75A - PH - RESO SA-GG FIXED GUIDEWAY

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The last portion of the comment requested an equity assessment for the proposed project. An EJ analysis, which identifies minority and low- income populations and evaluates whether the adverse effects of the proposed project would disproportionately burden these vulnerable populations, was included in Section 3.5 of the EA /DEIR. This analysis was completed using prescribed methodology by the FTA, which was developed in response to Executive Order 12898 and is consistent with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Order 561O2(a) and FTA Circular 4703.1. In determining the adverse effects, the project must consider both short - term and long -term consequences and weigh them against the benefits of the proposed project. As shown in Table 3.5 -2 on page 3 -49 of the EA /DEIR, and presented below, all of the communities within the Study Area are considered EJ populations. The communities closest to the alignment would benefit the most from increased accessibility and connectivity but would be subject to temporary construction effects. Section 3.5.2.3 of the EA/DEIR provides a detailed evaluation of the potential EJ effects for each community within the Study Area. Additional detail is provided in the Community Impact Assessment, which is included as Appendix C of the EA /DEIR. The EA/DEIR determined that the proposed project would have no adverse health and environmental effects related to land use, visual quality, cultural resources, geotechnical conditions, hazardous materials, hydrology, traffic, noise and vibration, air quality and greenhouse gases, and safety and security. Transportation effects from the project are expected to be beneficial because of the improved accessibility and connectivity provided by the new transit service. The benefits to transit users would include improved access to employment and activity centers. The proposed project would distribute station amenities, parking, improved jobs and housing access, and other beneficial project features. Construction activity would occur along the project alignment and at stations and staging areas, which would affect all communities along the alignment equally. These effects are described in Response 8 -1 and in more detail in Section 3.16 on page 3 -197 of the EA /DEIR. Transit service is meant to serve where the demand is greatest, and these areas are often have more development intensity are likely to be affect by construction activity. However, these short -term construction effects would be outweighed by the long -term permanent beneficial impacts that would affect EJ populations. Since the EJ communities within the Study Area would be the primary recipients of the benefits of the project, there would not be a denial in the receipt of benefits to minority and low- income populations. Response 8 -6 The Declaration of Opposition from 12 business owners for the same reasons as stated in the above comments was forwarded to the decision makers for consideration. Santa Ana - Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REAIFEIR January 2015 75A -114 Pagel56