MDOT Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project FEIS Chapters 4, 5
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4.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project Final Environmental Impact Statement This page intentionally left blank. Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project Final Environmental Impact Statement 4.0 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 4.1 Introduction This chapter describes the environmental resources present in the Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit (LRT) study area and the potential environmental impacts, both positive and negative, that would occur with the No Build Alternative and with construction and operation of the Project Build Alternatives A1, B2, B3, and A4 (the Preferred Alternative). Aerial maps and diagrams of the alternatives are provided in Appendix D. Detailed data and information are provided in technical reports, as referenced in this chapter. Environmental resources and analyses presented in this chapter are as follows: • Air Quality • Parklands • Hazardous Materials • Visual and Aesthetics • Historic Resources • Utilities • Archaeological Resources • Energy • Noise • Construction Impacts • Vibration • Roadways and Level of Service • Environmental Justice • Stormwater Management • Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy • Natural Resources • Neighborhood Character • Indirect and Cumulative Effects • Community Facilities and Services Existing conditions are described for 2009 or 2010, when the data were collected for each of the environmental resource categories. Analysis years for potential construction- and operations- related impacts are 2012 and 2030, respectively. The discussion of each environmental resource is organized, as appropriate, by legal and regulatory context, methodology, existing conditions, long-term (operations-phase) effects, short-term (construction-phase) effects, and mitigation. 4.2 Air Quality 4.2.1 Legal and Regulatory Context Air quality is a term used to describe the amount of air pollution to which the public is exposed. Air quality is governed by the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA), administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). As required by the CAA, the USEPA has established health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for certain transportation-related air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and particulate matter of 10 microns or less in diameter (PM10) and 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). The standards for a particular air pollutant are set by the USEPA. By law, the USEPA must set the standards at a level that protects human health. States whose air quality does not meet one or more of the established health-based standards must develop a S tate Implementation Plan (SIP) for attaining the standards. Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project 4-1 Final Environmental Impact Statement The CAA states that Federal Transit Administration (FTA)-assisted transit projects are subject to air quality conformity analysis (i.e., a proposed transit project must conform to the SIP for attaining air quality standards). P roject-level air quality conformity has two parts: regional analysis and local or “hot-spot” analysis. The regional analysis consists of the development and adoption of a conforming Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that include the Project. The hot-spot analysis, which is required only for certain pollutants, must demonstrate the Project would not produce localized concentrations of air pollutants that would cause or contribute to a localized exceedance of the USEPA standards for that pollutant. The project conforms to the SIP if it is included in the conforming RTP and TIP, and if the Project will not cause or contribute to a hot-spot. 4.2.2 Methodology USEPA publishes a list of geographic areas that are in compliance (attainment areas) and not in compliance (nonattainment areas) with the health-based standards for each air pollutant. Areas that were once nonattainment areas, but are now in attainment are classified as “maintenance areas.” The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project is in Wayne County, Michigan, which is classified as a nonattainment area for PM2.5 and as a maintenance area for O3, CO, and PM10. The State has applied to the USEPA to be redesignated as a m aintenance area for PM2.5 because PM monitors have not shown a violation of the standards for several years. The USEPA determination is pending. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) conducted a regional emissions analysis of the RTP and TIP and found the total transportation-related emissions were within emissions budgets established in the SIP for the relevant air pollutants. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and FTA reviewed SEMCOG’s analysis and found that the RTP and TIP, which include the Project, conform with the USEPA’s regulation on air quality conformity (40 CFR part 93). The Detroit region is designated by USEPA as a maintenance area for CO, an air pollutant that may form hot-spots near major CO emissions sources even when the regional CO budget level is achieved. Air quality hot-spot modeling was performed using the USEPA mobile source emission factor model (MOBILE6.2) and the CAL3QHC air quality dispersion model (version 2.0) to estimate future CO levels at selected locations in the study area. 4.2.3 Existing Conditions The monitoring stations nearest the Project area (at 11600 East 7 Mile Road, 6050 Linwood, and 6921 West Fort) reported exceedances of the eight-hour standard for O3 in the latest three years of data. No other violations of the health-based standards were reported. 4.2.4 Long-Term Effects Regional Air Quality The LRT Project is included in SEMCOG’s RTP, Direction2035, as Project #4430, and in the 2011-2014 TIP as Project #2010353. T he RTP is available on t he SEMCOG website at http://www.semcog.org/Long-RangeTransportationPlan.aspx. SEMCOG, FHWA, and FTA have found that the RTP and TIP conform with the USEPA’s regulation on a ir quality conformity (40 CFR part 93). T his regulation requires the transportation system to make progress toward meeting the health-based standards for any nonattainment pollutant and for maintaining attainment of the health-based standards for any maintenance pollutant. T he analysis of SEMCOG’s RTP and TIP shows that such progress will be made. The analysis of the Woodward Avenue Light Rail Transit Project 4-2 Final Environmental Impact Statement RTP indicated that, although the Project would reduce the number of highway lanes on Woodward Avenue, the highway network has excess capacity for much of the day, so the Project would not seriously affect highway congestion and emissions. F urthermore, the Project will attract some people out of their automobiles and thereby offset negligible increases in emissions associated with the small change in the highway network’s capacity for automobiles. Hot-Spot Analysis A CO hot-spot analysis was conducted, and the intersections modeled were selected in accordance with USEPA guidance. T he selected intersections are part of all Project Build Alternatives, including the Preferred Alternative (A4). The analysis predicted no exceedances of the CO standards at any intersection affected by the Preferred Alternative (A4), and no exceedances with the No Build Alternative. Details are found in the Air Quality Technical Report (2011). On February 23, 2011, SEMCOG informed the City of Detroit that the statewide InterAgency Working Group (IAWG) on a ir quality met on August 13, 2009, t o discuss the Project being entered into the Direction2035 RTP. At this meeting, the IAWG determined the LRT Project did not require a PM hot-spot analysis. FTA agrees with the decision, because the Project will not expand or create any new diesel bus or diesel rail terminals and is not expected to increase diesel traffic and associated PM emissions at any location within the study area. Levels of mobile source air toxics (MSAT) are not predicted to be adversely affected by the Project for the same reasons. Air Quality Conformity of the Project As detailed above, the Preferred Alternative (A4) is included in SEMCOG’s conforming RTP and TIP, and it will not cause or contribute to any localized exceedance of the health-based standards. T herefore, the Preferred Alternative (A4) conforms to the Michigan SIP for metropolitan Detroit. Details of the air quality analysis methods and results are provided in the Air Quality Technical Report (2011). 4.2.5 Short-Term Construction Effects The Preferred Alternative (A4) would result in limited, short-term increases in fugitive dust and diesel emissions during construction. During construction, the City of Detroit would adhere to State and local regulations regarding dust control. For this Project, FTA would require the use of diesel engine retrofit technology on diesel construction vehicles and diesel-powered equipment. 4.2.6 Mitigation Long-term mitigation is not required as the operation of the Preferred Alternative (A4) will not result in an adverse air quality impact. To alleviate PM emissions caused by construction in a populated area, FTA requires the retrofit of all diesel construction vehicles and diesel equipment used in the Project’s construction with diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, engine upgrades, engine replacements, or combinations of these strategies, to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Detroit would also comply with MDOT’s Standard Construction Specification Sections 107.15(A) and 107.19 to control fugitive dust during construction of