WADOT BTL App R Visual Quality PArt2

BASELINE CONDITIONS
What is the baseline visual character of the study area?

TheWashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation(WSDOT)RoadsideClassification Plan(WSDOT,1996)classifiestheI405corridorbetweenNE6thStreetinBellevueand I5inLynnwoodasurban,semiurban,andrural.Thesouthernmostportionofthe projectareatoSR520isclassifiedasurban.NorthofSR520throughapproximatelyNE 140thStreetinunincorporatedKingCountyisclassifiedassemiurban.Northofthis point,I405isclassifiedasrural.ThebaselineconditionssurroundingtheI405corridor rangefromheavilyforestedtorelativelydenselydeveloped,withmixedlanduses. Terrainofthefreewaycorridorrangesfromflattogentlyrolling.Adjacentareasareflat tohilly,withridgesandhillstoboththeeastandwestinsomepartsofthecorridor. Severalparksareadjacenttothefreewaycorridor,butaregenerallynothighlyvisible fromthefreewayitself. ThebaselineconditionsfortheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProjectinclude improvementsmadefortheKirklandNickelProject,theNE195thStreettoSR527 AuxiliaryLaneProject,andtheNE8thtoSR520BraidedRampsProjectduetothe overlapinprojectfootprints. TheI405CorridorProgramDraftVisualResourcesExpertiseReport(DavidEvansand Associates[DEA],2001)identifiesthelandscapecharacterunitssurroundingthestudy area(Exhibits7and8),whichincludetheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProject studyarea.
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I-405, Bellevue to Lynnwood Improvement Project Visual Quality Technical Memorandum April 2011

Exhibit 7: Landscape character units and description Landscape character unit Bellevue Description The setting and character are generally urban in nature. This is a developed area with mid- and high-rise buildings, roadways, highways, and overpasses. Vegetation is limited. This landscape character unit includes urban and suburban development. Commercial strip development and transportation facilities are noticeable; trees and other vegetation are visible but subordinate to the built features. This is a linear, wooded park, separated from I-405 by 116th Avenue NE and a row of single-family homes. The park is not readily noticeable from I-405. This wooded park is bisected by I-405 and is surrounded with single-family residential development. The park is not readily noticeable from I-405. The Kirkland landscape character unit encompasses a large area of residential neighborhoods (comprised of primarily single-family homes) with some commercial land uses. The character of the built environment is general suburban. Developed areas include large trees and roadways. This is a small neighborhood park with open play fields, screened from I-405 by an earthen berm. The park is not readily visible from I-405. Totem Lake is primarily an urban area with commercial and light industrial development, including the Totem Lake Mall and other shopping areas. The area includes some multi-family residential development. The area is highly developed and areas of vegetation are visible as I-405 traverses this landscape character unit. Kingsgate is primarily a single-family residential area, with roadways and mature vegetation. This is a small wooded park west of I-405 separated from the freeway by a row of houses. The park is not evident from I-405. Kingsgate Park is a small wooded area with no developed facilities. It is not evident from I-405. This landscape unit encompasses both sides of I-405. It includes multi-family and single-family residential, a mobile home park, and the I-405/SR 522 interchange. This landscape character unit includes stands of mature trees, relatively large undeveloped areas (such as those adjacent to the I-405/SR 522 interchange), and highly evident, major transportation infrastructure (I-405, SR 522). The Snohomish County landscape character unit is semi-rural in character, with generally low-density residential development, transportation infrastructure, open spaces, and stands of mature vegetation. It includes the I-405/I-5 junction.
Overlake
Bridle Trails State Park
Watershed Park
Kirkland
Spinney Homestead Park
Totem Lake
Kingsgate Edith Moulton Park Kingsgate Park
Bothell
Snohomish County
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Exhibit 8: Landscape character units - sheet 1 of 2
10 9 8
A
7
Landscape Unit 1. Bellevue 2. Overlake 3. Bridle Trails State Park 4. Watershed Park 5. Kirkland 6. Spinney Homestead Park
KIRKLAN D
7. Totem Lake 8. Edith Moultan Park 9. Kingsgate Park
e ( & %
6 5
10. Kingsgate 11. Bothell 12. Snohomish Co. Arterial Freeway

Stream
Park
Water Body
Railroad
Municipality
0.5 Miles
520-i5_LandscapeUnits.mxd Updated: 7-2-07
Lynnwood
A
2 1
BELLEVUE
Snohomish County K i n g C o u nBothell ty
$ ` " A !
S H E E T
2
Kirkland
SHEET 1 Lake
Washington
e ( & %
A
Bellevue
$ b " ! $ ` " !
Tukwila Newcastle
e ( & % A
Renton
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Exhibit 8: Landscape character units - sheet 2 of 2
LYNN WO OD
$ ` " ! A $ ` " !
12
Landscape Unit 1. Bellevue 2. Overlake 3. Bridle Trails State Park 4. Watershed Park
5. Kirkland 6. Spinney Homestead Park 7. Totem Lake 8. Edith Moultan Park 9. Kingsgate Park 10. Kingsgate 11. Bothell
e ( & %
12. Snohomish Co. Arterial Freeway Stream Park Water Body Railroad
11
BO THEL L
Municipality
/
0.5 Miles
A
11
520-i5_LandscapeUnits042507.mxd Updated: 04-25-07
Lynnwood
Snohomish County K i n g C o u nBothell ty
$ ` " !
S H E E T
2
10 9 8
Kirkland
SHEET 1 Lake
Washington
e ( & %
A
Bellevue
$ b " ! $ ` " !
7
Tukwila Newcastle
NE 124th St
e ( & % A
KIRK LAN D
Renton
I-405, Bellevue to Lynnwood Improvement Project Visual Quality Technical Memorandum April 2011 Page 33
What are the viewpoints, how did we select them, and what is the visual quality of the views?
Representativeviewsoftheprojectaredescribedbelow.Viewpointswereidentifiedto representareaswherelargenumbersofviewerswillbepresent,theexistingI405 corridorisvisible,andthebuildalternativesareanticipatedtocreatechangesinthe visualenvironment. Sevenrepresentativeviewpointswereselected(seeExhibit6)forvisualquality evaluation(seeAppendixB).DuetotheoverlapintheprojectareasoftheBellevueto LynnwoodImprovementProjectandtheKirklandNickelProject,severalofthesame viewpointswereselectedforevaluation.Viewpointswereselectedbasedontheirsafe andeasyaccessibility;viewpointsfromindividualresidenceswerenotspecifically addressed. Representative views , south to north I-405 at NE 60th Street (views to the south [A] and north [B]) ApedestrianbridgecrossesoverI405nearthesouthernlimitsoftheprojectarealinking
NE60thStreetonthewestsideofI405totheneighborhoodsandBridleTrailsState
ParkontheeastsideofI405.Thefreewayinthislocationisrelativelystraightandlevel,
alignedinanorthsouthdirection.
RepresentativeViewA(seeExhibit9andAppendix C)lookssouthboundfromthevicinityofthe pedestrianbridgealongthetravellanesof southboundI405.Theprimaryviewergroupis highwayuserswhoareinalevelposition.I405isin theforegroundandtherearedistantviewsofhills andtheroadway.Thesidesoftheroadwayarewell vegetatedwithtreesandshrubs.Anoisebarrier encroachesonthewestsideoftheproject,ending justsouthofthepedestrianbridge.Theroadway itselfdominatestheview;theprojectsconstructed elementslackvividnessandunity.Overallvisual qualityisratedat2.7outof7,moderatelylow. RepresentativeViewB(seeExhibit9andAppendix C)looksnorthboundfromthevicinityofthe pedestrianbridgealongthetravellanesof northboundI405.Theprimaryviewergroupis highwayuserswhoareinalevelposition.I405isin theforegroundwithdistantviewsoftheNE70th Streetinterchange.Thesidesofthefreewayarewell
Exhibit 9: I-405 at NE 60th Street (Views A and B)
NE 60th St
/
0 500 Feet 1,000
Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park
Stream Railroad Municipality
520-i5_RepView_NE60th_042507.mxd Updated: 4-25-07
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vegetatedwithmediumtolargetrees.Anoisewallencroachesonthesouthboundside ofthefacility.Thefreewayitselfdominatestheview;constructedelementslack vividnessandunity.Totalvisualqualityisrated2.7outof7,moderatelylow. I-405 at the NE 124th Street overcrossing (view to north) RepresentativeViewC(seeExhibit10andAppendixC)looksnorthboundfromthe overpass.LandusesincludetheTotemLakeShoppingCentercommercialstripand largerbuildings,includingaparkinggaragetotheeast.Thereissomeresidential developmentonthewestsideofthefreeway,butnotasmuchasontheeastside.The recentKirklandNickelProjectimprovementsandthefreewayarethepredominant features.Thetotalvisualqualityforthisviewpointisrated2.1outof7,low.The primaryviewergroupislocalroadwayusers. NE 160th Street, facing northeast RepresentativeViewD(seeExhibit11andAppendixC)looksnorthandeastfromthe northboundI405ramp.Highwayusersaretheprimaryviewergroupandtheyareina levelposition.Treesandmultifamilyresidentialdevelopment(SonomaVillero Condominiums)areontheeastsideofthefreewayintheforeground.Totalvisual qualityisrated2.7outof7,moderatelylow. Sonoma Villero Condominiums RepresentativeViewE(seeExhibit11andAppendixC)lookswesttowardthe northboundrampatNE160thStreetandontoI405.Therearecurrentlymediumand talltreesintheforegroundbetweenthecondominiumbalconiesandthenorthbound rampthatblockmostofI405andanypossiblebackground.Theprimaryviewersare thecondominiumresidents.Thetotalvisualqualityforthisviewpointisrated2.7outof 7,moderatelylow. SR 522/University of Washington Bothell Campus RepresentativeViewF(seeExhibit12andAppendixC)faceseastfromthecollege campustotheSR522/I405interchange.Wetlandsandvegetationcanbeseeninthe foregroundalongwithvegetatedhillsidesinthemiddleground.Someoffice/medical developmentinthedistanceisscreenedbytrees.Thedominantfeaturesarethe vegetatedwetlandandtheinterchange.Withinthestudyareathisistheonly representativeviewpointwithawaterfeature.Thetotalvisualqualityforthis viewpointisrated4.6outof7,aboveaverage,mainlyduetothewetlandsandthehills (landform).Theprimaryviewergroupsarelocalroadwayusers,collegestudents,and collegestaff.
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Exhibit 10: I-405 at the NE 124th Street crossing (View C) Exhibit 11: I-405 at the NE 124th
Street crossing (Views D and E)
! !
NE 160th St
King County City of Kirkland
NE 132nd St
To lt Pi pe lin e
Tr
a il
NE 124th St
/
0 500 Feet 1,000
!
0
/
500 Feet 1,000

!
SR 527/I-405 interchange area RepresentativeViewG(seeExhibit13andAppendixC)facessoutheastfroma commercialstripdevelopmenttoI405.Midrisebuildingsarevisibleontheeastsideof thefreewaywithavegetatedridgelineinthebackground.Thefreewayandafrontage roadarethedominantfeatures.Thetotalvisualqualityforthisviewpointisrated2.4 outof7,low.Theprimaryviewersareretailcustomersanddrivers.
520-i5_RepView_NE124th_042507.mxd Updated: 4-25-07
BTL_RepView_NE160th.mxd Updated: 12-23-10
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Exhibit 12: University of Washington Bothell Campus (View F) Exhibit 13: SR 527 / I-405 interchange area (View G)
e ( & %
!
/
0 500 Feet 1,000 0

A A
!
/
490 Feet 980

e ( & %
228th St SW

!
520-i5_RepView_SR522.mxd Updated: 7-2-07
520-i5_RepView_SR527.mxd Updated: 7-3-07
Who will experience changes in visual quality and how sensitive are they to the changes?
Twoprimaryviewergroupswillexperiencechangesinvisualqualityhighwayusers, whowillexperienceviewslookingawayfromtheprojectandI405neighbors,who willexperienceviewslookingtowardtheproject.Highwayuserswillbecommuters, localtraffic,andothertraffic.However,driverswillhaveanarrowerfieldofviewthan passengers,aswellasareducedperceptionofviewsawayfromtheimmediateroadway infrontofthem.Typically,driversaremoresensitivetochangestotheviewofthe roadway(e.g.,lighting,signs,additionalchanges,barriers,etc.)andlesssensitiveto changesawayfromtheroadway.Conversely,passengersaremoresensitivetochanges intheviewsoftheareassurroundingthefreeway.Overall,commutersareconsidered tohavethelowestsensitivitytoviewslookingawayfromtheproject;localtraffichasa highersensitivitythancommuters;andotherviewershavethehighestsensitivity. I405neighborsincludelocalresidentsandusersofthelocaltransportationnetworkand commercial,industrial,institutional(e.g.,medical,educational),andrecreationalareas.
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Residentsmayviewthestudyareaonafrequent(evendaily)basisandgenerallyhavea strongsenseofidentityassociatedwiththeareainwhichtheyliveorwork.Thereare severalparksneartheI405corridor;however,thehighwayisgenerallyobscuredfrom mostareasoftheseparksmakingparkusersunlikelytonoticepotentialchangesto I405.Thosewhousethelocaltransportationnetworkmayroutinelybeexposedto viewsoftheareasaffectedbytheproject,suchasinthelocalroadsthatcrossI405. Theseusersarelikelytobelesssensitivetochangesthanlocalresidentswhohave longerandmorefrequentexposurestoviewsoftheproject.
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POTENTIAL EFFECTS
What are the potential visual effects of the project?

Visualeffectsaremeasuredbyexaminingthedegreeofchangetovisualresourcesthat willtakeplaceinrelationtoviewerresponsetothatchange.Wecandeterminechanges invisualresourcesbyunderstandingchangesinvisualquality,usingtherepresentative keyviews;viewerresponseisdeterminedfromthesensitivitiesofviewergroupsand thefrequenciesanddurationsoftheirexposurestotheviews.Visualeffectsare consideredforbothprojectconstructionandoperation. FortheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProject,overallvisualqualityeffectswillbe minor.Mostviewpointswillremainrelativelyunchangedoncetheproposedprojectis completed.Basedonouranalysis,twoviewpointsdecreasedintheirratings.Ona7 pointscale,oneviewpointscoredecreasesfrom2.7to2.2,andtheotherviewpointscore decreasesfrom2.7to2.Thevisualqualityanalysiscategorizesascoreof2aslowvisual quality,andascoreof3asmoderatelylow.Theviewpointsremaininalowto moderatelylowscorebracket(SeeAppendixB).Therefore,theoverallvisualquality effectsfortheI405,520toI5ImprovementProjectareconsideredtobeminor.The paragraphsbelowsummarizethevisualeffects. Representative Viewpoint D, NE 160th Street, facing northeast RepresentativeViewpointD(fromthehighway)looksnortheastfromtheI405 northboundrampatNE160thStreet(seeExhibit10andAppendixC).Theprojected visualqualityscoreforthisviewpointis2.2outof7,a0.5decreaseinscore.Theview currentlyincludesabufferandtreesintheforegroundandcondominiumsinthe background.Althoughsometreeswillbetakenfromthebuffertobuildaretainingwall andanoisewall,theseprojectelementswilldecreasethenoisefromtheI405rightof way.Visualqualityscoresforcriterialikevegetationandencroachmentwilldecrease. Sincethedevelopmentinthatareaisnotunified,thenewwallswillnothelptoincrease anynaturalorhumanmadeunity.Therefore,thevisualqualityofthatviewwill decreaseslightly.Exhibits15and16showtheexteriortreatmentforthewallsatthis viewpoint. Representative Viewpoint E, Sonoma Villero Condominiums RepresentativeViewpointE(towardthehighway)facesthenorthboundramptoI405 andI405atNE160thStreet(seeExhibit8andAppendixC).Thisistheviewopposite RepresentativeViewpointD.Theprojectedvisualqualityscoreforthisviewpointis2 outof7,a0.7decreaseinscoreduetothenoisewall.Thenoisewallisanticipatedtobe 20to30feettallandmaybelessthan20feetfromcondominiumpatiosordoors. Exhibit14showstheconceptforthenoiseandretainingwallsatthisviewpoint. Exhibits15and16showthefinishforthenoisewallthatwillbeconstructedat RepresentativeViewpointE.
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Exhibit 14: Cross section of noise wall and retaining wall at Sonoma Villero Condominiums
How will project construction temporarily affect visual quality?

Theproposedprojectwillcreatetemporaryvisualeffectsforhighwayusersand neighborsduringconstruction.Constructionactivitieswillreducethevisualqualityin theprojectareaduetothepresenceofconstructionequipment,materials,signs,and stagingareas.Temporarylightingwilllikelybeusedfornighttimeconstructionofsome projectelements.Detoursorlaneshiftswillrequiregreaterdriverattentionandwill distracthighwayusersfromviewsoutsideoftheconstructionareas.Theprimaryvisual effectswilloccurduringclearingandgradingactivities.Giventhatalargeportionof thestudyareahasrecentlyexperiencedconstructioneffectsfromtheKirklandNickel Project,continuedconstructionactivitieswillhaveminorvisualqualityeffects. MostoftheresidentialareastotheeastandwestoftheI405corridorarescreenedfrom thehighwaybyacombinationofvegetation,topography,andstructures.ViewsofI405 arelimitedandoccurprimarilyatcrossstreetsandassociatedinterchanges,orlocal roadsthatarenearthefreeway.Insomecases,existingnoisewallswillobscurethe constructionactivityfromsurroundingareas. ThevisualeffectsofconstructionwillnotchangemostviewsfromI405.Screeningby topography,vegetation,and/orexistingstructuresrestrictsmostviewstothe foregroundormiddleground.Wheredistantviewsarepresent,theywillremain visible.Clearingofvegetationforconstructionwillgenerallybelimitedtoareas adjacenttotheexistingfacilities.
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How will the project operation affect visual resources?

TheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProjectwillnotcreateadverselongterm visualeffectsforI405usersandneighbors.Althoughsomechangestothevisual resourceswilloccur,thesechangesarenotsubstantialenoughtoaltertheoverallvisual qualityofthecorridorortheratingscoresoftherepresentativeviewpoints.Permanent effectsoftheprojectwillbeminorbecauseviewersensitivityisrelativelylow,and contextsensitivesolutions(CSS)willbeincorporatedintotheproject. TheessenceofCSSguidelinesisthataproposedtransportationprojectmustbeplanned notonlyforitsphysicalaspectsasafacilityservingspecifictransportationobjectives, butalsoforitseffectsonaestheticandenvironmentalelements.CSSisdiscussedfurther inafollowingsectiononavoidanceandminimization.I405isalreadyamajorfreeway, andmostoftheimprovementsinthestudyareaconsistofaddedpavementor operationalimprovementswithintheexistingrightofway,whichdoesnotchange substantiallythevisualquality.ExhibitB2(AppendixB)presentstheprojectvisual conditionswiththeprojectimprovements. ThenewnoisewallshaveaesthetictreatmentsthatweretheoutcomeoftheCSS process.TheyhaveafracturedfinpatternonthesidefacingtheI405corridorandan ashlarpatternonthesidefacingthecommunity.Thefracturedfinpatterniscurrently usedontheexistingnoisewallsalongtheI405corridor,andtheuseofthesame patternwillensurevisualcontinuitythroughoutthecorridor.Thenoisewallsalso incorporateanaestheticpostandcaptreatment.Retainingwallswillhaveaesthetic treatmentsimilartothenoisewalls.Exhibits15and16showanexistingnoisewallwith CSStreatmentfromthecommunitysideandfromtheI405corridorside. I405userswillbeexposedtoincreasedhumanmadeencroachmentandcomplexity withinthecorridor,particularlywhereaccessrampsandoverpassesdominatetheview; however,thesechangesareslightwhencomparedtotheexistingconditions.Portionsof theprojectareawhere20feetormoreofnewpavementwillbeaddedarealreadythe mosthighlydeveloped,encroacheduponareas. Additionalprojectelements,suchassignage,retainingwalls,stripebuffers,gantries, andotherstructuralelements,willbewithintheexistingrightofway,and,inmany cases,withintheexistingscreeningofnoisewallsandvegetation.Exhibits17and18 showwhattheexpresstolllanesandgantriesmightlooklike,includingthebufferand signageforingress/egressandtollinginformation.Agantryisametalframework spanningtolllanesthatmaycontainadvancewarningsigns,signals,monitoring equipment,andelectronictollreadersneededtocommunicatewiththevehicle transponders.Thisispartofthetechnologythatreplacesatraditionaltollplazaand enablesinmotion,electronictollcollection.Therewillbeapproximately34tolling gantriesandapproximately15othertollsignstructures.
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Exhibit 15: View of noise wall from community side (ashlar pattern)

Exhibit 16: View of noise wall from I-405 corridor side (fractured fin pattern)
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Exhibit 17: Simulation at NE 100th Street, demonstrating advance access signage
Exhibit 18: Simulation at NE 85th Street, facing north, demonstrating destination rate signage
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Exhibit19showsacrosssectionofthenorthboundrampsfromI405andNE160th StreettoSR522.ThisissimilartothelocationshowninExhibit14.Theretainingwalls andelevatedstructurewillhaveCSStreatment,asdescribedabove.Vegetationremoval withintherightofwaytoaccommodatetheadditionalgeneralpurposelaneswillhave aslightadverseeffectonthevisualenvironment.CSStechniques,suchaslandscaping andtheuseofaestheticallypleasingdesignsforI405andrelatedfacilities,willenhance theattractivenessoftheconstructedenvironmentandwillalleviateminoreffectsto visualresources.

Exhibit 19: Cross section showing braided ramps to SR 522
ExhibitB3(AppendixB)presentsthevisualqualityeffectdeterminationusedtoassess thelevelofeffectsfortheproposedprojectpertainingtotherepresentativeviewpoints. Fortheseviewpoints,virtuallynochangewilloccurinvisualquality.
Will the project create new sources of shadows, light, or glare?

Exposuretolightgeneratedbyconstruction(illumination,headlights,andsolar reflection)willincreaseduringconstruction.Thisprojectwillreplaceallimpacted lightingandinstallapproximately200newlightsintheprojectarea,mainlyforthenew expresstollandHOVsigns.AlllightsinstalledonI405willbe50feetorlessinheight usingcutofffixtures,withlampsrecessedintothelightfixture.Thisconfigurationis designedtolimittheamountoflightthatcanspilloutsidetheroadwayarea,resultingin reducedglareandlightpollution.ThenewlightpoleswillbepaintedtomatchtheCSS standardsCascadeGreen.Mostresidentialareasarescreenedbyvegetation, topography,andnoiseorretainingwalls.Thenewlightingwillbecontainedinthe I405corridor;therefore,lightandglareareexpectedtoremainthesamewithinthe studyarea.
Does the project have other effects that could be delayed or will be distant from the project?
TheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProjecthasnoothervisualqualityeffectsthat couldbedelayedordistantfromtheproject.Thisprojectwillbeconstructedasoneof
Page 44 I-405, Bellevue to Lynnwood Improvement Project Visual Quality Technical Memorandum April 2011
thelaterpiecesintheoverallI405CorridorProgramschedule.Othereffectsfrom earlierphases,liketheKirklandNickelProject,willalreadybeinplaceandare consideredinaseparateanalysis.Visualeffectswillbelimitedtotheprojectareaand surroundings.
Did we look at cumulative effects?

TheI405teamdidnotevaluatecumulativeeffectsonvisualquality.Inaccordancewith CouncilonEnvironmentalQuality(CEQ)guidelines,ananalysisofcumulativeeffectsis notneededforeverydisciplinestudiedinNEPAdocumentation.Disciplinesselected forcumulativeeffectsanalysisshouldbedeterminedonacasebycasebasisearlyinthe NEPAprocess,generallyaspartofearlyagencycoordinationandscoping.Forthe I405,BellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProject,thedisciplinesevaluatedfor cumulativeeffectswereairquality,surfacewater,wetlands,andfishandaquatichabitat (WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation[WSDOT],2010).
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MEASURES TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE PROJECT EFFECTS
What are we doing to avoid or minimize project effects?

Toaddressthetypeofdisruptiontothevisualenvironmentthatwilloccur,lightand glareeffectswillbereducedbyshieldingfreewaylightingandusingdowncastlighting. TheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProjectisbeingplanned,developed,and designedinaccordancewithContextSensitiveSolutions(CSS)guidelines.These guidelinesprovideanapproachthatincorporatescommunityvalueswhilemeeting local,regional,andnationalrequirementsforthesafe,efficient,andeffectivemovement ofpeopleandgoods.CSSconsiderstheelementsofmobility,safety,environment,and aestheticsthroughouttheproject.Toadheretotheseguidelines,theproposedprojectis beingdevelopedtofititsphysicalsurroundingsandpreservetheseelements. TheapplicationofCSSguidelinesreducestheneedforadditionalmitigationofvisual effects.TheBellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProjectwillconsidercommunityinput duringdevelopmenttoensurethatlocalconcernsaremetearlyintheprojectplanning anddesignphases.Measuresthataretypicalfortransportationprojects,suchas retainingexistingnaturalvegetationtothemaximumextentpractical,andplantingnew vegetationtoscreenconstructedelements,havebeenincorporatedwithintheCSSof I405andrelatedtransportationfeatures.OtherareassubjecttoCSSincludestructural elements,landscapefeatures,lighting,signs,andspecialelementssuchasparking structuresandpedestrianbridges.
UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS

What are we doing to minimize unavoidable adverse effects?
Theprojectwillnotcauseanyadverseaffectsthatcannotbeavoided.Theeffectsof projectconstructionandoperationareminor,asdiscussedearlierinthistechnical memorandum.Whiletheaverageoverallvisualqualityratingintheprojectarea decreasedslightlyfrom2.95to2.7ona7pointscale,thevisualqualityremains moderatelylowtolow,asassessedinthebaselineconditions.
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Term
CSS DEA EIS FHWA GIS HOT HOV NEPA RCW ROW SOV SR WSDOT
Acronym
context-sensitive solutions David Evans and Associates environmental impact statement Federal Highway Administration geographic information system high-occupancy toll high-occupancy vehicle National Environmental Policy Act Revised Code of Washington right-of-way single-occupant vehicle state route Washington State Department of Transportation
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GLOSSARY
Word
context-sensitive solutions (CSS)
Visual quality assessment definitions

Context sensitive solutions (CSS) is a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical surroundings and is responsive to the communitys scenic, aesthetic, social, economic, historic, and environmental values and resources, while maintaining safety and mobility. The uninterrupted flow of visual pattern elements, e.g., the maintenance of visual relationships between related landscape components or features.
Meaning
CSS is an approach that considers the total context within which a transportation improvement project will exist.
continuity
A view with high continuity has an uninterrupted visual pattern. A view with low continuity has one or more elements (colors, forms, lines, etc.) that disrupt the visual pattern.
de minimus effect distance zones (foreground, middle ground, background)
An effect so small that it is insignificant. Three conventional terms in painting (foreground, middle ground, background) which can be helpful in describing distance relationships. Foreground: In a visual analysis, this distance zone is where the viewer has impressions of immediate details and intensity of color is at a maximum. This area can be designated with clarity and simplicity not possible for the middleground and background because the observer is a direct participant (0 to 0.25 mile). Middleground: In a visual analysis, this distance zone is where the parts of the landscape can be seen to join together, where hills become a range or trees make a forest. This is also where manmade changes may be revealed as resting upon the landscape, or where conflicts of form, color, shape, or scale show up (0.25 to 1.0 mile). Foreground is what viewers see relatively close. Detail and color are clear. For example, a single tree may stand out as a key element of the landscape. Viewers are often highly sensitive to changes to the visual quality of the foreground. Middleground is farther away than the foreground. In the middleground, smaller details are lost as the larger picture takes form. Colors and contrasts are clear, but less sharp than in the foreground. Single trees are less likely to stand out instead, the viewer sees a woodland or forest.
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Background: In a visual analysis, this distance zone is where surfaces of landforms lose detail distinctions and the emphasis is on outline or edge. The background becomes an effective backdrop against which foreground and middleground is more clearly seen (>1.0 mile). high-occupancy vehicle High-occupancy vehicle is a special designation for a bus, carpool, or vanpool provided as an encouragement to increase ride-sharing. Specially designated HOV lanes and parking are among the incentives for persons to pool trips, use fewer vehicles, and make the transportation system more efficient. HOV lanes are generally inside (left-side) lanes, and are identified by signs and a diamond on the pavement. Currently, two or more (2+) occupants are required to use the I-405 HOV lanes. Motorcycles are allowed to use freeway HOV lanes as well. The visual integrity of the natural and human-built landscape and its freedom from encroaching elements. High intactness means that the landscape is free of eyesores and is not broken up by features that are out of place. A landscape is considered intact where the visual elements fit together in size, shape, color, and position without other elements encroaching where nothing looks out of place. An intact landscape can be natural, manmade, or a combination of the two.
Word
Meaning
Background is the distance view. Forms in the view blend together. Edges and outlines, rather than details, are seen. Colors become softer and more muted. Individual trees can no longer be seen, and the woodland or forest becomes a green mass.
intactness
landscape cover
This refers to what is on top of the land. For example, the landscape cover of a hillside may be vegetative (forested, brush, grass, etc) or manmade (urban, suburban, industrial, etc.). Subcategories of landscape cover types are defined as necessary. A defined topographic feature, such as an island, specific hill, or range of hills. Similar combinations of landscape form and landscape cover. Forested plateaus, valley bottom farmlands, and wooded bluffs are all landscape types. There are also manmade landscape types, such as strip development along urban roadways.
landscape form, landform landscape type
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Places or districts with clear landform or landcover boundaries that form an outdoor area with similar visual character and visual continuity. For example, a landscape unit can be a single neighborhood, or several neighborhoods combined. The landscape setting and its visual resources may be valued by local viewer groups for reasons not evident in an assessment based strictly on visual resources and not widely known outside the community. A point from which a select view is evaluated. A visual quality assessment should consider local values in addition to the technical evaluations of what can be seen.
Word
landscape unit
Meaning
local values and goals
observer viewpoint
A viewpoint is simply where people are located when they see something. Within this assessment, a viewpoint is used to indicate where photographs are taken to represent views characteristic of what many people in the area will see. The relative size of what is seen.
scale
Within the context of a visual analysis, the apparent size relationships between landscape components or features and their surroundings. Landscape characterized by intermixed built and natural or naturalized elements, with built elements prevailing.
semi-urban landscape
Used to characterize a landscape unit or a characterization from the WSDOT Roadside Classification Manual.
sightline slope
An imaginary straight line between a persons eyes and a distant object. The change in elevation over a distance, or an inclined land form. An area of landform surface differentiated from other areas by its degree of slope. It is a component of landforms but not limited in place or extent. Example may include a cliff, gentle slopes, and flat plain.
topography
The physical features of a geographic area taken collectively; especially, the variations in elevation of the earth's surface.
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Roadways, access ramps, noise walls, retaining walls, traffic barriers, transit stations, park-and-ride structures, nonmotorized facilities, signage, lighting, stormwater treatment and conveyance, and landscaping within the project area. The visual coherence and compositional harmony of the landscape when considered as a whole. High unity frequently reflects the careful design of individual human components and their relationship in the landscape. A landscape characterized predominantly by built elements. That which can be seen either from or toward the transportation facility. The degree to which a viewer notices the landscape. Views are narrowed down to representative viewpoints for analysis. A viewers receptivity to the visual character of the landscape can be affected by elements and relationships in the landscape setting itself or by expectations about the setting. Visual experience contrary to expectation may be suppressed or heightened, depending on the degree of disagreement. The degree to which the visual resources of the landscape join together to form a coherent, harmonious visual pattern. Unity refers to the compositional harmony or inter-compatibility between landscape elements.
Word
transportation facility
Meaning
unity
urban landscape view
viewer awareness
viewer exposure
How many people see something from a particular viewpoint and over what duration they see it. View duration considers how often viewers observe the view, the frequency of views, and whether the viewers or the objects are stationary or moving. Groups of people who are differentiated from others by their viewing characteristics or visual response to a landscape feature. For example, local park users are one class of viewer, and are likely to have a different visual response to a landscape feature than people viewing the same feature from an industrial setting. Classes of viewers differentiated by their visual response to the I-405 facility and its setting; response is affected by viewer activity, awareness, and values.
viewer groups
Page 51

A positive or negative measure of how people react to changes in what they see.
Word
viewer response
Meaning
Factors affecting how a viewer responds to change in visual resources include viewer exposure, viewer sensitivity, cultural significance, and local values. The viewers variable receptivity to the elements within the environment that he/she is viewing, affected by viewer activity and awareness. A person cannot readily notice every object and all the attributes of the objects that compose the total visual environment.
viewer sensitivity The degree to which people respond to what they see. A viewer with high sensitivity to a particular view will respond strongly to any change in the view. Viewer sensitivity does not imply support for or opposition to a proposed change in the view.
viewshed
The area that can be seen from a given viewpoint or group of viewpoints; it is also that area from which that viewpoint or group of viewpoints can be seen. The visible portion of the landscape unit that contains the transportation facility. A portion of the area visible or potentially visible from a highway project or from which the highway project may be seen; to be useful in visual assessment, it should be identified on the basis of visual distinctions, such as landscape unit boundaries. The visual character of a landscape is formed by the order of the patterns composing it. The elements of these patterns are the form, color, line, and texture of the landscapes visual resources. Their interrelationships can be objectively described in terms of dominance, diversity, continuity, and so on. A continuous succession of visually and spatially distinct experiences. A combination of the change in visual resources and peoples response to the change.
visual assessment unit
visual character
The visual patterns formed by everything that can be seen and how those patterns fit together in the visible landscape. The description of character considers dominance, scale, diversity, and continuity to further define the visible landscape.
visual corridor
The changing views along the facility experienced by users. The degree of change in visual resources and the viewer response to those changes caused by facility development and operations.
visual effect
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A subjective measure of the character of the visual resource. The many factors that contribute to a landscapes visual quality are grouped under intactness, unity, and vividness. The collection of all features and things that can be seen in an area. The appearance of the features that make up the visible landscape. Includes land, water, vegetative, animal, and other features that are visible. The memorability of the visual impression received from contrasting landscape elements as they combine to form a striking and distinctive visual pattern. Basic method for field reconnaissance to narrow down representative viewpoints for analysis.
Word
visual quality
Meaning
visual resources
vividness
Describes how the landscape elements combine to form a colorful, striking, or otherwise memorable composition.
windshield survey
The process of driving by an area to look at properties for general housekeeping and verify property addresses; a method of observing a study area by driving the area in a vehicle.
Page 53
REFERENCES
GIS data sources

Exhibit 5 PugetSoundLiDARConsortium,LiDAR,2002. http://pugetsoundlidar.ess.washington.edu/About_PSLC.htm HDR.20062007.Viewshed. Exhibit 6 HDR.20062007.Viewpoint. Exhibit 7 DavidEvans&Associates.2001.I405CorridorProgramVisualResourcesExpertise ReportpreparedfortheWSDOTI405CorridorProgram.Updated2007byHDR; LandscapeUnit. PugetSoundLiDARConsortium,LiDAR,2002. http://pugetsoundlidar.ess.washington.edu/About_PSLC.htm Exhibits 8 through 12 HDR.20062007.Viewpoint.
Base data
AllGISexhibitscontainoneormoreofthefollowingasbaselayers:
GDT(GeographicDataTechnology,Inc.),April2005.GDTDynamapTransportation.
KingCountyStandardGISDataDisk,extractJune2006:
2005. TrailsinKingCounty.DataupdatedbyI405stafftomatchfieldwork, 2002LiDARandorthorectifiedaerialphotography. USGS(UnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey).June2002.ColorAerialPhotography. http://edc.usgs.gov/products/aerial/hiresortho.html WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).March2001.Aerial photographyprogram. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation),SpatialDataCatalog,2006, CityLimits. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation),SpatialDataCatalog,1997, Railroads. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation),SpatialDataCatalog,2006, Water.
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WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).20062007.I405Staff; Parks.MergeddatafromKingandSnohomishcountiesstandarddataandcitiesof Bellevue,KirklandandBothellstandarddata,2006. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).20062007.I405Staff; Streams. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).20062007.I405Staff; TenthMilePosts.
Text references and verbal communications

DEA(DavidEvansandAssociates,Inc.).2001.I405CorridorProgramDraftVisual ResourcesExpertiseReport. FHWA(FederalHighwayAdministration).1981.VisualImpactAssessmentfor HighwayProjects(FHWAHI88054). WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).1996.Roadside ClassificationPlan. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).2005a.I405,SR520toSR 522 KirklandNickelEnvironmentalAssessment. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).2005b.I405,SR520toSR 522 KirklandNickelProjectVisualQualityDisciplineReport. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).2006.Environmental ProceduresManual. WSDOT(WashingtonStateDepartmentofTransportation).2010.I405,Bellevueto LynnwoodImprovementProject;CumulativeEffectsAnalysisTechnicalMemorandum.
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APPENDIX A DETAILED STUDY APPROACH
What tools and vocabulary did we use for this assessment?

Toolsusedforthisassessmentincluded: GIStodeterminethetopographicviewshed; Fieldreconnaissanceandobservationofthestudyareatodeterminevisibleareas andrepresentativeviewsfromandtowardI405; TheVisualQualityRatingMatrix(seeAppendixB),basedontheFederal HighwayAdministrations(FHWA)VisualImpactAssessmentforHighwayProjects manual(FHWAHI88054)(FHWA,1981); Photographsfromwithintheviewsheds(seeAppendixC); Designinformationtodeterminetheprojectrelatedchangesandvisualeffects. ThevocabularyusedintheassessmentfollowstheFHWAVisualImpactAssessment manual(FHWA,1981).Asnotedabove,weevaluatevisualresourcesbyexamining visualcharacterandvisualqualitytodetermineresourcechanges,andbyassessingviewer exposureandviewersensitivitiestodetermineviewerresponse.Resourcechangeandviewer responseare,inturn,usedtodeterminevisualqualityeffectsoftheproject.Thevisual assessmentapproachandtherelationshipoftheseelementsareshownbelow.
Exhibit A-1: Visual assessment approach
Page A-1
Visual character Visualcharacterreferstothevisualpatternsformedbyeverythingthatcanbeseenand howthosepatternsfittogetherinthevisiblelandscape.Theaffectedvisualenvironment containslandscapecomponentsthatincludetopographicfeatures(e.g.,mountains, valleys)andlandcover.Landcoverincludeswater,vegetation,andthebuilt environment.Wecancategorizethesecomponentsindistinctivelandscapecharacter unitsbasedonpatternscreatedbydominance,scale,diversity,andcontinuityof elementsinthelandscape.Dominancereferstothepositionofanindividualelementor itsextentorcontrastinrelationtootherelements.Scalereferstoapparentsize relationshipsbetweenanelementanditssurroundings.Diversityisafunctionofthe number,variety,andintermixingofelementsinaview.Continuityreferstothe maintenanceofvisualrelationshipsbetweenconnectedorrelatedlandscapefeatures. Theviewshedanalysisdefinesthephysicallimitsofthevisualresourcesthatcanbe affectedbytheproject.Thetopographicviewshedisthevisibleareawithoutregardfor screeningeffectsfromvegetationorstructures.Theviewshedistheareafromwhichthe projectcanbeseenandtheareathatcanbeseenfromtheproject.Thebasisforthe analysisisasimplelineofsightdeterminationbasedsolelyontopography.This unobstructedlineofsightdeterminationisapplicableforviewsfromtheroadand viewstowardtheroad.Theexistingviewshedisthevisibleareaincludingthescreening effectsofvegetationandstructures. Visual quality Wecandeterminethevisualqualityoftheaffectedenvironmentbyanalyzingthe landscapeusingasetofprovenevaluativemeasurestoassessthreecomponentsof visualquality:vividness,intactness,andunity.Thesemeasuresareusedtoevaluate visualqualityofkeyviewpoints. Vividnessdescribesthewaylandscapecomponentscombineindistinctiveand memorablevisualpatterns.Fouraspectsofvividnesscanaffectthelandscape: topography,water,vegetation,andconstructedelements.Thedistinctivenessorquality ofaspecificelementwithinalandscapescenedefinesthiselement.Vividnessisranked onascaleof1to7,witharatingof7indicatingahigh(desirable)degreeofvividness. Intactnessmeasuresthevisualintegrityofthenaturalandhumanmadelandscapeand itsfreedomfromencroachingelements.Highintactnessmeansalandscapeishighly naturalandfreeofeyesores,orisnotbrokenupbyfeaturesthatareoutofplace. Intactnessissubdividedintotwocategories:thelevelofhumanmadedevelopmentand thedegreeofencroachment.Aratingof7indicatesalandscapethatishighlyintactand containsnoencroachments. Unitydescribesthevisualcoherenceandcompositionalharmonyofthelandscape consideredasawhole.Itreferstothefitbetweenelementsofthelandscape,butdoes
A-2
notconnoteuniformityindesignorcharacter.Oneaspectofthiscriterionistheunity betweenconstructedandnaturalpatternelements,whichusuallyatteststothecareful designofindividualcomponentsinthelandscape.Unityisrankedonascaleof1to7, with7representingalandscapewithacoherent,harmoniousvisualpattern(desirable). Anoverallvisualqualityrankingisdeterminedbytakinganumericalaverageofthe threerankingsforvividness,intactness,andunity. Viewers Vieweranalysisconsiderswhowillseethevisualresourcesoftheprojectareaandthe changesthatwillresult,aswellasthecircumstancesunderwhichtheviewerseesthem. Locationisakeyfactorinvieweranalysis.Viewerlocationisevaluatedintermsof wheretheviewpointisrelativetothevisualresource.Theviewpositionisdescribedas superior(above,orlookingdownat,theresource),normal(levelwiththeresource),or inferior(below,orlookingupat,theresource).Anexampleforsuperiormaybeaview fromanoverpassorpedestrianbridge,anormalviewmightbefromtheroad,andan inferiorviewmightbefromaparkortrailatalowerelevation.Thedistanceofvisual resourcesobservedfromaviewpointischaracterizedasforeground,middleground, andbackground. Thedurationofviewerexposureconsidershowlongaviewerisexposedtoaview duringasingleinstance(examplesmightincludeanindividualmakinghismorning commutetoworkoranindividuallookingoutthewindowfromherresidence).The viewofacommuteronI405mayberelativelybrief,whilethatofaresidentmaybe longer.Thefrequencyofviewingconsidershowoftenviewersareexposedtoaview. Perceptionsofthevisualenvironmentvaryamongviewergroups.Thisvariable perceptionisreferredtoasviewersensitivity,anditisinfluencedbyviewersvisual preferencesandthecircumstancesunderwhichtheyencounteraview.Viewer activities,suchasdrivinginheavytrafficonadailybasis,maydistractviewersor desensitizethemtomuchofthevisualenvironment.Viewerawarenesscanbe heightenedbyencounteringavisualchange,suchasenteringanurbanareaor encounteringadramaticviewofwateroramountain. Visual resource change Visualresourcechangeevaluatesthedegreeofchangeinavisualresourcewithoutregard toviewerresponse.Therefore,wefirstidentifyprojectrelatedchangestoviews,then evaluatethevisualqualityoftheviewinrelationtothosechanges(usingthesamethree measuresinevaluatingtheviewsexistingcondition:vividness,intactness,andunity). Weuseavisualqualityrankingmatrixtocomparethevisualqualityoftheviewwith andwithouttheproject,allowingthechangetobeexpressedasthedifferencebetween thetwo.Thechange,combinedwiththeviewersensitivityforaparticularareaand projectresultinahigh,medium,orlowvisualeffect.Astandardbaseline,likean
I-405, Bellevue to Lynnwood Improvement Project Visual Quality Technical Memorandum April 2011 Page A-3
undevelopedforest,forexample,isnotused.Thevisualeffect,likethescoringinthe field,isassignedrelativetothebaselineandtheprojectedchangesintheprojectarea. Viewer response Viewerresponseistheevaluationofhowviewersrespondtothechangesinvisual resources.FortheI405,BellevuetoLynnwoodImprovementProject,wecategorized viewersasI405users(viewsfromtheproject)andI405neighbors(viewstowardthe project).
A-4
APPENDIX B
VISUAL QUALITY RATING MATRIX
Exhibit B-1: Visual quality analysis baseline conditions B. NE 60th Street I-405 facing north F. SR 522 (UW Bothell) facing east X X X X X 5 5 5 4 4.8 4 4 4.0 5 4.6 A. NE 60th Street I-405 facing south G. SR 527 Interchange facing east X X X X X 2 NA 3 3 2.7 2 3 2.5 2 2.4
Page B-1
Representative Viewpoints
Viewer Orientation View Distance
To the Highway From the Highway Foreground Middle ground Background X X X X X
X X X X X
Viewer Position
Inferior Normal Superior X X X X X
Vividness
Landform Water Vegetation Human-made Average
3 NA 2 3 2.7
3 NA 2 3 2.7
2 NA 1 2 1.7
2 NA 3 3 2.7
Intactness
Development Encroachment Average
2 3 2.5
2 3 2.5
3 2 2.5
3 4 3.5
Unity Total Visual Quality
2.7
2.7
2.1
2.7
7 = very high; 6 = high; 5 = moderately high; 4 = average; 3 = moderately low; 2 = low; 1 = very low.
E. Sonoma Villero Condominiums facing west X X 2 NA 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2.7
C. NE 124th Street facing north
D. NE 160th Street facing northeast

Exhibit B-2: Visual quality analysis projected conditions A. NE 60th Street I-405 facing south G. SR 527 Interchange facing east X X X X X 2 NA 3 3 2.7 2 3 2.5 2 2.4 F. SR 522 (UW Bothell) facing east X X X X X 5 5 5 4 4.8 4 4 4.0 5 4.6 B. NE 60th Street I-405 facing north E. Sonoma Villero Condominiums facing west X X X X X X X 2 NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
C. NE 124th Street facing north X X 2 NA 1 2 1.7 3 2 2.5 2 2.1
Representative Viewpoints
Viewer orientation View distance
Toward the highway From the highway Foreground Middleground Background X X X X X
Viewer position
Inferior Normal Superior X X X
Vividness
Landform Water Vegetation Human-made Average
3 NA 2 3 2.7
3 NA 2 3 2.7
Intactness
Development Encroachment Average
2 3 2.5
2 3 2.5
Unity Total Visual Quality
2.7
2.7
B-2
D. NE 160th Street facing northeast 1 NA 2 2 1.7 3 3 3 2 2.2

Exhibit B-3: Visual quality effects determination Baseline visual quality 2.7 2.7 2.1 2.7 2.7 Projected visual quality 2.7 2.7 2.1 2.2 2 Degree of visual change 0 0 0 -0.5 -0.7
Viewpoint A. NE 60th Street I-405, facing south B. NE 60th Street I-405, facing north C. NE 124th Street, facing north D. NE 160th Street, facing northeast E. Sonoma Villero Condominiums, facing west F. SR 522 (UW Bothell), facing east G. SR 527 Interchange, facing east
Primary viewer groups Highway users Highway users Local roadway users Highway users Condominium residents Local roadway users, college students, and staff Retail customers and local roadway users
Number of viewers High High HighLow High Low
Viewer sensitivity
Type/duration of exposure Short
Visual effect
Low Low Low High
Short ShortLow Short Long
Low Low Low Medium
4.6
4.6
Moderate
High
Medium
Low
2.4
2.4
Moderate
Medium
Medium
Low
B-3
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B-4
APPENDIX C REPRESENTATIVE VIEWS
Representative View A: NE 60th Street at I-405, view facing south
Representative View B: NE 60th Street at I-405, view facing north
C-1

Representative View C: NE 124th Street, view facing north
Approaching Representative View D: NE 160th Street northbound ramp to I-405, view facing northeast Representative View D: NE 160th Street northbound ramp to I-405, view facing northeast
C-2

Representative View E: Sonoma Villero Condominiums, view facing west
Representative View E: Sonoma Villero Condominiums, view facing west
C-3

View F: SR 522 (UW Bothell), view facing east

Representative View G: SR 527 interchange, view facing east
C-4

WADOT BTL App R Visual Quality PArt2

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BASELINE CONDITIONS

What is the baseline visual character of the study area?

Bridle Trails State Park

Spinney Homestead Park

Kingsgate Edith Moulton Park Kingsgate Park

7. Totem Lake 8. Edith Moultan Park 9. Kingsgate Park

10. Kingsgate 11. Bothell 12. Snohomish Co. Arterial Freeway

520-i5_LandscapeUnits.mxd Updated: 7-2-07

Snohomish County K i n g C o u nBothell ty

520-i5_LandscapeUnits042507.mxd Updated: 04-25-07

Snohomish County K i n g C o u nBothell ty

Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park

Stream Railroad Municipality

520-i5_RepView_NE60th_042507.mxd Updated: 4-25-07

King County City of Kirkland

Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park

Stream Railroad Municipality

Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park

Stream Railroad Municipality

520-i5_RepView_NE124th_042507.mxd Updated: 4-25-07

BTL_RepView_NE160th.mxd Updated: 12-23-10

Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park

Stream Railroad Municipality

Representative Viewpoint Arterial Freeway Park

Stream Railroad Municipality

520-i5_RepView_SR522.mxd Updated: 7-2-07

520-i5_RepView_SR527.mxd Updated: 7-3-07

What are the potential visual effects of the project?

How will project construction temporarily affect visual quality?

How will the project operation affect visual resources?

ExhibitB3(AppendixB)presentsthevisualqualityeffectdeterminationusedtoassess thelevelofeffectsfortheproposedprojectpertainingtotherepresentativeviewpoints. Fortheseviewpoints,virtuallynochangewilloccurinvisualquality.

Will the project create new sources of shadows, light, or glare?

thelaterpiecesintheoverallI405CorridorProgramschedule.Othereffectsfrom earlierphases,liketheKirklandNickelProject,willalreadybeinplaceandare consideredinaseparateanalysis.Visualeffectswillbelimitedtotheprojectareaand surroundings.

Did we look at cumulative effects?

MEASURES TO AVOID OR MINIMIZE PROJECT EFFECTS

What are we doing to avoid or minimize project effects?

UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE EFFECTS

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Visual quality assessment definitions

de minimus effect distance zones (foreground, middle ground, background)

Visual quality assessment definitions

landscape form, landform landscape type

Visual quality assessment definitions

local values and goals

Visual quality assessment definitions

urban landscape view

Visual quality assessment definitions

visual assessment unit

Visual quality assessment definitions

GIS data sources

Text references and verbal communications

APPENDIX A DETAILED STUDY APPROACH

What tools and vocabulary did we use for this assessment?

VISUAL QUALITY RATING MATRIX

Viewer Orientation View Distance

To the Highway From the Highway Foreground Middle ground Background X X X X X

Inferior Normal Superior X X X X X

Landform Water Vegetation Human-made Average

Development Encroachment Average

Unity Total Visual Quality

E. Sonoma Villero Condominiums facing west X X 2 NA 4 3 3 3 3 3 2 2.7

C. NE 124th Street facing north

D. NE 160th Street facing northeast