San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority Maintenance Facility Project Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared by San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority 179 Cross Street, Suite A San Luis Obispo, California 93401 prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 1530 Monterey Street, Suite D San Luis Obispo, California 93401 July 2017 San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority Maintenance Facility Project Initial Study – Mitigated NNegative Declaration prepared by San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority 179 Cross Street, Suitee A San Luis Obispo, California 93401 prepared with the assistance of Rincon Consultants, Inc. 1530 Monterey Street, Suite D San Luis Obispo, Callifornia 93401 July 2017 This report prepared on 50% recycled paper with 50% post‐consumer content. Table of Contents Table of Contents Initial Study ............................................................................................................................................. 1 1 Project Title ......................................................................................................... 1 2 Lead Agency Name and Address ........................................................................ 1 3 Contact Person and Phone Number ................................................................... 1 4 Project Location .................................................................................................. 1 5 General Plan Designation ................................................................................... 1 6 Zoning ................................................................................................................. 4 7 Environmental Setting and Surrounding Land Uses ........................................... 4 8 Background/Project History ............................................................................... 4 9 Description of Project ......................................................................................... 5 10 Native American Consultation ............................................................................ 8 11 Required Approvals ............................................................................................ 8 12 Other Public Agencies With Review or Approval Authority ............................... 8 Environmental Checklist ....................................................................................................................... 13 1 Aesthetics ......................................................................................................... 13 2 Agriculture and Forest Resources ..................................................................... 19 3 Air Quality ......................................................................................................... 21 4 Biological Resources ......................................................................................... 31 5 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................ 37 6 Geology and Soils .............................................................................................. 41 7 Greenhouse Gas Emissions ............................................................................... 45 8 Hazards and Hazardous Materials .................................................................... 51 9 Hydrology and Water Quality ........................................................................... 59 10 Land Use and Planning ...................................................................................... 67 11 Mineral Resources ............................................................................................ 69 12 Noise ................................................................................................................. 71 13 Population and Housing.................................................................................... 85 14 Public Service .................................................................................................... 87 15 Recreation ......................................................................................................... 89 16 Transportation .................................................................................................. 91 17 Tribal Cultural Resources .................................................................................. 99 18 Utilities and Service Systems .......................................................................... 103 19 Mandatory Findings of Significance ................................................................ 107 Mitigation Measures Required for the Project .................................................................................. 109 References .......................................................................................................................................... 115 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 115 List of Preparers .......................................................................................................................... 119 Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration i San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority Maintenance Facility Project Tables Table 1 Health Effects Associated with Non‐Attainment Criteria Pollutants ....................................... 22 Table 2 SLOAPCD Operational Emissions Significance Thresholds ....................................................... 23 Table 3 Maximum Quarterly Construction Air Pollutant Emissions (tons/quarter) ............................. 24 Table 4 Estimated Operational Daily Air Pollutant Emissions .............................................................. 25 Table 5 Estimated Operational Annual Air Pollutant Emissions ........................................................... 26 Table 6 Previously Recorded Resources within 0.5 mile of the APE .................................................... 38 Table 7 Estimated Construction Emissions of GHGs ............................................................................ 47 Table 8 Combined Annual Emissions of GHGs ...................................................................................... 48 Table 9 Project Consistency with Applicable Climate Action Plan Measures ....................................... 49 Table 10 Cleanup Sites & Permitted Facilities within 1,000 Feet of 253 Elks Lane, San Luis Obispo ............................................................................................................................................ 55 Table 11 Typical Vibration Levels for Construction Equipment ........................................................... 72 Table 12 Maximum Noise Exposure for Noise‐Sensitive Land Use Areas ............................................ 74 Table 13 City Maximum Noise Exposure for Noise‐Sensitive Land Use Areas Due to Stationary Noise Sources ............................................................................................................... 75 Table 14 City of San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Exterior Noise Limits (Levels not to be exceeded more than 30 minutes in any hour) ............................................................................... 75 Table 15 Maximum Time Periods for Increased Noise Levels .............................................................. 76 Table 16 Maximum Noise Levels for Nonscheduled, Intermittent, Short‐Term Operation (Less than 10 Days) of Mobile Equipment at Residential Properties ............................................. 76 Table 17 Maximum Noise Levels for Repetitively Scheduled, Relatively Long‐Term Operation (10 Days or More) of Stationary Equipment at Residential Properties ......................................... 77 Table 18 Noise Monitoring Results ....................................................................................................... 77 Table 19 Noise Ranges of Typical Construction Equipment ................................................................. 81 Table 20 City of San Luis Obispo Multimodal LOS Objectives, Service Standards, and Significance Criteria ........................................................................................................................ 96 Table 21 Summary of Traffic Effects in RTA Project Vicinity ................................................................ 96 Figures Figure 1 Project Vicinity Map ................................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2 Project Site Boundary Map ....................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3 Site Plan .................................................................................................................................... 9 Appendices* Appendix A: Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculations and Modeling Results Appendix B: Natural Environment Study Appendix C: Phase I Cultural Resources Survey Report Appendix D: Preliminary and Supplemental Floodplain Analyses Appendix E: Noise Measurement Data Appendix F: Transportation Impact Analysis *Hard copies available at main RTA office and digital copies available at http://www.slorta.org/ ii Initial Study Initial Study 1 Project Title Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Maintenance Facility Project 2 Lead Agency Name and Address San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority