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03-23-21 Condemnation of Real Property-Ave J On

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03-23-21 Condemnation of Real Property-Ave J On STATE ROUTE 14 (STATE ROUTE 138)/ AVENUE J INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT CITY OF LANCASTER, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA District 7-LA-14 (SR-138)-PM R67.3/68.3 EA 31620 – EFIS 0715000198 Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration Prepared by the State of California Department of Transportation April 2019 SCH: 2018091018 MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Pursuant to Division 13, State of California Public Resources Code Project Description: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with the City of Lancaster (City) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), propose to modify and improve the operational capacity of the State Route 14 (SR-14) (State Route 138 [SR- 138])/Avenue J interchange, and supporting roadways, in the City of Lancaster, California. Caltrans is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lead agency for the project. The proposed SR-14 (SR-138)/Avenue J Interchange Improvements project proposes to improve capacity at the existing interchange and local roadway operations on Avenue J between 15th Street West and 25th Street West. The proposed project will help reduce congestion, enhance operational capacity, improve local circulation of traffic, improve wayfinding, and provide multi- modal facilities in the form of bikeways and sidewalks. Determination: Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study (IS) for this project, and following public review, has determined from this study that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: The proposed project will have no impact on agricultural and forestry resources, mineral resources, or public services. The proposed project will have less than significant impacts on aesthetics, air quality, cultural resources, hazards and hazardous materials, geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, land use and planning, population and housing, noise and vibration, recreation, transportation/traffic, tribal cultural resources, or utilities. The proposed project will have less than significant impacts on biological resources with incorporation of mitigation measures. Mitigation measures that would reduce potentially significant impacts resulting from the proposed project to less than significant are summarized in the Mitigation Monitoring Program for the proposed project (Chapter 5 of the IS). Ronald Kosinski Date of Approval Deputy District Director District 7, Division of Environmental Planning California Department of Transportation Table of Contents Table of Contents Page Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Location .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose and Need .......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Permits and Approvals Needed ...................................................................................... 8 Project Description .................................................................................... 9 2.1 Project Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 9 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Checklist ...................... 21 3.1 Aesthetics ..................................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Agricultural and Forestry Resources ............................................................................ 27 3.3 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................... 29 3.4 Biological Resources .................................................................................................... 38 3.5 Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 60 3.6 Geology and Soils ........................................................................................................ 71 3.7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ......................................................................................... 75 3.8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials ............................................................................... 76 3.9 Hydrology and Water Quality ........................................................................................ 83 3.10 Land Use and Planning ................................................................................................ 93 3.11 Mineral Resources ........................................................................................................ 96 3.12 Noise ............................................................................................................................ 97 3.13 Population and Housing ............................................................................................. 110 3.14 Public Services ........................................................................................................... 112 3.15 Recreation .................................................................................................................. 117 3.16 Transportation/Traffic ................................................................................................. 119 3.17 Tribal Cultural Resources ........................................................................................... 130 3.18 Utilities and Service Systems ..................................................................................... 132 3.19 Mandatory Findings of Significance ............................................................................ 136 3.20 Climate Change .......................................................................................................... 138 Comments and Coordination ............................................................... 153 4.1 Draft Environmental Document Circulation ................................................................ 153 4.2 Public Comments ....................................................................................................... 154 SR‐14 (SR‐138)/Avenue J Interchange Improvements Project City of Lancaster Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration April 2019 i Table of Contents List of Preparers .................................................................................... 155 Distribution List ..................................................................................... 156 References ............................................................................................. 162 List of Figures Figure 1-1: Regional and Project Location .................................................................................... 3 Figure 1-2: Project Area ................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 2-1: Alternative 1 .............................................................................................................. 13 Figure 2-2: Alternative 2A ........................................................................................................... 15 Figure 2-3: Alternative 2B ........................................................................................................... 17 Figure 2-4: Alternative 3 .............................................................................................................. 19 Figure 3-1: Biological Impacts Map ............................................................................................. 56 Figure 3-2: Flood Insurance Risk Map ........................................................................................ 91 Figure 3-3: Noise Measurement and Modeling Locations ........................................................ 103 Figure 3-4: 2020 Business as Usual (BAU) Emissions Projection 2014 Edition ....................... 142 Figure 3-5: Possible Use of Traffic Operation Strategies in Reducing On-Road CO2 Emissions .................................................................................................................................................. 144 Figure 3-6: The Governor’s Climate Change Pillars: 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals 149 List of Tables Table 1-1: Project Permits and Approvals Needed ....................................................................... 8 Table 3-1: Local Air Quality Levels ............................................................................................. 31 Table 3-2: Estimated Daily Construction Emissions ................................................................... 36 Table 3-3: Summary of Short-Term Measurements ................................................................. 100 Table 3-4: Existing Traffic Noise Levels .................................................................................... 101 Table 3-5: Future Traffic Noise Levels ...................................................................................... 105 Table 3-6: Vibration and Construction Equipment .................................................................... 107 Table 3-7: Construction Equipment Noise ................................................................................ 108 Table 3-8: Predicted Noise Levels ............................................................................................ 109 Table 3-9:
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