Table Of ContentS us Highway 93t
388*12 Soners to
U29ushd Whitefish
1994
US Highway 93 • Somers to Whitefish
DRAFT
Environmental Impact Statement
STATE DCCUWirNTS COLLECTiuN
Prepared for
US Department ofTransportation JAN 20 1955
Federal Highway Administration
MONTANA STATE LIBRARY
1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59620
Preparedby
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USHighwa,93 SomerstoWhrtetrjh Oral
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FHWA-MT-EIS-94-01-D
US 93 (SomerstoWhitefish West)
Milepost 104.3 to 133.0
Flathead County, Montana
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
and Draft Section 4(f) Statement
Submitted Pursuantto 42 USC 4332(2)(c);
49 USC 303; MEPA 2-3-104 and 75-1-101
and Executive Order 990
11
US Department ofTransportation
Federal HighwayAdministration
Cooperating Agencies:
US Army Corps of Engineers
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Soil Conservation Service
Flathead County
Montana Department ofTransportation
Montana Department of Health and Environmental Science
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
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Date Marvin Dye, Director, Montana DeMrtment of Transportation
Date Hank Honeywell, Division Admini^ator (for Federal Highway Administration)
The following person may be contacted for additional information concerning this document:
Mr. Dale Paulson
Federal Highway Administration
301 South Park, Room 448
Drawer 10056
Helena, Montana 59626-0056
406/449-5305 ext. 239
Abstract: The proposed project would improve 46.18 kilometers (28.7 miles) of US 93 from Somers to west of
Whitefish, Montana. The primary purpose and need for improvements to US 93 is to reduce congestion on the
existing facility, provide for planned growth and development, improve safety, provide for improved intermodal
facility connections and provide for enhanced scenic values. Three build alternatives, in addition to the no-build
alternative, were analyzed for the rural segments of the corridor. In addition, a bypass of the Kalispell area and
six alternate downtown routes in Whitefish were evaluated. Adverse impacts include impacts to two historic
properties, displacement of two to four residences, wetland impact of 0.70 hectare (1.77 acres) to 2.54
hectares (6.27 acres), noise, visual, and land use impacts. The majority of these impacts would be effectively
mitigated by proposed measures, but certain unavoidable adverse impacts would remain.
Comments on this Draft EIS are due by May 2, 1994 and should be sent to Dale Paulson, Federal Highway
Administration, 301 South Park, Room 448, Drawer 10056, Helena, Montana 59626-0056.
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us 93 (Somersto Whrtefish West)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Summary
The process for this project has been developed through extensive public and agency involvement. A Project
AdvisoryCommittee was involved in the development ofproject objectives; initial identification ofalternatives,
screeningofedternatives and development ofparticular elements ofthe design alternatives. These Committee
members can be contacted ifthere are questions about this document. The Committee consists ofthe following
members:
Mr. AndrewFeury Mr. Phil Lauman
Whitefish Councilman, Kalispell businessman Somers resident, community leader
406/752-5812 406/857-3632
Mr. Deile Ennor Mr. Jim Lynch
CityManager, Whitefish Kalispell Chamber president, business owner on
406/862-2640 Highway93
406/752-4215
Ms. Pamela Kennedy
Kalispell Councilwoman, Kalispell City County Mr. MikeStocklin
PlanningBoard Executive Director, Flathead Business and Industry
406/752-4215 Association
406/756-7217
Mr. JohnWilson
Engineer, Whitefish resident, Whitefish City Ms. ShirleySchmidt
CountyPlanning Board Business owner on 93; realtor; Whitefish Chamber
406/752-6600 Board
406/862-5536
Mr. Bill Hedstrom
Flathead CountyCommissioner Mr. Tom Little
406/758-5503 Business owner on 93
406/752-1440
Mr. Marc Pitman
Flathead CountyRoads Superintendent Mr. Marshall Murray
406/758-5790 Attorney, Chair-Kalispell Chamber Transportation
Committee
Mr. Jim Weaver 406/755-5700
MDT
District Engineer (Missoula)
406/444-6003 Mr. SteveApgar
Past Highway Patrolman
Mr. Bruce Boody 406/257-4141
Landscape architect, Whitefish resident,
Cooperative PlanningCommittee member Ms. TracyCrabtree
406/862-4755 Representing Senator MaxBaucus
406/756-1150
Description of Proposed Action
This actionwould widen and reconstruct 46.18 kilometers (28.7 miles) ofUS Highway93 between Somers,
Montana towest ofWhitefish, Montana in Flathead County. Milepost limits are 104.3 to 133. Included in the
S-1
Summary
action is a four-lane bypass on new location around the western edge ofKalispell, Montana and improvements
to Spokane Street, Second Street and BakerAvenue in Whitefish. Improvements to the existing road include
widening from two to four or five lanes, adding 2.44 to 3.05 meter (eight- to ten-foot) shoulders, and
intersection improvements. The action also includes enhancements to pedestrian and bicycle facilities and to
the visual character ofthe area.
Major Actions Proposed by Other Agencies
• Big Mountain Expansion is a project planned byWinter Sports, Inc. to expand both the winter and
summer activities and facilities available at Big Mountain Resort, located north ofWhitefish. A
Draft EIS was prepared in April 1993 bythe US Forest Service. These expansion plans will result in
increased use ofUS 93 to access Big Mountain. The 2015 traffic projectionswhich are used as the
basis for all analysis (such as traffic operations, air quality or noise) in this Draft EIS assume the
worst case or highest traffic volumes (forAlternatives C and D) used in the Draft EIS for the Big
Mountain Expansion ofSummer and WinterActivities,April 1993.
• Improvements to Big Mountain Road have been planned and developed and are documented in an
EnvironmentalAssessment.
• Replacement ofthe Burlington Northern Overpass in Whitefish. This proposed project will include
the construction ofa newbridge and corresponding approaches to the existing roadway. The
proposed project will improve the existing roadwayand overpass to provide for a 30 mph design
speed.
The Cooperative PlanningCoalition is currently in the process ofupdating the Flathead County
Master Plan. This effort will defme desired future land use for Flathead County. The different
location and design alternatives for US 93 will be more or less compatible with these future land use
goals. Coordination is continuingbetween the US 93 EIS and the Cooperative Plaiming Coalition
study.
A PreliminaryDraft EIS has been prepared defining the impacts ofvarious improvements to US93
between Poison and Evaro. These improvements will increase traffic on US 93 in the Somers to
Whitefish area, even though a distance of69.19 kilometers (43 miles) separates the two projects.
The Year 2015 traffic projections being used in the Draft EIS for the Somers to Whitefish section are
high enough to include any increased traffic resulting from the Evaro to Poison improvements.
Summary of Alternatives Considered
Alternatives considered for this action vary by segment. For most ofthe rural parts ofthe corridor, including
Somers to Kalispell, Kalispell to Whitefish and west ofWhitefish, three alternatives are under consideration.
All three alternatives basically follow the existing US 93 corridor. They differ in their lane designs: Alternative
A(MEDIAN) is a four-lane facilitywith a median, Alternative A(TURN-LANE) is a five-lane facility that
includes a center turning lane andAlternativeA(COMBO) includes some features ofeach ofthe other two,
depending on the location.
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us 93 (SomerstoWhitefish West)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Within the Kalispell metropolitan area, a bypass alternative is being considered, also with twobasic lane designs
calledAlternative B(MEDIAN) and B(TURN-LANE). In Kalispell, the bypasswould be implemented along
with improvements to US 93 through town.
In theWhitefish area, sixalternatives are being considered. Alternative A(FOUR-LANE) includes an increase
in capacityin the same location as existing US 93. There are four alternatives which split traffic onto a one-way
pair system on Second/Spokane and Second/Baker. These are called Alternative C(COUPLET-l),
C(COUPLET-2), C(COUPLET-3) and C(COUPLET-4). The sixth alternative, C(OFF-SET), also splits traffic
between Baker and Spokane, but two-directional traffic is allowed.
The no-build alternative would retain the highway in its current location with no increase in capacity.
Major Environmental Impacts
The major environmental impacts discussed in this document are:
Traffic operations and safetywill improve with the build alternatives.
Between five and nine residences or businesseswill be displaced.
Landwillbe required from oneSection 4(f) property.
From 0.7 hectares (1.77 acres) to 2.54 hectares (6.27 acres) ofwetlandswill be filled.
Noise increaseswill occur.
PM|o emissions in the Kalispell and Whitefish non-attainment areaswill decrease with all ofthe
build edternatives in Kalispell £md with some ofthe build alternatives in Whitefish.
Portions offloodplains along 12 streams will be filled.
Potential adverse effects to two historic properties mayoccur.
Areas of Controversy
The US 93 project is the subject ofpublic controversy. Areas ofcontroversyinclude:
• The compatibilityofhighwayimprovementswith future land use zmdvisual quaUtygoals.
• Delayin implementation ofan improved highwaydue to increased cost or additional right-of-way
acquisition or design.
• Responsiveness ofenhanced highway improvements to fiscal constraints.
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Summary
Major Unresolved Issues
Major unresolved issues include the following:
• Final wetland mitigation site(s) have not been identified.
• Acceptable mitigation for a Section 4(f) and 6(f) property (Ashley Creek Trail) has not yet been
determined.
• Final air quality mitigation has not been resolved.
• Mitigation needed for historic propertyimpacts has not been resolved.
Other Federal Actions Required
Other required federal actions include the following:
• Section 404 (ofthe Clean WaterAct) permit from the US Army Corps ofEngineers for filling in
wetlands or streams.
• Compliance with Executive Orders 11988 (floodplain management) and 11990 (wetland protection)
to be included in the Final EIS.
• Section 106 Findings ofNo Effect or Determinations ofNoAdverse Effect concurred in bythe
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation or an executed Memorandum ofAgreement for any
adversely impacted historic or archaeological properties eligible for listing on the National Register
ofHistoric Places.
• Approval for floodplain encroachments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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us 93 (Somers to West of Whitefish)
Flathead County, Montana
Draft
Environmental Impact Statement
February 1994
Federal Highway Administration
