Project facts that will help me to understand the I-710 Corridor Project and DEIR/EIS

Transcription

1 Project facts that will help me to understand the I-710 Corridor Project and DEIR/EIS What is the I-710 Corridor Project? The Interstate 710 (I-710) Corridor Project proposes to improve I-710 from Ocean Boulevard in the City of Long Beach to State Route 60 (SR-60) in East Los Angeles, a distance of approximately 18 miles. In addition to widening the existing highway, the proposed project includes improvements to the interchanges of I-710 with I-405, SR-91, and I-5, as well as the I- 710 interchanges with local arterial streets throughout the project limits. What is an Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS)? An EIR/EIS is a document required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It evaluates potential impacts that a proposed project might have on people or the environment and addresses issues such as air quality, health risk, noise, visual disruption, and construction impacts, among others. Why do an EIR/EIS? For a proposed project to move forward to construction, the extent of environmental impacts must first be determined according to State of California and federal law. If potentially significant impacts are anticipated, or if the project is considered controversial, an EIR/EIS is required. The EIR/EIS process simultaneously ensures that the requirements for documenting and reducing environmental impacts of a project are met. Additionally, the process provides for technical analysis as well as public input and participation. It provides the information needed to make a decision regarding the Preferred Alternative for improvements in the I-710 Corridor. Why is this project needed? What are the project goals? The I-710 Corridor is a vital transportation artery, linking the communities along it and the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and Port of Long Beach (POLB) to Southern California and beyond. An essential component of the regional, statewide, and national transportation system, it serves both passenger and goods movement vehicles. As a result of population growth, employment growth, increased demand for goods movement, increasing traffic volumes, and aging infrastructure, the I-710 Corridor experiences serious congestion and safety issues. Notably, the existing I-710 Corridor has elevated levels of health risks related to high levels of diesel particulate emissions, traffic congestion, high truck volumes, high accident rates, and many design features in need of modernization (the original freeway was built in the 1950s and 1960s). The purpose of the I-710 Corridor Project includes: Improving air quality and public health Improving traffic safety

2 Modernizing the freeway design Addressing projected traffic volumes Addressing projected growth in population, employment, and activities related to goods movement Where can I view the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS? The Draft EIR/EIS can be viewed online at: Hard Copies and an electronic version of the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS are also available for review at the following locations: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 7 Office 100 South Main St., Los Angeles, CA on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. Metro - Dorothy Peyton Grey Transportation Library One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Monday Thursday 9 am to 4 pm, or Friday by appointment. Gateway Cities Council of Governments Paramount Blvd., Paramount, California 90723, on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm. City of Commerce Public Library Bristow Park Branch 1466 S. McDonnell Ave., Commerce, CA County of Los Angeles Public Library Hollydale Library S. Garfield Ave., South Gate, CA County of Los Angeles Public Library East Rancho Dominguez Library 4205 E. Compton Blvd., Compton CA Long Beach Public Library Main Library 101 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, CA 90822s Long Beach Public Library Bret Harte Library 1595 W. Willow St., Long Beach, CA 9081 Electronic versions of the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS are also available for review at the following locations: Bell Library 4411 East Gage Avenue, Bell CA Bell Gardens Library 7110 S. Garfield Ave., Bell Gardens, CA Malabar Library 2801 Wabash Avenue, Los Angeles, CA Benjamin Franklin Library 2200 E. 1 st Street, Los Angeles, CA Robert Louis Stevenson Library 803 Spence Street, Los Angeles, CA Dr. Martin Luther King Library S. Avalon Blvd., Carson CA Carson Library 151 E. Carson St., Carson CA Central Library 5655 Jillson St., Commerce CA Atlantic Branch 2269 S. Atlantic Blvd., Commerce CA Greenwood Branch 6134 Greenwood Ave., Commerce CA Compton Library 240 W. Compton Ave., Compton CA Cudahy Library 5218 Santa Ana St. Cudahy CA Downey City Library Brookshire Avenue, Downey CA Huntington Park Library 6518 Miles Ave., Huntington Park, CA Angelo M. Lacoboni Library 4990 Clark Ave., Lakewood CA George Nye Jr. Library 6600 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood CA Page 2 of 6

3 Alamitos Library 1836 E. Third St., Long Beach CA Ruth Bach Library 4055 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach CA Bay Shore Library 195 Bay Shore Ave., Long Beach CA Brewitt Library 4036 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach CA Burnett Library 560 E. Hill St., Long Beach CA Dana Library 3680 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach CA El Dorado Library 2900 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach CA Los Altos Library 5614 E. Britton Dr., Long Beach CA Mark Twain Library 1401 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach CA North Library 5571 Orange Ave, Long Beach CA Anthony Quinn Library 3965 E. Chavez Ave., Los Angeles CA East Los Angeles Library 4837 E. 3 rd St., Los Angeles CA El Camino Real Library 4264 E. Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles CA Lynwood Library Bullis Rd., Lynwood CA Maywood Cesar Chavez Library 4323 E. Slauson Ave., Maywood CA Paramount Library Colorado Ave., Paramount CA Signal Hill Library 1770 E. Hill Street, Signal Hill CA Leland R. Weaver 4035 Tweedy Blvd., South Gate CA Wilmington Branch 1300 N. Avalon Blvd., Wilmington CA San Pedro Regional Branch 931 S. Gaffey St. How long do I have to review the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS and when are comments due? The public comment period on the Draft EIR/EIS is 90 days and written comments must be submitted to Caltrans by September 28, If I submit comments on the Draft EIR/EIS, will I receive a letter back from Caltrans addressing my comments and questions? No, all comments received on the Draft EIR/EIS are addressed in the Final EIR/EIS; Caltrans does not send response letters to each commenter. Under NEPA, the Final EIS is made available to the public for a 30-day review period prior to any decision being made on the project. How can I comment on the Draft EIR/EIS? There are many ways to comment: Anytime During the 90-day Official Public Comment Period o In writing, mail your comment letter to: Attention: Ronald Kosinski Caltrans District 7, Division of Environmental Planning 100 South Main Street, MS 16A Los Angeles, CA In writing via the Caltrans website at: Page 3 of 6

4 During one of the three Public Hearings: o Verbally during the public comment portion of the hearing (comments will be recorded by a court reporter) o Verbally with a court reporter for people who do not wish to speak during the public comment portion of the hearing o In writing via comment card When and where will the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS public hearings be held? Three public hearings will be held to provide you an opportunity to obtain first-hand project information and to provide your comments and concerns about the proposed project. The public hearings are scheduled for August 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2012 at the following locations: Tuesday, August 7, :00 PM 9:00 PM Progress Park, Downey Ave., Paramount, CA Wednesday, August 8, :00 PM 9:00 PM Silverado Park Community Center, 1545 W. 31st St., Long Beach, CA Thursday, August 9, :00 PM 8:00 PM Rosewood Park, 5600 Harbor St., Commerce, CA (Please note the earlier start time for the third public hearing) These meetings will start with an open house for review of project exhibits where project team members will be available to answer individual questions. The open house will be followed by a brief presentation and then an opportunity will be provided for individuals to speak and provide formal comments. Participants will also be able to submit written formal comments. What is the difference between the community information meetings scheduled in different neighborhoods in the corridor, the three study sessions, and the three scheduled formal public hearings? The three public hearings provide the public with the opportunity to provide official comments on the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS. The study sessions scheduled for July 19, August 2, and August 16, 2012 provide the public an opportunity to learn more about specific information provided in the Draft EIR/EIS. The objectives for the local neighborhood meetings are to provide corridor community members with background on the project and information on the process to submit comments. Please check with your city to see if an informational meeting is planned for your community or neighborhood. Public Hearing and Study Session information can be found on the I-710 Corridor Project Website. Page 4 of 6

5 How do I find out if my property is impacted by the project? Information on property impacts is available in the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS document. In addition, maps and assistance regarding property impacts will be available at the Public Hearings. To see if your property is potentially impacted by one of the build alternatives view the maps in the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS Appendix L Parcel Acquisitions How do I find out what the freeway will look like from my area? There are several places in the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS where you can find photo simulations and maps showing where the project is proposed. Chapter 3.6 in the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS identifies the visual impacts of the proposed build alternatives. This Chapter includes photo simulations of the freeway alternatives at 31 locations throughout the I-710 Corridor. Appendix O (Concept Plans) includes aerial maps upon which engineering drawings of the project build alternatives are displayed Where are the locations for any proposed soundwalls? You can review the proposed soundwall locations maps in Chapter 3.14 (Noise) as well as in Appendix O (Concept Plans) in the Draft EIR/EIS document. How do I find out the air quality impacts of the project in my area? Section 3.13, Air Quality, of the Draft EIR/EIS analyzes the air quality impacts of the project. The section is based on the Air Quality and Health Risk Assessment (AQ/HRA) technical studies completed for the project in February Given the existing air quality/health risk concerns in the I-710 Corridor and the unique goods movement component of the project, special analyses were conducted which were beyond the standard Caltrans analyses typically done for roadway/freeway projects. The I-710 Corridor Project s effects on air quality were evaluated for three different geographic areas: the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB): the I-710 Area of Interest (AOI), which generally corresponds to the overall I-710 Corridor Project Study Area, and the I-710 freeway corridor. Maps of the AQ/HRA results are provided in Appendix R of the Draft EIR/EIS. How does this project affect growth in the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles? A key element of the project purpose of the I-710 Corridor Project is to address projected growth in population, employment, and economic activities related to goods movement. Chapter 3.2 (Growth) of the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS reviews growth trends and constraints related to goods movement and port activity. This chapter incorporates recent relevant studies related to container shipping and cargo forecasts into the analysis and project alternatives. I-710 Draft EIR/EIS Chapter 3.25 Cumulative Impacts also provides additional information on the interaction of other projects in the Study Area/Region and the four build alternatives and the potential direct and/or indirect impacts would contribute to cumulative impacts to resources of concern. Page 5 of 6

6 Who will approve the I-710 Draft EIR/EIS? The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for preparing the Draft EIR/EIS and is responsible for approving the Final EIR/EIS. Caltrans will make this approval in consultation with Metro, Gateway Cities Council of Governments, and consideration of recommendations from the I-710 Executive Committee. When will construction begin? At this time, funding to construct the proposed improvements evaluated in the I-710 Corridor Project Draft EIR/EIS has not been secured. It is expected that the earliest that these improvements could begin is 2020 with potential completion in What will the proposed construction cost? Based on 2012 costs, it is estimated that the project will cost between $3.10 and $6.37 Billion to construct, depending upon the built alternative selected. The construction costs by alternative are listed as follows. Alternative 5A: $3.10 Billion Alternative 6A: $6.06 to $6.11 Billion Alternative 6B: $6.24 to $6.29 Billion Alternative 6C: $6.32 to $6.37 Billion Page 6 of 6