Environmental justice assessments
View a list of our ongoing environmental justice assessments
Washington state’s environmental justice law, the Healthy Environment for All or HEAL Act, directs WSDOT to reduce unfair differences in the environment and health of some communities. WSDOT is also charged with improving the health of all residents in the state.
One way WSDOT puts this into action is by conducting environmental justice (EJ) assessments when considering projects, including:
- New transportation projects costing more than $15 million.
- New transportation grants or loans awarded that are over $15 million.
- Significant legislative rulemaking efforts.
- New grant or loan programs.
- Legislation requested by WSDOT.
By making the effects of different actions clear, EJ assessments help WSDOT make decisions about how its work should proceed. Communities likely to be affected by WSDOT projects are involved in determining impacts, and options for reducing harms and distributing benefits fairly. This approach aligns with assessment expectations collaboratively developed by the HEAL Act Interagency Work Group.
WSDOT will consider expanding the types of projects EJ assessments are applied to, within agency decision-making processes. WSDOT strives to continuously improve EJ assessment processes through lessons learned in practice and guidance given by the Environmental Justice Council. If there is anything you would like to share or ongoing agency efforts you want to be involved in, please connect via email at environmentaljustice@wsdot.wa.gov
The table below provides details for ongoing and completed EJ assessments
Environmental justice assessments
| Project name | Location | Description and status |
| Bainbridge Island Ferry Terminal Electrification Project | City of Bainbridge Island in Kitsap County | Status is complete (PDF 460KB). Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Install underground power cable from the substation to the vessel charging system. |
| Community Transit Swift Gold Line | Cities of Everett, Marysville and Arlington in Snohomish County | Status is complete (PDF 8MB). Project description: Transportation grant award of at least $15 million. Improve service for Arlington, Marysville, and Everett with a new bus rapid transit route. |
| Electric-bicycle (E-bike) Rebate Program | Statewide | Status is complete (PDF 468KB). Project description: New transportation grant program. Legislatively directed statewide e-bike rebate program for all Washington residents. |
| Port Electrification Competitive Grant Program | Statewide | Status is complete (PDF 5MB). Project description: New transportation grant program. $26.5 million Port Electrification Competitive Grant program. |
| Seattle Ferry Terminal Electrification Project | City of Seattle in King County | Status is complete (PDF 478KB). Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Underground and underwater power cable, energy storage system and vessel charging system installation. |
| Electric-bicycle (E-bike) Lending Library Program | Statewide | Status is ongoing. Project description: New transportation grant program. Legislatively directed statewide e-bike lending library grant program for government entities, nonprofits and Tribes. |
| I-5/NB N Lake Samish to Nooksack River - Concrete Pavement Rehab | Cities of Bellingham and Ferndale in Whatcom County and unincorporated Whatcom County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Rehabilitate the concrete pavement and concrete panels on road surfaces, tapers and ramps. |
| I-5 Ship Canal Bridge Stormwater Treatment Project | Seattle, King County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Build a stormwater treatment facility beneath the north end of the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge, to remove harmful pollutants from Puget Sound and nearby waterways. |
| I-90 Judkins Park Station – Reconnecting Communities | City of Seattle in King County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Reconnecting Communities study which will recommend changes to improve safety of all travel modes. |
| Liberty Park Land Bridge Project - Reconnecting East Central Spokane | Spokane County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Will restore non-motorized connections across I-90 severed during highway construction in the 1950s. I-90 split the neighborhood, displaced over a thousand households, eliminated most of Liberty Park, and created long-lasting environmental, health, and economic burdens. The project focuses on the East Central neighborhood, including Liberty Park and connections to the Ben Burr Trail and larger regional trail network. |
| MIS program for business listings on blue service-information highway signs | Statewide | Status is ongoing. Project description: Agency-request legislation. The legislation update would make the Motorist Information Sign (MIS) program revenue generating instead of cost recovery. The request to explore this option for producing revenue was received from the Governor’s Office. |
| Southworth Ferry Terminal building-replacement | City of Southworth in Kitsap County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Replacing the aging timber dock and the passenger building at this hub for Kitsap Transit’s Fast Ferry, providing passenger-only ferry service to downtown Seattle. |
| SR 3/Craig Rd to Arcadia Rd Project - roundabouts, access mgmt and Complete Streets | Mason County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Replace the existing intersections on SR 3 at Craig Road, Mill Creek Road and Arcadia Road with roundabouts. Implement access management restricting left turns and incorporate Complete Streets improvements. |
| SR 7 pre-design from SR 507 to 99 St. South | Pierce County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. This is a WSDOT preservation repaving project, to keep roads safe and in good condition. Repaving helps protect the roadway and helps reduce more expensive repairs later. |
| SR 7 pre-design from SR 507 to 267 St. East | Pierce County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Safety improvement on State Route 7 between SR 507 and 267th Street, focused on roundabouts. Complete Streets and active-transportation users will inform the study. Recommended improvements will be part of the project. |
| SR 525 Mukilteo Bridge over Railroad – Bridge Replacement | City of Mukilteo in Snohomish County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Constructing a new bridge and updating the roadway to improve bridge integrity, and roadway continuity and capacity. |
| SR 542 Glacier Bridge Replacement Project | Glacier, Whatcom County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Replacing the State Route 542 bridge over Glacier Creek in Whatcom County. The project will reduce flood risk, restore salmon habitat and improve safety for all travelers. |
| SR 900/57th Ave S to S 135th – Environmental Justice Assessment | Unincorporated King County between the Cities of Seattle and Renton | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Improve paths, ramps, accessibility, signage, retaining walls, technology to assist and reduce users' stress levels. |
| Washington State Ferries Clinton Terminal Electrification Project | Community of Clinton on Whidbey Island in Island County | Status is ongoing. Project description: Transportation project of at least $15 million. Install underground and overhead power cable from the Langley substations to Washington State Ferries’ terminal property. |
We invite you to share your thoughts on what types of actions should receive an assessment, and how we might improve our assessment process. Please email EnvironmentalJustice@wsdot.wa.gov.
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