County and ODOT begin Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
In spring 2004, Clackamas County and the Oregon Department of Transportation began a new study of the Sunrise Project, a proposed new limited-access highway between Interstate 205 and Rock Creek Junction (see map below). This study, which will prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), re-examines and builds on the information developed for the original Draft EIS completed in 1993.
Because there have been changes in the corridor since the original study, this new study will:
- Verify the project’s purpose and need
- Explore design alternatives for the new highway and select the alternatives to be studied in greater detail
- Evaluate the potential environmental impacts (natural resources, social, economic, etc.) of the alternatives, including a do-nothing alternative
A Final Environmental Impact Statement and a Record of Decision must be signed before a decision is approved on an alignment and design for the proposed highway.
What happens in the SDEIS process?
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that results from a public and scientific process where both the positive and negative social, economic, and environmental impacts of constructing a project are evaluated. It is required by federal law. Through the EIS process, the partner agencies identify community concerns and issues, develop alternative solutions, evaluate the impacts of those alternatives and select a preferred alternative. The Sunrise Project is preparing a Supplemental Draft EIS because this project was studied previously in the 1990s, but not funded. The Supplemental Draft EIS verifies the project purpose and need and updates the project and the study of impacts based on changes that have occurred in the corridor since the earlier study.
- What is the history of the Sunrise Corridor?
- Where is this project?
- Why is this project a high priority?
- How will the final alternative be selected?
- What is happening to the east of this project?
What is the history of the Sunrise Corridor?
The Sunrise Corridor was proposed as a new highway corridor that would provide a direct connection between I-205 and U.S. 26, the Mount Hood Highway. Two separate sections of highway have been discussed over the years: Unit 1, which would connect I-205 with Rock Creek Junction (the junction of Highways 212 and 224) to the east; and Unit 2, which would continue from Rock Creek Junction to U.S. 26.
In the late 1980s, Clackamas County, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and other public stakeholders began a process to identify the best location for this highway. In 1993, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was issued, and in 1996 the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners approved a conceptual alignment for Unit 1 of the highway.
The Federal Highway Administration has determined that the Unit 1 portion of the Sunrise Corridor has its own independent purpose, and can be advanced as a separate project, the Sunrise Project, I-205 to Rock Creek Junction, while the area east of Rock Creek Junction undergoes land use planning to identify future transportation needs.
Where is this project?
Why is this project a high priority?
The Sunrise project has been on the state’s list of top priorities for at least 15 years because of congestion, safety and economic needs.
The intersections of Highway 212/224 with 82nd Drive and I-205 have been among the state’s most congested locations for many years. This is especially a problem because the Clackamas Industrial Area is one of the state’s busiest and most critical trucking centers.
The expansion of the urban growth boundary to include the Damascus area has increased the need to improve the capacity of transportation facilities serving this part of Clackamas County.
How will the final alternative be selected?
A Project Advisory Committee of citizens, businesses, community and environmental organizations and other public stakeholders will review the technical analysis and public input and then will advise a Policy Review Committee. The Policy Review Committee is made up of one representative of each of the federal, state, regional, county, and local jurisidictions. This group will forward a recommendation to the official decision-making bodies: the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, the Oregon Transportation Commission, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Councils for the Cities of Damascus and Happy Valley.
Why hasn’t this project been built yet?
Over the last decade, there has been very little funding available for major new highway projects. This project is one of the more expensive projects on the state’s list. Also, final decisions were postponed on this corridor until the metropolitan region completed its planning efforts to identify where the future urban growth expansion areas would be. The Urban Growth Boundary has been expanded to include the Damascus area and as of fall 2004, Damascus is an incorporated city.
What is happening to the east of this project?
As we work on this Supplemental Draft EIS for the Sunrise Project, I-205 to Rock Creek Junction, a separate planning process is happening east of Rock Creek Junction to determine land use patterns and transportation infrastructure needs. In 2005, Metro and Clackamas County completed the Damascus/Boring Concept Plan to answer some of these questions. (Visit www.co.clackamas.or.us and click on Damascus/Boring Concept Plan for more information on that process). The new City of Damascus is currently developing a comprehensive plan, which will determine how Damascus develops over the next twenty years. The comprehensive plan will examine land uses, transportation, and other public services for the new city. For more information about the latest efforts in the City of Damascus contact the City of Damascus (503) 658-8545, www.ci.damascus.or.us.