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CHAPTER 3: EXISTING CONDITIONS IN THE STUDY AREA <br />3.5 Resiliency <br />A resilient transportation system is one that <br />can withstand and recover from disruptions, <br />whether they are caused by natural disasters, <br />technological failures, or human -caused <br />incidents. Resiliency involves the ability of <br />the system to maintain functionality and <br />adapt to changing conditions while minimizing <br />disruptions to people, goods, and services. <br />This section of 1-90 can be susceptible <br />to natural hazards such as wildfires and <br />snowstorms. The highway's resiliency depends <br />on its ability to withstand these hazards and <br />recover quickly from any damage. Resiliency <br />is also influenced by the maintenance and <br />condition of the highway's infrastructure, <br />including bridges and road surfaces. Regular <br />maintenance and investments in infrastructure <br />upgrades can enhance 1-90's ability to <br />withstand and recover from disruptions. <br />1-90's resiliency is also affected by the <br />availability of alternative routes for <br />evacuations and detours in case of closures or <br />disruptions. In the study area, 1-90 currently <br />only has two lanes in each direction, so <br />crashes or other causes for lane closures can <br />cause a major disruption in the flow of traffic. <br />Identifying and maintaining alternative routes <br />can mitigate the impact of disruptions on the <br />highway and ensure the continued flow of <br />traffic during emergencies. <br />3.6 Environmental Justice <br />and Equity <br />The environmental justice (EJ) and equity <br />evaluation identifies whether there are <br />communities with EJ concerns and evaluates <br />whether the alternatives would equitably <br />distribute project benefits and prevent <br />disproportionate and adverse effects to human <br />health. <br />The EJ study area is defined as the census <br />tracts and block groups within 0.5 mile of <br />the 1-90 study corridor from South Cie Elum <br />to Easton because it is the area most likely <br />to experience socioeconomic effects from <br />changes to the corridor. Federal guidance on <br />EJ is transitioning from an analysis of impacts <br />to minority and low-income populations (per <br />the 1994 Executive Order 12898) to a broader <br />analysis of environmental and health effects <br />on "populations of concern" (per the 2023 <br />Executive Order 14096)". At the state level, <br />WSDOT is responsible for incorporating <br />environmental justice in its plans and <br />programs because it is a covered agency under <br />the Washington's Healthy Environment for All <br />(HEAL) Act (RCW 70A.02). However, guidance on <br />HEAL Act Environmental justice Assessments is <br />still underway (WSDOT 2024). <br />3.6.1 Demographic and <br />Socioeconomic Indicators <br />The study area does not meet the definition of <br />an EJ population or a Justice40 disadvantaged <br />community12 because the minority population <br />is only 15% of the overall population and <br />not meaningfully greater than the minority <br />population of the comparison geographies of <br />Kittitas County, Cie Elum, and Roslyn, which <br />11 The broader definition of "communities with environmental justice concerns" better integrates the discrimination protections under Title VI of the <br />Civi l Rights Act of 1964. <br />12 An "environmental justice population" described in Executive Order 12898 and EPA 2016; a "disadvantaged community" described in the CEIST <br />Screening Tool methodology: https./IscreeninStool."o •tatform, ov/en/methodolo=.y <br />VOLUME I: FEASIBILITY REPORT 1-90 Corridor Easton to Cle Elum Feasibility Study 148 <br />