RICHMOND FERRY TERMINAL PROJECT Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Draft Prepared for WETA San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority Pier 9, Suite 111 The Embarcadero San Francisco, CA 94111 Prepared by Atkins 322 Pine Street, 5th Floor San Francisco, CA 94104 May 2014 Draft Contents May 2014 Contents SECTION 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 I. Purpose of this Document........................................................................................ 1 II. Purpose and Need of the Project ............................................................................ 1 III. Project Background ................................................................................................... 3 IV. Scope of this Document ........................................................................................... 4 V. Impact Terminology .................................................................................................. 7 VI. Organization of this Document ............................................................................... 8 VII. Summary of Environmental Impacts ...................................................................... 8 SECTION 2. Project Description ............................................................................................ 17 I. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 17 II. Project Description .................................................................................................. 20 III. Proposed Ferry Service and Ridership Potential ................................................. 29 IV. Required Permits and Coordination ...................................................................... 33 V. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Consideration ........................... 33 SECTION 3. Environmental Checklist Form ......................................................................... 35 I. Evaluation of Environmental Impacts.................................................................. 40 II. Aesthetics .................................................................................................................. 41 III. Agriculture/Forestry Resources ............................................................................. 56 IV. Air Quality ................................................................................................................. 58 V. Biological Resources ................................................................................................ 69 VI. Cultural Resources ................................................................................................... 86 VII. Geology/Soils ........................................................................................................... 95 VIII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ................................................................................. 101 IX. Hazards/Hazardous Materials.............................................................................. 107 X. Hydrology/Water Quality ..................................................................................... 114 XI. Land Use/Planning ................................................................................................ 125 XII. Mineral Resources .................................................................................................. 140 XIII. Noise ........................................................................................................................ 141 XIV. Population/Housing .............................................................................................. 155 XV. Public Services ........................................................................................................ 158 XVI. Recreation ................................................................................................................ 162 XVII. Transportation/Traffic .......................................................................................... 165 XVIII. Utilities/Service Systems ....................................................................................... 191 XIX. Mandatory Findings of Significance .................................................................... 195 SECTION 4. List of Preparers ............................................................................................... 198 I. Lead Agency ............................................................................................................ 198 II. Contributing Agency .............................................................................................. 198 III. EIR Consultants ..................................................................................................... 198 IV. Project Design Team ............................................................................................. 199 San Francisco Bay Area i Richmond Ferry Terminal Project Water Emergency Transportation Authority Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Contents Draft May 2014 Appendices Appendix A Air Quality Analysis Assumptions Appendix B Special-Status Species Appendix C Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analysis Assumptions Appendix D Noise Analysis Assumptions Figures Figure 1 Project Area .................................................................................................................................................. 18 Figure 2 Project Site Plan ........................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 3 Ferry Terminal Layout ............................................................................................................................... 23 Figure 4 Proposed and Potential Future Parking Locations ........................................................................... 26 Figure 5 Kayak Launch Layout................................................................................................................................ 28 Figure 6 Proposed Ferry Route ............................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 7 Views of the Ferry Terminal Site ............................................................................................................ 42 Figure 8 Views of Existing and Proposed Future Parking Locations .......................................................... 43 Figure 9 Views of Kayak Launch Location .......................................................................................................... 45 Figure 10 Views from the Ferry Terminal Project Site ....................................................................................... 46 Figure 11 GHG Mitigation Option: Solar Array Carport—Viewpoint Location Map ............................. 48 Figure 12a GHG Mitigation Option: Solar Array Carport—Views 1 and 2 across the Project Site ................................................................................................................................................................... 49 Figure 12b GHG Mitigation Option: Solar Array Carport—Views 3 and 4 across the Project Site ................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Figure 13 General Plan Land Use Designations ................................................................................................ 126 Figure 14 Zoning ......................................................................................................................................................... 128 Figure 15 Noise Monitoring Sites ........................................................................................................................... 147 Figure 16 Existing Roadway Network .................................................................................................................. 166 Figure 17 Study Intersections .................................................................................................................................. 170 Figure 18 Existing [2012] No Project Peak Hour Intersection Volumes ................................................... 174 Figure 19 Peak Hour Project Trips ........................................................................................................................ 178 Figure 20 Existing [2012] Plus Project Peak Hour Intersection Volumes with Parking Option 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 180 Figure 21 Existing [2012] Plus Project Peak Hour Intersection Volumes with Parking Option 2 ..................................................................................................................................................... 181 Figure 22 Cumulative [2035] No Project Peak Hour Intersection Volumes ............................................. 184 Figure 23 Cumulative [2035] Plus Project Peak Hour Intersection Volumes with Parking Option 1 ..................................................................................................................................................... 185 Figure 24 Cumulative [2035] Plus Project Peak Hour