4. Environmental Impact Analysis 4.12 Transportation and Traffic 4.12.1 Introduction This section describes potential impacts associated with construction and operational transportation and parking. The section analyzes construction traffic; intersection capacity; the regional transportation system; public transit; access and circulation, including pedestrian and bicycle safety; and parking. The evaluation of intersection capacity examines the impact of the Project relative to existing and future conditions. This section is largely based on the Transportation Impact Study (or Traffic Study) prepared by Gibson Transportation Consulting, Inc. dated June 2017, included as Appendix L of this Draft EIR, which provides more detailed information, data, and analyses. The Traffic Study was prepared pursuant to a memorandum of understanding with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), which is included as Appendix A of the Traffic Study. Following preparation of the Traffic Study, the list of related project was subsequently revised by the City. As such, a supplemental traffic analysis was prepared by Gibson Transportation Consulting on August 22, 2017, which includes updated Future Year 2022 traffic conditions to reflect the current list of related projects. Thus, the analysis herein includes the results of the latest supplemental traffic analysis. A copy of the supplemental analysis is included in Appendix L of this Draft EIR. 4.12.2 Environmental Setting Existing Conditions Study Area Street System The Project Site is located within the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles. The Project’s Traffic Study Area includes a geographic area generally bounded by 4th Street to the north, US 101 and I-5 to the East, I-10 to the south, and San Pedro Street to the west. Figure 4.12-1, Traffic Study Area and Analyzed Intersection Locations, depicts the Study Area and the intersections analyzed. As described below, the Study Area is well-served by a network of freeways and streets.1 The streets in the Study Area are under the jurisdiction of the City. Freeways are under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Freeways Primary regional access to the Project Site is provided by US 101, I-5, and I-10. US 101 generally runs in the north-south direction and is located less than one mile east of the Project Site. In the vicinity of the Project Site, US 101 provides three travel lanes in each direction. Access to and from US 101 is available via interchanges at 4th Street, Whittier Boulevard, and 7th Street. I-5 generally runs in the north-south direction and is located less than one mile east of the Project Site. In the vicinity of the Project Site, I-5 provides five travel lanes in each direction. Access to and from I-5 is available via interchanges at 4th Street and 7th Street. I-10 generally runs in the east-west direction and is located one-and-a-half miles south of the Project Site. 1 More detailed information regarding the major arterials in the Study Area and lane configurations are presented in the Traffic Study, which is included as Appendix L of this Draft EIR. 668 S. Alameda Street 4.12-1 ESA PCR Draft Environmental Impact Report September 2017 668 S. Alameda Street SOURCE: Gibson Transportation Consulting, Inc., 2017 Figure 4.12-1 Traffic Study Area and Analyzed Intersection Locations 4. Environmental Impact Analysis 4.12 Transportation and Traffic In the vicinity of the Project Site, I-10 provides three to five travel lanes in each direction. Access to and from I-10 is available via interchanges at Alameda Street, Olympic Boulevard, 8th Street, and Porter Street. Roadways The Project Site is served by a grid of streets that are generally oriented toward the north-south and east-west directions. The major arterials providing regional and sub-regional access to the Project vicinity include Olympic Boulevard, Central Avenue and Alameda Street. The Mobility Plan 2035 (Mobility Plan), which was adopted in January 2016 and is a comprehensive update of the Transportation Element, provides the City's classification system for roadways. The Mobility Plan also provides revised street standards in an effort to provide a more enhanced balance between traffic flow and other important street functions including transit routes and stops, pedestrian environments, bicycle routes, building design, and site access. Although the Mobility Plan was approved, a lawsuit filed on September 9, 2015, seeks to halt its implementation. Given the uncertain legal environment surrounding implementation of the Mobility Plan, the following is a brief description of the major roadways in the Study Area including the classifications under the Mobility Plan and the Transportation Element: 4th Street – 4th Street is generally a designated Avenue II in the Mobility Plan and a designated Secondary Highway west of Hewitt Street and a designated Major Highway Class II east of Hewitt Street in the General Plan Transportation Element. It generally travels in the east-west direction and is located north of the Project Site. It provides five travel lanes, two in each direction and a bi-directional lane in the center. Parking is generally not available within the Study Area. 6th Street/Whittier Boulevard – 6th Street is a designated Avenue II in the Mobility Plan and a designated Secondary Highway in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east- west direction and is located south of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes at intersections. Parking is generally available on the north side of the street between Alameda Street and Mateo Street. 7th Street – 7th Street is a designated Avenue II in the Mobility Plan and a designated Secondary Highway in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east-west direction and is located south of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes at intersections. Parking is generally available on the north side of the street west of Santa Fe Avenue. 8th Street – 8th Street is a designated Collector in the Mobility Plan and an undivided designated Secondary Highway west of Central Avenue and a designated Collector Street east of Alameda Street in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east-west direction. It is located south of the Project Site and provides two travel lanes, one in each direction. Parking is generally available on the north side of the street east of Alameda Street. Porter Street – Porter Street is a designated Collector in the Mobility Plan and a designated Collector Street in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east-west direction. 668 S. Alameda Street 4.12-3 ESA PCR Draft Environmental Impact Report September 2017 4. Environmental Impact Analysis 4.12 Transportation and Traffic It is located south of the Project Site and provides two travel lanes, one in each direction. Parking is generally available on both sides of the street within the Study Area. Olympic Boulevard – Olympic Boulevard is a designated Modified Avenue I in the Mobility Plan and a designated Modified Major Highway Class II in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east-west direction and is located south of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes at intersections. Parking is generally available on both sides of the street west of Alameda Street. 14th Street – 14th Street is a designated Avenue III west of Alameda Street and a designated Collector east of Alameda Street in the Mobility Plan and is a designated Secondary Highway west of Alameda Street and a designated Collector Street east of Alameda Street in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the east-west direction. It is located south of the Project Site and provides two travel lanes, one in each direction. Parking is generally available on both sides of the street within the Study Area. San Pedro Street – San Pedro Street is a designated Avenue II in the Mobility Plan and is a designated Major Highway Class II in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the north-south direction, and is located west of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes provided at intersections. Parking is generally available on both sides of the street within the Study Area. Central Avenue – Central Avenue is a designated Avenue I in the Mobility Plan and is a designated Major Highway Class II in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the north-south direction and is located west of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes provided at intersections. Parking is generally available on the west side of the street within the Study Area. Alameda Street – Alameda Street is a designated Avenue I in the Mobility Plan and a designated Major Highway Class II in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the north-south direction and is located west of the Project Site. It provides four travel lanes, two in each direction, with left-turn lanes at intersections. Parking is generally not available within the Study Area. Mateo Street – Mateo Street is a designated Avenue III in the Mobility Plan and a designated Secondary Highway north of Olympic Boulevard and a designated Collector Street south of Olympic Boulevard in the General Plan Transportation Element. It travels in the north-south direction and is located east of the Project Site. It provides two travel lanes, one in each direction. Parking is generally available on both sides of the street within the Study Area. Santa Fe Avenue – Santa Fe Avenue is a designated Avenue II in the Mobility Plan and a designated Secondary Highway in the General Plan Transportation Element.