75A - PH - RESO SA-GG FIXED GUIDEWAY

Home Browse Search

1.3 Selection of a Locally Preferred Alternative Following receipt of public comments on the EA /DEIR and after the close of the public comment period, the City Council of the City of Santa Ana selected Streetcar Alternative 1 with Operations & Maintenance Facility Site B (west of Raitt Street) and 4`h Street Parking Scenario A (parallel parking) as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the SA -GG Fixed Guideway Project on August 5, 2014. The selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative was based on the evaluation criteria that were approved by the community during the public scoping process. These criteria included the consideration of accessibility and livability; economic development, transit supportive land use, and community goals; environmental responsibility; travel benefits, choice, and reliability; and cost effectiveness and financial feasibility. Streetcar Alternative 1 produced the highest ridership, and served the greatest number of transit dependent households. Compared to Streetcar Alternative 2, it required less right -of -way acquisition, had a lower capital cost to construct, and greater ease of constructability. The existing land uses along the Streetcar Alternative 1 alignment were highly transit supportive, and offered greater economic development potential for the future. The selection of this Locally Preferred Alternative constitutes the extent of change to the proposed project that has occurred since the circulation of the EA /DEIR. The selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative does not create a change in circumstances, generate changes to the previously identified alternatives, or alter the previous environmental evaluation and determinations which were identified in the EA /DEIR. 1.4 Noticing and Availability of EA/DEIR In compliance with NEPA regulations and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15085 and 15087, a Notice of Availability of the EA /DEIR was distributed, and the EA /DEIR was made available for public review for 45 days beginning May 23, 2014 to provide an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the EA /DEIR. There were three public hearing meetings, which were held on June 14, 17, and 19, 2014. During the review period, 17 written submissions were received on the EA /DEIR from public agencies, community groups, and individuals. These comments and the corresponding responses are presented in Chapter 2.0, Responses to Comments of this REA /FEIR. Meaningful public engagement was an important component of the SA -GG Fixed Guideway Project from the onset. Prior to making any key decisions on the proposed project, the City of Santa Ana initiated a public scoping process to define the appropriate range of issues to be addressed in the EA /DEIR. Four scoping meetings were conducted for the general public between June 8 and June 12, 2010. Two of these meetings were scheduled in the evening, one meeting was scheduled in the morning, and one meeting was scheduled on a Saturday afternoon, providing those community members who could not attend any of the weekday evening meetings with an opportunity to participate. Public comment opportunities were made available at each meeting. It should also be noted that articles and advertisements were published in a number of local newspapers, including several non - English publications. All information materials were presented in English, as well as Spanish. Santa Ana - Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REAIFEIR P a g e13 January 2015 75A -61