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 o Santa Ana Boulevard at Lacy Street (install traffic signal) • Real -time bus schedule information at high - volume transit stops (e.g., Flower Street and 6th Street, Santa Ana Boulevard and Main Street) • Improvements to transit stop amenities (benches, shelters, kiosks, sidewalk connections, etc.) along the Santa Ana Boulevard and Main Street corridors • Improvements to bicycle and pedestrian circulation to promote safe, convenient and attractive connectivity between the transit system and surrounding neighborhoods and activity centers , including accommodating bicycles on all buses, providing real time bus arrival information via internet and mobile devices, installing bicycle storage facilities at SARTC and the Harbor/Westminster stop, and providing study area maps /walking guides on all buses. Findings for TSM Alternative The City of Santa Ana finds that specific economic, legal, social, technological, or other considerations, including considerations for the provision of employment opportunities for highly trained workers, make infeasible the TSM Alternative identified in the EA/DEIR (CEQA Guidelines 15091(a)(3)). Although the TSM Alternative would result in less- than - significant environmental impacts, it would not provide the desired levels of mobility and accessibility for the community. The daily ridership for the TSM Alternative was projected to be 3,100 in 2035, as opposed to 6,100 under the proposed project. In addition, the TSM Alternative would not foster economic development opportunities, promote sustainable transportation investments to respond to the needs of the community, or deliver travel, benefits, reliability, and choice to the public transportation system. Therefore, the TSM Alternative would not be consistent with the goals and objectives for the proposed project. For these reasons, the City of Santa Ana rejects this alternative. Streetcar Alternative 1 Streetcar Alternative 1 (proposed project) would utilize the PE ROW, an abandoned and vacant rail right -of -way owned by the OCTA, through the western half of its alignment and generally operate along Santa Ana Boulevard, and 4th Street on the way to SARTC. The 4.2 -mile alignment would include 12 stations and it is anticipated that the streetcar system would operate seven days a week with 10- minute headways during peak periods and 15- minute headways during off -peak periods. The streetcars would be electrically powered using an overhead contact system and a series of TPSS located intermittently along the alignment. Findings for Streetcar Alternative 1 Streetcar Alternative 1 has no substantial differences in the severity of environmental impacts when compared to the other alternatives. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a new east -west transit line in Orange County between the SARTC in the City of Santa Ana and the Harbor Boulevard /Westminster Avenue intersection in the City of Garden Grove. The primary objectives of the proposed project are as follows: • To improve transit connectivity within the Study Area; • To relieve congestion by providing alternative mobility options; 32 January 2015