jewish Family Services The organization is not particularly concerned about delays because I-405 is already congested. Translating construction information into Russian would help keep clients informed. We could also put a link on the Jewish Family Services website. King County Housing Authority The Authority is concerned about staff and residents commute times and missing appointments due to construction delays. The Authority offered to distribute construction information as tenants pay their monthly rents. Renton Area Youth and Family Services During the last round of I-405 improvements, the access and utilities for the organization were affected. The organization would like to have the name and number for someone at WSDOT they can call when there is a problem and be kept informed to avoid further adverse effects from construction activities. Renton Housing Authority The Authority said that it is important to maintain both auto and bus transportation options during construction. The Authority suggested we inform Staff and clients through presentations, newsletters, maps (especially for non-English speakers), and fliers. The Authority could display project information in the main lobby. Renton School District and Clothing Bank Traffic on I-405 and SR 167 is an issue for staff and students. The District said that regular communication and translation (Spanish and Russian) will help staff and students prepare for delays during construction. The monthly school district newsletter would be a good way to inform students, staff, and parents. Russian and Ukrainian populations can be reached through their churches and the Ukrainian Community Center in Kent. Renton Technical College Due to delays on I-405, it is currently difficult for students and staff to arrive at class on time, and any further delays are a concern. Many students take the bus. Any way to improve or at least not decrease the reliability of bus and personal auto travel is important. Putting articles in the staff and student newspapers would be an effective way to spread project information. Salvation Army The organization said that construction, increased gas prices, and disruptions in bus service would distress its clients. The organization would like to be kept informed of construction activities and recommended I-405 Project staff set up a table to talk with clients at the food bank. Ukrainian Community Center The Center is concerned about delays during construction for drivers and bus riders. The Center would like to be on the email newsletter list and have information provided in Ukrainian or Russian. YWCA The organization is concerned about the affordability of gas for their clients and traffic delays for staff and clients. Many clients take the bus or taxis. Taxi reliability could be improved if they could use the HOV lane. Bus service is not adequate in the south end. The organization would like to receive project information and suggested linking construction activity information to the traffic flow map. Renton Nickel Improvement Project 34 Environmental Justice Discipline Report POTENTIAL EFFECTS What methods did we use to evaluate potential effects on environmental justice populations? We identified potential effects of the project by interviewing authors or reviewing drafts of the following discipline reports: Air Quality Economic Elements Cultural Resources Land Use Patterns, Plans, and Policies Noise and Vibration Public Services and Utilities Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966 Social Transportation Visual Quality After identifying adverse effects, we assessed whether the adverse project effects will affect populations differently. For example, noise tends to affect the people living near the noise source more than others. When identified, this type of effect is looked at in more detail. The next step in assessing an adverse project effect that could affect populations differently (such as noise) is to look at who is affected. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS), we mapped the adverse effects over the Census block groups. This allows us to compare the race/ethnicity and poverty status of those affected. Other sources, such as service provider interviews and windshield surveys are used to confirm GIS map findings. We used the following criteria to determine whether the effect falls disproportionately on environmental justice populations. 1. A minority and/or low-income population would predominately bear the effects; or 2. The minority and/or low-income population would suffer the effects and the effects would be What is a Geographic Information System (GIS)? A digital computer mapping system that can overlay data such as land use and provides a spatial analysis. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 35 appreciably more severe or greater in magnitude than the adverse effects suffered by the non- minority and/or low-income population. We also analyzed potential benefits of the project and the proposed mitigation for the adverse effect. How will the No Build Alternative affect minority and low-income populations? Choosing the No Build Alternative would avoid or delay the noise, visual, and construction effects listed below. However, we will not realize the HOV, safety, and traffic benefits listed below if we choose the No Build Alternative. Will the project affect minority and low-income populations? We analyzed potential effects of the project on minority and low-income populations based on the impacts and benefits described in the areas listed below. We do not expect any long-term, adverse effects to community/neighborhood cohesion. The project will not displace any residences. See the Social Discipline Report for more information. We determined the project will not substantially degrade localized air quality in the long-term. See the Air Quality Discipline Report for more information. We do not expect any long-term, adverse economic effects. Although the project will displace twelve businesses, interviews with the owners indicate that they will relocate within the area. Also, the project will maintain driveway accesses to businesses. See the Economic Elements Discipline Report for more information. We have not identified any long-term effects to historical, cultural, archaeological, and Section 106 resources. The tribes have not identified any concerns over usual and accustomed tribal areas. See the Cultural Resources Discipline Report for more information. We determined the project is supportive of local land use plans and policies, and that the project What do we mean by community/neighborhood cohesion? Refers to the ability of people to communicate and interact with each other in ways that lead to a sense of community as reflected in the neighborhood’s ability to function and be recognized as a singular unit. What are the noise abatement criteria? The FHWA noise abatement criteria specify exterior and interior noise levels for various land activity categories such as residential and commercial. All noise sensitive uses within the Renton Nickel Improvement Project study area are residential or Category B uses. WSDOT considers a noise impact to occur if predicted equivalent hourly noise levels (Leq (h)) approach within 1 dBA of the noise abatement criteria, which is 67 dBA for residential uses. Thus if a noise level is 66 dBA or higher, it will approach or exceed the FHWA noise abatement criterion of 67 dBA for residential uses. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 36 Environmental Justice Discipline Report will not change land use patterns. See the Land Use Patterns and Land Use Plans and Policies Discipline Reports for more information. The project would not have disproportionately high and adverse noise effects on minority and low-income populations. With mitigation, 101 residences will be affected by traffic noise (noise levels will exceed the FHWA noise abatement criteria). Further analysis on noise effects are documented below. We have not identified any long-term effects on public services. See the Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report for more information. We have not identified any long-term effects to Section 4(f) resources. See the Section 4(f) Discipline Report for more information. Projected future regional population and employment growth in the region will increase freeway demand compared to existing conditions. As traffic volumes increase, the benefits of the project will decrease during the morning and afternoon peak travel periods. Future increased demand will worsen congestion in locations where I-405 and SR 167 are already at capacity. By 2014, with or without the project, freeway speeds fall and a smaller number of vehicles will travel through the study area compared to conditions today. In 2014, the Renton Nickel Improvement Project improves travel speeds and increases the number of vehicles getting through the area for most locations compared to the No Build Alternative. Bottlenecks at the I-405 and SR 167 Interchange and bottlenecks outside the study area limit the benefits of the Renton Nickel Improvement Project. These problem areas are beyond the scope of this project. See the following section for a description of transportation benefits. The project will permanently change visual quality for both freeway users (views from the road) and freeway neighbors (views toward the road). The project will potentially reduce visual quality; however, overall, these changes are minor when compared to existing visual quality. What is throughput? The number of vehicles being carried on a facility. This is usually measured at a specific point on the roadway facility for a predetermined period of time. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 37 As discussed above, the project will have some noise effects. By constructing the proposed noise barrier, we are able to mitigate noise effects for 35 residences. For the other 95 residences who will experience noise effects that are higher with the project than with the No Build Alternative, it is not reasonable or feasible to construct noise barriers. Most of these noise effects are located in the Renton Hill and Talbot Hill neighborhoods. Nine separate noise barriers were examined for various noise effect locations. One barrier is reasonable and feasible. The other eight were either not reasonable because they would cost more than WSDOT’s mitigation allowance or not feasible because they would not achieve the required noise reduction. In the area where a noise barrier is reasonable and feasible, WSDOT will construct a noise barrier as long as the property owners do not object. The locations where unmitigated noise effects will occur are depicted in Exhibit 13. Receptors 2, 3 (from Renton to Bellevue analysis), A, V, W, AA, and AD will be affected by noise but are not residences. Residences where unmitigated noise effects will be higher with the project than under the No Build Alternative are listed by block in Exhibit 14. The nonresidential effects are not shown in Exhibit 14. Each block listed in Exhibit 14 has some minority or low-income populations. It is difficult to determine whether an impacted residence is minority and/or low-income, however, the percentages in Exhibit 14 give a good indication of the ratios of minority versus non-minority and low-income versus non-low-income within the affected area. By applying the percentages of minority and low-income populations in each area to the number of residences affected in each area, we estimate that the ratio of minority to non-minority residences impacted would be 31 to 64. The ratio of low-income to non-low-income residences would be 5 to 90. These ratios indicate that noise effects would not disproportionately impact minority and low-income populations. See the Noise and Vibration Discipline Report for more detailed information. Proposed Noise Barrier Sketch, South 14th Street and Whitworth Avenue looking north to I-405 POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 38 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Exhibit 13. Noise Effects Locations Exhibit 14. Noise Effects Census Tract Block Minority Low-Income1 Receptors Affected (ID)2 Effects (Number of Residences) 253 4013 10 18 4 3 257.01 1000 22 5 C 6 257.01 2007 30 3 H, I, 3, 6 26 257.01 6001 19 4 J, K 16 258.01 2001 44 0 R 8 258.01 3001 44 9 X, AB, AF 19 258.01 3011 45 9 AH 14 262 1057 0 3 M 3 1. Low-Income is tracked at the block group level. The block group number is the first digit in the block number, e.g., for block 4013, the block group is “4”. 2. The ID number corresponds to the circles on Exhibit 13. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 39 How will the project benefit minority and low-income populations? The Renton Nickel Improvement Project will benefit minority and low-income populations in the following ways: The project extends the southbound SR 167 HOV lane approximately 1,600 feet closer to the I-405 interchange. This enables southbound transit and HOVs leaving Renton on SR 167 to enter the HOV lane sooner and allows them to avoid the weaving area with the ramp to northbound I-405. These transit improvements will be particularly beneficial to minority and low-income populations because those populations often rely on transit.2 This section of I-405 within the study area is congested due to large traffic volumes and merging and diverging traffic. The new lanes will help relieve congestion and improve safety by providing motorists with more time and extra room to accelerate or decelerate and move into and out of the stream of traffic when getting on and off the freeway. This provides a smoother transition for motorists getting on and off I-405 in Tukwila and Renton and helps decrease rear-end and sideswipe collisions. The project will increase the number of vehicles traveling through the area and improve travel speeds outside of the peak travel period for several years. These traffic and safety improvements will benefit all people in the area, including minority and low-income populations. Will project construction affect minority and low-income populations? The project will generate some temporary effects during construction; however, these effects are not severe 2 Pucher, John and Renne, John. 2003. Transportation Quarterly. Summer 2003. Available at: http://policy.rutgers.edu/papers/14.pdf. POTENTIAL EFFECTS Renton Nickel Improvement Project 40 Environmental Justice Discipline Report enough to be considered high and adverse. Construction equipment will generate noise, dust, odors, vehicle and equipment emissions, and visual effects. The Noise and Vibration, Air Quality, and Visual Quality Discipline Reports indicate that residents will not be close enough to the construction areas to experience these effects in any substantial way. We expect no substantial changes to traffic volumes on I-405 and local streets during construction. Truck traffic in the Benson Road area will increase during construction of the Benson Road overpass, potentially increasing traffic congestion there. Construction activity to replace the Springbrook Creek and Oakesdale Avenue bridges will require temporary detour of the Springbrook Trail for safety reasons. No changes to transit are expected from construction. Does the project have indirect effects? Indirect traffic effects could occur during construction when drivers seek alternate routes on city streets during closures of I-405 and/or SR 167. Some communities in the surrounding area may have more traffic than normal, but these effects are not expected to continue after construction. What are indirect effects? Effects that are delayed or distant from the project. Did we look at cumulative effects for this discipline? The team did not evaluate cumulative effects for this discipline. A report of cumulative effects is not necessary for every discipline studied for NEPA and SEPA documentation. The disciplines that we studied for cumulative effects are Air Quality, Surface Water, Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat, and Wetlands. We present the cumulative effects for these disciplines in the Cumulative Effects Analysis Discipline Report. Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 41 MEASURES TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE PROJECT EFFECTS What will be done to avoid or minimize long-term adverse effects on minority and low-income populations? Each discipline report lists the measures to minimize long-term effects for each element of the environment. Because we do not anticipate that the project will cause any long-term adverse effects to low-income or minority populations, activities to avoid or minimize adverse effects specific to environmental justice will not be required. What will be done to avoid and/or minimize construction effects? Each discipline report lists the measures to avoid and/or minimize construction effects for each element of the environment. Construction traffic effects were the most common concerns expressed during the service provider interviews. We will minimize traffic effects by limiting closures to nights and weekends when possible. The service providers also identified communication as a key way to minimize construction effects on minority and low-income populations, and suggested the following communication techniques to implement during project construction: Inform local agencies, the public, school districts, emergency service providers, and transit agencies of traffic changes ahead of time. Send information to service provider contacts so that they can include the information in newsletters and relay the information face to face. We can accomplish this in part by sending service providers the project’s monthly electronic newsletter. DRAFT MITIGATION Renton Nickel Improvement Project 42 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Send flyers and handouts to service providers for posting and distributing in key locations at their facilities. We will provide flyers in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese (see project fact sheet translated into Spanish to the left). Post flyers at key stores and churches. Set up a project table and talking with people at locations such as food banks. Translate written materials accurately. Ensure understanding by writing public materials at a 4th grade reading level. Project Fact Sheet in Spanish Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report 43 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DETERMINATION Will this project have disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority or low-income populations? Based on these findings, the Renton Nickel Improvement Project will not result in disproportionately high or adverse effects on minority or low-income populations. Minority and low-income populations would experience some benefits from the project, primarily due to improvements to HOV lanes. Renton Nickel Improvement Project 44 Environmental Justice Discipline Report REFERENCES National Center for Education Statistics 2002 Common Core of Data, Public School Data for the 2001-2002 School Year. Available at: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch. Pucher, John and Renne, John. 2003 Transportation Quarterly. Summer 2003. Puget Sound Regional Council 2005 Vision 2020 Interviews with Environmental Justice leaders. March, 2005 Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) 2005 Renton Nickel Improvement Project Public Involvement Plan. February 2005. Bellevue, Washington. 2004 WSDOT Environmental Procedures Manual. Section 458, Environmental Justice. September 2004. 2002 I-405 Corridor Program Final EIS. Environmental Justice Appendix. June 2002. Seattle, Washington. APPENDIX A Service Provider Interviews APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-1 ARISE– Renton - 5/6/05 Agency: ARISE– Renton Representative: Bob Bliesner Date: 5/6/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? ARISE provides a rotating men’s shelter to homeless men in the Renton area. 2. Who are your constituents? ARISE serves single, homeless men needing temporary or transitional housing. 3. How do you provide the service? ARISE partners with local area churches to provide a place for homeless men to sleep at night. Area churches take turns hosting the shelter for a about 30 nights each. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? The shelter is expected to begin on the fall of 2005. At this time it is planned for only the fall, winter and spring months. Once summer begins they are at this time expecting to end the shelter until the following fall. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Merkens provided a detailed explanation about the upcoming improvements and the entire I-405 program. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Many of the men who are expected to use this service will not have a car and will be working odd jobs. Therefore, they will have a heavy dependence on public transportation. Maintaining bus services will be important. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Making it more difficult for these people to travel where they need to for work or other needs. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? This should be minimal. Each of the shelters will be staffed by volunteers who will likely be from the area of each church and therefore have minimal travel requirements. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Providing the staff and constituents with regular information. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Not at this time. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-2 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? At this time, English is the only expected language. This has been the experience with similar programs in Bellevue and Kent. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? It would be best to continue providing information through the steering committee, especially Bob Bliesner. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? REACH – Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches Renton Food Bank / Salvation Army APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-3 Catholic Community Services Agency: Catholic Community Services Representative: Cameryn Flynn Date: 5/2/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? Catholic Community Services (CCS) of South King County provides emergency services, a men’s shelter, long term home care, personal counseling and drug rehab through drug court with King County. They also offer transitional residential housing through off-site facilities in Renton and in Auburn. 2. Who are your constituents? They serve low to very low income constituents from the northern Renton City Limits south to the border with Pierce County. Constituents come in from all over the South King County area. Many of them travel by bus, car, bike and foot. 3. How do you provide the service? The men’s shelter is on a rotation, located at different churches throughout the area. Typically there are 35 clients per night and they are hoping to expand this service. Clients are usually not able to enter the shelter until the evening and typically need to be out again by the morning. The counseling and emergency services are provided out of the main offices in Kent. Some of these services are provided by other individuals who use the available CCS space. Long term home care is provided at the homes of clients, but the office for this service is located with the main CCS facilities. This service is often provided by the clients CCS is trying to help within their emergency services program as a temporary employment position. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? The long term care providers, about 250 in total, are out traveling to the homes of clients between 8:00 and 4:30 pm. Many of them need to use I-405 as part of their travel, although they do use many forms of transportation besides just car (bike, bus, etc.). The CCS center itself is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 am through 9:00 pm and on Friday from 8:30 to 5:00 pm. They currently do not have any weekend services. The beginnings of each month are especially busy for them. Their walk-in client traffic increases greatly then. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Ms. Flynn knew a bit about the I-405 Program and the Nickel Projects. She wanted to know when construction would start and how long it was expected to last. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? The long term care providers will likely need more time to travel to meet with their clients because construction may create more congestion than there is currently. Also, the ability of APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-4 Environmental Justice Discipline Report many to get around by non-car transportation modes may be impacted. Buses may have to be on different routes or take longer. One primary concern for both staff and clients is to know how to get to the hospital during the planned construction, especially if their normal routes are expected to be delayed or otherwise impacted. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? It could be more difficult for clients simply to get around and travel to the places where they can get the services they need. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Right now they already avoid I-405 as much as possible. They used to have regional meetings in Bellevue, but their South King County staff could not make these meetings easily with all the traffic. About six months ago, CCS formally moved all their regional meetings to the Seattle offices so I-405 would no longer be a concern. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Right now, CCS staff cannot commute on I-405. Anyway to minimize impacts and improve the facilities would be appreciated. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? CCS does participant in a once-a-year golf tournament fundraiser which draws about 300 people at the Washington National course near SR 18. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? About 10% of the people CCS serves speak Spanish; other languages include Somali and Ukrainian. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Provide information directly to Ms. Flynn. Also, leaving materials in several languages in the lobby would be a good idea. Both CCS and their clients need to know what is happening for them. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Dini Duclos Alliance Center Executive Director 253-854-4406 APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-5 Chinese Information and Service Center Agency: Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC) Representative: Alaric Bien, Executive Director Phone: 206-624-5633 x101 Date: 4/27/05 Interviewer: Colleen Gants, Public Information, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? CISC serves more than 4,500 individuals each year and has 30 full-time staff members who speak 9 dialects of Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malay and English. CISC opens doors to community resources by providing cultural orientation, job training, senior day care, English instruction, youth activities and other valuable services enabling families, seniors and youth to positively participate and thrive in our community. With a focus on Chinese and other Asian immigrants, CISC offers very basic services like electrical and school placement to family/intergenerational counseling, computer centers, domestic violence/crime victim assistance, and voting rights. CISC has operated an office in Chinatown in downtown Seattle for 33 years, and now also operates a smaller suite of services on the Eastside in a small office on NE 8th (Eastside services for seniors is growing fast). Their clients come from King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston County. 2. Who are your constituents? CISC serves Chinese-speaking residents in King County. Many of their constituents are elderly parents living with younger families. With 9 dialects in their repertoire, their scope of services goes way beyond Chinese, but Chinese is the predominant nationality CISC serves. Historically, CISC’s focus has been on low income seniors – still around 75% of their clientele is very low income, with 15% being low income. 3. How do you provide the service? Many people come use the service in the 2 offices – the downtown office offers an international family center that serves immigrants and refugees with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, play groups, childcare and training. CISC also serves the community through various classes held at 6 different senior centers around the Eastside (North Bellevue, South Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Issaquah) and the Newport Covenant Church. One of the more popular classes is Wednesday morning Tai Chi, where seniors make new friends. Many times, senior Chinese immigrants feel isolated, especially on the Eastside – their children are working at Microsoft, and they’re left to fend for themselves during the day. CISC offers socializing opportunities. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-6 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Chinese New Year is a time of great celebration and many activities – this holiday lasts for 15 days in late January/early February. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Alaric was familiar with the 405 project. He was not aware of the project specifics but gladly took the overview folio provided. We discussed the projects in Kirkland, Bellevue and Renton, giving a brief verbal project overview. Alaric also asked to be added to the listserve for future project updates that he could translate easily. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? People will have a harder time getting to their services and will have to plan ahead. Alaric stressed many times the importance of good communication. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? CISC’s clients are usually driven or take the bus to their activities. Sometimes, the seniors get dropped off in the morning for the daycare service, and picked up in the evening, so their children are using I-405 at peak hours to get parents to CISC programs. Often seniors are arranging carpools with their friends’ adult children. There’s a lot of traffic on 148th; many are traveling to the Seattle programs and taking SR 520. Changes in bus service can be very frustrating, when elderly Chinese bus riders can’t read English. The construction in Bellevue has been frustrating, but Alaric’s clients understand that something better is coming, so they are patient. Many cannot take stairs or walk very far. Alaric has been actively supporting the “Ikon Bill,” which calls for pictogram traffic signs, so that everyone can understand what they are trying to say. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Much of Alaric’s staff comes from the Eastside (one-third to one-half). For example, Alaric takes the Coal Creek on-ramp to take his kids to school in the morning – it’s a bad ramp where people always cut in. Then, he heads over to St. Luke’s by taking Bellevue Way, and then it’s off to work. In the afternoons, his family coordinates with other Eastside relatives to get the kids to their various activities. Alaric says the worst area is 148th for traffic. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Alaric said it would be great to have flyers in Chinese. He would take those around to seniors – he also said he could translate the List serve email newsletter if it was brief. If the number to call is someone who only speaks English (like it is!), then consider having the message say who to call for Chinese translation. Put these flyers on the website. Alaric recommended if we are planning to translate flyers, make sure to use “live bodies” for translation rather than the computer programs – those come out so bad that it’s worse than if you did nothing. CISC offers translation services if we are interested. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-7 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? See question 4 above. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? See other questions above that address this. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? In addition to the flyers mentioned above, Alaric suggested the following avenues for distributing current information/flyers to his clients: • CISC sends a quarterly newsletter to 2,500 people (mostly donors); a more regular newsletter deals with services, issues, bus service, etc. Alaric recommended the more regular newsletter. • International grocery stores (Paldo World in the Lake Hills Shopping Center is run by Koreans and carries specialty spices used by many other Asian nationals). • Churches – Alaric followed up by sending his list of Chinese churches in the area, unfortunately they are all in Chinese except the first two. He suggested calling them all to get their English names. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? N/A APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-8 Environmental Justice Discipline Report City of Kent, Housing and Human Services Agency: City of Kent, Housing and Human Services Representative: Katherin Johnson Date: 5/11/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The Housing and Human Services group with the City of Kent provides on-staff home repair, a domestic violence exchange, reference and referrals for social services, and they contract with 30 community organizations to provide many other social services. 2. Who are your constituents? Low and moderate income residents of Kent, although the domestic violence exchange is open to anybody in Western Washington . 3. How do you provide the service? Most of the clients are walk-ins; some are helped over the phone. There are actually a large number of people who find out about their services via the City of Kent’s website, which is a little surprising considering the constraints of their clients. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Their offices are open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. There are fewer people served in the summer months because energy is usually not such an issue. In the winter transportation becomes a serious issue because their clients are not able to use alternative modes of transportation (bike, walk, etc.) as easily as when the weather is nice. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Ms. Johnson only had a good understanding of what was happening along SR 167. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Their services rarely rely on I-405. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? There are potentially serious impacts to the people they serve with any construction along I-405. Their clients typically work on the eastside and live in the Kent area because of the affordability of housing. With increased congestion from construction there will be more negative impacts to the cars their clients drive and they may waste more fuel while sitting in traffic. Right now they can’t even afford to pay for gas. There is a heavy job reliance on the freight industry in the Kent area and their clients are likely the first to loose their jobs if freight cannot move as efficiently because of congestion and these companies are forced to shrink their workforce. Also, those who do work further north are always struggling with making it to their work on time because the roads and other transit infrastructure are unreliable at this time. They risk loosing their jobs because of tardiness due to traffic jams. It will be important to let their clients know as far in advance as possible so they can make plans. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-9 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? None at this time. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? The biggest help will be to get information out to their clients in their languages. It will be important for materials to show what improvements will look like and how these will impact them personally. It will be important for their clients to have a scenario they can put themselves in. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? There are two big festivals in Kent each year, one in July and one in September. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Russian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Arabic. There are 89 languages spoken in the Kent School District. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Forward information to them, especially if they are already in Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and Arabic. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? None at this time. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-10 Environmental Justice Discipline Report City of Seattle Human Services Dept, Aging & Disabilities – Renton - 5/2/05 Agency: City of Seattle Human Services Dept, Aging & Disabilities – Renton Representative: Sandy Fruehling, Diane Richards Date: 5/2/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? City of Seattle, Human Services Department, Aging & Disabilities provides case management to elderly and disabled living at home in South King County which covers Renton south to Enumclaw and over to Pacific/Algona and up to West Seattle. They operate in partnership with King County Area Agencies on Aging. There are about 45 total employees who work out of the Renton office. 2. Who are your constituents? This organization provides case management to elderly and disabled citizens who are homebound. 3. How do you provide the service? Staff completed field visits to clients throughout the South King County area. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Field visits for clients are completed between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff are out during these times making between one and two visits. Most staff are out on a rotating basis for two to three days per week, and some staff telecommute during the week. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Ms. Fruehling had heard about I-405 EIS. She also knew about the Nickel package. Ms. Fruehling was unsure about whether administrative or case management staff had as much knowledge. She was equally unsure whether their clients had any familiarity with the program or the projects. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? The biggest concerns would be from construction delays for staff commuting to work and for those out on field visits. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Getting the services to these homebound clients in a timely way is very important. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? For staff and volunteers, impact concerns include minimal delays for commuting to work and also when they are out on case management field visits. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-11 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Any way to keep construction delays either at night or after hours would help them. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? They do not sponsor any events at this time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? The top three languages spoken by clients are Russian/Ukrainian, Somali, and Bosnian. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? The best way to provide information to clients and staff is through the Ms. Fruehling. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? None were suggested. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-12 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Community Health Centers of King County – Kent Office - 5/10/05 Agency: Community Health Centers of King County – Kent Headquarters Representative: Diana Olsen, Marketing and PR Manager Phone: (253) 372-3657 Date: 5/10/05 Interviewer: Rebecca Baker, I-405 Project Team (PRR) 1. What service does your organization provide? Community Health Centers of King County (CHCKC) is a private, nonprofit community health service organization. For over 30 years, we have served the needs of the uninsured and medically under served populations in King County, Washington. We still maintain the single vision we started with over 30 years ago - to be the provider of choice in the communities we serve. 2. Who are your constituents? Low-income, 30 to 40% are Hispanic, non-English speaking. At our Renton clinic, 20% of the population we serve is Asian. At our Kent facility, we serve an increasing number of East African, Somalia. We serve all age groups. Our largest age group is 25 to 34. We serve many kids and families. 3. How do you provide the service? Medical care. • Traditional Medicine • Complementary & Alternative Medicine (Natural Medicine) • Dentistry • 6 medical clinics • 2 clinics provide Complementary & Alternative Medicine (Natural Medicine) services • 4 dental clinics 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? We provide services everyday, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in general. We are open one late night at each clinic (it rotates) open until 7 p.m. No weekend care. Our physicians are available on call in the evening and on weekends. It is rare that we provide emergency care. Our goal is to provide preventative care. In the case of an emergency, we would meet a patient at an ER facility the same way other doctor/patient services are provided. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Yes as I live in the area as well. Ms. Baker provided Ms. Olsen with a project overview and left project information materials for her review. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-13 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? We are at capacity all the time. We already face scheduling challenges. If traffic congestion slows people down during the day, it will impact our patient’s ability to get to appointments on time. This is already a problem. As it is timely appointments are a problem as well as no-shows. The cultures we work with do not all arrive on time. Simply some cultures do not have the same understanding or relationship with time. Congestion will add to this issue. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? If a person misses an appointment, we can’t reschedule for the next day. It will be into the next week. Construction could impede our client’s ability to get timely care. If there is an impediment to getting to the clinic, then there is an impediment to getting care. Construction will add one more thing to the mix and our patients are struggling to handle a lot now. The population we work with requires flexibility. As it is, for new appointments, we require them to come 40 minutes early to fill out paperwork and ensure they arrive on time. We may need to increase this time if they are going through an area with construction. We have a language and a culture barrier that we are trying to overcome by explaining how important arriving on time is. We will have to communicate about transportation challenges now as well. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? It will be a challenge for our staff as they travel from our Bothell and Redmond clinic sites to our Kent main office everyday. We also use a courier service two times per day. I am not sure about labs, I think most of our lab work is done here or locally but I will have to check. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Nothing other than making sure information is available in multiple languages. You could go directly to the service organizations that service specific ethnic groups. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Yes, we have a Kid’s Fair in August. This year it will be the 15, 16 or 17th. We take walk-ins that day, have activities for kids such as the fire department. We provide immunizations, back to school exams and well child check ups. It is a one day event that draws 100-200 kids plus their siblings, parents etc. It is a large event at our Renton location. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Russian, Korean, Spanish, Somali. Have to check on other Asian groups that are served at our Renton clinic. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? E-mail for sharing with our staff and volunteers. Add Diana Olsen to the list serve. dolsen@chckc.org (425) 277-1311 Using Flyers for sharing with our clients. We are hoping to get kiosks or computers in the waiting room which could be a great way to relay information. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-14 Environmental Justice Discipline Report We communicate with our clients via pamphlets or over the phone. Having posters in the clinic with alternate routes and translated information would be great. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? There is an African American Community Center in Kent on Central. They have a heritage festival in the fall. There is also a Russian newspaper that we use, my contact is Anna. It is well read. There is also the Spring Wood Apartments at the top of the ill that is almost all occupied by Somali families. There are also Hispanic papers. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-15 Eastgate Public Health Center, Bellevue: Seattle & King County Public Health Agency: Public Health Representative: Sherman Lohn, Health Services Administrator Phone: 206-205-8995 Date: 5/25/05 Interviewer: Rebecca Baker, I-405 Project Team (PRR) 1. What service does your organization provide? We provide primary care medical service, maternal infant care (WIC) here and in-home, family planning, dentistry and immunization. Also from this location we address environmental health, i.e. county sewage issues, water quality, pluming inspection throughout King County. We issue death certificates for the eastside. Lastly we are a drop-off site for dead birds checking for West Nile Virus. We are one of four sites on the eastside. We collect birds between May and October. 2. Who are your constituents? Our constituents are low income residents from North, East and South King County. We are a safety net provider for people who can’t find services elsewhere. There are two providers on the eastside that provide primary care, ourselves and another in center in Redmond. 3. How do you provide the service? Medical care, dental care, WIC (Women and Infant Care), an Obstetrician (OB) program for those linked to University Medical Center (usually high risk). We are also affiliated with the midwifery program through UW and provide midwifery care. We have nurses that go out to provide WIC care in all of Mercer Island, Medina, New Castle, unincorporated Renton, Bellevue, Duvall, Snoqualmie and North Bend as well as all areas east of Bellevue within King County. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? We provide services Monday-Friday 7:45 am to 6:30 pm. Our traveling nurses provide care up until 7 pm. We do not offer services on the weekend except once a year for a health fair in August on a weekend day. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? I am not familiar with the project as I have only been working here for four months. I live in Seattle. Ms. Baker gave Mr. Lohn an overview of the project highlighting near term Nickel projects in Renton, Bellevue, and Kirkland. Progress Report folio was delivered following the interview. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-16 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Patients come from East King County, crossroads area to the east and south but not many from the north. Most clients come from Renton, to the south or east of Bellevue. We provide primary care which our other locations do not. Many drive here or take the bus since we are located next to the I-90 Eastgate Park and Ride. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? I am less concerned about our patients as they will get here, they find a way. They may not be able to get here on time which is a problem as we are often busy and being late may require rescheduling for another day. We need to be able to get good information out there so that people can anticipate congestion issues. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Lots of our staff uses Interstate 405 as they come from Federal Way, Seatac, Kent and Seattle. I am concerned about our staff’s ability to get to work, or arriving late or simply having a hard time getting here. Our service depends on them. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? The project can get information out on a timely basis so that our staff and patients are aware of potential road congestion, alternative routes, etc. and translated into Spanish and Russian at the very least. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? We have a yearly health fair for the back to school season. This year it is on Saturday, August 20th and it will be an all day event where we provide well child checks, immunizations, and sports physicals. This could be an opportunity to get information out to families who only come at that time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Russian and Spanish are the two most popular languages. Our website and other materials are translated into these languages. 48% of the people we serve do not speak English. Of those, 80% speak Spanish. Russian and Vietnamese are the next two main language groups we serve. There are over 30 language groups that we see on a yearly basis. Other languages include Mandarin, Hindu, Korean, Portuguese, and Farsi. We use interpreters to translate materials and provide medical care services. KC also has agency information and forms translated. We have on-site interpreters. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? There is no need for a person to come out here again. If you can send information to: Sherman Lohn Sherman.lohn@metrokc.gov (206) 205-8995 14350 SE Eastgate Way Bellevue, WA 98007 APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-17 He will forward it to on site staff. We also have monthly staff meetings where Sherman can disseminate information. It would be ideal to have literature to hand out to patients or simply have available in the waiting rooms. Having signage and flyers translated would be ideal. Posters would be great as they would draw attention. Alternative route maps to hand out would be nice. We have to hand out the information since we have privacy issues to deal with. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Community Health Centers of King County (425) 277-1311 will list smaller providers in the Renton and other outlying eastside areas. In the south area of King County, there are lots of small providers. Hopelink, Redmond Community Clinic. We also have a clinic location in Renton where we provide Family Planning, Dental and WIC. We have another clinic location in Kent where we provide teen primary care, WIC, and family planning. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-18 Environmental Justice Discipline Report East King County Catholic Community Services Agency: East King County Catholic Community Services Representative: Date: 6/8/2005 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team Presentation and Discussion: Todd Merkens visited a recent staff meeting for the East King County Catholic Community Services. At the staff meeting Mr. Merkens discussed the planning process to date for the I-405 program, funding that the program has received and detailed the planned improvements along I-405. He also talked about the importance of involving underrepresented groups and keeping them informed throughout the planning and construction phases. Mr. Merkens held a brief question and answer session with the Community Services staff. Concerns that were raised, besides timing of construction and paying for the increased taxes to fund the improvements, focused on construction delays. One staff member noted that her commute into downtown Bellevue during the construction of the recently completed project there had increased by about 10 minutes. After the project, however, her commute reduced by about 10 minutes from prior to the construction. The other primary concern raised by staff was mitigation for construction delays. They noted the importance of bus transportation to many of their clients and the frequent disruptions to bus services from construction projects. Mr. Merkens noted that a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) effort was an important part of the I-405 Corridor Program. Access to TDM efforts by those with lower incomes were raised as a big concern. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-19 Eastside Human Services Forum – 5/23/05 Agency: Eastside Human Services Forum Representative: Carrie Hite Date: 5/23/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The Eastside Human Services Forum has the goal of creating a seamless network of culturally competent services including advocacy and partnership building and services coordination. It was started in reaction to a shooting in Bellevue to ensure minority and underrepresented populations had a forum through which they could work together and to make a connection to the community. 2. Who are your constituents? Immigrants and refugees living in the Eastside of King County. 3. How do you provide the service? The Eastside Human Services Forum is a partnership and coalition of 30 agencies who provide services to immigrants, refugees and other underrepresented populations. The forum has quarterly meetings that bring representatives of these agencies together and also developed and updates a resource guide in several languages that highlights theses and other services available in the community. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? It depends on which of the specific agency. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Merkens provided a details explanation of the planned improvements along I-405. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Delivering their services may not be impacted directly, what is likely more a concern is the impact on the clients. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Most of the clients of the services involved in the Eastside Human Services Forum rely heavily on public transportation. As it is already, there isn’t a lot of bus service throughout the Eastside, so what is available is very important. Also, maintaining access into Seattle is important as there are may services used by Eastside residents in Seattle itself. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Maintaining basic transportation access is important to the entire community including the staff and volunteers for the many service organizations that participant in the forum. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-20 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Keeping both forum participants and client informed and in the loop is important, especially in regards to access during construction. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Not at this time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? The primary languages are Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian/Ukrainian, and then Korean or Chinese. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Keep Carrie on the newsletter list and make a presentation to the forum in the fall of 2005. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Doing publicity in the El Mundo Spanish newspaper is important and also working with the Latino Leadership Forum may be another group (many of these also participant in the Eastside Services Forum. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-21 Family Services – South King County Agency: Family Services – South King County Representative: Cindy Hanson, Office Manager Phone: 425-226-1253 Date: 5/3/05 Interviewer: Rebecca Baker, I-405 Project Team (PRR) 1. What service does your organization provide? Family Services is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a United Way agency that provides mental health services, 50 minute counseling sessions with licensed psychotherapists. Since 1892, Family Services has offered a range of services that strengthen families and create a safer community (New Parenting Support Groups (Listening Mothers, Beyond the Baby Blues), Multi-cultural Counseling Services (located in West Seattle and Northgate) such as individual counseling, trainings etc. The Seattle office provides family stabilization services (Morning song childcare, Baby Boutique supplies, Transitional Assistance, Project Permanency allows homeless to transition in place, Resident Choices to serve those at risk for losing housing). Family Services has a branch in Redmond and Bellevue as well. Redmond- Lynda St. Ledger (sp?) (425) 869-6687 Bellevue-Cindy Torenson (sp?) (425) 453-7890 2. Who are your constituents? The general public, employees from the City of Seattle, Microsoft etc. (who ever contracts with us to provide the benefit to their employees.) We offer services on a sliding scale to anyone. We can retain interpreters if needed. We try to accommodate people where ever it is easiest for them to reach us. We serve those with physical and mental disabilities. Those in wheelchair, deaf and needing sign language interpretation etc. 3. How do you provide the service? Main office is downtown but we have satellite locations around the county. Our Renton office currently has 5 employees but we are currently hiring. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? During the day (Monday through Friday) sessions start at 8:00 am and we schedule up to 8 pm in the evening. There are no services on weekends at the Renton location. We are busier around the holidays as well as January and February as this is a time when employee’s benefits kick in. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Ms. Hanson was familiar with the 405 project. She has gotten notices in the mail about public forums, has seen the signs “It’s Your Nickel” etc. She was not aware of the project specifics but gladly took the overview folio provided. Ms. Baker provided her with project information materials and gave a brief verbal project overview. She also asked to be added to the listserve for future project updates as well as the branch manager. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-22 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Cindy Hanson Office Manager Family Services 451 SW 10th Street, Suite 215 Renton, WA 98055 chanson@family-services.org Judith Burr-Chellin, LMHC Branch Director Family Services 451 SW 10th Street, Suite 215 Renton, WA 98055 Jburr-chellin@family-services.org 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Our clients are already affected by traffic delays. If there is an accident or congestion, it impacts their ability to arrive on time for appointments. Once the project is done, hopefully this will improve. We would be concerned if traffic congestion was a lot worse without proper notice. We can make people aware that they will need to plan additional travel time if given information in advance. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Any further impacts to the reliability of the transportation systems, especially bus and personal auto travel, will be a concern for clients. Added stress and level of frustration for our clients is an issue as they are already stressed to be seeking services. Many clients drive their own car or take buses and some use Hopelink transportation. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Being late for appointments is the main concern as we could keep clients waiting. Once again, this is already an issue as the system isn’t reliable. Advance notice of additional congestion would help us communicate with staff and encourage them to provide additional travel time. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? It would be great to be able to post something in our waiting room for clients to read. It could let them know what is happening, where and when as well as alternative routes in the area. Many come from out of the area a ways and they may not know how to travel in this area on local arterials rather than 405. Having accompanying handouts with alternative route maps would be great. Also translated versions. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? There is a major fundraising event but it occurs in downtown Seattle. Our clients do not attend. This occurs in April or May. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? The most common non-English language request is for Spanish at this location, can’t speak for the others. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-23 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? E-mail the office manager and the Branch director (see above). We have a weekly staff meeting where this information can be shared with staff. Communication with clients is only between the therapist and the client due to confidentiality requirements. This is why passive information available to those in the waiting room would work well. It is not likely that the therapist would discuss the project or even remember to encourage them to leave additional travel time etc. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Hopelink and our other eastside branches (see above) http://www.hope-link.org/takeaction/about APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-24 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Hopelink Agency: Hopelink Representative: Date: 5/23/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team Presentation and Discussion: Todd Merkens presented to several staff at the main Hopelink offices in Redmond, including Hopelink Transportation staff. At the meeting Mr. Merkens discussed the planning process to date for the I-405 program, funding that the program has received and detailed the planned improvements along I-405. He also talked about the importance of involving underrepresented groups and keeping them informed throughout the planning and construction phases. Mr. Merkens held a brief question and answer session with Hopelink staff. Concerns that were raised, besides timing of construction and paying for the increased taxes to fund the improvements, focused on construction delays. Hopelink runs several services throughout King County that depend of the freeway system to transport underrepresented populations. Hopelink staff noted the importance to coordination between the I-405 project and Hopelink staff to ensure they could adjust their services and information their clients when necessary. Hopelink staff also raised the concern of impacts to local streets, since those are also important in offering their services. Another issue was coordination with the bus systems. Several staff noted in the past, bus services were not well coordinated with and this had presented difficulties to their clients and staff. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-25 Jewish Family Services – 5/17/05 Agency: Jewish Family Services Representative: Sarah Johnson, Operations Assistant Date: 5/1705 Interviewer: Rebecca Baker, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? Jewish Family Service of Seattle began in 1892 with the sole purpose of absorbing eastern European and Sephardic Jewish refugees. The mission has expanded and includes a number of services for the general public. Programs include: Seniors program, Big Pals, Morris Polack Food Bank, Seattle Association for Jews with Disabilities, youth volunteers, Mitzvah Projects, Jewish Holiday Gift Baskets, Resettlement Program, Food Back Centerpiece Project, Multi- ethnic center in Bellevue. Of note: Morris Polack Food Bank is offered out of the Seattle location on Capitol Hill three days per week. Generally it is used one time a month and services those in 98121, 98122, 98101 zip codes. Current address identification is required. Resettlement Program provides ESL tutors needed for refugees and immigrants, they also visit families at home in Seattle or Bellevue. They offer citizenship classes, employment counseling, Multi-Ethnic Centers in Bellevue crossroads area and Kent have a front desk with volunteers who answer phones and have office staff to assist. JFS Multi-Ethnic Service Center - Bellevue 15821 NE 8th Street, Suite 210 Bellevue, WA 98008 (425) 643-2221 JFS Multi-Ethnic Service Center - Kent 1215 Central Avenue South, Suite 131 Kent, WA 98032 (253) 850-4065 2. Who are your constituents? Seattle low income residents, Seattle Jewish persons with disabilities, eastside refugees from Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Hispanic countries and east Africa. We serve a large Russian population. Those in need of social services range in age from seniors to children representing a range of ethnic diversity. 3. How do you provide the service? Counseling, Food bank, Employment assistance, Housing assistance, resettlement assistance (connecting into community services and resources, ESL, field trips for singles and kids, Jewish camp and scholarships. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-26 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Normal business hours, during holiday seasons we hold evening services. In summer, we have weekend summer camps and field trips. Tuesday afternoons in Bellevue and in the evening there are groups that meet, classes or counseling session. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Aware of the project but not the details. Ms. Baker gave an overview of the project and provided the project progress report folio handout. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? None at this time. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? No. Normal traffic congestion occurs in these areas now. Russian speakers or translated material to understand what is going on. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? None at this time. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? No. Translated information. Perhaps having a link to the project’s website from www.jfsseattle.org 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? None at this time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Russians, Hung, African speakers, mainly East African 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? E-mail and add us to your list serve: keara@jfsseattle.org. We could also display pamphlets in English and Russian. You could provide us with maps highlighting alternative routes or bus services so we can provide this information to those we serve prior to appointments or holiday celebrations. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? None at this time. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-27 King County Housing Authority Agency: King County Housing Authority Representative: Jeb Best, Richard Price, Date: 4/29/05 Interviewer: Colleen Gants, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The King County Housing Authority (KCHA) owns and manages 5,000 public housing units. They also provide rental assistance and federal Section 8 housing subsidies. 2. Who are your constituents? In Section 8 housing alone, there are 3. How do you provide the service? The King County Housing Authority owns and management properties, but they also provide asset management and purchase agreements to help keep rents down. They have about 50 employees working on Section 8 housing, with about 300 employees in total in all of KCHA. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Their services are in demand all year long. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Ms. Gants provided a details explanation of the planned improvements along I-405. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? The biggest concerns are commute times and missing appointments for staff and residents. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? The same at number (6). 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? The same at number (6). 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? They thought avoiding I-405 would be best. They have also explored having flexible work hours for staff. Maintaining communications is important. Options could include distributing information as tenants pay their monthly rents. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-28 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Not at this time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Russian, Ukrainian, Somali, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Keeping staff informed. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Renton Housing Authority, Seattle Housing Authority. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-29 Renton Area Youth and Family Services Agency: Renton Area Youth and Family Services Representative: Richard Brooks Date: 5/19/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? RAYS provides mental health services in Renton, Tukwila, and Skyway. 2. Who are your constituents? Constituents are children and other youth and their families, many of whom have been through difficult situations. Many of their constituents are lower income and some Hispanic families. 3. How do you provide the service? RAYS provides services from its own offices in downtown Renton and also partners very heavily with school districts. RAYS has staff in Renton and Tukwila, although staff does not commonly move between locations during the day. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Clients are served at their offices between 2 and 8 pm, Monday through Friday. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Brooks was very familiar with the I-405 program because of the bad history with the last round of improvements to I-405. Their location (1025 S. 3rd St, Renton) is right next to the freeway retaining wall, in facts somewhat falls in its shadow - any construction may have impacts to their space, especially implementation or other more long-term plans. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Services – RAYS has one access point out in front of their building and during the past improvements along I-405 this was not easily accessed and they also lost both phones and electricity quite often making it difficult and at times impossible to see their patients. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Access to their services is the number one concern, along with still having the electricity to continue offering the services. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Access is also the concern for staff. Mr. Brooks mentioned that he would rather close down for a period rather than deal with the troubles from the last I-405 improvements. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Having a good contact person was the best way Mr. Brooks thought to help solve any concerns. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-30 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Each year RAYS participates in fundraisers at both the Renton Community Center and the River Rock Golf Course. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? English is the most common language, but also some Spanish and Russian. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? It will be essential to keep Mr. Brooks informed so he can work with both their clients and his staff. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Ukrainian Community Center YWCA - Renton APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-31 Renton Housing Authority Agency: Renton Housing Authority Representative: Thomas Tasa Date: 5/18/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The Renton Housing Authority provides housing to residents in the Renton area. Because housing tends to be a generally complex concern, they are typically involved with many other life aspects of their residents. 2. Who are your constituents? Most of the residents are lower income, many are senior or those with fixed incomes. Residents also include families, immigrants, unemployed, and non-English speaking people. 3. How do you provide the service? The Renton Housing Authority owns 700 units that it leases. Of these units, 73 are for seniors in downtown Renton and the rest are the Highlands neighborhood. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Most of the residents have non-traditional work hours, and many are bus dependent, so while there may not be a specific time of day that is crucial, general access and transportation is important at all times. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Merkens spent some time explaining the upcoming work on I-405. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? It is important to maintain both auto and bus transportation options during construction. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? No unique issues. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? The Renton Housing Authority has 30 staff, of which 24 do not even drive on I-405 for work. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Keeping both staff and residents informed will be essential. Presentations may be possible to one or more resident facilities. Putting staff on the project newsletter will help keep them informed. Also, for non-English speakers, maps are important. It would also be possible to display information in the main lobby for the Renton Housing Authority. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-32 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? Not at this time. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Most common languages are: Spanish, Russian/Ukrainian, Ethiopian, and Somali. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Continue the communications. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Not at this time. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-33 Renton School District and Clothing Bank Agency: Renton School District and Clothing Bank Representative: Pat Auten, Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator Vice President of the Renton Clothes Bank Board Phone: 425-204-2325 Date: 4/29/05 Interviewer: Colleen Gants, Public Information, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? Spanning 32.5 square miles, Renton School District provides a safe and challenging learning environment for a diverse population of 13,000 students at 3 comprehensive high schools, 3 middle schools, 13 elementary schools, an early childhood center, and a special services center. Black River High School and Sartori Education Center provide eligible students the opportunity to complete high school in a smaller and more personalized setting. District programs also address the special needs of disabled, academically gifted, and artistically talented students. In her position, Pat coordinates volunteers, procures furniture, finds mentors, conducts backgrounders, and provides HIV health support. Pat noted some neighborhoods that were particularly needy to be: • Hazelwood (north of Kennydale) • Kennydale (39% free & reduced lunch) • Earlington on the West Hill (70% free & reduced lunch) • Talbot Hill • Rolling Hills (Ukrainian population) • Check the website for stats on free & reduced lunches The Renton Clothes Bank was founded in 1967 when women in the area saw a need to serve low-income families, especially children who did not have proper clothes to wear to school. The clothes are free to constituents, and must be clean and wearable. The clients come by referral from the Salvation Army, YWCA, and schools. The Clothes Bank has a shoe fund that is strictly money collected to purchase new shoes. The volunteers take the family out and buy new shoes that will fit and be appropriate for the need. 2. Who are your constituents? For the school district, Pat’s constituents are Renton residents – parents and children. There is definitely a multilingual culture in Renton, as the District boasts 57 different languages and cultures served. These language barriers have a huge impact every day, as the school district is challenged to communicate with these constituents. The District has a strong ESL program, and recently held a district-wide survey to recruit interpreters. There are cultural differences as well, such as the Ukrainian and Russian population seeing school as government, and getting frustrated. The school district recently installed a greenhouse, which the Ukrainians love since they are traditionally farmers. The Clothes Bank draws from an even larger area. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-34 Environmental Justice Discipline Report 3. How do you provide the service? Pat has volunteers in the schools and special-needs service employees who work with students in the schools. They operate the free and reduced lunch program and make referrals to other Renton services. The Clothes Bank provides all services in the Clothes Bank, unless they are taking someone outside to shop. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Everything runs on the school calendar, so September to June in the morning & afternoon commute times, is the busiest time. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Pat was pretty in-tune with what was happening on I-405, and was pleased to learn more about the details. She considers the I-405 improvements to be much-needed. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Right now, many of Pat’s clients are late for appointments because of freeway traffic and unreliable modes of transportation. The teachers are coming from as far north as Lynnwood, and a librarian is coming all the way from Tacoma to work in the Renton School District. Traffic on I-405 and SR 167 is an issue every day. The high school kids take the Metro and ST buses to get to school, so it can be a stressful experience if they are late due to traffic. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Regular communication and translation are key. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? See number 6 above. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Reach out to the Russian and Ukrainian populations through their churches and the Ukrainian Community Center in Kent. The School District has a newsletter that goes out to the elementary schools on a monthly basis. It’s directed at parents and teachers and would be a great way to get the word out on I-405 and construction activities. We would need to get approval from Mary Ann Dowd. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? See question 4 above. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-35 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? The School District serves 57 different languages. Ukrainian and Russian are growing quickly. Spanish is the highest percentage. They have a full-time Spanish interpreter, and a Spanish family liaison. Stats are on the web. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Pat recommended acquiring the Renton Resource Card, which is translated into 10 languages, to get an idea for how a translated piece can work. If you are going to translate anything, keep it at a 4th grade reading level. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Randy Matheson, PR Director for the School District. Susan Richards – 425-430-6656 is part the Executive Committee in Renton Schools, focusing on mentors. She’s a family liaison. The Provider’s Network has an email listserve that goes through City Hall. We should talk to Susan. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-36 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Renton Technical College Agency: Renton Technical College Representative: John Chadwick, Dean – Basic Studies / ESL Program Phone: 425-235-2464 Date: 4/20/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? General education and specialized trade education. 2. Who are your constituents? The general public. The median student age is about 30 years old. There are about 3,000 students and 250 staff. The student body is very diverse, and is at times minorities are as high as 70%. The college does serve undocumented residents. There are generally about 1,000 students in the ESL program at any given time. 3. How do you provide the service? There is a main campus at 3000 NE 4th St in Renton as well as satellite locations elsewhere in Renton, Kent, Seattle, Auburn, Tukwila and even Everett. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? During the day (Monday through Friday) classes start at 8:00 am, 11:30 am, 3:00 pm, and 6:00 pm (no evening class on Fridays). There are no classes on weekends. The college is closed typically from mid-August until mid-September. However, many of the off- campus classes continue year-round. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Chadwick was not familiar with the planned improvements on I-405. Mr. Merkens did provide him with project information materials and gave a brief verbal project overview. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Right now it is difficult for both students and staff to reliably make scheduled classes. Many students are traveling from jobs, and instructors are traveling from other teaching locations (either RTC satellite locations or other teaching jobs). Both students and instructors sometimes travel an hour one way in the middle of their day to make classes at RTC. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Any further impacts to the reliability of the transportation systems, especially bus and personal auto travel, will be a concern for students. Many students take the bus because parking is already such a concern that finding a spot on campus can be difficult. Reliability of service is important. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-37 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? Many of the staff participate in trip reduction programs, but many of the staff have dispersed travel destinations because of their classes (this is especially true of the ESL instructors) and such programs are not always convenient for them. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Any way to improve or at least not decrease the reliability of bus and personal auto travel would be important. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? There are several year events including a golf tournament, International Day (March 17), several general college open houses, and a celebrity chef fundraising event that happen three to four times a year. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? The most common non-English languages spoken by students are Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? There are both staff and student newsletters. Articles in the student newsletter does run in languages other than English. Work through the college Public Information Officer (Chuck Tierman – 425-235-2356) to help spread information to both students and staff. To reach staff specifically, contact the Human Resources Director (Glenda Mullowney – 425-235-7873). 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Northwest Area Foundation – Karen Adams, public health educator, 206-205-1706 ESL “Talk Time” at King County Libraries – Karen Hardman, 206-242-6044 APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-38 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Salvation Army – Renton Corps Community Center and Food Bank Agency: Salvation Army – Renton Corps Community Center and Food Bank Representative: Captain Christine Giffey-Brohaugh, Corps Officer Phone: 425-255-5969 Date: 5/6/05 Interviewer: Colleen Gants, Public Information, I-405 Project Team Erika Harris, Environmental Justice, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The Salvation Army, Renton Corps maintains a Food Bank that serves more than 11,000 clients each year in addition to providing electricity, water, emergency housing and rental assistance. Working in partnership with the community of Renton, South King County and other public and private agencies, The Salvation Army is raising capital funds for the creation of a new Food Bank and Social Service Center in order to more effectively serve the needy and working poor in the South King County area. This new facility will increase storage space, provide one center for screening and distribution of all clients, and provide a community center meeting the myriad of needs in our area. The new Food Bank is opening on June 22nd with a ceremony that will include Governor Christine Gregoire. 2. Who are your constituents? The Renton Food Bank serves 1000 families each month from Renton and Skyway. 3. How do you provide the service? The Renton Food Bank is located 4 blocks away from the Salvation Army office where we met Captain Christine. Right now, it’s just a food bank, except at Christmas time when they have gift items. The new building will have a free medical clinic each Saturday. Captain Christine’s office did a space study when they were planning for the new food bank building and most people wanted medical services. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Christmas is the busiest time of year (the number of families goes up from 1100 to 1300). During the year, it’s a Monday-Friday program, and critical for their drivers to know when certain roads might be closed. The food bank does not open until the driver opens with the food, so it’s important that he’s timely. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Christine asked for the full run-down of what would be happening on the I-405 corridor, especially in the Renton area. Erika and Colleen provided a detailed project update. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Christine has 5 staff who come from Auburn, Renton, and Burien – I-405 and SR 167 are a huge issue for them each day when they travel to and from work. There are about 20 volunteers each week that come to and from the Food Bank. The Food Bank has a critical employee in the truck driver who goes up to North Seattle once a week and down to Auburn APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-39 twice a week. He operates the “gleaning program” or Food Lifeline, where he picks up truckloads of food whenever there’s a surplus. He usually opens the Food Bank by 10 am, and it would disrupt their service if he was going to be late because of construction traffic on I-405. Christine will keep the truck driver informed via the regular Listserve that she’ll be receiving. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Most people take the bus or their cars to the Food Bank – gas prices and the new gas tax will definitely affect the services, as the Salvation Army gets many requests for gas vouchers. Many cars die out in front of the building. This is a fragile population – it doesn’t take much to add stress to their lives. Construction, gas prices, and disruptions in bus service will distress Christine’s clients. For some the physical burden of walking to the bus, sometimes carrying children, is stress enough. In particular, the bus service in the southend, namely between Kent and the Eastside is horrible. Kent is where the welfare office is located. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? See number 6 above. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? Reach out to the Russian and Ukrainian populations through their churches and the Ukrainian Community Center in Kent. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? See question 4 above. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? There are 52 different languages spoken in the Renton area. 5-%-60% of their clients are English as a Second Language (ESL) The Food Bank experiences many challenges from the language barrier, and still interested in hiring staff that can speak another language. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Put Christina on the Listserve. Make a personal visit to the Food Bank to talk with constituents (do this before they move!) 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? Christine is also President of Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches (REACH), a leadership board made up of 38 lay people and pastors, serving the Renton and Skyway areas. They sponsor a soup kitchen in the Highlands. Bill Stanley is the man to contact to get REACH on our Listserve, and from there, the recipients will forward out to their church listserve. Christine recommends getting a format ready that we can put in Sunday bulletins. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-40 Environmental Justice Discipline Report Ukrainian Community Center – Renton 6/14/05 Agency: Ukrainian Community Center Representative: Andrew Kritovich Phone: 425-430-8229 Date: 6/14/05 Interviewer: Todd Merkens, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? The Ukrainian Community Center offers support services, mostly immigration and naturalization assistance. Additional services include medical social work and other counseling. 2. Who are your constituents? Their constituents are mostly refugees from Ukraine who live around King County, but also those from both Snohomish and Pierce Counties. The center currently has about 3,000 people they are working with for direct services. 3. How do you provide the service? The center itself is located in Renton and their four staff work out of this office to provide services. They also work closely with local schools to help provide assistance to families with currently enrolled children. Additionally, the center works with many location stores that specialize in Ukrainian foods. 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e., times during the day or year)? Their services tend to fluctuate throughout the year, and it depends on many concerns. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? Mr. Kritovich did not have a good understanding of the projects, but Mr. Merkens was able to provide him with information and a quick briefing on the previous planning process and the upcoming improvements. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? The biggest concern for Mr. Kritovich is the ability to continue to drive I-405 so that there is no impact to freeway service during construction. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Of the people served by the center, their use of transportation facilities depends on their age. For those younger people, they mostly drive. The older clients tend to rely more on public transportation. The later is especially important as it relates to I-405 during construction because many of the elderly people travel to Bellevue by bus for medical appointments. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? The same as already mentioned; maintaining traffic flow during construction. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-41 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? See above (minimize construction impacts). 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? None. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Ukrainian and Russian are the most common. Occasionally they serve people who speak other languages, but not many. 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? The best way to involve the center moving forward is to include them on the email newsletter list and to provide them with either Ukrainian or Russian language materials. It would be ideal to have materials that are simple, with dates that show when improvements are happening. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? None. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-42 Environmental Justice Discipline Report YWCA of South King County Agency: YWCA of South King County Representative: Linda Rasmussen, Regional Director Phone: 425-226-1266 Date: 4/29/05 Interviewer: Colleen Gants, Public Information, I-405 Project Team 1. What service does your organization provide? AGENCY MISSION: The mission of the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County is to advance the quality of life for women of all ages, races and faiths, and their families. In support of this mission, the YWCA provides services to meet critical needs, promote self sufficiency, and achieve equal opportunities for all people. The YWCA takes pride in the cost-effectiveness and success of these services. Met with several staff people: Primary Contact: Linda Rasmussen, Regional Director Celia Forrest, Director, Domestic Violence Services Gina Custer, Director, Emergency & Transitional Housing Laura Law, Director, Housing Support Services Phone: (425) 226-1266 Phone: (425) 226-1266, ext. 1012 Address: 1010 South 2nd Renton, WA 98055 Fax: (425) 226-2995 Website: www.ywcaworks.org 2. Who are your constituents? The YWCA was established in 1894 in downtown Seattle, and serves low-income women and children in the Pacific Northwest. Staff work with the women to help them find housing, get employed, and stay healthy. The constituents are those least able to do well in society. 3. How do you provide the service? The YWCA provides its services in a variety of ways – many constituents come to their South County facility, while others receive personal visits from the staff at their homes and at off-site service providers. YWCA staff drives around quite a bit, so mileage charges, gas prices, and congestion are major factors to the success of their work. Gina Custer works in transitional housing and the Y provides 14 units of emergency housing (homeless, shelters with mothers & children). They operate 39 transitional units – neither Gina nor Linda felt that the facilities were close enough to I-405 to be closely impacted. The YWCA sponsors training, GED, vocational classes, and a work source site at the Renton Technical College. The Renton Work Source is on Grady Way. In Burien, the YWCA operates Park Lake Home and Green Bridge (HOPE VI) Public Housing. There, they offer staff services, ESL classes, and basic education. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-43 4. Are there periods of time that are crucial to the services you provide (i.e.,: times during the day or year)? Staff is driving around town all during the day and clients are coming in all throughout the day and into the evening. There are no major events, but day-to-day operations could be impacted by a shutdown on I-405 or significant changes in bus service. 5. Do you feel you have a good understanding of the improvements planned on I-405? Do you have any questions about the details of the project improvements, the project schedule, or the upcoming construction? I had a meeting with all the staff to go over the changes & improvements expected on I-405. They listened intently and were supportive of improvements being made. They are particularly concerned about the SR 167 interchange. 6. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your service(s)? Transportation is definitely a concern – the Y gets so many requests for gas vouchers. There’s an emergency shelter in Kent, Family Village in Bellevue – with the poor-quality vehicles their clients have, they have broken down in between. Many of the medical services are in Bellevue, so southend constituents have to travel all the way up – many times they don’t have a car. They have to take the bus or use a taxi. The YWCA believes that taxi drivers should get to use the HOV lane on their way to pick up a constituent – some have waited 2 hours for the taxi to show up, and they never show. They just get stuck in traffic and give up. Poor bus service in the southend puts residents in cars more than they would like, but they have no other choice. Linda Rasmussen was on a committee to improve bus service in the southend, but there wasn’t enough money to actually implement many of their ideas. With added construction delay, it will be hard for people to plan ahead. 7. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on the people you serve? Keeping their constituents informed about what’s happening on I-405 and being proactive so they can plan their trips ahead of time. CAN WSDOT LINK CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ON A MAP TO THE TRAFFIC FLOW MAP? The increased gas tax will be hard on their constituents. It’ll be harder to afford the gas vouchers. 8. What are your concerns regarding the project’s potential effects on your staff and/or volunteers? See number 6 above. Gina lives on Renton Hill and says that trees around her home were cut down and the noise level is now very high. The new construction will just make it worse. 9. Do you have any suggestions for ways the project could make up for or fix the effects to your services, constituents or staff? BRT would be great, making it so parents with small children wouldn’t have to wait long hours to catch the bus. Regular buses would take some of the stress related to “being on time” out of their constituents’ day. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project A-44 Environmental Justice Discipline Report One idea Linda had was to design a keyboard strip for computers in libraries that have some of the key upcoming dates – perhaps WSDOT could design something like this to incorporate several of their projects. 10. Does your organization sponsor any special events or fundraisers that may be affected by the project? See question 4 above. 11. What languages do the people you serve speak? Many different languages, much like the other Renton organizations (Spanish, Ukrainian, Chinese, etc.) 12. What is the most effective way to continue to involve and inform your organization in the project as it moves forward? Linda and the other staff people were very interested in being part of the e-newsletter listserve. All 3 would like to be on the listserve. They will distribute the information to their staff & constituents. 13. Are there other organizations that you suggest we speak with or include in the project’s outreach activities? No. APPENDIX A SERVICE PROVIDER INTERVIEWS Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report A-45 APPENDIX B Public Schools in the Study Area Renton Nickel Improvement Project Environmental Justice Discipline Report B-1 Exhibit B-1 Public Schools in the Study Area Renton Senior High School Sartori Education Center Talbot Hill Elementary School Tukwila Elementary Total Students 942 144 482 428 White 232 87 227 173 25% 60% 47% 40% Black 327 29 61 68 35% 20% 13% 16% Asian 278 19 117 96 30% 13% 24% 22% American Indian/Alaska 20 3 9 5 2% 2% 2% 1% Hispanic 85 6 68 86 9% 4% 14% 20% Low-income1 397 Not 166 261 42% Available 34% 61% Note: 1Low-income is represented by students eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program. Source: National Center for Education Statistics2