Southbound Interstate 605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration
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Southbound Interstate 605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Prepared by the State of California Department of Transportation Los Angeles County, California District 7-LA-605 PM R14.1/R14.6 EA: 07-34140/EFIS #: 0717000189 February, 2019 Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Page Left Intentionally Blank i Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Page Left Intentionally Blank iii Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA 7 -LA -605- R14.1/R14.6 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION EA: 34140 PROPOSED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Pursuant to: Division 13, Public Resources Code Description The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), proposes improvements to the southbound Interstate 605 Beverly Boulevard interchange to reduce congestion, reduce weaving conflicts, improve safety, and improve freeway operations. The SR-91/ I-605 / I-405 Congestion Hot Spots Feasibility Report and Project Study Report – Project Development Support, approved July 2014, (PSR-PDS) for the I-605, I-5, and I-105 identified the southbound I-605 at Beverly Boulevard interchange as a congestion hot-spot due to the short weaving distance between the loop on and off-ramps. This results in decreased safety with a higher than average accident rate and contributes to congestion on the mainline freeway in the southbound direction. Additionally, the southbound interchange does not provide for southbound to westbound movement, and surrounding intersections sometimes experience congestion as a result of congestion on the ramp. Determination This proposed Negative Declaration (ND) is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that it is Caltrans’ intent to adopt an ND for this project. This does not mean that Caltrans’ decision regarding the project is final. This ND is subject to change based on comments received by interested agencies and the public. Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study for this project, and pending public review, expects to determine from this study that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: The proposed project would have no effect on aesthetics, agriculture and forestry, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, mineral resources, transportation and traffic, and tribal cultural resources. In addition, the proposed project would have less than significant effects to air quality, hazardous materials, noise, and utilities and service systems. RONALD KOSINSKI Date of Approval Deputy District Director Division of Environmental Planning, District 7 California Department of Transportation iv Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Page Left Intentionally Blank v Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration Contents 1 Proposed Project ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Location........................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose and Need .................................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Project Description ................................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Project Alternatives .................................................................................................................................. 5 1.4.1 Alternative 1 No Build ....................................................................................................................... 5 1.4.2 Alternative 2 Diamond Configuration ............................................................................................... 6 1.4.3 Alternative 3 “D” Ramp ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.4.4 Features Common to Both Build Alternatives .................................................................................. 6 2 California Environmental Quality Act Evaluation ............................................................................................ 7 2.1 Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1.1 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures ................................................................... 8 2.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources ....................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Forestry ........................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Agricultural Resources .................................................................................................................... 11 2.3 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.1 Regulatory Setting ........................................................................................................................... 15 2.3.2 Regulations...................................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.3 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................... 21 2.3.4 CEQA Checklist Evaluation .............................................................................................................. 31 2.3.5 Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures ...................................................................... 33 2.4 Biological Resources ............................................................................................................................... 36 2.4.1 Avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation Measures ................................................................. 39 2.5 Cultural Resources.................................................................................................................................. 41 2.5.1 Avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation Measures ................................................................. 42 2.6 Geology and Soils ................................................................................................................................... 43 2.6.1 Avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation Measures ................................................................. 45 2.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions .................................................................................................................... 46 2.8 Hazardous Materials .............................................................................................................................. 47 2.8.1 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures ................................................................. 55 2.9 Hydrology and Water Quality ................................................................................................................ 56 vi Southbound I-605 Beverly Boulevard Interchange Improvement Project Initial Study with Proposed Negative Declaration 2.9.1 Avoidance Minimization and/or Mitigation Measures................................................................... 58 2.10 Land Use and Planning ........................................................................................................................... 59 2.11 Mineral Resources .................................................................................................................................. 60 2.12 Noise ....................................................................................................................................................... 61 2.12.1 Acoustically Feasible Sound Barriers .............................................................................................. 71 2.12.2 Reasonableness Determinations .................................................................................................... 87 2.12.3 Construction Noise .......................................................................................................................... 88 2.12.4 Avoidance, Minimization, and/or Mitigation Measures ................................................................. 89 2.13 Population and Housing ......................................................................................................................... 91 2.14 Public Services ........................................................................................................................................ 92 2.15 Recreation .............................................................................................................................................