PLANNING CENTER, THE 8F - 2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Environmental Studies Environmental technical studies provide the key data, analysis, findings, and mitigation recommendations that are incorporated into the EIR. While broken down into several different tasks, The Planning Center team views the technical study effort as a filly integrated process with the engineering and outreach processes, as well as internally between environmental tasks. TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS IBI Group will perform a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) for the Warner Avenue project according to the latest adopted City of Santa Ana standards and guidelines. The objective of the TIA will be to establish future traffic conditions with the proposed project and identify traffic mitigation measures that may be necessary to address project - related traffic impacts. The traffic impact analysis will incorporate the following components: Data Collection /Existing Traffic Conditions IBI will evaluate existing traffic and circulation conditions in the vicinity of the project site which includes the following components: I) intersection operating conditions for typical weekday AM /PM peak hour conditions, 2) descriptions of geometric roadway conditions within and adjacent to the project site, 3) description of existing transit services in the vicinity of project site, and 4) roadway daily traffic volumes and Beet mix. Peak period traffic counts will be conducted as necessary to establish the existing condition at study intersections. IBI Group will work with the City of Santa Ana to identify appropriate study intersections and to obtain existing counts available from the City. The traffic scope assumes the analysis of signalized intersections within the project limits, as well as the next major signalized intersections to the east and west of the project limits (assumed to be Flower Street and Wright Street). We also propose to include the intersections of Main Street and Grand Avenue with Dyer Road and Edinger Avenue to assess the changes in traffic conditions along the parallel east -west corridors with the implementation of the proposed project. IBI Group will also conduct daily roadway traffic counts within the project limits to determine the existing traffic volumes. These traffic counts will include the collection of vehicle axle data to determine the existing vehicle Beet mix for inclusion in the noise and air quality studies for the environmental document. IBI wig field review all study intersections to determine existing geometric conditions including number and type of lanes and signal phasing. Existing intersection operating conditions (in terms of volume /capacity ratios and level of service) will be quantified using the ICU analysis methodology as adopted by the City of Santa Ana. Future Conditions Per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, IBI will forecast future traffic conditions without the proposed project. We will work with the City of Santa Ana to develop an appropriate forecast of future traffic conditions for the roadway. One option includes the use of the Orange County Transportation Analysis Model (OCTAM) to develop future forecast traffic volumes. This is the regional model for Orange County and uses the four -step process outlined by the City of Santa Ana in the RFP to develop future traffic forecasts. We will work with OCTA to develop traffic forecasts for the future without and with project conditions, allowing for a comparison of traffic volumes in the study corridor between the two future scenarios. We will also obtain future forecast traffic volumes for other appropriate study streets including Main Street, Grand Avenue, Dyer Road and Edinger Avenue. Study intersections that are forecast to experience an increase in level of service due to cumulative project- related traffic will be highlighted. Graphics and tables will be used to illustrate the future no- project traffic analysis results. The future with project traffic conditions will analyze the performance of the roadway and study intersections following the implementation of the proposed improvements. Any significant impacts that result from the proposed project will be identified and appropriate mitigation measures will be developed to address these impacts. City of Santa Ana - Proposal to Prepare Environmental Documents for Warner Avenue W(dening Project The Planning Center I Page 8