Aurora Corridor Project, N 165th to N 205th Streets

In stage two which is now beginning, traffic has been shifted to the newly completed east side of Aurora so crews can complete the undergrounding of utilities along the west side. The contractor’s schedule projects that Seattle City Light and the communications utilities will pull their wires underground this autumn.

After the sidewalks, curbs and driveways are installed on the west side in early 2011, the third stage is set to begin. In the third stage, traffic in each direction will be pushed out to the curbs and the median work as well as the landscape work will be completed.

View the Design Map to see the locations of sidewalks, curbs, driveways and more.

The City has assembled a strong and experienced team to assist us in the construction of this section of Aurora:

HDR Engineering designed the project, and will remain on the team to provide design services during construction. In this role, HDR checks all submittals from Marshbank and is ready should any design modifications be needed due to unforeseen circumstances or changes.

KBA Construction Management performs the construction management function, which includes project inspection, testing, and budget and expense tracking.

EnviroIssues is the project community outreach team responsible for 24-hour hotline management and providing early warning to businesses on changes to their frontage and access. Their charge is “no surprises” for businesses, residents and property owners in the construction zone.

To learn more about the Aurora Corridor Project, please see our project fact sheet.

To be competitive in seeking outside funding, the last mile of Aurora (N 185th to N 205th Streets) has been broken up into two separate projects: N 185th to N 192nd Streets and N 192nd to N 205th Streets.

N 185th to N 192nd Streets
Status
As of August 27, 2010
Phase: Design/Right-of-Way Acquisition

Design is nearing completion for the section of the Aurora Corridor Project between N 185th and N 192nd Streets. Improvements will be similar to those of the first and second mile. Included are wider sidewalks separated from the roadway by landscaping and other amenities, traffic-level and pedestrian-level lighting, and landscaped center medians with left turn and U-turn pockets.

New: Plaza and green walls
New to this segment of the Aurora Corridor Project are “green walls” and a plaza that will be located near the King County Metro Park and Ride on N 192nd Street and Aurora. Green walls are walls designed to incorporate living elements such as climbing plants. Due to the change in grade at this section of the corridor, retaining walls are necessary on both the east and west sides of Aurora. To help improve the appearance of these structures, the City is working on designs that allow low-maintenance, evergreen and deciduous plant species to grow on and cover the face of the walls. At some locations, plants will grow up over decorative steel mesh or wire panels to add a three dimensional aspect.

Underground stormwater treatment and storage systems are necessary at N 192nd Street and Aurora, near the King County Metro Park and Ride. Instead of merely covering the space with grass or concrete, the City is taking advantage of the opportunity by creating a plaza. Designers are carefully considering important parameters such as creating access for maintenance vehicles, providing a safe space, preventing loitering, and thinking about future development opportunities.

The plaza will also incorporate rain gardens, planting beds, and benches. Rain gardens use water-loving plants to mimic forests, collecting, absorbing and filtering stormwater runoff naturally. Designers are also incorporating educational signs that will describe the drainage improvements along the Aurora Corridor.

Schedule
The City has met with property owners regarding changes in front of their properties and is currently discussing right-of-way needs. The City expects to certify right-of-way, go to bid, and begin construction this fall. Construction is anticipated to be completed by fall of 2011. A pre-construction meeting for nearby businesses and property owners will be held before construction begins.

N 192nd to N 205th Streets
Status
As of August 27, 2010
Phase: Design/Preliminary Right-of-Way Acquisition

HDR Engineering is working on early designs for Aurora between N 192nd and N 205th Streets, which is planned to look similar to the other miles of the Aurora Corridor Project. HDR will be working on the next level of design on this segment over the next several months. During this period, City staff will be meeting with property owners to discuss the project and the potential impacts to their respective properties. Additional funding will continue to be secured for this segment, and the City anticipates that construction between N 192nd and N 205th Streets will begin in 2012.

Overview and History for N 165th to N 205th Streets

• Delineated driveways
• Wider sidewalks separated from the roadway by landscaping and other amenities
• Free right-turn lanes at major intersections
• Landscaped center medians with left- and U-turn pockets
• Traffic- and pedestrian-level lighting
• Natural storm water treatments
• Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes
• Underground utilities

On November 21, 2007, the City’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) official determined the project would not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. A Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) was issued with a three week public comment period which ended December 12, 2007.

In November 2007, the City submitted an Environmental Classification Summary (ECS) and attachments to the state.  The final National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval signature from the Federal Highway Administration was attained on December 28, 2007.  With approval of documents in December 2007, the City completed the environmental process for the Aurora Corridor Improvement Project (N 165th to N 205th Streets).  Both NEPA and SEPA decisions concluded that there are no probable significant adverse environmental impacts from the project.

Per environmental requirements, a SEPA “Notice of Action” was released by the City’s SEPA Responsible Official to let the community know the City has taken action and is moving forward with the project.  In January 2008, Shoreline City Council authorized moving forward with project design and right-of-way acquisition.

Background
The City began the environmental review process in October 2006 with the selection of the consultant Jones & Stokes. The environmental review analyzed the impacts of the design alternatives in a variety of areas such as traffic, land use, air, noise, socio-economics and cultural/historical resources. Additional analysis was done on economics and natural and conventional stormwater management approaches.

The Aurora Business and Community (ABC) Team, a group of 23 volunteers representing a wide variety of interests and viewpoints, assisted the City during the environmental review process by providing additional input. The ABC Team had its final meeting June 27, 2007 where it unanimously agreed to recommend that the Council adopt the revised Implementation Strategies (formerly the "32 Points") and the Draft Recommended Alternative.

At the July 16, 2007, City Council Aurora public hearing, an overwhelming majority of people spoke in favor of this preferred project alignment. At its July 23 meeting, Shoreline City Council unanimously selected the Draft Recommended Alternative as the Preferred Alternative alignment for the Aurora Corridor N 165th to N 205th Streets Project. Staff was then able to move forward to complete the environmental process and submit paperwork to the appropriate agency officials.

Translation Available

If you would like to communicate with the City of Shoreline about the Aurora Corridor Project in another language, please send your questions and contact information to the email or address below.

Kris Overleese, City of Shoreline
17500 Midvale Avenue N, Suite 100
Shoreline, WA 98133

Related Links

• Aurora Main Page
• Aurora N. 145th - 165th Streets

SEPA-NEPA Documents

• SEPA Notice of Action (23 KB)
• Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) (5.70 MB)
• SEPA Checklist (14.8 MB)
• NEPA ECS (14.7 MB)

Discipline Reports & Technical Reports

• Value Engineering (1.21 MB)
• Study Economics (12.7 MB)
• Stormwater (10.1 MB)

Other Documents

• Final Adopted Alternative (943 KB)
• Preferred Alternative(11.7 MB)
• Implementation Strategies (45 KB)

June 20, 2007 Open House Materials

• Agenda (29 KB)
• Fact Sheet (4.87 MB)
• Presentation (122 KB)
• Summary of Effects & Mitigation (73 KB)
• Presentation Boards (11.9 MB)

Scoping Meeting Documents

• Alternatives (354 KB)
• Background & Vision (417 KB)
• Background Fact Sheet (915 KB)
• Environmental Review Process (792 KB)
• Stormwater Treatment Options (173 KB)
• Timeline Fact Sheet (2.85 MB)
• Meeting Power Point Presentation (380 KB)

Project Committees

• Aurora Business & Community Team 
• Aurora Business Team