P & D CONSULTANTS - 2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Grand Avenue Widening Project Environmental Impact Report Section 3.0 Under Alternative 2 in 2020, the majority of intersections on the project segment of Grand Avenue are forecasted to operate at LOS D or better, with the exception of the Santa Ana Boulevard/I-5 HOV Ramps intersection which would operate at LOS F in the PM peak hour. This is primarily due to the reduction of the existing dual right tum lanes to a single right tum lane in order to provide a third southbound through lane through the intersection. Impacts of Alternative 2 Related to On Street Parking There is no on street parking on the project segment of Grand Avenue. Therefore, Alternative 2 will not result in impacts related to on street parking. No mitigation is required. Impacts of Alternative 2 Related to Consistency with SCAG Transportation Policies The SCAG transportation policies, from the Regional Comprehensive Plan and Guide and the Regional Mobility Plan, were shown earlier in Table 3.5-7. Alternative 2 was evaluated for consistency with these policies. As shown in Table 3.5-7, Alternative 2 is consistent with each policy, except for certain policies determined not to apply to this proposed project. Therefore, Alternative 2 will not result in adverse impacts related to SCAG transportation policies. 3.5.5 IMPACTS RELATED TO ACCESS DURING CONSTRUCTION Construction of Alternatives 1 and 2 would impact access to existing businesses and residents along Grand Avenue during each phase of construction. These impacts could occur as a result of construction activities or equipment at the property access point or traffic control inhibiting access. However, these impacts would be short term because they would only last for the duration of the construction of that particular phase of the project. Construction impacts to access are generally characterized as more of a `nuisance" aspect of a project because it is inconvenient not to have readily available vehicular access to adjacent residential and commercial uses. Therefore, implementation of Alternatives 1 and 2 would result in temporary impacts to access which could be significant and would require mitigation. 3.5.6 MITIGATION RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION Based on the analysis included in the Traffic Study, substantial improvements in traffic operations will result on the project segment of Grand Avenue, if the proposed widening project is implemented. As discussed earlier, Alternatives 1 and 2 would result in substandard LOS at the Santa Ana Boulevard/I-5 HOV ramps intersection during the PM peak hour in 2020. The Traffic Study recommends the retention of the dual right turn lane with overlap phasing to mitigate this impact. However, due to the constraints .of the I-5 bridge over Grand Avenue, there is not enough right-of-way to have three through lanes and dual right turn lanes. Further, the City carefully analyzed both options and concluded that more congestion would be created upstream by reducing the number of through lanes from three to two. Additionally, one of the defined objectives for this project is to provide three through lanes in each direction on Grand Avenue which is consistent with the General Plan Circulation Element and the County Master Plan of Arterial Highways. Therefore, this is a significant adverse impact that cannot feasibly be mitigated. F: TROJ-ENMGrand eirWew Text - Gran&Section 3 Split&ction 3.5.doe Page 3.5-22