2015-004 - Santa Ana-Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project

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Santa Ana — Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project Findings and Facts in Support of Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations N2 When practical, the contractor shall design special trackwork elements, such as turn- outs, switches, and cross -over to be located at least 600 feet away from sensitive receptors. If this cannot be achieved, then special switch devices, such as spring frogs or movable point frogs shall be utilized. A frog device is used where two rails cross. The frog is designed to ensure the wheel crosses the gap in the rail without "dropping" into the gap. N3 The contractor shall construct a noise barrier at the land uses identified as Noise Sensitive Areas 9 and 10. For receptors in Noise Sensitive Area 9, the noise barrier shall be at least 10 feet high and extend for 400 feet along the northern property edge of the proposed operations and maintenance facility. For receptors in Noise Sensitive Area 10, the noise barrier shall be at least 8 feet high and extend for 225 feet along the southern boundary of the PE ROW adjacent to 4th Street. The design of the noise barriers shall be identified on project plans prior to issuance of building permits. D. Safety and Security (Traffic Hazards) (page 3 -191 of the EA/DEIR) Potential Impact: The proposed project would result in significant safety hazards related to streetcar and passenger vehicle collisions and pedestrian safety. Therefore, without mitigation, a significant impact related to safety hazards would occur. Finding: Changes or alterations have been required in, or incorporated into, the proposed project which would mitigate or avoid the significant effects on the environment as identified in the REA/FEIR. Facts in Support of Finding: The proposed project could potentially result in streetcar -to- streetcar collisions; collision with vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists; and streetcar derailment. The proposed project would be required to comply with all federal and State mandates that affect rail safety, including regulations that require fixed guideway systems to establish system safety and security programs. Following construction, the proposed project would be operated in accordance with OCTA standard operating procedures, operator rules, and the emergency plan. A safety program would be developed for and administered to all streetcar operators. Despite safety features incorporated into the project design, streetcar and passenger vehicle conflicts have been identified at schools located adjacent to the tracks. These locations include Spurgeon Intermediate School, Romero Cruz Elementary School, George Washington Carver Elementary School, and James Garfield Elementary School. Each of these locations represents an area where streetcars could collide with a passenger vehicle. The proposed project could potentially result in significant impacts related to pedestrian safety. The proposed project would include construction of the Willowick Station, located between Westminster Avenue and the Santa Ana River, to allow future access when the Willowick golf course site is redeveloped. Without the development of the Willowick Station, there are no public roadways that cross the proposed alignment within this segment. As an interim solution, a ten -foot walking path would be constructed on both sides of the fenced OCTA ROW to allow access from adjacent residential neighborhoods, located north and south of the ROW. The proposed walking path would be accessed from the two gates near Green Drive and the end of 21 January 2016