75C - PH - BRISTOL EIR FROM WARNER TO ST. ANDREW

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and the California Air Resources Board. Therefore, the FEIS should describe how the new plan relates to this project." - Response Staff representatives of both the Southern California Association of Governments and the South Coast Air Quality Management District were contacted to determine how the new AQMP applies to this project. Their response was that the AOMP addresses only transportation projects of statewide or region -wide significance, such as freeway and highway projects, new transportation corridors, mass transit proposals, etc. Local roadway improvements, such as the proposed Bristol Street widening, are not specifically addressed in the AQMP. Conformity criteria for local highway projects, such as the Bristol Street widening project, have not yet been developed. 3. "EPA's scoping letter of 21 January 1986 recommended that for each alternative the DEIS address potential changes in -- population and commercial growth and changes in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VNM associated with growth. The DEIS does briefly mention that 'Increasing the capacity of existing transportation - facilities generally influences and accommodates growth (V -3)." However, the traffic and air quality analysis fails to take potential increases in VMT into account. Predictions of improved air emissions for all pollutants examined (except NOX) are based on increased travel speeds alone. The FEIS should factor projected increases in VMT into the analysis of potential - impacts to air quality." Response The traffic prediction model, upon which the assessment of air quality impacts was based, assumed that future traffic volumes along Bristol Street would be approximately the same, with or without the proposed improvements. The proposed improvements will expand the traffic R carrying capacity and efficiency of Bristol Street and for a short period of time, local commuters may experiment with the improved Bristol Street as an alternate north /south route. Such changes in normal commuting patterns are possible, but cannot be quantified with any acceptable level of accuracy, and may, in fact, not occur. It is acknowledged that, should commuters temporarily or even permanently alter their normal north /south travel to drive greater distances in order to use an improved Bristol Street, total VMT' would increase, and traffic speeds may not increase as much as predicted. These effects would alter the future air quality conditions projected in the DEIS. ." V -16 75C -243