Resolution 128011 rT9 1- F rel 3 R rel:1
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facific Terminal (GPT) located in Whatcom County near the Cherry Point area of Bellingham Washington', and
WHEREAS, Whatcom County, Washington Department of Ecology and the United States Corp of
Engineers have entered into a Memorandum Of Understanding (OU) to jointly promulgate a- required
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WHEREAS, potential adverse impacts from the proposed GPT project, such as reduced air and water
quality, increased noise levels, decreased ability to provide effective emergency response, increased risk I
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds is concerned about the probable adverse economic and environmental
each with up to four engines and 125 cars and/or I �5 miles in length, would equate to approximately one additiona
lined with single and multifamily homes, the Port of Edmonds, Edmonds Senior Center, Washington State Ferri
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Terminal, Sound Transit and Community Transit Commuter Rail and Bus Station, City beaches and parks,
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WHEREAS, in Edmonds, Dayton and Main Streets/SR/104, critical arterial streets used to access the City's
waterfront, intersect with an existing BNSF rail line and in the near future, two BNSF rail lines at grade, and these
at -grade rail crossings slow the movement of people and goods between downtown Edmonds and the City's
Olympic Beach Park, Edmonds Senior Center, restaurants, businesses, residential units, etc., and the Main
Street/SR104 crossing serves as the access and exit corridor for the Washington State Ferry Terminal, 27-acre
loading and unloading of • •n State Ferry Terminal are routinely disrupted by existing trains
day will increase the disruption of loading and unloading of vehicles at the Washington State Ferry Terminal; and
WHEREAS, due to reduced train speeds through the City of Edmonds and the need to lower approach
mile long . •trains;f
WHEREAS, with the number of all trains per day expected to increase from the current 40 (weekday
average) to as many as 70 by 2020 and 104 in 2030, the City is concerned that increased rail traffic generated from
e Effective emergency response times • i be threatened if responsefor police r. fire are
9 Reductions in overall system mobility, i.e�, pedestrians, bicycles, automobiles, buses, freight, etc�
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9 A significant increase in coal train traffic will more frequently delay general commerce, commuters,
and other vehicular traffic, thus impacting economic sustainability, e.g., impediments to Washingtoll
State Ferries operations and freight mobility, decreased tourism and waterfront activities due to
9 Air and water quality and attendant health impacts due to • coal •; from trains and increased
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health of Edmonds residents and vishors is yet to be determined,� anj
Section 1. We ask that the potential •. to Edmonds' public health, safety, economy, traffic,
and environment be studied by the agencies conducting the environmental review and request that Edmonds
be included in any EIS hearing schedule pertaining to any project in the • that may cause significaig
increases in associated rail traffic traveling via Edmondl
Whatcom County Council to hold at least one of the environmental impact statement scoping hearings in
Edmonds and to conduct thorough studies which identify and measure the major impacts to the City of
Edmonds that would result from a significant increase in coal train traffic, and that said agencies include the
impacts of the proposed increase in rail traffic and those referenced in this Resolution in the scope of the EIS
and public hearings at the various stages of the EIS process.
United States Corp of Engineers to fully study impacts to Edmonds, including but not limited to increased traf ntl
congestion and delays to residents and commerce (including Washington State Ferries Operations I pote i
impacts from coal • and •' particulates, noise, mobility, etc., in the scoping • the EIS for the GPT project,
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e with local citizen groups and local government officials from Edmonds to seek mutually acceptable ways to address
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,-elated to grading, widening, or otherwise providing crossings at intersections that would be necessary tM.
,--ddress/miti gate impacts caused by increases in rail traffic and require that SSA and BNSF mitigate impacts bl
Sectibn 6. That Washington State Department Transportation, Washington Utilities and Trade
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which point train operations essentially render connectivity between the City's downtown and Waterfront,
SRI 04/Main Street and Washington State Ferry Terminal ineffective/inefficient/n6nfunctibnal, and that the City's
Waterfront ceases to be a place that is easily accessible and can be enjoyed by businesses, restaurants, visitons
Section T That the City of Edmonds be made a Party of Record for all aspects of the environmental and
RESOLVED this 17t" day of July, 2012 A
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ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
�41 C T A ITS' CLERK, S R A S. CHASE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK07-13-2012
PASSED BY THE CITY CO07-17-2012
RESOLUTION NO. 1280
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