2015-051 - Certifying Final Environmental Impact Report

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direction, along the side opposite the area of construction. Where lane closures during peak periods cannot be avoided, traffic would be managed to give priority to the direction that has the heaviest traffic. Short -term roadway closures would occur during removal and relocation of overhead electrical poles. Two intersections would operate at unacceptable LOS during the construction phase: Main Street and Warner Avenue at LOS E during PM peak hour, and Halliday Street and Warner Avenue at LOS F during PM peak hour. Mitigation Measure T -1 requires that lane closures avoid non -rush -hour periods. Mitigation Measure T -2 requires that a construction traffic management plan identifying construction traffic control requirements, traffic detours, and other necessary measures be implemented. The measure also requires extensive public notification about the construction. Mitigation Measures T -1 and T -2 would reduce traffic delays caused by construction activities to the extent feasible; however, construction -phase traffic impacts are still anticipated to occur; therefore, this impact is considered significant and unavoidable. III. CONSIDERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS After balancing the specific economic, legal, social, technological, and other benefits of the proposed project, the City of Santa Ana has determined that the unavoidable adverse temporary construction - related environmental impacts identified above may be considered "acceptable" due to the specific considerations discussed below; therefore, the project benefits. outweigh the unavoidable, adverse environmental impacts. The following benefits will occur as a result of approval of the proposed project. 1. Design and construct Warner Avenue to be consistent with the City's General Plan Circulation Element and Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways (MPAH) designation as a major arterial. Warner Avenue within the project limits is a four -lane undivided road with variable curb -to- curb and right -of -way (ROW) widths. Warner Avenue has a major arterial designation with six -lanes in both the City's General Plan Circulation Element and the Orange County MPAH; therefore the current cross - section is inconsistent with both documents. Widening Warner Avenue from ,four to six lanes between Main Street and Grand Avenue would make this section of the street consistent with the City's General Plan Circulation Element and the Orange County MPAH. 2. Alleviate traffic congestion and delays within the Warner Avenue project limits. By adding a vehicle travel lane in each direction, Warner Avenue widening will significantly reduce traffic congestion and delays within the one mile project limits. Additionally by providing a safer travel options for pedestrians and bicyclist, it is anticipated that some people may choose to not drive thereby reducing traffic. 3. Provide roadway capacity to accommodate existing and future traffic volumes. Warner Avenue within the project limits is a four -lane road with variable curb -to -curb and right -of -way (ROW) widths. It has a median (striped not raised) in some segments and no median in other segments; therefore, this four -lane section of Warner Avenue is designed to accommodate up to 20,000 vehicles per day (LOS Q. Currently there are 23,000 to 28,000 CEQA Statement of Overriding Considerations -3- Warner Avenue Improvements & Widening from Main Street to Grand Avenue Aug 2015