TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Supplemental Information on the Salem River Crossing Project for Council Work Session on January 30, 2019
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Welcoming and Livable Community; Strong and Diverse Economy; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure; Natural Environment Stewardship; Good Governance.
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ISSUE:
Provide Council with information regarding the Salem River Crossing Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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SUMMARY:
On January 18, 2019, Councilors received a future report in preparation for the January 30, 2019, Salem River Crossing Project work session. The report included a document titled, “Salem River Crossing Project: Questions and Answers,” which contains answers to 134 questions, over half of which had been submitted in advance by Councilors. Since promulgating the report, additional questions have been received. The answers to those questions are the subject of this report.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Council will hold a work session on January 30, 2019, to discuss options regarding how to proceed with the Salem River Crossing Project. This report supplements the information provided to Council on January 18, 2019.
BACKGROUND:
The immediate issue before Council is the incomplete Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Salem River Crossing Project. The next step toward completing the FEIS requires Council action to address a remand issued in 2017 by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, and for the City to concur with the preliminary finding by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concerning the impacts of the Salem River Crossing Project on Wallace Marine Park.
Depending on how Council chooses to proceed and the subsequent actions of the Oregon Department of Transportation and FHWA, it is anticipated that FHWA will either issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that will support construction in the future of a new bridge and related approaches and roadways-currently the “Preferred Alternative”- or issue an ROD stating nothing is to be constructed, the latter being called the “No Build Alternative.”
The FHWA Administrator has advised ODOT and the City that a definitive statement from Council indicating whether or not it intends to proceed toward completing the FEIS must be received by FHWA by mid-February 2019.
This report supplements the information provided to Council on January 18, 2019.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachment:
1. Salem River Crossing Project: Questions and Answers (Supplemental Report dated January 30, 2019)