PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.      6g 
Date of Meeting   September 11, 2012 

DATE:    September 4, 2012 
TO:     Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Geri Poor, Manager, Regional Transportation 
Gary Wallinder, Capital Project Manager IV 
SUBJECT:  East Marginal Way Grade Separation Phase II (CIP C001725) 
Amount of This Request:  $850,000        Source of Funds: Tax Levy 
Est. State and Local Taxes: $110,000         Est. Jobs Created: 20 
Est. Total Project Cost:    $2,050,000 
ACTION REQUESTED: 
Request Commission authorization for the Chief Executive Officer to: (1) obligate the Port to
pay Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) a not-to-exceed amount of
$500,000 for work associated with SR99 Trestle Replacement to allow East Marginal Way
Grade Separation (EMWGS) Phase II and Argo Yard Access Road projects to proceed; and (2)
direct staff to develop design and prepare bidding documents for EMWGS Phase II in the amount
of $350,000. 
SYNOPSIS: 
The East Marginal Way Grade Separation (EMWGS) project was initiated by the Freight Action
Strategy (FAST) Corridor Partnership in the mid-1990s. This overpass has been implemented by
the Port of Seattle as a solution to train crossing delays to general and freight traffic in the
vicinity of East Marginal Way and Duwamish Avenue south of Spokane Street. Construction of
the new overpass is substantially complete and traffic can now travel over the existing BNSF 
Railway and Union Pacific (UP) railroad tracks at Duwamish Avenue without being stopped by
trains. The final memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Port and the City of Seattle
continues development. Port staff plans to brief the Commission on the status of the EMWGS
project in the near future. Funding for this project was received from federal, state, local,
railroad and Port of Seattle sources. It is referred to as Phase I, given two additional
opportunities it provides for system enhancements described below.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2012 
Page 2 of 5 
The Argo Yard Access Road is a first improvement, made possible by the completed grade
separation. It provides a new, more direct and safer route into the Union Pacific (UP) Argo rail
yard (Argo). The new route will allow trucks headed for Argo to avoid crossing SR99 traffic
south of South Spokane Street. It is being developed jointly by the Freight Mobility Strategic
Investment Board (FMSIB) and the Port of Seattle. It received Port Commission Authorization
on December 13, 2011. 
A second opportunity arises from the adjacent WSDOT SR99 Trestle Replacement project,
scheduled to be bid for construction in late September 2012. Development of this enhancement
has been recently advanced by an agreement between the FMSIB, SDOT, and WSDOT for a
structural design change of a new trestle replacement project to create a pass through in the
trestle where a road would be built to connect to the Argo Yard Access Road. This design
change and associated construction cost has been funded by a FMSIB grant. However, further
review of the updated design provides a substantial additional opportunity: by modifying one of
the WSDOT Trestle Replacement project's column locations, a revised surface roadway
alignment will permit northbound traffic to flow unencumbered onto the newly constructed
EMWGS overpass. 
This requested action, titled EMWGS Phase II, will fund (1) the WSDOT column modification
design and construction, and will fund (2) the Port's final roadway design for the connecting
roadways, as well as development of bidding documents for both the EMWGS Phase II
enhancement and the access to the proposed private roadway to the Argo Yard Access Road.
The suggested source of funds are funds currently programmed under the FAST II program (CIP
C001786), but unlikely to be requested by FAST partners. The source of FAST II funds is the
tax levy. 
BACKGROUND: 
The FAST Corridor partnership was established to support and minimize the impact of port
operations on the highways and rail lines that sustain maritime international trade along the
freight corridor from Tacoma to Everett. The Port of Seattle has been a partner since FAST's
inception and has contributed or committed over $40,000,000 to various projects in the corridor.
This project will be funded within this commitment and will complement the FMSIB
contribution to the WSDOT structural change by constructing connecting surface roadways in
the vicinity of both the EMWGS structure and the Argo access route. 
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION: 
The Project develops a complementary road system improvement for the EMWGS structure and
enhances the benefits of the Argo Yard Roadway project. 
Project Objectives: 
Improve surface roadway connections between the Argo Yard Access Road and the EMWGS
structure based upon agreements between the Port, WSDOT, FMSIB, and SDOT.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2012 
Page 3 of 5 
Enhance the vehicular traffic flow and safety of the public and freight handling businesses;
reducing associated vehicle idling times and emissions.
Enhance the viability of Port investments in containerized shipping consistent with the Port's
Century Agenda. 
PROJECT SCOPE OF WORK AND SCHEDULE: 
Scope of Work: 
Fund the design and construction of the WSDOT column location change. Port staff, with the
support of outside consultants, will complete final design and develop bid documents for
complementary roadway construction 
Schedule: 
Column change implemented during WSDOT Trestle Replacement Project anticipated during
2013. Complete final design in 2nd quarter 2013 and return to Commission for authorization and
funding for the construction of surface roadways. 
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: 
EMWGS Phase II Project Authorization request and     This Request    Total Project 
Cost Breakdown: 
WSDOT SR 99 Trestle Replacement payment           $500,000      $500,000 
Design                                     $250,000       $250,000 
Project Management                          $ 50,000      $ 50,000 
Permitting                                    $ 50,000       $ 50,000 
Construction Estimate                                      $960,000 
Construction Management Estimate                             $130,000 
State & Local Taxes (estimated)                                 $110,000 
Total                                       $850,000       $2,050,000 
Budget Status and Source of Funds: 
Funding for this project is proposed from CIP C001786 FAST Corridor II. The source of funds
will be the tax levy.
CIP Category             Regional Transportation 
Project Type              Freight Mobility 
Risk adjusted discount rate     NA

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2012 
Page 4 of 5 
Key risk factors              As the lead agency for this project, Port of Seattle
will be responsible for cost overruns. 
Potential for scope growth is relatively high given
many unknowns associated with old infrastructure
in a congested area. 
Further roadway improvements dictated by SDOT
or track improvements by UPRR.
Project cost for analysis        NA 
Business Unit (BU)          Seaport Containers 
Effect on business performance  Spending will be expensed as incurred as a nonoperating
expense over three years. 
IRR/NPV             NA 
CPE Impact             NA 
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES: 
This Project is consistent with the Port's Century Agenda to position the Puget Sound region as a
premier international logistics hub and to grow seaport annual container volume to more than 3.5
million TEUs over 25 years.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: 
Air quality and fuel efficiencies will be enhanced due more direct access routes. 
BUSINESS PLAN OBJECTIVES: 
Assure viability of container terminal operations. 
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS: 
1.  Instruct WSDOT to proceed with design which does not relocate a column and seek other
method to enhance traffic flow to the EMWGS structure. Seek other funding for road
connection to Argo Yard Access Road. The implications of this alternative are freight
mobility improvement delay and increased cost if implemented in the future. 
2.  Authorize and approve funds for the WSDOT column relocation and design roadway
enhancements for improved access to the EMWGS structure and the Argo access route. This
alternative supports the FAST Corridor program and maintains support to FMSIB. This is
the recommended action.
OTHER DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS REQUEST: 
Slide presentation.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
September 4, 2012 
Page 5 of 5 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS: 
July 14, 1998 -- Commission approved Resolution No. 3283, to authorize participation in the
FAST Corridor 
April 9, 2002 -- Commission authorization for East Marginal Way Grade Separation
conceptual design development 
December 9, 2003 -- Commission authorization for design refinement 
April 11, 2006 -- Commission authorization for project wide elements for a total of
$34,500,000 
January 13, 2009 -- Commission Project update 
March 24, 2009 -- Commission authorization to (1) increase previous Project Authorization by
the amount of $17,200,000 resulting in a total Project Authorization of $50,700,000, and (2)
advertise for bids for a total of $50,700,000 
November 30, 2009  Commission approved agreement for early termination of Clear
Channel Outdoor, Inc.'s leaseholds and settlement of any claims related to the removal of
certain signs on Port-owned property acquired for EMWGS project 
May 11, 2010  Commission authorization for a Purchase and Sale agreement between Port
of Seattle and Ash Grove Cement Company for a portion of Ash Grove's real property 
May 18, 2010  Commission authorization of a change order for a not-to-exceed amount of
$430,000 
December 13, 2011  Commission authorization of Argo Yard Roadway Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)