IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS I. TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION The traffic analysis is based on the Traffic Impact Analysis for a Proposed Bus Maintenance Facility (July 2004) and Traffic Impact Analysis for a Mixed-Use Residential & Commercial Development (July 2004) reports prepared by Overland Traffic Consultants, Inc. (2004) located in Appendix F1 and Appendix F2, respectively, of this Draft EIR. 1. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING a. Existing Conditions (1) West Los Angeles Transportation Facility The West Los Angeles Transportation Facility site is located on Jefferson Boulevard south of National Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles. Access to the site is primarily provided by the Santa Monica Freeway, Jefferson Boulevard, La Cienega Boulevard and Rodeo Road. (a) Freeway and Street Characteristics Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) is located north of the project site. This east/west freeway provides four mixed-flow lanes plus auxiliary lanes between ramp connections in each direction in the vicinity of study area. Freeway access is provided from Washington Boulevard, Fairfax Avenue, Venice Boulevard, and La Cienega Boulevard. Average daily traffic volume on the 10 Freeway at La Cienega Boulevard is approximately 280,000 vehicles per day (ADT). Freeway capacities are typically 2,000 vehicles per hour (VPH) per lane under free flow conditions. Using this capacity value, the 10 Freeway provides a theoretical free flow capacity of approximately 16,000 to 20,000 VPH. Current nondirectional peak-hour traffic volume on the Santa Monica Freeway is 18,000 to 19,000 VPH per Caltrans. Jefferson Boulevard is a north/south secondary highway providing two lanes in each direction plus a median left-turn lane adjacent to the project site. The roadway is developed to a 60-foot width curb to curb on 70 feet of right-of-way. On-street parking is not permitted on the west side of Jefferson Boulevard. Daily traffic volume on Jefferson Boulevard south of National Boulevard is approximately 17,500 ADT with directional peak-hour flows between 600 to 900 VPH. The current designation of Jefferson Boulevard is a Secondary Highway which may require additional highway dedication (eight feet) and street widening (five feet) to bring it up to Metro West Los Angeles Transportation Facility/Sunset Avenue Project Metro/City of Los Angeles PCR Services Corporation October 2004 Page 325 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work-in-Progress IV.I. Transportation and Circulation its standard. Except where environmental issues and planning practices warrant alternate standards consistent with capacity requirements, street dedications shall be developed in accordance with standards and criteria contained in the Circulation Element of the General Plan and the City’s Standard Street Dimensions. It should be noted that the added dedication and street widening would not provide for any additional traffic lanes or roadway capacity on Jefferson Boulevard. La Cienega Boulevard is a north/south Class II major highway. Three lanes in each direction plus left-turn lanes are provided. The roadway carries approximately 67,500 vehicles per day with peak-hour flows of 4,400 to 4,800 VPH. The street is constructed with 80 feet of roadway curb to curb on 100 feet of right-of-way. South of Rodeo Road, the right-of-way on La Cienega Boulevard increases to 120 feet in width to provide for a raised median and dual left- turn lanes. On-street parking is not permitted on La Cienega Boulevard. Rodeo Road/Higuera Street is an east/west Class II major highway between the City limits and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Three lanes in each direction plus left-turn lanes are provided. The street is constructed with 78 feet curb to curb on 100 feet of right-of-way between Jefferson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard. (b) Existing Traffic Volumes An analysis of current traffic conditions was conducted for the intersections serving the project site. Figure IV.I-1 on page 327, illustrates the study locations, type of intersection traffic control and lane configurations.177 Detailed traffic analyses of existing traffic flow were performed at the following three intersections: • Jefferson Boulevard and National Boulevard • Jefferson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard • Jefferson Boulevard and Rodeo Road/Higuera Street Existing traffic volume data were based on actual traffic counts conducted by an independent traffic data collection company. The A.M. and P.M. peak-period counts were conducted manually from 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in August 2003. All traffic counts were conducted by counting the number of vehicles at each of the three study 177 The traffic analysis methodology and selection of intersections was reviewed by LADOT during review of an August 2003 draft of the Traffic Report. LADOT comments have been addressed in the current traffic study. Metro West Los Angeles Transportation Facility/Sunset Avenue Project Metro/City of Los Angeles PCR Services Corporation October 2004 Page 326 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work-in-Progress Figure IV.I-1 N West Los Angeles Transportation Facility Not To Scale Study Intersection Characteristics Source: Overland Traffic Consultants, Inc. Page 327 IV.I. Transportation and Circulation intersections making each movement. The peak-hour volume for each intersection was then determined by finding the four highest consecutive 15-minute volumes for all movements. (c) Analysis of Existing Conditions An analysis of existing traffic conditions was performed to determine existing service levels at the study intersections. The traffic conditions analysis was conducted using the Critical Movement Analysis (CMA) method. All study intersections were evaluated using this methodology pursuant to the criteria established by the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). The peak-hour traffic counts were used along with current intersection geometrics and traffic controls to determine the intersection’s operating condition. The highest combinations of conflicting traffic volume (V) at an intersection were divided by the intersection capacity value. Intersection capacity (C) represents the maximum volume of vehicles that have a reasonable expectation of passing through an intersection in one hour under typical traffic flow conditions. The CMA procedure uses a ratio of the traffic volume to the capacity of an intersection. This volume-to-capacity (V/C) ratio defines the proportion of an hour necessary to accommodate all the traffic moving through the intersection assuming all approaches are operating at full capacity. CMA ratios provide an ideal means for quantifying intersection operating characteristics. For example, if an intersection has a CMA value of 0.70, the intersection is operating at 70 percent capacity with 30 percent of the capacity unused. Once the volume-to-capacity ratio (i.e., CMA value) was calculated, operating characteristics were assigned a level of service grade (A through F) to estimate the level of congestion and stability of the traffic flow. The term “Level of Service” (LOS) is used by traffic engineers to describe the quality of traffic flow. Definitions of the LOS grades are shown in Table IV.I-1 on page 329. By applying the CMA procedures to the intersection data, the capacity values and the corresponding LOS for existing traffic conditions were determined. The results of the analysis are provided in Table IV.I-2 on page 330. The LOS for Jefferson Boulevard and La Cienega Boulevard is F in both the A.M. and P.M. The LOS for Jefferson and Rodeo Road is E in the A.M. and D in the P.M., whereas the LOS for Jefferson and National Boulevard is A in the A.M. and B in the P.M. (2) Sunset Avenue Project The project site is located in the northern area of the Venice Community and occupies the entire block bounded by Sunset Avenue to the north, Pacific Avenue on the west, Thornton Place on the south, and Main Street on the east. The nearest regional transportation facility serving the Sunset Avenue site is the Marina Freeway (State Highway 90) which is located east of Marina del Rey and approximately 1.25 miles east of the project site. This east/west freeway/ Metro West Los Angeles Transportation Facility/Sunset Avenue Project Metro/City of Los Angeles PCR Services Corporation October 2004 Page 328 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work-in-Progress IV.I. Transportation and Circulation Table IV.I-1 LEVEL OF SERVICE DEFINITIONS Level of Service Volume/Capacity Ratio Definition A 00.00 to 0.60 EXCELLENT: Free flow conditions with low traffic density. B 0.61 to 0.70 VERY GOOD: A stable flow of traffic C 0.71 to 0.80 GOOD: Light congestion but stable, occasional backups behind left-turning vehicles. D 0.81 to 0.90 FAIR: Approaching capacity, drivers are restricted in freely changing lanes. Vehicles may be required to wait more than one light cycle. E 0.91 to 1.0 POOR: At or near capacity with some long lines for left- turning vehicles. Blockage of intersection may occur if traffic signal does not provide for protected turning movements. F >1.00 FAILURE: Jammed conditions with stoppages of long duration Source: Overland Traffic Consultants, Inc., July 2004. expressway provides direct access between Lincoln Boulevard and the San Diego Freeway (I-405) and is improved with two to three lanes in each direction. Located approximately 1.5 miles to the north is the Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10). A brief description of the primary roadways, which provide access to and from this property, is presented below. (a) Freeway and Street Characteristics Main Street is a designated secondary highway. The roadway is constructed to a width of 56 feet curb to curb on 90 feet of right-of-way. Two lanes in each direction are provided on Main Street with on-street metered parking.