Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project – Draft EIS LYNX Blue Line Extension TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT CHAPTER ES.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES.1 Project Study Area...................................................................................................... ES-1 ES.2 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................... ES-1 ES.3 Alternatives Considered ............................................................................................. ES-2 ES.4 Summary of Transportation Impacts ......................................................................... ES-4 ES.5 Summary of Environmental Consequences .............................................................. ES-5 ES.6 Mitigation Summary ................................................................................................... ES-7 ES.7 Financial Analysis and Investment Impacts ............................................................. ES-21 ES.8 Evaluation of Alternatives ........................................................................................ ES-21 ES.9 Public and Agency Coordination.............................................................................. ES-23 ES.10 Next Steps ............................................................................................................... ES-23 CHAPTER 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Corridor Description....................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Travel Demand and Transportation Deficiencies .......................................................... 1-8 1.4 Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................. 1-11 CHAPTER 2.0 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED 2.1 Screening, Selection and Refinement Process ............................................................. 2-1 2.2 Definition of Alternatives ................................................................................................ 2-5 CHAPTER 3.0 TRANSPORTATION 3.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 3-15 3.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 3-36 CHAPTER 4.0 LAND USE, PUBLIC POLICY AND ZONING 4.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 4-14 4.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 4-20 CHAPTER 5.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 5.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 5-4 5.3 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 5-9 CHAPTER 6.0 NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 6.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 6-10 6.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 6-20 CHAPTER 7.0 VISUAL AND AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS 7.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 7-3 7.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 7-12 7.4 Coordination ................................................................................................................ 7-12 Table of Contents TOC -i Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project – Draft EIS LYNX Blue Line Extension CHAPTER 8.0 CULTURAL RESOURCES 8.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 8-1 8.2 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 8-2 8.3 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 8-6 8.4 Consultation ................................................................................................................... 8-6 CHAPTER 9.0 PARKLANDS 9.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................... 9-1 9.2 Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 9-4 9.3 Mitigation ....................................................................................................................... 9-7 CHAPTER 10.0 NATURAL RESOURCES 10.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 10-1 10.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 10-5 10.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 10-7 CHAPTER 11.0 WATER RESOURCES 11.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 11-1 11.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 11-5 11.3 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 11-11 CHAPTER 12.0 AIR QUALITY 12.1 Legal and Regulatory Context ..................................................................................... 12-1 12.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 12-2 12.3 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 12-3 12.4 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 12-6 CHAPTER 13.0 NOISE AND VIBRATION 13.1 Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Guidelines .................................................. 13-1 13.2 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 13-5 13.3 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 13-6 13.4 Mitigation ................................................................................................................... 13-11 CHAPTER 14.0 ENERGY USE 14.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 14-1 14.2 Environmental Consequences – Direct Energy .......................................................... 14-1 14.3 Environmental Consequence – Indirect Energy .......................................................... 14-2 14.4 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 14-3 CHAPTER 15.0 HAZARDOUS AND CONTAMINATED MATERIALS 15.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 15-1 15.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 15-2 15.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 15-5 CHAPTER 16.0 SAFETY AND SECURITY 16.1 Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 16-1 16.2 Environmental Consequences .................................................................................... 16-1 16.3 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 16-3 CHAPTER 17.0 ACQUISITIONS AND DISPLACEMENTS 17.1 Acquisitions and Displacements .................................................................................. 17-1 17.2 Mitigation ..................................................................................................................... 17-5 TOC -ii Table of Contents Northeast Corridor Light Rail Project – Draft EIS LYNX Blue Line Extension CHAPTER 18.0 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS 18.1 Construction ................................................................................................................ 18-1 18.2 Construction Education and Outreach Plan ................................................................ 18-2 18.3 Construction Regulations