U.S.-101 San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement U.S. Route 101 in the city of Goleta in Santa Barbara County 05-SB-101-PM 21.3/21.9 EA 05-1H430 Project ID 0516000073 SCH #: 2019129047 Initial Study with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/ Environmental Assessment Prepared by the State of California Department of Transportation The environmental review, consultation, and any other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by Caltrans pursuant to 23 U.S. Code 327 and the Memorandum of Understanding dated December 23, 2016, and executed by the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans. April 2020 General Information About This Document What’s in this document: The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), as assigned by the Federal Highway Administration, has prepared this Initial Study/Environmental Assessment, which examines the potential environmental impacts of alternatives being considered for the project in Santa Barbara County. The document explains why the project is being proposed, the alternatives being considered for the project, the existing environment that could be affected by the project, potential impacts of each of the alternatives, and proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures. What you should do: Please read the document. Additional copies of the document and the related technical studies are available for review at the Caltrans District 5 office at 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401. The document can also be downloaded at the following website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5 Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, if you prefer a printed of CD version of this document, please contact: Matthew Fowler at 805-542-4603 or via email to [email protected] Tell us what you think. If you have any comments regarding the proposed project, send your written comments to Caltrans by the deadline. Submit comments to: Environmental Branch Chief, Attention: Matthew Fowler, California Department of Transportation, Environmental Planning, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401 via U.S. mail or at [email protected] for emails. Submit comments by the deadline: May 27, 2020. What happens next: After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, Caltrans may 1) give environmental approval to the proposed project, 2) do additional environmental studies, or 3) abandon the project. If the project is given environmental approval and funding is appropriated, Caltrans could design and build all or part of the project. Printing this document: To save paper, this document has been set up for two-sided printing (to print the front and back of a page). Blank pages occur where needed throughout the document to maintain proper layout of the chapters and appendices. For individuals with sensory disabilities, this document can be made available in Braille, in large print, on audiocassette, or on computer disk. To obtain a copy in one of these alternate formats, please write to or call Caltrans, Attention: Matt Fowler, Environmental Planning, 50 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401; 805-542-4603 (Voice), or use the California Relay Service 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2929 (Voice), or 711. 05-SB-101-PM 21.3/21.9 EA: 05-1H430 Project ID: 0516000073 SCH #: 2019129047 Replace the existing San Jose Creek Bridges (Number 51-0163 L/R) with a single- span bridge on U.S. Route 101 at post mile 21.6 in Santa Barbara County INITIAL STUDY with Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration/ Environmental Assessment Submitted Pursuant to: (State) Division 13, California Public Resources Code (Federal) 42 U.S. Code 4332(2)(C) THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA Department of Transportation and California Transportation Commission The following person may be contacted for more information about this document: Matthew Fowler, Environmental Branch Chief 50 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo, California 93401 805-542-4785 [email protected] San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement i This page left intentionally blank San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement ii SCH Number: 2019129047 DRAFT Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration Pursuant to: Division 13, Public Resources Code Project Description The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to replace the existing northbound and southbound San Jose Creek Bridges (Bridge Number 51- 0163 R/L) which are in Santa Barbara County on U.S. Route 101 at post mile 21.6. The new bridge design would be a single-span bridge. Building the new bridge would involve the following: removing the existing bridge structure and building a new bridge structure, removing the existing slope pavement on the creek banks, installing rock slope protection, replacing traffic barriers to meet current safety standards and minor earthwork. The project would affect nearby vegetation. U.S. Route 101 is a major north-south highway that serves California, Oregon, and Washington. Within the project limits, U.S. Route 101 consists of a six-lane freeway, with three lanes in each direction. The project is in an urban environment, which consists of residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Determination This Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is included to give notice to interested agencies and the public that it is Caltrans’ intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project. This does not mean that Caltrans’ decision on the project is final. This Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration is subject to change based on comments received from interested agencies and the public. Caltrans has prepared an Initial Study for this project and, pending public review, expects to determine from this study that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment for the following reasons: The project would have no effect on existing or future land use, coastal resources, wild and scenic rivers, parks and recreation facilities, farmland, timberland, growth, community character and cohesion, environmental justice, utilities, cultural resources, paleontological resources, and mineral resources. The project would have no significant effect on visuals/aesthetics, emergency systems/services, traffic and transportation, wildfire hazards, hydrology and floodplains, geology and soils, hazardous materials, air quality, and noise levels. The project would have no significantly adverse effect on water quality or biological resources because the following measures would reduce potential effects to insignificance: San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement iii Water Quality Measures Project-related work in the creek will not be conducted during the wet season. A water diversion/dewatering management plan will be implemented to allow for work in the wetted channel. Appropriate Best Management Practices for water pollution control, erosion control and stormwater management will be implemented during project construction. Biological Resource Measures Pre-construction surveys will be conducted for special-status species before removing vegetation. Vegetation and tree removal will be kept to the minimum required for project completion. Before project construction begins, environmental sensitive area fencing would be installed within the project site to keep construction activities out of those areas. Biological monitoring would be conducted during various stages of project construction. Invasive, non-native species would be controlled to the maximum extent possible. Areas disturbed by project construction would be restored in to conditions that would allow them to function as potential habitat for species. On-site compensatory mitigation would be required for the project. Temporary impacts to wetlands and jurisdictional areas would require a 1 to 1 replacement ratio. Native plan replacement would require a 1 to 1 replacement ratio. It is anticipated that impacts to riparian trees would require a 3 to 1 replacement ratio. John Luchetta Office Chief, Central Region Environmental Central Coast Office California Department of Transportation Date San Jose Creek Bridge Replacement iv Table of Contents DRAFT Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration ..................................................... iii Chapter 1 Proposed Project .................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose and Need................................................................................ 3 1.2.1 Purpose ............................................................................................... 3 1.2.2 Need ................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Project Description ............................................................................... 4 1.4 Project Alternatives ............................................................................... 5 1.4.1 Build Alternative .................................................................................. 6 1.4.2 No-Build (No-Action) Alternative ......................................................... 6 1.5 Comparison of Alternatives .................................................................. 7 1.6 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Discussion ......... 7 1.6.1 Alternative 1 ........................................................................................ 8 1.6.2 Alternative