Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Projectmedia.metro.net/projects_studies/crenshaw/images/public...2015/05/28  · Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project. 4 Project

Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project Environmental Public Hearing – May 28, 2015

Welcome!

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Agenda

1. Purpose of Public Hearing

for Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration

2. Project Background

3. Project Description & Conceptual Plan

4. CEQA and Initial Study Process

5. Initial Study & Findings

6. Public Comment

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Purpose of Public Hearing

Receive public comment on the environmental assessment of the proposed project – Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project.

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Project Area

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Project Background

• September 2014 -- Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced their intent to award $10.25 million in TIGER VI funds towards the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project.

• February 2011 -- The Metro Board adopted the Rosa Parks/Willowbrook Metro Station Master Plan.

• January 2014 -- The Board directed Staff to complete environmental review of the proposed improvements and identify potential funding.

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1. Expand Station capacity

2. Improve multi – modal connections

3. Address safety and security concerns

4. Enhance connections to the surrounding community

Project Goals

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Proposed Project Components • Blue Line improvements – platform extension with canopy,

new at-grade pedestrian crossing

• Green Line improvements – elevators, escalator and stairs

• Improvements for safer and more efficient pedestrian & vehicular circulation

• Improvements to Bus & Shuttle Depots

• New Metro Customer Service Center

• New Transit Security Facility

• New Mobility Hub, including a Bike Hub

• Improvements to both Park & Ride parking lots

• Improvements to wayfinding signage and lighting conditions site-wide

• Preservation and possible relocation of existing artwork; with possible inclusion of new artwork

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Existing Conditions

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Conceptual Site Plan

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Conceptual Aerial View

Project Development Process

Metro Board approved

Rosa Parks Station

Master Plan

Spring 2011

Metro issued a Notice of Preparation for an Initial

Study

September 2014

Public Circulation

of Initial Study

(Public Input)

Spring 2015

Approval of Initial Study/

Negative Declaration

(CEQA)

& Categorical Exclusion (NEPA)

Summer 2015

Engineering/ Final Design

(Public Input)

Projected Late 2015

Construction

Projected Mid-2017

Project Completion

Projected Late 2018

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CEQA & Initial Study Process

Per CEQA Guidelines, the Local Lead Agency (Metro) prepared a Draft Initial Study to evaluate the potential environmental impacts that may result from the proposed project.

• Responsible Agency Partners: Caltrans, Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (CDC)

• September 26, 2014 – Metro issued a Notice of Preparation for an Initial Study

• May 8, 2015 – Metro issued a Notice of Availability of the Draft Initial Study and Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration

• May 8-June 8, 2015 – Public review & comment period on Initial Study

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Draft Initial Study

The Draft Initial Study assessed if there would be any potential environmental impacts from the proposed project on the following resources:

Would the project have any environmental impacts on your quality of life? If so, how? How could those impacts be mitigated?

o Transportation

o Visual Quality

o Air Quality,

Climate Change

o Noise and vibration

o Hazardous materials

o Cultural Resources

o Section 4(f)

o Land acquisition, relocation of properties

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Draft Initial Study Findings

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Environmental Impact Area Finding Surrounding community land uses No change to community land uses

Planned growth or land use Does not induce growth or result in adverse effects

Traffic flow and access impacts No change to number of station parking spaces or access points; does not create

new traffic impacts

Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas No impacts; may result in beneficial impacts with improved transit access

encouraging more transit usage; and with improved pedestrian and bicycle access

Noise/Vibration No adverse noise and/or vibration impacts to community; reduces noise impacts to

transit passengers

Sensitive plant, animal species None found within station site

Cultural, Historical, Recreational,

Other

None found within station site

Business relocations (due to

acquisition of Kenneth Hahn Plaza)

Business relocations may be accommodated within Kenneth Hahn Plaza or nearby

location

Water Quality No negative impacts to water quality

Cumulative Impacts Does not create any significant or adverse cumulative environmental impacts

Environmental Justice Beneficial impacts for the surrounding communities with improved transit access

Construction Impacts Construction and operations plan will be developed to reduce community and

transit service impacts

Project Benefits

Proposed project would have beneficial impacts to transit users and

the surrounding community with the following:

• Expand station capacity to relieve congestion, safer circulation

• Reoriented station would open to the surrounding community

• Improved connections to Kenneth Hahn Plaza Shopping Center, MLK Jr

Medical Campus, Drew University, and other surrounding uses

• To provide safer and easier transfer between rail, bus and shuttle services

• Proposed amenities such as the Customer Service Center and Bike

Hub as additional community resources

• Improved lighting and landscaping for safer, more pleasant experience

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NEPA & CE Effort

Per the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Lead Agency -- Federal Transit Administration (FTA) -- is also reviewing for possible environmental impacts from the proposed project.

• Under NEPA, proposed station improvements are exempt as they rehabilitate existing transit station facilities

• Based on the Initial Study effort, the proposed project would receive a Categorical Exclusion (CE) under NEPA from the FTA

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Public Review & Comment

Draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration is available for review at:

• Willowbrook Library (Kenneth Hahn Plaza)

• Metro Library, One Gateway Plaza, 15th Floor

• www.metro.net/projects/blue-line-upgrades/

Submit Comments until Monday, June 8, 2015 at 5pm:

Metro One Gateway Plaza, MS 99-22-5 Los Angeles, CA 90012-2952 Attn: Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project

[email protected]

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Please…

• Fill out a Speaker Card if you would like to comment

• Limit your comment to 2 minutes

• Focus your comment on environmental issues

(ie traffic, noise, community impacts/benefits, etc.)

• Be respectful of other speakers

Public Comment

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Thank You

For Your Participation!

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