Draft EIS/EIR Appendix G Final Communities and Neighborhoods Impact Analysis Report WEST SANTA ANA BRANCH TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT Draft EIS/EIR Appendix G Final Communities and Neighborhoods Impact Analysis Report Prepared for: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Prepared by: WSP 444 South Flower Street Suite 800 Los Angeles, California 90071 July 2021 Author(s) AUTHOR(S) Terry A. Hayes, AICP, Terry A. Hayes Associates Inc. Allyson Dong, Terry A. Hayes Associates Inc. Teresa Li, AICP, Terry A. Hayes Associates Inc. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Study Background ................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Alternatives Evaluation, Screening, and Selection Process ................................... 1-1 1.3 Report Purpose and Structure .............................................................................. 1-2 1.4 General Background ............................................................................................. 1-3 1.5 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 1-3 1.5.1 Data Gathering ..................................................................................... 1-3 1.5.2 Analysis ................................................................................................. 1-4 2 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Geographic Sections............................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.1 Northern Section .................................................................................. 2-5 2.1.2 Southern Section .................................................................................. 2-6 2.2 No Build Alternative ............................................................................................. 2-6 2.3 Build Alternatives ................................................................................................. 2-9 2.3.1 Proposed Alignment Configuration for the Build Alternatives .............. 2-9 2.3.2 Alternative 1: Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Station .............. 2-12 2.3.3 Alternative 2: 7th Street/Metro Center to Pioneer Station................... 2-15 2.3.4 Alternative 3: Slauson/A (Blue) Line to Pioneer Station ...................... 2-15 2.3.5 Alternative 4: I-105/C (Green) Line to Pioneer Station ........................ 2-15 2.3.6 Design Options................................................................................... 2-16 2.3.7 Maintenance and Storage Facility ....................................................... 2-16 2.3.8 Bellflower MSF Option........................................................................ 2-16 2.3.9 Paramount MSF Option ..................................................................... 2-16 3 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK .......................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Federal .................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 State ..................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.3 Regional................................................................................................................ 3-2 3.3.1 2016-2040 SCAG Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy .......................................................................... 3-2 3.4 Local ..................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.4.1 City of Los Angeles General Plan .......................................................... 3-2 3.4.2 City of Los Angeles Land Use/Transportation Policy ............................ 3-5 3.4.3 Connect US Action Plan ........................................................................ 3-5 3.4.4 City of Vernon General Plan .................................................................. 3-5 3.4.5 Los Angeles County General Plan 2035................................................. 3-6 3.4.6 Florence-Firestone Community Plan, Los Angeles County.................... 3-6 3.4.7 City of Huntington Park General Plan ................................................... 3-7 3.4.8 City of Bell 2030 General Plan ............................................................... 3-7 3.4.9 City of Cudahy 2040 General Plan ......................................................... 3-9 3.4.10 City of South Gate General Plan 2035 ................................................... 3-9 3.4.11 City of South Gate Gateway District Specific Plan ............................... 3-10 3.4.12 City of South Gate Hollydale Village Specific Plan .............................. 3-10 3.4.13 City of Downey Vision 2025 ................................................................ 3-11 3.4.14 City of Paramount General Plan .......................................................... 3-11 3.4.15 City of Bellflower General Plan ............................................................ 3-12 3.4.16 City of Artesia General Plan 2030 ........................................................ 3-13 West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Final Communities and Neighborhoods Impact Analysis Report July 2021 | i Table of Contents 3.4.17 City of Cerritos General Plan ............................................................... 3-13 4 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ..................... 4-1 4.1 Affected Area Communities and Neighborhoods..................................................4-1 4.1.1 Central City North .................................................................................4-8 4.1.2 Central City .......................................................................................... 4-12 4.1.3 Southeast Los Angeles ........................................................................ 4-13 4.1.4 Vernon ................................................................................................. 4-13 4.1.5 Florence-Firestone ............................................................................... 4-14 4.1.6 Huntington Park .................................................................................. 4-14 4.1.7 Bell ...................................................................................................... 4-16 4.1.8 Cudahy ................................................................................................ 4-17 4.1.9 South Gate .......................................................................................... 4-18 4.1.10 Downey ............................................................................................... 4-19 4.1.11 Paramount .......................................................................................... 4-20 4.1.12 Bellflower ............................................................................................. 4-21 4.1.13 Artesia ................................................................................................. 4-22 4.1.14 Cerritos ................................................................................................ 4-23 4.2 Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Affected Area .............. 4-24 4.2.1 Population ........................................................................................... 4-24 4.2.2 Age ...................................................................................................... 4-25 4.2.3 Households ......................................................................................... 4-27 4.2.4 Employment ........................................................................................ 4-29 4.2.5 Race and Ethnicity ............................................................................... 4-30 4.2.6 Languages Spoken at Home ............................................................... 4-32 5 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES /ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .......................... 5-1 5.1 No Build Alternative ..............................................................................................5-1 5.2 Alternative 1: Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Station.................................5-1 5.2.1 Access and Mobility ..............................................................................5-1 5.2.2 Community Character and Cohesion.....................................................5-7 5.2.3 Community Stability ............................................................................ 5-17 5.3 Alternative 2: 7th Street/Metro Center to Pioneer Station ................................... 5-18 5.3.1 Access and Mobility ............................................................................ 5-18 5.3.2 Community Character and Cohesion................................................... 5-18 5.3.3 Community Stability ............................................................................ 5-20 5.4 Alternative 3: Slauson/A (Blue) Line to Pioneer Station ...................................... 5-20 5.4.1 Access and Mobility ............................................................................ 5-20 5.4.2 Community Character and Cohesion................................................... 5-21 5.4.3