Sound Transit On-Call Environmental Services

Meeting environmental commitments is critical to Sound Transit’s sustainable triple bottom line strategy and to community acceptance of its projects. This on-call environmental services contract helps secure success for new Link light rail stations, Sounder commuter rail, Express Bus services, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects.

ESA has provided on-call environmental services to Sound Transit since 2005 through subsequent on-call contracts, completing more than 150 task orders totaling over $5 million. ESA prepared NEPA and SEPA EIS amendments and re-evaluations for Lynnwood Link and Northgate Link, and helped Sound Transit obtain individual and nationwide Section 404 permits such as for Northgate Link and the Sounder commuter rail. ESA conducted cultural resource investigations and monitoring for Sounder, University Link, East Link, and numerous other sites. Recently, ESA helped Sound Transit select and design a culvert replacement for fish passage mitigation related to commuter rail expansion.

ESA’s work has also included environmental assessments, wetland and stream assessments, mitigation monitoring, visual simulations, and air and noise impact assessments. This involved assisting with Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers consultations on Endangered Species Act Section 7, Section 106 for cultural resources, and Section 4(f) and 6(f) analysis on habitat, recreation, and cultural resource impacts. ESA has helped Sound Transit identify permitting needs, conduct field studies, and prepare environmental documentation to meet Washington State Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and other regulatory agency requirements. ESA also helps Sound Transit with greenhouse gas assessment and reduction as well as air, noise, and vibration studies.