4,RTD July, 1992 SCH No. 92031008 Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for SCRTD UNION STATION HEADQUARTERS JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT Los Angeles, California Southern California Rapid Transit District 425 South Main Street Los Angeles, California 90013 Prepared by: Converse Environmental West 3393 East Foothill Boulevard Pasadena, California 91107 U I I I I DRAFT I ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Environmental Analysis and I Environmental Impact Report for SCRTD Union Station Headquarters Joint Development Project I Los Angeles, California V I SCH No. 92031008 I CONDUCTED FOR: I Southern California Rapid Transit District 425 South Main Street I Los Angeles, California 90013 Contract No. 5632 I PREPARED BY: I Converse Environmental West 3393 East Foothill Boulevard Pasadena, California I (818) 796-8200 CEW Project No. 91-41-382-01 I July 20, 1992 I I I I I I I I SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT I BOARD OF DIRECTORS I Marvin L. Holen, President Charles H. Storing, Vice President Richard Alatorre I Evan Anderson Braude Mas Fukai Don Knabe I Nick Patsaouras Charles W. Raggio Gordana Swanson I James L. Tolbert Antonio Villaraigosa I Alan F. Pegg General Manager I PLANNING DEPARTMENT I Gary S. Spivack Assistant General Manager, Planning and Public Affairs I Dana A. Woodbury, Director of Planning John Bollinger, Manager - Real Estate Development I Robert J. Yates, EIR Project Planner I I I I I &C.R.T.U. IIBRAY TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I I. SUMMARY .........................................................1 - 1 A. Statement of the Proposed Project .................................1 - 1 CEQAintent ............................................1 - 1 Ii.2. Project Definition ........................................1 - 1 3. Purpose and Need ........................................1 - 2 B. Location .....................................................I - 3 I 1. Project Study Area .......................................1 - 3 2. ProjectSite ............................................1 - 4 3. Adjacent Public Transit Improvements .........................1 - 4 I C. Project Background ............................................1 - 4 1. Notice of Preparation/Initial Study ............................1 - 4 2. Discretionary Actions Required for Project Implementation ..........I - 8 Areas of Known Agency/Public Controversy ..........................I - 9 ID.E. Project Alternatives .............................................1 - 9 F. Summary of Environmental Impacts .................................1 - 12 II. PROJECT BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION ...................2 - A. Introduction ...................................................2 - 1 B. SCRTD Legislative Authority ......................................2 - C. SCRTD Administrative Headquarters ................................2 - 3 I 1. Present Location .........................................2 - 3 2. Re -Use Potential of Present SCRTD Location ....................2 - 3 Headquarters Needs Assessment ............................2 4 4. Headquarters Space Needs .................................2 - 6 Ia.5. Headquarters Siting ......................................2 - 6 ProjectSite ..................................................2 -9 E. Adjacent Public Transit Improvements ...............................2 - 9 ID.F. Project Characteristics ..........................................2 - 12 1. Design and Utilization .....................................2 - 14 2. Security and Access ......................................2 - 19 I 3. Construction Program .....................................2 - 20 4. Operational Characteristics .................................2 - 21 Ill. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS ....................................3A - 1 A. Land Use ...................................................3A- 1 Environmental Setting ....................................3A - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................3A- 3 Ii.3. Cumulative Impacts ......................................3A - 13 4. Mitigation Measures ......................................3A - 13 5. Adverse Impacts .........................................3A - 14 I B. Earth Resources ...............................................3B - 1 1. Environmental Setting ....................................3B 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................38 - 11 I 3. Mitigation Measures ......................................38 - 15 4. Adverse Impacts .........................................35 - 18 C. Water Resources ..............................................3C - 1 Environmental Selling .....................................3C - Ui.2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................3C - 6 3. Mitigation Measures ......................................3C - 8 4. Adverse Impacts .........................................3C - 10 Draft EIR: Union Station Headquarters Joint Development Project I Converse Environmental West TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page D. Noise ......................................................3D- 1 1. Environmental Selling ....................................3D - 2. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................3D - 4 3. Cumulative Impacts .....................................3D - 8 4. Mitigation Measures .....................................3D - 9 5. Adverse Impacts .........................................3D - 9 E. Air Resources ................................................3E - 1. Environmental Selling ....................................3E - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analyses .............................3E - 6 3. Cumulative Impacts ......................................3E - 18 4. Mitigation Measures ......................................3E . 19 F. Cultural Resources ............................................3F - 1 1. Environmental Setting ....................................3F - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................3F - 7 3. Cumulative Impacts .....................................3F - 9 4. Mitigation Measures .....................................3F - 9 5. Adverse Impacts .........................................3F - 10 G. Vehicular Transportation and Circulation ............................3G - 1 1. Environmental Selling ....................................3G - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................3G - 26 3. Mitigation Measures .....................................3G - 38 H. Pedestrian Circulation ..........................................3H - 1 1. Environmental Setting ....................................3H - 2. Environmental Impact Analysis .............................3H - 3 3. Cumulative Impacts .....................................3H - 8 4. Mitigation Measures .....................................3H - 8 5. Adverse Impacts .........................................3H - 8 Utilities/Energy ................................................31 - 1 1. Environmental Selling .....................................31 - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................31 - 2 3. Cumulative Impacts ......................................31 - 4 4. Mitigation Measures ......................................31 5 5. Adverse Impacts .........................................31 - 5 J. Aesthetics/View and Light/Glare ...................................3J - 1 1. Environmental Setting .....................................3J - 1 2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................3J 13 3. Cumulative Impacts ......................................3J - 29 4. Mitigation Measures ......................................3J - 30 5. Adverse Impacts ...........................................- 30 IV. GROWTH -INDUCING AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT 4 - A. Growth -Inducing Conditions ......................................4 - B. Cumulative Impacts of Related Prolects ..............................4 - 2 1. Legal Framework ........................................4 - 2 2. Cumulative Impacts Analysis ................................4 - 3 Draft EIR: Union Station Headquarters Joint Development Project Converse Environmental West [ TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page PROJECT ALTERNATIVES .............................................5 - A. Legal IV. Framework ..............................................5 - 1 B. Lead Agency Determination of a Range of Reasonable and Feasible Alternatives ...................................................5 - 1 I C. No Project Alternative ...........................................5 - 8 D. Alternative Site No. 1: Sunset Boulevard at Beaudry Street, Downtown Los Angeles ..................................................5 - 9 1. Environmental Setting .....................................5 - 9 I 2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................5 - 9 3. Other Considerations .....................................5 - 11 4. Conclusions ............................................5 - 11 I E. Alternative Site No. 2: Grand Avenue at Eighth Street, Downtown LosAngeles ..................................................s -ii 1. Environmental Selling .....................................5 - 11 2. Environmental Impact Analysis ..............................5 12 3. Other Considerations .....................................5 - 14 4. Conclusions ............................................5 - 14 Reduced Density Alternative: Abandonment of Phase II Development ........5 - 14 IF.G. Selection of the Environmentally Superior Alternative ....................5 14 VI. ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS CONTACTED .............................6 . 1 VII. REFERENCES ......................................................7