Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 3: Transportation WEST SANTA ANA BRANCH TRANSIT CORRIDOR PROJECT Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 3: Transportation July 2021 Draft Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report LEAD AGENCIES: Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority STATE CLEARINGHOUSE NO.: 2017061007 TITLE OF PROPOSED ACTION: West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Additional written comments and/or questions concerning this document should be directed to the following: Meghna Khanna Charlene Lee Lorenzo Rusty Whisman Project Manager Director Transportation Program Los Angeles County Metropolitan Federal Transit Administration Specialist Transportation Authority Region 9 Federal Transit One Gateway Plaza, M/S 99-22-4 Los Angeles Office Administration Region 9 Los Angeles, CA 90012 888 S. Figueroa Street, 888 S. Figueroa Street, Phone: (213) 922-6262 Suite 440 Suite 440 [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90017 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone: (213) 202-3952 Phone: (213) 202-3956 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Regulatory Setting ..................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Federal ...................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.2 State .......................................................................................................... 3-2 3.1.3 Regional/Local .......................................................................................... 3-3 3.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................. 3-3 3.2.1 Analysis Approach: Traffic Operations .................................................... 3-5 3.2.2 Analysis Approach: Transit ...................................................................... 3-9 3.2.3 Analysis Approach: Active Transportation ............................................ 3-10 3.2.4 Analysis Approach: Parking .................................................................... 3-10 3.2.5 Analysis Approach: Vehicle Miles Traveled ........................................... 3-11 3.2.6 Analysis Approach: CEQA Evaluation .................................................... 3-12 3.2.7 Analysis Approach: Construction .......................................................... 3-12 3.3 Affected Environment/Existing Conditions ........................................................... 3-12 3.3.1 Travel Demand in the Corridor .............................................................. 3-13 3.3.2 General Corridor-Wide Roadway Network Conditions ......................... 3-13 3.3.3 Freeways, Arterials, and Local Roads .................................................... 3-14 3.3.4 Intersections ........................................................................................... 3-17 3.3.5 Transit ..................................................................................................... 3-28 3.3.6 Active Transportation ............................................................................. 3-30 3.3.7 Parking .................................................................................................... 3-32 3.4 Environmental Consequences/Environmental Impacts ....................................... 3-36 3.4.1 Traffic Operations ................................................................................... 3-36 3.4.2 Transit ..................................................................................................... 3-55 3.4.3 Active Transportation ............................................................................. 3-67 3.4.4 Parking .................................................................................................... 3-72 3.5 Project Measures and Mitigation Measures .......................................................... 3-86 3.5.1 Project Measures .................................................................................... 3-86 3.5.2 Mitigation Measures .............................................................................. 3-87 3.6 California Environmental Quality Act Determination ......................................... 3-106 3.6.1 Conflict with a program, plan, ordinance, or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities? ............................................................................. 3-106 3.6.2 Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision (b)? ..................................................................... 3-111 3.6.3 Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? ............................................................... 3-113 3.6.4 Result in inadequate emergency access? ............................................ 3-115 3.7 Construction ......................................................................................................... 3-117 3.7.1 Construction Activities ......................................................................... 3-117 3.7.2 Construction Methodology .................................................................. 3-140 3.7.3 Construction Impacts ........................................................................... 3-140 3.7.4 California Environmental Quality Act Determination ......................... 3-149 West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 3: Transportation July 2021 | i Table of Contents Appendices Appendix D – West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Final Transportation Impact Analysis Report Appendix E – West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Final Land Use Impact Analysis Report Appendix F – West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Final Safety and Security Impact Analysis Report Appendix L – West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project Construction Methods Report List of Tables Table 3.1. Transportation Analysis Approach ............................................................................. 3-4 Table 3.2. Intersection Level-of-Service Criteria for Signalized, All-Way Stop, and Two-Way Stop Intersections .................................................................................................. 3-8 Table 3.3. Existing Average Annual Daily Traffic Volumes and Average Truck Percentages on Freeways .................................................................................................... 3-15 Table 3.4. Major Roadway Facilities Serving the Study Area .................................................... 3-17 Table 3.5. Key Intersections—Existing Operations ................................................................... 3-23 Table 3.6. Trips by Mode – LA County ....................................................................................... 3-28 Table 3.7. Metrolink Line Service Frequency ............................................................................. 3-29 Table 3.8. On-Street Parking Conditions: Proposed Station Locations ................................... 3-33 Table 3.9. On-Street Parking Conditions: Along the Alignment ............................................... 3-33 Table 3.10. Off-Street Parking Conditions: Proposed Station Locations ................................. 3-34 Table 3.11. Comparison of Existing (2017) and Future (2042) No Build Intersection Operations ........................................................................................................................... 3-37 Table 3.12. No Build Alternative Operations (2042) ................................................................. 3-38 Table 3.13. Daily Ridership and Station Vehicular Demand—Build Alternatives (2042) ........ 3-43 Table 3.14. Alternative 2 Operations (2042) ............................................................................. 3-44 Table 3.15. Summary of Alternative 3 Intersection Operations Assessment .......................... 3-51 Table 3.16. Alternative 4 Intersection Adverse Effect Assessment ........................................... 3-52 Table 3.17. Daily Ridership and Station Vehicular Demand—Alternative 1 with Design Options 1 and 2 and Alternative 2 (2042) .......................................................................... 3-53 Table 3.18. Alternative 1 with Design Option 2 Operations (Design Option Specific) (2042) ................................................................................................................................... 3-54 Table 3.19. Proposed Headways for the Build Alternatives by Time Period ............................ 3-56 Table 3.20. Regional Transit Performance Metrics – Los Angeles County for No Build Alternative and Build Alternatives (2042) ........................................................................... 3-57 Table 3.21. WSAB Project and Metro Rail Daily Boardings by Line (within Study Area) for No Build Alternative and Alternative 1 (2042) .............................................................. 3-58 Table 3.22. Station Boardings for Alternative 1 (2042) ............................................................. 3-58 West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Project ii | July 2021 Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 3: Transportation Table of Contents