Public Hearing August 25 & 27, 2016
Purpose of Today’s Hearing
˃ Status update and summary of next steps
˃ Provide a brief summary of the project and its alternatives
˃ Overview of Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS)
˃ Listen to public comments ─ Incorporated into public record
─ Responses in Final EIR/EIS
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Environmental Review Process
Public Hearings
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Spring 20172014
Purpose of Draft EIR/EIS
˃ Inform decision makers and the public of potential environmental impacts
˃ Evaluate performance of the alternatives
˃ Evaluate adverse & beneficial impacts of the alternatives─ Temporary effects/impacts during construction
─ Ongoing effects/impacts during operation
˃ Draft EIS/EIR provides locations and other details of potential effects/impacts
˃ Identifies potential mitigations for adverse effects/impacts
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Outreach Program Summary
˃ Scoping Meetings (2) – March 2014
˃ Community Open House Meetings (2) – May 2015
˃ Elected & Town Council Briefings – Fall 2013 to Spring 2016
˃ Cooperating and Participating agency meetings (4)
˃ 19 Stakeholder Meetings
˃ 12 Community Events and Festivals
˃ Geo-Social Interactive Map
˃ Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, and Ustream
˃ 1,600+ stakeholder database contacts
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Project Area & Limits
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Project Background
˃ This is a joint Metro and Caltrans Project ─ Metro: Funding and Preliminary Engineering
─ Caltrans: Environmental Document
˃ Prior Studies─ North County Combined Highway Corridor Study 2004
─ SR-138 Project Study Report 2009
˃ Antelope Valley Area Plan (approved in June of 2015) ─ Supports Northwest 138 Corridor Improvement Project
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Purpose & Need
˃ Purpose─ Improve mobility and operations on SR-138 and in northwest LA County
─ Enhance safety based on current and future traffic conditions
─ Accommodate foreseeable increases in people and goods movement
˃ Need─ Future transportation demands vs. the existing capacity of the facility
─ Accident history
─ Existing non-standard roadway features
─ Forecasted economic development
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Existing Conditions
Two-Lane Undivided Highway Non-Standard Roadway Features
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Alternatives
˃ Alternative 1 - Freeway/Expressway + Antelope Acres Bypass Option─ Freeway: 6 lanes divided (I-5 to 300th Street West)
─ Expressway: 4-lanes divided (300th Street West to SR-14)
─ Antelope Acres Bypass Option (100th Street West to 70th Street West)
˃ Alternative 2 (Expressway/Conventional Highway)─ Freeway: 6 lanes divided (I-5 to Gorman Post Road)
─ Expressway: 6-lanes divided (Gorman Post Road to 300th Street West)
─ Expressway: 4-lanes divided (300th Street West to 245th Street West)
─ Conventional Highway: 4-lanes limited access (245th Street West to SR-14)
˃ No Build
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Freeway/Expressway (6-Lane Divided)
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Expressway (4-Lane Divided)
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Limited Access Conventional Highway (4-Lane)
Existing SR-138 (2-Lane Conventional Highway)
Alternative 1
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Alternative 2
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Access Treatment Options
˃ Displaced left turns with median U-turns
˃ Right-in-right outs
˃ Grade separated interchanges
˃ Jug-handles
˃ Signals
˃ Vehicular overcrossings
˃ Roundabouts
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Common Features for Build Alternatives
˃ Improvement of non-standard features ─ Non-standard shoulder widths, vertical clearance standards for structures, horizontal and
vertical curves, etc.
˃ Utility relocations
˃ Improvements to I-5 and SR-14
˃ Improvements to structures
˃ Revisions to SR-138 intersections and access
˃ Drainage improvements
˃ Enhancements for wildlife, pedestrian, and bicycle movements
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Areas of Environmental Analysis
˃ Air Quality˃ Archeological Resources˃ Biological Resources ˃ Community Impacts˃ Cultural & Historic Resources˃ Cumulative and Secondary Impacts˃ Displacement/Right-of-Way˃ Energy ˃ Environmental Justice˃ Flood Control/ Hydrology/ Water
Quality/ Storm Water
˃ Geoarcheological˃ Geology/ Soils/ Seismicity˃ Hazardous Waste/Materials˃ Historic Property & Resources ˃ Land Use & Planning ˃ Noise ˃ Paleontological Resources˃ Section 4(f) Properties˃ Traffic & Transportation ˃ Utilities & Emergency Services˃ Visual & Aesthetics
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Key Areas of Interest
˃ Cultural/Historical Resources
˃ Right-of-Way/ Relocations
˃ Noise
˃ Air Quality
˃ Biological Resources
˃ Cumulative Impacts
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Cultural/Historical Resources
˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact
˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ 1 Historic property would be adversely affected
(Kinsey Mansion)
─ Implementation of the paleontological resources mitigation plan would facilitate the identification and treatment of paleontological resources.
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Right-of-Way/ Relocations
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˃ No Build Alternative─ No housing units or businesses would be displaced
˃ Alternative 1─ 17 housing units / 2 businesses
˃ Alternative 1 w/ Antelope Acres Bypass Option─ 11 housing units / 2 businesses
˃ Alternative 2─ 14 housing units /2 businesses
Noise
˃ Noise impacts are evaluated differently under CEQA and NEPA. ─ Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) is used for NEPA
─ Baseline conditions versus the build conditions are used for CEQA
˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact
˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ Noise would increase, with significant impacts under CEQA for some properties
• Alternative 1: 9 properties• Alternative 1 w/ Antelope Acres Bypass Option: 14 properties (5 different than Alt 1)• Alternative 2: 5 properties
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Air Quality
˃ No Build Alternative─ Potentially inconsistent with regional plans and programs since the project would not be
constructed as approved in the Regional Transportation Plan for the area.• 2012 Regional Transportation Plan • 2015 Federal Transportation Improvement Plan
˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ During construction, short-term degradation of air quality may occur due to the release of
particulate emissions generated by activities related to construction.
─ No significant impacts with the implementation of the avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures described.
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Biological Resources
˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact
˃ All build alternatives─ Existing culverts enhanced to accommodate wildlife travel
─ Avoidance/minimization measures will reduce impacts to:• 5 special-status plants• 21 special-status wildlife species• 18 plant communities
─ Approximately 1 acre of Waters of the U.S. (WUS) may be permanently impacted
─ Ongoing resource agency consultation for on-site and off-site mitigation options
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Cumulative Impacts
˃ Cumulative Impacts are a combination of impacts of past, present and reasonably foreseeable actions (ex: Solar projects, housing developments, NW 138 Corridor Improvement Project, etc.)
˃ Farmland ─ Pending a response from the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
˃ Natural Communities ─ Joshua Tree Woodland
─ California Juniper Woodland
˃ Special-Status Wildlife and Habitat
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Estimated Total Project Cost
˃ No Build Alternative─ No cost; no improvements
˃ Alternative 1─ $830 million
˃ Alternative 1 with Antelope Acres Loop Design Option─ $839 million
˃ Alternative 2─ $725 million
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Funding
˃ The project’s environmental study is funded by Measure R, the Los Angeles County half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2008
˃ Funding for design and construction has not been identified
˃ Potential sources of funding include:─ Developer Impact Fees (DIF)
─ Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
─ State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)
─ State Highway Operations & Protection Program (SHOPP)
─ Active Transportation Program (ATP)
─ Measure M – Potential
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Implementation
˃ Project will be built in phases as need/demand require
˃ Short-term and mid-term focus on a proactive approach to correct existing and potential safety conditions
˃ Early phases of the project will include operational & safety improvements ─ Intersection improvements
─ Shoulder widening
─ Curve corrections
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Implementation Sequence
˃ Short-Term─ Implement safety-related features
─ Measures include intersection improvements and horizontal and vertical curve corrections near Quail Lake
˃ Mid-Term─ Right of Way preservation and acquisition
─ Capacity enhancement in accordance with approved alternative on a phased approach based upon need and available funding
˃ Long-Term─ Implement the remaining ultimate improvements as identified in the approved alternative
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Early Phasing - Safety Improvements
˃ Horizontal and vertical curve corrections near Quail Lake
˃ Intersection improvements:
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─ Gorman Post Road ─ Three Points Road─ Old Ridge Road ─ La Petite Avenue─ Cement Plant Road ─ 210th Street West─ 300th Street West ─ 170th Street West─ Margalo Drive ─ 90th Street West─ 280th Street West ─ 60th Street West
˃ Intersection improvements include intersection controls and widening for turn lanes
Next Steps
˃ Review submitted public comments and oral testimony at public hearings ─ Incorporate into public record
─ Responses in Final EIR/EIS
˃ Final EIS/EIR Release & Approval – Spring 2017
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Draft EIR/EIS Release and Comment Period
˃ Draft EIR/EIS Released: August 4, 2016
˃ Public Hearings
˃ Public Comment Period Deadline: September 19, 2016
Thurs., August 25, 20166:30pm – 8:30pmGeneral William J. Fox Airfield – Lobby4555 W Ave G, Lancaster, CA 93536
* Live WebcastSat., August 27 @ 9:30amwww.ustream.tv/channel/nw138
Sat., August 27, 2016 *9:30am – 11:30amGrace Chapel Neenach25649 W Ave D, Lancaster, CA 93536
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How to Comment on the Draft EIS/EIR
˃ At the public hearings, submit comments via: ─ Oral testimony─ Written comment card ─ Electronically at a computer station
˃ After the public hearing, submit comments via:
˃ Review the Draft EIS/EIR at: www.metro.net/nw138
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Mail:Mr. Ron Kosinski, Deputy District DirectorCalifornia Department of TransportationDivision of Environmental Planning (NW SR-138)100 S Main Street, MS-16A Los Angeles, CA 90012
Email:[email protected]
Formal Public Hearing – Oral Testimony
˃ Three names called at a time; please line up and be prepared
˃ State your name clearly
˃ Speak clearly for the court reporter
˃ Each comment will be addressed in writing in the Final EIR/EIS
˃ There will be no response to comments tonight
˃ Please be respectful of all speakers
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Stay Connected
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Mail:Isidro PanucoMetro Project ManagerOne Gateway Plaza, 99-22-9Los Angeles, CA 90012
Toll-Free Number: 888.586.6617
Interactive Map: http://interactive.metro.net/projects/nw138
Website:metro.net/nw138
Email:[email protected]
Facebook:facebook.com/nw138
Twitter:@nw_138
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