3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

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Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS Affected Environment The People Mover’s Route 14—Government Hill—provides daily service from the Transit Center in Downtown Anchorage across the A-C Viaduct to Government Hill and Elmendorf (see Figure 3.11). In addition, the Ship Creek Shuttle provides public transportation to the Ship Creek waterfront area. The shuttle operates on a 30-minute schedule and serves various destinations in the Downtown Anchorage and Ship Creek areas. Anchorage planned roadway system A number of transportation studies and plans have been conducted during the last 10 years to assess the transportation system in Anchorage, including the 2005 Anchorage LRTP. These studies have suggested many modifications to improve traffic flow within Anchorage and in the vicinity of the Study Area. Specific issues addressed by the LRTP within the Study Area include congestion on primary roadways. The following paragraphs describe plans that are relevant to the KAC project. These plans are included in the transportation system used to develop transportation models. • The Whitney/Ocean Dock Road intersection, Downtown Anchorage, A-C Viaduct ramps, and the planned Highway-to-Highway Connection were areas of special system planning focus of the 2005 Anchorage LRTP. • The Ingra-Gambell Extension project is a planned project into which the proposed KAC project would tie. The Ingra-Gambell Extension is a new facility that would extend Ingra and Gambell Streets from 3rd Avenue to Whitney Road to provide circulation and access for freight movement in particular. Refer to the Anchorage LRTP for more information. • Long-range plans call for a connection of the Glenn Highway to the Seward Highway to meet travel needs in the corridor (Highway-to-Highway Connection project). Refer to the Anchorage LRTP for more information. • The 2003 Anchorage LRTP mentions an expansion of the A-C Viaduct to four lanes to accommodate expected growth in traffic demand. Refer to the Anchorage LRTP for more information. Congestion For the purposes of this Study for the proposed KAC project, roadway congestion has been characterized by ADT, as shown on Figure 3.12. Congestion levels are defined on the map using V/C, the number of vehicle trips per unit time compared with the capacity of each segment of roadway. Traffic levels for V/Cs are: • V/C greater than 1.0 = heavy congestion—traffic volume on the roadway is over capacity • V/C of 0.75–1.0 = traffic flow is approaching capacity, but not over • V/C of 0.5–0.74 = moderate traffic loads, given the capacity of the road • V/C of less than 0.5 = low or no congestion Page 3-48 12/18/07
Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS Affected Environment 3.2.2.2 Marine transportation Navigation routes in Knik Arm, as shown in Figure 3.11, connect Cook Inlet to the POA and Port MacKenzie. Lower Knik Arm is considered a major North American shipping channel. Vessel traffic heading north toward the Knik River is primarily composed of recreational boats, fishing boats, and personal watercraft. Although the settlement of Knik once served as the head of navigation in Knik Arm, there is now little commercial navigation north of Port MacKenzie apart from some barge traffic in and out of Anderson Dock, just north of Port MacKenzie. Marine traffic in Knik Arm consists primarily of ships and barges traveling to and from the POA and Port MacKenzie. Typically, during a 1-week period, this traffic consists of about seven vessels (four or five deep-draft container or roll on/roll off (RO/RO) trailer ships, two barges, and one deep-draft fuel barge) and tugs assisting the vessels’ travel to and from POA and Port MacKenzie. Commercial fishermen and recreational boaters use a small public boat launch ramp located at Ship Creek Point from May–October (weather permitting). The ramp is closed in the winter. Boats of all types, up to about 40 feet in length, use the launch area. Because of strong currents and cold, turbid waters, recreational boating is not common on Knik Arm. Of the estimated 4,515 vessels traveling Knik Arm annually, 511 are ship and barge calls to the POA and Port of MacKenzie. For more information, please refer to the Marine Navigation Technical Report (KABATA 2006i). All tidal waters are considered navigable by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Navigable waters are defined as waters that have been used in the past, are now used, or are susceptible to use as a means to transport interstate or foreign commerce up to the head of navigation (33 C.F.R. § 329). Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Clean Water Act Section 404 permits require approval from USACE prior to any work in, over, or under navigable waters of the United States, or which would affect the course, location, condition, or capacity of such waters. 12/18/07 Page 3-49
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3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

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