Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................i I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION A. Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 B. Project Location, Length and Termini ...........................................................................................1 C. Scope of the Proposed Project........................................................................................................ 2 D. Project Funding................................................................................................................................5 E. Jurisdiction...................................................................................................................................... 6 II. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT A. Purpose.............................................................................................................................................9 B. Transportation and Other Needs......................................................................................................9 1. Project History and Status....................................................................................................9 2. Functional Classification....................................................................................................11 3. Current and Projected Road Use........................................................................................11 4. Current and Future Level of Service (LOS).......................................................................13 5. Roadway and Bridge Deficiencies.....................................................................................15 6. Road Condition...................................................................................................................21 C. Safety.............................................................................................................................................22 1. Accident History of the Project Area.................................................................................22 D. Legislation Mandating Action.......................................................................................................26 E. Overall Conclusions on Need........................................................................................................26 III. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED A. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................27 B. No Action Alternative....................................................................................................................27 C. Preferred Action/Associated Features...........................................................................................28 1. Overview..........................................................................................................................28 2. Design Speed/Posted Speed Limits.................................................................................29 3. Horizontal and Vertical Alignments................................................................................30 4. Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road Intersection..................................................31 5. Other Intersections and Approaches................................................................................31 6. Typical Road Cross-Sections...........................................................................................32 7. Bridges and Culverts/Drainage........................................................................................36 8. Traffic Signals and Lighting............................................................................................36 9. Access Control and Management....................................................................................37 10. Highway Right-of-Way and Utilities..............................................................................38 11. Miscellaneous Features....................................................................................................38 D. Design Options Considered But Rejected.....................................................................................40 1. Incorporation of Other Roadside Features in the Commercial/Residential Section.......................................................................................40 E. Location Alternatives Considered But Rejected...........................................................................41 1. Reconstruct the Rural Section of Canyon Ferry Road Following the Existing Centerline.....................................................................................41 2. Offset Canyon Ferry Road to the North Between the Helena Valley Canal and Hart Lane..............................................................................................41 - i - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment Page No. 3. Reconstruct the Commercial/Residential Section of Canyon Ferry Road on an Offset Alignment............................................................................................42 F. Other Layouts Eliminated for the Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road Intersection..........42 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATING MEASURES A. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................54 B. Impacts to the Natural Environment..............................................................................................54 1. Impacts to Landforms, Geology and Soils........................................................................54 2. Impacts to Important Farmland.........................................................................................56 3. Impacts to Water Resources and Quality..........................................................................58 4. Floodplain Impacts............................................................................................................63 5. Air Quality Impacts...........................................................................................................66 6. Impacts to Vegetation........................................................................................................68 7. Impacts to Wetlands...........................................................................................................70 8. Impacts to Threatened and Endangered Wildlife..............................................................73 9. Impacts to Other Wildlife and Fisheries Resources..........................................................77 C. Impacts to the Human and Cultural Environment.........................................................................80 1. Land Use Impacts.............................................................................................................80 2. Right-of-Way and Utility Impacts....................................................................................82 3. Transportation/Circulation Impacts..................................................................................85 4. Social Impacts/Environmental Justice..............................................................................86 5. Economic Impacts.............................................................................................................88 6. Noise Impacts....................................................................................................................90 7. Hazardous Substances......................................................................................................93 8. Impacts to Cultural, Archaeological/Historical Resources..............................................96 9. Section 4(f) Impacts.........................................................................................................98 10. Section 6(f) Lands............................................................................................................99 11. Pedestrian and Bicyclist Facilities..................................................................................99 12. Impacts to Visual Resources.........................................................................................101 13. Secondary and Cumulative Impacts.............................................................................102 14. Construction Impacts....................................................................................................106 15. Permits Required...........................................................................................................108 V. COORDINATION WITH OTHERS A. Agency Coordination ..................................................................................................................109 1. Cooperating Agencies......................................................................................................109 2. Agencies Consulted.........................................................................................................109 B. Public Involvement Activities......................................................................................................110 1. Project Notices/Early Project Meetings...........................................................................110 2. November 14, 2001 Public Meeting ...............................................................................110 3. Project Scoping Comments.............................................................................................111 4. June 3, 2002 Public Meeting...........................................................................................113 5. Personal Contacts with Landowners...............................................................................113 6. Planned Public Involvement Activities...........................................................................113 C. Distribution List for Document ...................................................................................................115 D. List of Agencies With Jurisdiction and/or Permits Required......................................................124 E. List of Other Agencies, Persons, or Groups Contacted or That Have Contributed Information.........................................................................................124 - ii - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment APPENDICES APPENDIX A: List of Preparers APPENDIX B: Correspondence Pertinent to Project APPENDIX C: Public Involvement APPENDIX D: "Nationwide" Section 4(f) Evaluation Form and Attachments LIST OF FIGURES AND PHOTO PLATES Page No. Figure 1: Regional Location Map ...........................................................................................................3 Figure 2: Project Area Map .....................................................................................................................4 Figure 3: Accident History Map ............................................................................................................23 Figure 4: Proposed Alignment and Typical Road Cross-Sections........................................................33 Figure 5. Proposed Reconfiguration of Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road Intersection.........34 Figure 6. Alternate Alignments Considered for Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road Intersection Reconfiguration..................................................................................................45 Figure 7: Irrigation Crossings and Bridges along Canyon Ferry Road ................................................60 Figure 8: Floodplains in the Vicinity of Canyon Ferry Road ...............................................................65 Photo Plate 1: Photographs of the Canyon Ferry Road Corridor ...................................................................7 Photo Plate 2: Photographs of the Canyon Ferry Road Corridor....................................................................8 Photo Plate 3: Photographs Illustrating Deficiencies and Reconstruction Needs ........................................17 Photo Plate 4: Photographs Illustrating Deficiencies and Reconstruction Needs ........................................18 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Current and Future Traffic Volumes– Canyon Ferry Road .................................................12 Table 2: Level of Service (LOS) Descriptions ....................................................................................13 Table 3: Bridge Locations, Types, and Sufficiency Ratings – Canyon Ferry Road ...........................21 Table 4: Accident Summary (1991-2001) Canyon Ferry Road Corridor (RP 1.0 to RP 9.241) ..............................................................................................................24 Table 5: Comparison of Environmental Effects of Preferred Action Versus Other Alternates Considered for Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road Intersection ...............................47 Table 6: Species, Habitat and Potential Occurrence of Threatened or Endangered Wildlife in the Canyon Ferry Road Project Area ..................................................................74 Table 7: Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) ..........................................................................................91 Table 8: Underground Storage Tank (UST) Facilities in the Project Area .........................................94 Table 9: Archaeological and Historical Sites - Canyon Ferry Road Corridor ....................................97 - iii - Canyon Ferry Road STPS 430-1(5) 1; Control No. 4480 Environmental Assessment I. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment I. Description of the Proposed Action A. Introduction The MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDT), in cooperation with Lewis & Clark County, plans to reconstruct 13.6 kilometers (km) or about 8.4 miles, of Montana Secondary Route 430 ("S-430") also known as Canyon Ferry Road. The project also involves limited work on Montana Secondary Route 284 (known as "S-284" or Spokane Creek Road) south of the intersection of these routes. The state's Secondary Highway System consists of over 7,578 km (4,709 miles) of transportation routes of regional and local importance. The proposed reconstruction is being administered under a project designated by MDT as "Canyon Ferry Road" [Project Number STPS 430-1(5) 1, Control Number 4480]. If advanced, MDT would implement the proposed highway improvements under one or more construction projects depending on the availability of funding. For simplicity, references to "Canyon Ferry Road" in this document mean all portions of S-430 and S-284 included within the limits of this proposed project. References made to "Spokane Creek Road" mean the portion of S-284 located south of the intersection of S-430 and S-284. MDT and Lewis and Clark County have proposed reconstructing Canyon Ferry Road due to the safety concerns associated with the design of the present roadway, its deteriorated condition, and the continuing increases in traffic on the road. There is also a desire to provide a traffic facility more compatible with the type of development that has and will likely occur along the route. The Canyon Ferry Road project is not intended to induce any new growth or development, but merely keep pace with the traffic generated, in part, by the growth that is already occurring and will occur with or without the improved roadway. This Environmental Assessment (EA) addresses the potential environmental effects of improving Canyon Ferry Road. MDT, through the assistance of an engineering consultant, has initiated project development and preliminary design activities for this proposed project. This early project work is essential for determining the most appropriate design and location for the reconstructed road, identifying the actions and activities associated with reconstructing the highway, and for helping to predict the impacts of rebuilding this portion of Canyon Ferry Road. References in this document to the "proposed project" or "proposed action" refer specifically to the improvements and activities associated with the Canyon Ferry Road project. Text references to the "project corridor" refer to the existing section of the Canyon Ferry Road highway and immediately adjacent lands affected by the proposed reconstruction. B. Project Location, Length and Termini Project Area Location. The project area occurs in the southeastern portion of Lewis and Clark County, Montana beginning about 1.6 km (1 mile) northeast of the corporate limits of the City of Helena. At its nearest location, the Town of East Helena is about 2.4 km (1.5 miles) - 1 - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment south of the proposed project. The general location of the project area in Montana and in Lewis and Clark County is shown in FIGURE 1. The Canyon Ferry Road project corridor is located in Sections 13, 14, 15, 22, 23 and 24 of Township-10-North, Range-3-West, M.P.M. and Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 of Township-10-North, Range-2-West, M.P.M., and Section 18 of Township-10-North, Range-1-West, M.P.M. The Canyon Ferry Road project corridor is comprised of two distinctly different areas of roadside development -- a residential/commercial section and a rural section. The residential/commercial section of the corridor, which extends from the project's beginning to Lake Helena Drive at RP 4.1, is located in generally level terrain and lands adjacent to the highway have been developed to a moderate density with numerous residential subdivisions, commercial establishments, and industrial uses. Major intersecting roads in this section include Wylie Drive, Valley Drive, and Lake Helena Drive. The rural section (RP 4.1 to the project end) passes through rolling terrain with development consisting of scattered residences and farm and ranch land. A cluster of residences and a business exist near the intersection of Canyon Ferry Road and Spokane Creek Road. Other than Spokane Creek Road, the other major intersecting roads in this section include Diehl Drive/R Drive, Hart Lane, Eames Lane and Keir Lane. Holmberg Drive accesses a major rural subdivision in the rural section of the corridor. Project Termini. MDT's proposed Canyon Ferry Road project begins at Reference Post (RP) 1.205 on S-430 near the City of Helena’s water treatment plant and extends easterly for about 13.6 km (8.4 miles) to end near RP 9.6 east of the present intersection of Canyon Ferry Road and (Spokane Creek Road). FIGURE 2 shows the specific sections of S-430 and S-284 proposed for reconstruction under the Canyon Ferry Road project. PHOTO PLATES 1 and 2 show typical landscapes in the project area. C. Scope of the Proposed Project This project involves reconstructing the existing bituminous surfaced roadway to meet current MDT Road Design Standards for Rural Major Collectors. In general, the proposed Canyon Ferry Road reconstruction project would: widen the existing 7.2 m (24-foot) two-lane facility to include new surfacing with wider shoulders and turn lanes at appropriate locations; improve the configurations and layouts of major intersections; and alter the road's grades and horizontal alignment to provide desirable sight distances. The project would be designed to meet all MDT standards for Rural Major Collectors with similar traffic volumes and design speeds. - 2 - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment HELENA I-15Begin Project 280 York Road Wylie Drive Valley Drive Helena Drive Irrigation CCanalanyon FRReeegsreurrlayvoti niRrg oad Sp enaL rieK CanyoTnRo FeCsearernryyv ooRinro Faderry 430 Roadokane C End Project re e Helena k Helena Regional Airport Prickly Pear Creek East HLakeelena R284 N Figure 1 oad Map Not To Scale Project STPS 430-1(5)1 Regional Location Map - 3 - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment Commercial/Residential Section Begin Canyon Ferry Road Project (RP 1.205) 1) 4. I-15 OOPrnfo eHje eMcltei lnea E ast 280 Y ork R o a d Dr. (RP 1.0) Drive (RP 2.0) Drive (RP 3.1) ena Drive (RP alter Wylie alley Hel W V 430 Continued Below e Helena Regional Airport Prickly Pear Creek Lak East Helena Helena 2) 8. Helena Drive Irrigation Canal RP 4.77) RReegseurlavotinirg Hart Lane (RP 7.2) Eames Lane (RP (RP 9.241) KeirLane C a nTyRoo neC sFaeernrvyrooyi rn RFoearrdy ( Spo Project End k a n (RP 4.851 on S-284) Continued Dr. e C Above Diehl reek o=n ASp-4p3ro0x . RP 9.605 e k a L 284 R o a d Rural Section N Map Not To Scale Figure 2 Project Area Map - 4 - Canyon Ferry Road; STPS 430-1(5) 1 Environmental Assessment The new alignment for Canyon Ferry Road would typically follow the existing road's alignment from the project's beginning to Lake Helena Drive. Curb and gutter and a storm water runoff collection system would be provided within the residential/commercial section of the project corridor between Wylie and Lake Helena Drives. The area behind the curb and gutter in this section would also graded, topsoiled and seeded. This would allow easy construction of sidewalks with minimal disturbances should these features be installed under a separate future project. Installation of a traffic signal is proposed at the Wylie Drive intersection. The Valley Drive intersection would be reconstructed to facilitate the installation of a future signal when warrants are met. East of Lake Helena Drive, the new road would be reconstructed to a "rural" design with horizontal alignment shifts, flatter roadside slopes, and ditches along the highway. Sharp curves and the vertical alignment of the road in this area of Canyon Ferry Road would be modified to meet MDT's geometric design criteria. The intersection at Canyon Ferry Road with Spokane Creek Road would also be substantially reconfigured to improve safety. The proposed project would include acquiring additional right-of-way for the highway, relocating conflicting utilities, clearing and grubbing, grading, surface drainage, plant mix surfacing, replacing existing bridges and culverts, signing and striping, seeding, fencing and other miscellaneous items. The Canyon Ferry Road project would also include limited access control to help alleviate traffic conflicts, improve safety, and provide for more uniform traffic flows. Access control may involve adjusting approach locations for safer alignments, eliminating unnecessary approaches, and combining multiple approaches. The Helena Valley Canal Bridge (located at RP 4.77, east of Lake Helena Drive), the "No Name" Spring Creek Bridge (located at RP 8.68), a dual culvert installation at Spokane Creek (RP 8.97), a small irrigation canal structure at about RP 2.1, and a cast-in-place concrete stockpass at RP 7.5 would be replaced with the proposed project. A bridge spanning the Helena Valley Canal near the east project terminus would also need replacement due to the proposed modifications at the Canyon Ferry Road/Spokane Creek Road intersection. New structures or pipes would be built on or near the alignments of the existing structures. Affected irrigation facilities would also be replaced under this project. Additional details about the proposed improvements and alternatives considered are included in Part III of this document. D. Project Funding The proposed improvements would be financed under Montana's Surface Transportation Program Secondary (STPS) with funds from the Federal Highway Trust Fund. STPS funding is about 87 percent federal with a 13 percent state match. These funds are currently available through the TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (TEA-21) and are administered by the FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA). TEA-21, enacted in June 1998, authorized the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit - 5 -