Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 14, 2015
Subject
SUBJECT: MOTION BY SOLIS AS AMENDED BY KNABE (I-710 SOUTH CORRIDOR PROJECT EIR/EIS SCOPE, BUDGET AND SCHEDULE)
Preamble
Motion by:
Supervisor Solis as Amended by Director Knabe
October 14, 2015
Relating to Item 22, File ID 2015-1345
I-710 South Corridor Project EIR/EIS Scope, Budget and Schedule
The I-710 Corridor is a vital transportation artery, linking adjacent communities and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Southern California and beyond. As 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 is to improve air quality and public health, improve traffic safety, modernize the freeway design, address projected traffic volumes, and address projected growth in population, employment, and activities related to goods. The project includes an extensive community participation process that has provided a forum for residents, community advocates, and local municipalities comment and make recommendations for meeting the project purpose and need. Metro and Caltrans must ensure that we address the purpose and need of the project in a manner that is responsive to the community, yet feasible and fiscally responsible.
Title
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED (3-0) approving the MOTION by Director Solis that the Board of Directors make approval of Item 22 contingent on studying the following as a part of the evaluation of Alternatives 5C and 7 in the I-710 Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement:
A. Geometric design for the I-710 Freight Corridor (under Alternative 7 only) that eliminates significant impacts and displacements of homes, businesses, or community resources, such as but not limited to the Bell Shelter or Senior Centers, and the implications of such a design on commuter and freight traffic demands; where significant impacts are unavoidable, provide documentation of the rationale and constraints;
B. An option, under Alternative 7 only, to evaluate the feasibility should technology be available, to operate only zero-emissions trucks along the Freight Corridor as part of the project;
C. Implementing high frequency Express Bus Transit service along the main 710 corridor and the impact of such a line on commuter and freight traffic demands;
D. Adding transit service on the bus and rail lines serving the I-710 project area, including operating Blue and Green Line trains with a minimum of 10-minute headways and a minimum of 25% increase in local bus, express bus and community shuttles service frequencies;
E. Traffic Control measures, traffic management, intelligent transportation systems and operational efficiency improvements, such as highway ramp metering and transit system signal prioritization, to reduce congestion on local streets and arterials before considering expanding lanes;
F. The use of the best available control technology construction equipment as defined by the California Air Resources Board;
G. Construction of a new, 8-foot, Class-I bike path and access points within the Los Angeles Flood Control District right-of-way on the western levee of the Los Angeles River Channel from the Pacific Coast Highway [Long Beach] to Imperial Highway [South Gate] to connect with the existing Los Angeles River Bike Path;
H. Construction of a new 8-foot, Class I bike path and access points within SCE right-of-way, roughly parallel to Greenleaf Blvd., between the Los Angeles Blue Line and Sportsman Drive;
For items G, H and I above, conduct a study separate from the I-710 South Environmental Impact Report. Work with the CEO to identify and recommend funds to support the study.
Instruct staff to report back within 60 days.
I. Construction of a new 8-foot, Class I bike path and access points within SCE and LADWP right-of-way from Willow/TI Freeway [Long Beach] to connect with the Rio Hondo Bike trail at Garfield Avenue [South Gate] This new route would be approximately 12 miles in length;
J. Upgrades to the existing Los Angeles River Bike Path consisting of safety, landscaping, hardscape, lighting and access enhancements and fix station including to locations, between Ocean Blvd. [Long Beach] and its northern terminus at Slauson Avenue [Vernon];
K. The replacement/enhancement of approximately 28 existing bridges/underpasses and the construction of at least five new pedestrian/bike bridges/underpasses to ensure safe and easily accessible freeway and river crossings to reduce gaps between crossing over ½ a mile where demand for increased access exists along the project corridor;
L. Ensure implementation of Complete Streets treatments that promote sustainable and “livable neighborhoods” for all those arterials, ramp termini, and intersections as part of the proposed I-710 Project. Designs shall be consistent with the principles outlined in Caltrans’ Main Streets, California: A Guide for Improving Community and Transportation Vitality;
M. Consistent with Caltrans’ policy, maximize the number of new trees, shrubs and foliage within proposed state ROW that are drought resistant and have superior biosequestration and biofiltration capabilities, in an effort to surpass the minimum tree removal/replacement ratio;
N. Consistent with the Regional Water Quality Control Board and their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permits, identify suitable locations within the state’s right of way to implement additional storm water Best Management Practices and enhance the water quality for the LA River and its tributaries; and
O. Incorporate into the project design, avoidance and minimization measures to reduce the level of impacts to Los Angeles River’s riverbanks, trails, pocket parks, open space, wetlands and native landscaping within the project area.
FURTHER MOVE that the Board of Directors instruct the Chief Executive Officer to consider the following mitigation during construction, in parallel to the EIR/EIS process:
A. Direct staff to monitor traffic congestion on all rail and bus routes in the I-710 construction area to identify and make needed adjustments to service based on actual traffic conditions and to determine if Metro services should operate on an incentive fee structure during the construction period;
B. Direct staff to identify potential incentive programs for the Blue line and Metro buses in the I-710 corridor and affected by construction, to be considered as possible mitigation to help ease the impact of delays to bus service identified in the recirculated DEIR/DEIS;
C. Develop a community outreach plan in conjunction with community stakeholders to provide quarterly reports on the progress of the I-710 project to the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG) and the community at public meetings/hearings where there is the opportunity for community input;
D. Establish a bike and pedestrian safety plan during construction; and
E. Create a residential and school noise and air mitigation program, to be incorporated into the I-710 Community Health and Benefit Program.
FURTHER MOVE that the Board of Directors instruct the Chief Executive Officer take the following actions, working with Caltrans and partner agencies as necessary and in parallel to the EIR/EIS process:
A. Direct staff to include an analysis of a Zero Emission Truck procurement and operations program (Alternative 7 only) in any Public Private Partnership analysis to be done for the Project;
B. Work with the Gateway Cities Council Of Government jurisdictions to add, align and/or partner bus route stops with access points to surrounding Class-I bike paths to further promote the combination of active transportation and transit ridership; and
C. Direct staff to work with community based partners (community groups, faith based groups and labor) on the development of a Local and Targeted Hiring Policy and PLA for construction jobs and a First Source Hiring Policy for permanent jobs created by the project. This should completed, at the latest, by the completion of the recirculated DEIR/DEIS.