HomeMy WebLinkAbout1433RESOLUTION NO. Jt/33
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of
the City of Kent, Washington, authorizing City
staff to submit an application to the Washington
Utilities and Transportation Commission to seek a
determination that an above-grade railroad
crossing should be constructed as part of the City's
proposed 196th Street Corridor.
WHEREAS, the Green River Valley in the City of Kent, and also the cities of Renton
and Auburn, has experienced significant, unprecedented growth and urbanization in the second
half of the twentieth century and should continue to experience similar urbanization and
growth well into the twenty-first century; and
WHEREAS, this valley area, specifically including and affecting the City of Kent, has
developed significant commercial and industrial centers in Kent, Tukwila, Renton and Auburn
that serve the greater Seattle region, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Rim nations; and
WHEREAS, as part of this urbanization and growth, the City, neighboring
jurisdictions, the State of Washington and other regional agencies have developed major
transportation routes, including the I-5 and I-405 corridors, SR 18 and SR 167, and the East
and West Valley Highways, all of which serve these commercial and industrial centers, the
greater Seattle region, the Pacific Northwest, and the Pacific Rim nations through the ports of
Seattle and Tacoma; and
WHEREAS, the City of Kent and other local jurisdictions within the Green River
Valley support these major transportation routes with a network of major and minor arterial
roadways; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Kent's transportation and utility infrastructure within the
Green River Valley serves and will continue to serve as a crucial link to the flow of commerce
in this significant region; and
WHEREAS, the current roadway infrastructure within the City's Green River Valley
area does not sufficiently serve local and regional needs for efficient east-west transportation in
a manner that effectively accommodates this unprecedented urbanization and growth; and
WHEREAS, in order to address the established need for improved east-west
transportation facilities in and across the Green River Valley, the City, both on its own and in
conjunction with neighboring cities, Metropolitan King County, and the State of Washington,
has undertaken various studies and developed various plans to address these needs; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these studies and plans, which are ongoing in nature, the
City, in cooperation with neighboring cities, Metropolitan King County, and the State of
Washington, has determined the need for certain east-west highway arterial corridors across
the Green River Valley; and
WHEREAS, one of the east-west corridors proposed for development as a result of
these studies is the City's proposed II 196th Street Corridor, II which shall extend from the East
Valley Highway on the east to Orillia Road on the west; and
WHEREAS, the City is currently conducting environmental review in the form of an
Environmental Impact Statement on the 196th Street Corridor, which evaluates the significant
impacts and proposed mitigation measures for this project; and
WHEREAS, the City's proposed 196th Street Corridor project will cross the north-
south mainline routes routes of the Union Pacific Railroad Company (one mainline track) and
the Burlington Northern Railroad Company (two mainline tracks)
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WHEREAS, the City, and in fact most of the Green River Valley, is bisected by the
north-south mainline routes of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Burlington
Northern Railroad Company; and
WHEREAS, rail traffic in the City of Kent and the Green River Valley has also
increased concurrently with this unprecedented urbanization and growth, forming part of the
overall transportation network that facilitates and serves this commercial and industrial certter;
and
WHEREAS, rail traffic in the City of Kent and the Green River Valley is expected to
increase in the future and, in particular, passenger rail traffic is expected to increase
significantly over one or more of these north-south rail mainlines through "heavy rail"
passenger commuter service, which will likely be implemented as part of an overall regional
effort to mitigate existing and future traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, the construction of rail spur tracks from these mainlines that serve
railroad customers in the City of Kent and the Green River Valley has also significantly
increased, along with rail traffic on these spurs, in order to serve the businesses that have
located here, by supplying those businesses with materials and supplies and by distributing
their products; and
WHEREAS, no grade separated railroad crossings of any east-west routes across these
north-south railroad mainlines exist within the city limits of the City of Kent; and
WHEREAS, no grade separated railroad crossings of any east-west routes in the Green
River Valley across these north-south railroad mainline routes exist from I-405 in the City of
Renton to 15th Street NW in the City of Auburn, which area encompasses the majority of the
urbanized Green River Valley; and
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WHEREAS, the lack of any grade separated crossings in Kent and most of the Green
River Valley, in light of the increased traffic from the significant growth and urbanization that
has and will continue to occur in this area, has caused significant increases in rail and
vehicular traffic congestion at existing at-grade crossings, thereby constituting a public life and
safety hazard not only for the citizens of this region, but also for the respective railroad
companies; and
WHEREAS, the lack of any grade separated crossings in Kent and the Green River
Valley, in light of the increased traffic from the significant growth that has and will continue
to occur in this area, has caused significant increases in rail and vehicular traffic congestion at
existing at-grade crossings, thereby impeding the efficient flow of vehicular traffic in this area
and restricting the travelling speeds of rail traffic in this area; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that the development of grade separated rail
crossings over certain east-west routes is necessary for the public health, safety and welfare;
and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that constructing a grade separated crossing at an
existing east-west route would cause the City to temporarily close that east-west crossing (and
temporarily close access from adjoining collector arterials) during construction, thereby
creating an unacceptable obstruction to traffic flows in the region, because the existing east-
west corridors cannot adequately serve existing demands; and
WHEREAS, the City's proposed 196th Street Corridor, if adopted following
completion of the environmental review process, would create a new right of way over that
portion of 196th Street affecting the railroad mainlines; and
WHEREAS, construction of an above-grade crossing as part of the 196th Street
Corridor would not affect current traffic flow on existing east -west routes or their connecting
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collector arterials during construction of the above-grade crossing, because the 196th Street
crossing would be part of an entirely new route in the crossing area; and
WHEREAS, construction of an at-grade crossing on the City's proposed 196th Street
Corridor would only further degrade the City's, the railroads' and the region's transportation
and public safety problems; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the City should construct an above-
grade overpass crossing for that portion of the City's proposed 196th Street Corridor where
the railroad tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Burlington Northern
Railroad Company intersect the City's proposed roadway. NOW, THEREFORE,
The City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, does hereby resolve as follows:
Section 1. The City Council finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct in all
respects and are incorporated into the body of this Resolution.
Section 2. The City should construct an above-grade railroad overpass crossing for
that portion of the City's proposed 196th Street Corridor where the railroad tracks of the
Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Burlington Northern Railroad Company intersect the
City's proposed roadway.
Section 3. The City of Kent, on its own and in conjunction with various other
agencies, has conducted feasibility studies and environmental review related to the construction
of an at-grade crossing or an underpass, and the City has determined that an at-grade crossing
or an underpass is not practical or feasible.
Section 4. In order to promote public safety, the flow of vehicular traffic, the flow of
rail traffic, and the flow of commerce in the City of Kent and throughout the region, the
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construction of an overpass over the tracks of the Burlington Northern Railroad Company and
the Union Pacific Railroad Company as part of the City's proposed 196th Street Corridor
would be the most feasible and financially sound alternative.
Section 5. The City of Kent, pursuant to Chapter 81.53 of the Revised Code of
Washington (particularly including, without limitation, RCW 81.53.020, -.030, -.060, -.110,
and -.130), shall file a proper application with the Washington Utilities and Transportation
Commission for authority to construct an overpass for vehicular traffic over the railroad tracks
of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Burlington Northern Railroad Company where
those tracks intersect the City's proposed roadway.
Section 6. The City Council's determination to file this application before the
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission constitutes additional preliminary
planning as authorized under WAC 197-11-070(4). The City is not at this time committing
itself to proceed with its 196th Street Corridor project. The City will decide whether or not
to proceed with the construction of the 196th Street Corridor following completion of the
environmental review process.
Passed at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, this
?o day of o-~ , 1995.
Concurred in by the Mayor of the City of Kent, this ..2/ day o(} tvv-J-· ,
1995.
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ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. I Lf 3 3
passed by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, on the d-0 day of
(} L• /l6JI..---, 1995.
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