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 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 Traction Power Substations (TPSS) located intermittently along the alignment. The Downtown segment of the alignment would feature couplet operations with the westbound streetcar alignment on Santa Ana Boulevard, and the eastbound streetcar alignment on 4th Street. For the eastbound transition from Santa Ana Boulevard to 4th Street, a direct route would be provided from Santa Ana Boulevard along a public easement on the southern edge of Sasscer Park to 4th Street. The western terminus is located at the northeast corner of Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue; the transition from the PE ROW to the western terminus site will include an elevated crossing. In addition, the proposed project would utilize the PE ROW and cross over the Santa Ana River. A new single -track bridge for the fixed guideway would be constructed immediately south of the Old Pacific Electric Santa Ana River Bridge, which is designated as a historic bridge and would remain in its current location and condition. Through the use of gates and signaling, the single -track bridge would accommodate bi- directional fixed guideway traffic. The proposed project would require the construction of an O & M Facility for streetcar operations. An O & M Facility is a stand -alone building which would meet the maintenance, repair, operational and storage needs of the proposed streetcar system. The O & M Facility accommodates daily and routine vehicle inspections, interior /exterior cleaning of the streetcars, preventative (scheduled) maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, and component change - outs. The proposed facility would also provide a venue for parking vehicles that are not in use and for rebuilding components. The O & M Facility is a rectangular site slightly larger than 2.4 acres. It is located west of Raitt Street and is bordered by 5th Street to the north and the PE ROW to the south. Located in an area zoned for industrial and commercial uses, this site is comprised of three parcels, two of which contain existing businesses and a combination of industrial buildings. The third parcel contains several residences. The proposed project alignment would utilize 4th Street between Ross Street and Mortimer Street in the eastbound direction. From east of Ross Street to French Street, 4th Street has one travel lane in each direction with head -in diagonal parking along each side of the roadway. The diagonal parking, with vehicles exiting parking spaces by backing into the travel lane, is incompatible with streetcar operations and the proposed project would convert the diagonal parking along the south side of 4th Street, between Ross Street and French Street, to parallel parking, widen the sidewalk along the south side from 12 to 20 feet, and replace streetlights and landscaping. A total of 26 on- street parking spaces would be removed. C. Discretionary Actions Implementation of the proposed project will require several actions by the City Council, including the following: • Certification of the Santa Ana - Garden Grove Fixed Guideway Project REA/FEIR (SCH #2010051060). The REA/FEIR evaluated the environmental impacts resulting from the proposed project, in accordance with CEQA, as amended (PRC Sections 21000 et 4 January 2015