391 Alternative For The Y2-Y3 Corridor
City of Yelm
Resolution No. 391
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YELM RECOMMENDING THE
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR THE Y2/Y3 CORRIDOR DESCRIBED IN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER, 1999 IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.
WHEREAS, there is severe congestion on the only existing east-west corridor through the City
of Yelm (Yelm Avenue, also referred to as SR 507 and SR 510) and is anticipated to worsen to
unacceptable levels by design year 2020; and
WHEREAS, the 1995 City of Yelm Comprehensive Plan and Joint Plan with Thurston County
has identified the need for the Y2/Y3 corridor in lieu of widening the existing highway SR 510
and SR 507 through the downtown area of the City of Yelm; and
WHEREAS, the City assembled a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) to recommend goals
and objectives as well as guide the development and evaluation of alternatives to alleviate
congestion in and around the City of Yelm; and
WHEREAS, the TAC established goals and objectives for the project that should be designed
to:
a) Provide alimited-access regional corridor to reduce current congestion on SR
507/SR510 (First Street, and Yelm Avenue), the only existing continuous east-west
corridor through the City of Yelm.
b) Provide a facility with design speeds of 50 mph and with intersections spaced two miles
apart.
c) Allow for interconnection of existing streets to-accommodate travel in and around the
core area of the City.
d) Provide a transportation system that provides efficient mobility of freight to all industrial
and commercial areas of the City.
e) Provide a safe, efficient, and cost effective transportation circulation system for the
movement of freight, services, and people to and through the City of Yelm without
relying on Yelm Avenue to make those connections.
f) Provide a transportation system that would be consistent with the Washington State
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Route Development Plans (RDP) for SR 507
and SR 510, which recommend alternate corridors to circulate around the downtown
core area of the City of Yelm.
g) Minimize impacts on schools, parks, and recreational facilities along the existing
corridor.
WHEREAS, the engineering studies have examined a number of Y2/Y3 route alternatives, and
WHEREAS, a new Y2/Y3 corridor project must address the environmental impacts in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and
WHEREAS, an Environmental Assessment document which described the Alternatives
Analysis Process, Preferred Y2/Y3 Alternative and No Build Alternative was prepared for public
and agency review; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was conducted on October 20, 1999 to present the project
alternatives and hear public testimony on the project; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to act quickly to proceed with the next steps to relieve uncertainty
and minimize impacts for those whose homes and properties may be affected, and
WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL Highway Administration (.FHWA) who retains approval authority of
the document has requested the City to recommend a preferred alternative and Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) prior to FHWA final approval of the document and issuance of a
FONSI; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YELM DO HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
The preferred Alternative is consistent with the 1995 City of Yelm Comprehensive Plan
and Joint Plan with Thurston Counfy, and
2. The City of Yelm recommends FHWA issuance of a Finding of No Significant Impact for
the Preferred Y2/Y3 Alternative as described in the Environmental Assessment.
Adopted by the City Council and Signed by the Mayor this 8th day of December, 1999.
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Kat ryn M. olf, Mayor
Attest/authentication:
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Agn ' P. Bennick, City Clerk/Treasurer