75B - PH ADOPT RESO FOR PR NO 15-6827

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NT MENTS INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FAIRVIEW BPIOGE REVLACEM REST TO STREET BEET) PROJECT L S A MAY 2020 (9Tx STREET To ANTx STREET) L, OLEGT SANTA ANAL CALIFOPHIA Construction. Construction of the proposed Project would require the use of energy to fuel grading vehicles, trucks, and other construction vehicles. All or most of this energy would be derived from nonrenewable resources. Construction activities are not anticipated to result in an inefficient use of energy, as gasoline and diesel fuel would be supplied by construction contractors who would conserve the use of their supplies to minimize their costs on the proposed Project. Energy usage on the Project site during construction would be temporary in nature and would be relatively small in comparison to the State's available energy sources. Therefore, construction energy impacts would be less than significant. No mitigation is required. Operation. Typically, energy consumption is associated with fuel used for vehicle trips and natural gas and electricity use. Energy use consumed during operation of the proposed Project would be associated with fuel used for vehicle trips and electricity consumption associated with the proposed Project. Operation of the proposed Project would not require the consumption of natural gas. The purpose of the proposed Project is to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety on Fairview Street between 9th Street and 16th Street, consistent with the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways and the City's General Plan Circulation Element. Currently, the Fairview Street bridge is utilized by bicyclists and pedestrians to cross over the Santa Ana River, but there are no existing sidewalks or bikeways on the bridge. As part of the proposed Project, the Fairview Street bridge would be replaced with a new six -lane bridge (three lanes in each direction), including a complete bridge deck with barrier rails, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, a raised median, and lighting. These features would improve the safety of the area for both motorized and nonmotorized travel. Vehicles using the roadway would continue to consume energy. Because the Project would add lane capacity to the Fairview Street bridge, some traffic currently using other routes would use the widened Fairview Street bridge, which would increase VMT in the area, which could increase fuel demand. On the other hand, the improved bridge may attract additional pedestrians and bicyclists due to added sidewalks and bikeways, which would allow for a decreased dependence on nonrenewable energy resources. In addition, non -vehicular energy use consumed by the proposed Project would be associated with minimal electricity consumption associated with lighting along the Project segment. Therefore, implementation of the proposed Project would not result in a long-term substantial demand for electricity and natural gas, nor would the Project require new service connections or construction of new off -site service lines or substations to serve the Project. The nature of proposed improvements would not require substantial amounts of energy for either construction or maintenance purposes. Therefore, the proposed Project would not use nonrenewable resources in a wasteful or inefficient manner. Therefore, operational energy impacts would be less than significant. No mitigation is required. b. Conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency? Less Than Significant Impact. As indicated above, energy usage in the Project area during construction would be temporary in nature. In addition, energy usage associated with operation of the proposed Project would be relatively small in comparison to the State's available energy sources, and energy impacts would be negligible at the regional level. Because California's energy R:\WKE1702\ISMND\Fina1 ISMND\Fairview Street Bridge Final ISMND7,058,569 3-35