20A - AA FIRST ST BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

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LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION JULY 2010 FIRST STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT CITY OF SANTA ANA Less than significant impact. The proposed project will not result in an increase in the amount of traffic that could load or exceed the capacity of the street system. The objective of the project is to lessen traffic congestion and improve public safety. First Street between Harbor Boulevard and Fairview Street (over the Santa Ana River) is identified as a Major (six-lane) arterial highway in the City's Circulation Element and on the City of Santa Ana Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH). The bridge over the Santa Ana River currently provides two lanes in each direction. Implementation of the MPAH will widen this bridge to accommodate three lanes in each direction. Pedestrian facilities (i.e., sidewalks) will be improved to provide a continuous sidewalk on both the north and south side of the bridge and approaches along this segment. First Street east and west from the bridge will also be widened to accommodate 6 travel lanes in order to match the existing street configuration at the east and west ends of the project limits. The proposed project is not expected to generate any additional traffic and will not result in substantial increase in the number of vehicle trips. The proposed project is expected to improve traffic movement in the project vicinity. According to the Traffic Analysis, (LSA, July 2007), based on the existing traffic counts, the First Street/Santa Ana bridge currently operates at an unsatisfactory Level of Service (LOS) F. The existing traffic volume exceeds the capacity of a four-lane facility. This situation will continue to get worsen over time and the bridge is forecasted to operate at the LOS F in 2030. After implementation of project, the First Street is forecasted to operate at a satisfactory LOS B in 2030 based on its corresponding six-lane daily roadway capacity. Thus, the proposed project will relieve traffic congestion. Table 4.3 presents a summary of traffic LOS in the project area. The intersections located in the vicinity of the bridge (Harbor Boulevard/First Street and Fairview Street/First Street) currently operate at a satisfactory LOS C or better. The proposed project will not affect the satisfactory LOS of these intersections in the study area. With or without the implementation of the proposed project the study area intersections will continue to operate at satisfactory LOS. Less than significant impacts are expected and no mitigation is required. B. Exceed, either individually or cumulatively, a level of service standard established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways? Less than significant impact. The County Congestion Management Program (CMP) requires a traffic impact analysis for projects that generate 2,400 average daily trips (ADT). The proposed project will not result in the additional generation of ADT as it does not change the land use type within the project limits. MPAH designates First Street between Harbor Blvd and Fairview Road as a 6 lanes arterial, whereas the existing bridge accommodates only 4 travel lanes. The current levels of service has been already exceeded as the overcrossing operates at the unacceptable LOS F under the ADT analysis. The proposed project will alleviate traffic, and through accommodation of 6 travel lanes will improve the traffic operation of the bridge and First Street. After bridge replacement and widening of First Street, the road is expected to operate at the satisfactory LOS B. 07/25/10 «P:\DMJ0701\MND\4.0 Environmental Analysis.doc» 4-38 20A-89