Project Operational Impacts. The impacts of the permanent facilities proposed by the alternatives would be relatively minor. The existing Waterfront Bicycle/Pedestrian Facility would be completely displaced in the central waterfront by the Tunnel Alternative and displaced south of Pine Street by the Elevated Structure Alternative. It would be replaced with a combination of bicycle lanes and sidewalks. For the Elevated Structure Alternative, the reduced size of replacement pedestrian facilities would lower their capacity and make them less appealing to some users. Three park and recreation facilities would be displaced by the Tunnel Alternative: the Washington Street Boat Landing, portions of Alaska Square on Pier 48, and the Waterfront Bicycle/Pedestrian Facility. The Washington Street Boat Landing currently extends past the outer edge of the seawall into Xxxxxxx Bay, at the foot of X. Xxxxxxxxxx Street. Under both tunnel alignments, the pergola would be relocated above the western edge of the tunnel. The pergola would be relocated landward from the seawall and would not extend out over the water. The Elevated Structure Alternative would displace the Washington Street Boat Landing during construction. The pergola would be relocated at the edge of the new seawall, which is about 35 feet beyond the existing seawall, and would overhang the water by approximately 26 feet, just as it does today. The Elevated Structure Alternative would change the context of the boat landing by placing the elevated highway structure in closer proximity, increasing noise impacts and the visual dominance of the aerial structure and likely reducing the appeal of the location for relaxation and other uses. Current construction plans envision this relocation occurring near the end of the construction period, although it could be accelerated. The Elevated Structure Alternative would also displace the Port of Seattle’s Alaska Square Park that is located south of X. Xxxxxxxxxx Street and adjacent to the parking area of Pier 48. The park could be reestablished after construction.
