Chapter 3. Environmental Resources, Impacts, and Mitigation This chapter discusses the social, economic, and environmental resources within the project vicinity and the project alternatives’ potential impacts and benefits to those resources. The following sections address each general resource category and describe the current setting. The potential impacts and benefits of the project Build and No-Build Alternatives are then evaluated against these existing baseline conditions. The chapter concludes with a summary of the anticipated impacts of the Preferred Alternative and a summary of the environmental commitments to address those impacts. Chapter 3 has been updated to reflect further development of the additional mitigation measures evaluated due to Environmental Justice concerns. In addition, updates were made to the air quality standards and reference to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), information was added to summarize the noise barrier viewpoint solicitation process, and minor corrections or updates were made to other sections. Consideration was also given to updating demographic data, most of which is from the 2010 Census or American Community Survey. Because conditions in the study area are not likely to have changed in a way that would affect decision-making for the project, it was determined that this effort was not needed. Changes and additions since the publication of the DEIS are shown in double underline. 3.1 Study Area Project “Study Area” The 75th Street CIP “study area” is Throughout this document, the evaluations focus within defined geographic areas appropriate for the specific resources being based on the linear project limits addressed. For most resources discussed in this document, a defined in the CREATE Program’s project “study area” has been defined and is used throughout, Final Preliminary Screening Report except where specifically noted otherwise. See the box at right (Amendment 1) . These limits for the definition of the project “study area.” A map of the were then extended along the project study area is shown in Figure 3.1-1 on the following page. railroad right-of-way to the next The term “project vicinity” is used in this document to refer to railroad signal beyond any the general area of the project without reference to a defined anticipated track changes, to boundary. Likewise, the term “project corridor” refers to the ensure that all possible track and general linear area along the rail rights of way within the study signal modifications would be area, but without inferring a precise boundary. included within the project limits. The “study area” was then defined Where the effects of the project may extend beyond the standard using a distance of 1,000 feet on 1,000-foot distance, such as for noise impacts, a larger study area either side of the centerline of the is used for that specific analysis. For the socioeconomic analyses, where most available data are defined at the census tract level, a railroad right-of-way within those “demographic study area” has been defined. This area is made project limits. Footnotes are listed at the end of this section 3-1 up of the census tracts that include the project study area. The demographic study area is shown in Figure 3.1-1, along with the project study area, to show how the two relate. Figure 3.1-1: Project Study Area CHAPTER 3 3-2 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION 3.2 Social/Economic Characteristics The following section examines the existing social and economic conditions present within the study area and evaluates the potential impacts of the Build Alternative in order to understand how this project might affect the people living and working within the surrounding community. Socioeconomic indicators such as demographics, economic activity, neighborhoods, community character, public facilities and services, and local planning initiatives are described in this section. The majority of the study area falls within the City of Chicago, with a small section of the southwestern portion extending into the City of Hometown. The A census tract is a study area for the various components of the socioeconomic analysis mirrors geographic the 1,000 foot radius study area boundary identified in Section 3.1. However, boundary defined for sections of the socioeconomic analysis which rely on U.S. Census Bureau by the U.S. Census demographic data, a demographic study area was defined using the census tract for the purpose of boundaries that most closely represent the study area boundary, as illustrated in data collection. Figure 3.2-1.1 Census tracts are While a portion of the study area falls within census tract 8216, this area small subdivisions consists of St. Mary’s Cemetery and does not contribute to the residential or of a county. employee population. As such, it was excluded from the demographic study area. The complete boundary of the City of Hometown is represented by census tract 8220. 3.2.1 Demographics Demographic data for the demographic study area were examined using U.S. Census data from 1990, 2000, and 2010, as well as the American Community Survey (ACS) 2010 5-Year Estimate. Demographic data provided for the populations within the demographic study area census tracts include population growth, racial/ethnic composition, age, households, household income, household size, and poverty level. Housing characteristics include housing growth, housing units, occupancy rate, ownership rate, median housing value, and median monthly rent. Comparative data are provided for the City of Chicago, and Cook County. 3.2.1.1 Population The total population within the demographic study area as identified by the U.S. Census 2010 was 138,838 people, as noted in Table 3.2-1. The demographic study area population represents approximately 2.7 percent of the total population of Cook County. Population has declined in the demographic study area over the last two decades. In comparison, the City of Chicago and Cook County experienced a population increase from 1990 to 2000 and in recent years experienced a population decline between 2000 and 2010. A combination of factors likely contributed to the population decline within the demographic study area such as loss of residents to the suburbs, the recent recession resulting in loss of jobs and increased foreclosure rates, and economic disinvestment in some neighborhoods.2 3-3 Figure 3.2-1: Demographic Study Area Table 3.2-1: Population Trends U.S. Census U.S. Census U.S. Census % Change 1990 % Change 1990 2000 2010 to 2000 2000 to 2010 Demographic 159,044 155,046 138,838 -2.5% -10.5% Study Area City of Chicago 2,783,726 2,896,016 2,695,598 +4.0% -6.9% Cook County 5,105,067 5,376,741 5,194,675 +5.3% -3.4% Source: U.S. Census 1990, 2000, 2010. 3.2.1.2 Racial and Ethnic Characteristics Table 3.2-2 and Figure 3.2-2 compares the racial and ethnic characteristics for the 75th Street CIP demographic study area, the City of Chicago, and Cook County. The demographic study area exhibits a considerably greater African American population (80.9%) when compared with the City of Chicago (32.9%) and Cook County (24.8%). The demographic study area exhibited a lower Hispanic population (11.3%) when compared with the City of Chicago (28.9%) and Cook County (24.0%). CHAPTER 3 3-4 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION Table 3.2-2: Race/Ethnic Composition of Residential Population* American Native Hawaiian Indian and and Other Some Two or Hispanic African Alaska Pacific Islander Other More (of any Total Caucasian American Asian Native alone Race Races race) Population % % % % % % % % Demographic 138,838 12.2% 80.9% 0.3% 0.3% <0.1% 5.0% 1.4% 11.3% Study Area City of Chicago 2,695,598 45.0% 32.9% 5.5% 0.5% <0.1% 13.4% 2.7% 28.9% Cook County 5,194,675 55.4% 24.8% 6.2% 0.4% <0.1% 10.6% 2.5% 24.0% Source: U.S. Census 2010. *Race/Ethnic Composition as a percent of total population. Hispanic is considered to be an ethnic characteristic, rather than a racial characteristic, and can be of any race. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding of figures. 6.9% 12.2% African American Caucasian 80.9% All Remaining Races Figure 3.2-2: Demographic Study Area Race Composition 3.2.1.3 Age Characteristics According to the U.S. Census 2010, the demographic study area generally exhibits a slightly greater percentage of the population under 20 years of age and over 65 years of age when compared with the City of Chicago and Cook County. The median age of the demographic study area of 34.5 is comparable to that of the City of Chicago and Cook County, as identified in Table 3.2-3. Table 3.2-3: Age Distribution % of Population % of Population % of Population Under 20 20 to 64 65 and Over Median Age Demographic Study Area 31.1% 56.2% 12.7% 34.5 City of Chicago 25.9% 63.7% 10.3% 32.9 Cook County 26.5% 61.6% 11.9% 35.3 Source: U.S. Census 2010 3.2.1.4 Households and Income Table 3.2-4 shows that there were approximately 46,605 households in the demographic study area, with an average household size of 3.0 persons. The average household income for the demographic 3-5 study area was $48,904, which is Households: The U.S. Census Bureau defines a household as considerably lower than that of the all the persons who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a City of Chicago at $68,646 or Cook house, an apartment, a mobile home, a group of rooms, or a County at $76,091 (refer to Figure single room that is occupied as separate living quarters.