Table of Contents Environmental Assessment Table of Contents 1.0 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2. Project Background ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3. Purpose of the Project .................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.4. Project Need ................................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.4.1. Improve Regional and Local Travel .................................................................................. 1-3 1.4.2. Improve Facility Condition and Design ............................................................................. 1-5 1.4.3. Improve Safety ................................................................................................................ 1-10 1.5. Project Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................... 1-13 1.5.1. Pedestrian and Bicycle Access ....................................................................................... 1-13 1.6. Logical Termini ........................................................................................................................... 1-13 2.0 Alternatives ........................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2. No-Build Alternative ...................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.3. Congestion Management Alternative ........................................................................................... 2-3 2.4. Range of Alternatives ................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.4.1. Mainline Alternatives ......................................................................................................... 2-5 2.4.2. Bridge Alternatives ............................................................................................................ 2-6 2.4.3. Interchange Alternatives ................................................................................................... 2-7 2.5. Alternatives Carried Forward ...................................................................................................... 2-11 2.5.1. Mainline Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 2-11 2.5.2. Bridge Alternatives .......................................................................................................... 2-13 2.5.3. Interchange Alternatives ................................................................................................. 2-18 2.6. Preferred Alternative ................................................................................................................... 2-25 2.6.1. Preferred Alternative and Purpose and Need ................................................................. 2-27 3.0 Environmental Setting, Impacts and Mitigation ................................................................................ 3-1 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2. Social and Economic Factors ....................................................................................................... 3-7 3.2.1. Community Characteristics and Cohesion ........................................................................ 3-7 3.2.2. Title VI and Other Protected Groups ................................................................................. 3-8 3.2.3. Environmental Justice ..................................................................................................... 3-11 3.2.4. Public Facilities and Services .......................................................................................... 3-15 3.2.5. Change in Travel Patterns and Access ........................................................................... 3-16 3.2.6. Relocations (Business and Residential) ......................................................................... 3-17 3.2.7. Economic Impacts ........................................................................................................... 3-20 3.2.8. Land Use ......................................................................................................................... 3-20 Interstate 80, Ridge Road to US Route 30 i October 2019 Table of Contents Environmental Assessment 3.2.9. Growth and Economic Development .............................................................................. 3-21 3.2.10. Pedestrian, Bicycle and Transit Facilities ....................................................................... 3-21 3.3. Agricultural .................................................................................................................................. 3-23 3.4. Historic Properties ...................................................................................................................... 3-24 3.4.1. Archaeological Historic Resources ................................................................................. 3-25 3.4.2. Architectural Historic Resources ..................................................................................... 3-25 3.4.3. Consulting Parties ........................................................................................................... 3-27 3.5. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 3-28 3.5.1. Ozone .............................................................................................................................. 3-28 3.5.2. Carbon Monoxide ............................................................................................................ 3-28 3.5.3. Particulate Matter (PM2.5) ................................................................................................ 3-28 3.5.4. Mobile Source Air Toxics ................................................................................................ 3-29 3.6. Noise ........................................................................................................................................ 3-29 3.7. Energy ........................................................................................................................................ 3-30 3.8. Natural Resources ...................................................................................................................... 3-31 3.8.1. Upland Plant Communities .............................................................................................. 3-31 3.8.2. Designated Special Lands .............................................................................................. 3-32 3.8.3. Wildlife ............................................................................................................................. 3-32 3.8.4. Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................ 3-33 3.8.5. Pollinator Habitat ............................................................................................................. 3-37 3.9. Surface Water Resources .......................................................................................................... 3-37 3.9.1. Rivers and Streams ......................................................................................................... 3-37 3.10. Groundwater Resources ............................................................................................................. 3-40 3.11. Floodplains ................................................................................................................................. 3-41 3.12. Wetlands ..................................................................................................................................... 3-42 3.13. Special Waste ............................................................................................................................. 3-46 3.14. Special Lands ............................................................................................................................. 3-47 3.15. Section 4(f) Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 3-47 3.15.1. Joliet Junction Trail ......................................................................................................... 3-48 3.15.2. Historic Properties ........................................................................................................... 3-49 3.16. Indirect and Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 3-50 3.17. Irretrievable