Revised Environmental Assessment/ Final Environmental Impact Report
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Revised Environmental Assessment/ Final Environmental Impact Report January 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. CHAPTER 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Intended Use of the Revised EA/Final EIR ............................................ 1 1.2 Summary of the Proposed Project ...................................................... 2 1.3 Selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative ......................................... 3 1.4 Noticing and Availability of EA/DEIR ................................................... 3 1.5 Environmental Review Process .......................................................... 3 CHAPTER 2.0 RESPONSES TO COMMENTS .................................................................... 5 2.1 Public Review ................................................................................. 5 2.2 Summary of Comments .................................................................... 9 2.3 Comments and Responses .............................................................. 10 CHAPTER 3.0 CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS ........................................................... 228 CHAPTER 4.0 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM ............................ 234 Appendix A Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REA/FEIR Page| i January 2015 Chapter 1.0 Introduction This Revised Environmental Assessment/Final Environmental Impact Report (REA/FEIR) complies with both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements. The federal and State environmental clearance for the Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed (SA-GG) Guideway Project (proposed project) was prepared in a joint NEPA and CEQA document. 1.1 Intended Use of the Revised EA/Final EIR This REA/FEIR was prepared at the direction and under the supervision of the City of Santa Ana (City) as the local lead agency. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is a responsible agency under CEQA. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is the federal lead agency pursuant to NEPA. This REA/FEIR incorporates the Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR) by reference and includes a description of a subsequent change to the proposed project, which involves the identification of a Locally Preferred Alternative. In addition, the REA/FEIR includes comments and recommendations received in response to the EA/DEIR (either verbatim or in summary); a list of persons, organizations, and public agencies who commented on the EA/DEIR; responses to significant environmental points raised in those comments; and other relevant information added by the local lead agency. The intended use of this REA/FEIR by the City is to assist in making decisions regarding whether to adopt the proposed project, certify the FEIR, and file the Notice of Determination, which will complete the CEQA process. The intended use of this REA/FEIR by FTA is to update the proposed project and provide the necessary information to issue the Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to complete the NEPA process. This REA/FEIR is comprised of four chapters: Chapter 1.0 Introduction. This chapter includes an overview of the proposed project, a summary of the alternatives considered, and a summary of the project’s potential environmental impacts. Chapter 2.0 Responses to Comments. This chapter contains comments received by the City during the public review period and public hearings for the EA/DEIR and responses to each comment. Chapter 3.0 Corrections and Additions. This chapter provides the changes to the EA/DEIR in response to comments received during the public review period and public hearing process. Chapter 4.0 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. This chapter includes a list of the required mitigation measures and identifies the enforcement agency, monitoring agency, monitoring phase, monitoring frequency, and the action indicating compliance with each measure. Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REA/FEIR Page| 1 January 2015 1.2 Summary of the Proposed Project The SA-GG Fixed Guideway Project proposes to provide a new east-west transit line in Orange County between the Santa Ana Regional Transit Center (SARTC) in the City of Santa Ana and the Harbor Boulevard/Westminster Avenue intersection in the City of Garden Grove. The purpose of the SA-GG Fixed Guideway Project is to: Improve Transit Connectivity within the Study Area; Relieve Congestion by Providing Alternative Mobility Options; Be Sensitive to the Character of the Community; Increase Transit Options; Improve Transit Accessibility to and within the Study Area; and Provide Benefits to the Environment through Improved Air Quality. The alternatives addressed in the EA/DEIR consisted of a No Build Alternative and a Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative, as well as four build alternatives; Streetcar Alternatives 1 and 2 and Initial Operating Segment (IOS)-1 and IOS-2, which are shorter versions of the full alignment. Streetcar Alternative 1, which is the Locally Preferred Alternative, will utilize the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way (PE ROW) through the western portion of the approximately four-mile alignment to reduce costs and impacts and to provide optimum accessibility. The eastern portion of the alignment will operate along Santa Ana Boulevard and 4th Street on the way to SARTC. The streetcar system will be electrically powered using an overhead contact system and a series of Traction Power Substations. The Locally Preferred Alternative includes 24 stations. Streetcar Alternative 2 would utilize the PE ROW through the western half of its alignment and primarily operate along Santa Ana Boulevard, Civic Center Drive, and 5th Street through the eastern half of the alignment to SARTC. The operational characteristics of this alternative are identical to Streetcar Alternative 1. The differences between the two streetcar alternatives are the alignment and the fact that Streetcar Alternative 2 would have one additional station for a total of 13. The No Build Alternative provides the basis for comparing future conditions resulting from other alternatives. This alternative includes conditions in the foreseeable future (through planning horizon year 2035) include projects that (1) have environmental analysis approved by an implementing agency and (2) have a funding source identified for implementation. The TSM Alternative enhances the mobility of existing transportation facilities and transit network without construction of major new transportation facilities or significant, costly physical capacity improvements. The TSM Alternative emphasizes low cost (i.e., small physical) improvements and operational efficiencies, such as focused traffic engineering actions, expanded bus service, and improved access to transit services. In response to funding and phasing issues raised by fiscal constraints identified during OCTA’s long-range transportation planning process, IOSs were developed as alternatives, which are shorter segments of the Locally Preferred Alternative and Streetcar Alternative 2. Further details on these alternatives are provided on page 2-1 of the EA/DEIR. Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REA/FEIR Page| 2 January 2015 1.3 Selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative Following receipt of public comments on the EA/DEIR and after the close of the public comment period, the City Council of the City of Santa Ana selected Streetcar Alternative 1 with Operations & Maintenance Facility Site B (west of Raitt Street) and 4th Street Parking Scenario A (parallel parking) as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the SA-GG Fixed Guideway Project on August 5, 2014. The selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative was based on the evaluation criteria that were approved by the community during the public scoping process. These criteria included the consideration of accessibility and livability; economic development, transit supportive land use, and community goals; environmental responsibility; travel benefits, choice, and reliability; and cost effectiveness and financial feasibility. Streetcar Alternative 1 produced the highest ridership, and served the greatest number of transit dependent households. Compared to Streetcar Alternative 2, it required less right-of-way acquisition, had a lower capital cost to construct, and greater ease of constructability. The existing land uses along the Streetcar Alternative 1 alignment were highly transit supportive, and offered greater economic development potential for the future. The selection of this Locally Preferred Alternative constitutes the extent of change to the proposed project that has occurred since the circulation of the EA/DEIR. The selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative does not create a change in circumstances, generate changes to the previously identified alternatives, or alter the previous environmental evaluation and determinations which were identified in the EA/DEIR. 1.4 Noticing and Availability of EA/DEIR In compliance with NEPA regulations and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15085 and 15087, a Notice of Availability of the EA/DEIR was distributed, and the EA/DEIR was made available for public review for 45 days beginning May 23, 2014 to provide an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the EA/DEIR. There were three public hearing meetings, which were held on June 14, 17, and 19, 2014. During the review period, 17 written