PROPOSED HIGH-SPEED RAIL WITHIN LAUSD’S BOUNDARIES
March 29, 2017
Background• The Result of Proposition 1A, passed on November 4, 2008
• Electric High-Speed Rail from LA to San Francisco in 2 hours, 40 minutes
• Phase 1: Connects San Francisco to LA’s Union Station and continues to Anaheim
• Phase 2: Extends to Sacramento in the north and San Diego in the south via the Inland Empire
• Construction is underway in the Central Valley
Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Photo Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority 2
• A Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the entire project was completed in 2005
• Due to the Project’s immense scope, it was divided into 10 sections for more detailed environmental analysis in Project level EIRs/EISs
Environmental Review
• Portions of 4 Sections are within LAUSD’s Boundaries:1. The Palmdale to Burbank Section south of the San Gabriel
Mountains2. The Burbank to Los Angeles Section south of the 1343. The northern end of the Los Angeles to Anaheim Section4. The western end of the Los Angeles to San Diego Section
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1
2
3
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• The Draft EIRs/EISs for the Palmdale to Burbank, the Burbank to LA, and the LA to Anaheim Sections are scheduled to be released in 2017 - there have been several delays to date and there may be further delays
• The Environmental Review for LA to San Diego is in the preliminary stages
• Potential impacts to schools near the alignments include:Construction• Air Quality• Noise and Vibration• Pedestrian Safety• Transportation and Traffic
• OEHS will review the Draft EIRs/EISs to determine if the potential impacts to LAUSD schools are adequately analyzed and mitigated
• OEHS will recommend further analysis or additional mitigation as needed
• Following review of the Draft EIRs/EISs, OEHS will identify the alternative that is anticipated to have the least impacts on LAUSD schools
Environmental Review
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Operation• Noise and Vibration• Safety and Security
• Noise is a key concern for our schools
Noise Impacts
• Maximum train speeds:Palmdale to Burbank – 220 mph, Burbank to LA – 125 mph, LA to Anaheim – 110 mph
• Example Noise Levels:• Rock concert – 110 dB• Alarm Clock (2 feet) – 80 dB• Typical Conversation – 60 dB• Whisper, Quiet Library – 30 dB
• LAUSD’s noise standards:• Exterior noise - 67 dBA Leq• Interior noise - 45 dBA Leq • A noise level increase of 3 dBA over ambient
noise levels is significant• Noise levels increase with train speeds• At 125 mph, the equivalent continuous sound level
(Leq) is expected to be in the low 70s dBA at 100 ft, upper 50s dBA at 1,000 ft
• At 220 mph, the Leq is expected to be in the upper 70s dBA at 100 ft, mid 60s dBA at 1,000 ft
Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Outdoor HST At-Grade One-Hour Noise Levels (Leq) vs. Distance
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Noise Impacts
• Noise levels reduce at 3 dBA per doubling of distance - so if the noise is 83 dBA at 100 ft, it would be 80 dBA at 200 feet, 77 at 400 feet, and so on
• Sound barriers can reduce noise by 5 - 15 dB1
• At 125 mph, the maximum sound level (Lmax) is expected to be in the low 80s dBA at 100 feet
• At 220 mph, the Lmax is expected to be in the upper 90s dBA at 100 feet
Outdoor HST At-Grade One-Hour Noise Levels (Leq) vs. Distance
Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Photo source: http://stophs2.org/news/11905-noise-barrier-decision-hs2-implications61 California High-Speed Train Project Noise and Vibration Mitigation Guidelines
• The preferred alternative is expected to be identified in fall 2017
• The Draft EIR/EIS and the supporting environmental studies release has been delayed to the end of 2017
• 3 alternative alignments:• Refined SR14• Refined E1• Refined E2
• The SR14 and E1 alignments share the same route after entering LAUSD’s Boundary
Palmdale to Burbank Section
7Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Palmdale to Burbank –Above Ground Segments
Nearest schools to the above ground segments of the alignments:
• Sun Valley High School - 1,500 feet from an elevated portion of the SR14/E1 alignments
• Brainard Elementary School - 2,900 feet from an elevated portion of the E2 alignment
Sun Valley High School
Brainard Elementary
8Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Palmdale to Burbank –Underground Segments
The SR14/E1 alignments appear to go under portions of :• Broadous Elementary School• Maclay Middle SchoolThe E2 alignment appears to go under portions :• Stonehurst Avenue Elementary School• Glenwood Elementary School
Maclay Middle School
Stonehurst Elementary
Broadous Elementary
Glenwood Elementary
School Tunnel Depth (feet)
Refined SR14/Refined E1 Alignment
Broadous ES 101-200
Maclay MS 101-200
Refined E2 Alignment
Stonehurst ES 50-100
Glenwood ES 101-200
Depth of Tunnels Beneath LAUSD Schools
9Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Palmdale to Burbank Section
Refined SR14/Refined E1
Alignment1
Refined E2 Alignment
Number
of LAUSD
Schools/
Students
within:
1500
feet
Schools
5 (Broadous ES, Maclay
MS, Roscoe MS, Coughlin
ES, Glenwood ES)
3 (Stonehurst ES,
Glenwood ES, Roscoe
ES)
Students 2908 1486
500
feet
Schools3 (Broadous ES, Maclay
MS, Roscoe ES)
2 (Stonehurst ES,
Glenwood ES)
Students 2222 772
150
feet
Schools3 (Broadous ES, Maclay
MS, Roscoe ES)
2 (Stonehurst ES,
Glenwood ES)
Students 2222 772
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1 The Refined SR14 and Refined E1 alignments share the same route within the LAUSD Boundary except for the portions of the alignments where they first enter the LAUSD from the north, which are not within 1,500 feet of any LAUSD schools.
Proximity of LAUSD Schools to the Alternative Alignments
• The Refined SR14/Refined E1 Alignment has the potential to impact 5 schools• The Refined E2 Alignment has the potential to impact 3 schools
Burbank to Los Angeles Section
• The Draft EIR/EIS release has been delayed to fall 2017•Within the LAUSD boundary the
rail would be on the surface within the existing railroad Right of Way (ROW)• CA High-Speed Rail Authority’s
goal is for all intersections to be grade separated• 1 new grade separation within
LAUSD boundaries at Main Street11
Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Main Street Grade Separation
Proximity of Rail Alignment to LAUSD Schools
Burbank to Los Angeles Section
• The Sotomayor Learning Academies campus is adjacent to the alignment - without mitigation, noise impacts may occur
• Ann St. Elementary, Glassell Park Elementary, Aragon Ave. Elementary, Dorris Pl. Elementary, and Albion St. Elementary are between 660 feet and 1,440 feet from the alignment
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Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Sotomayor
Union Station
Main Street Grade Separation
Los Angeles to Anaheim Section
• The Draft EIR/EIS release has been delayed to fall 2017
• Both alternatives being considered use the same alignment, the existing Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor:
• Alternative 1: On average, would require an additional 60 feet of ROW. Up to 3 new tracks, for a total of up to 6 tracks.
• Alternative 2: On average, would require an additional 15 feet of ROW. Up to 2 new tracks, for a total of up to 5 total tracks.
13Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Los Angeles to Anaheim Section
There are two LAUSD schools within 1,500 feet of the corridor in this Section:
• Utah Street Elementary School is 1,450 feet from the corridor
• Mendez High School is 900 feet from the corridor
14Figure Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority
Conclusion
• To date, OEHS has reviewed the proposed alignments to begin to determine what potential environmental impacts may take place and where they are likely to occur within our District
• OEHS’s complete review of the impacts of the California High-Speed Rail Project will be conducted once the Draft EIRs/EISs and the supporting technical studies for the sections within the LAUSD boundary are released
• Following the release of the Draft EIRs/EISs, OEHS will:• Recommend further analysis and/or additional mitigation as needed to ensure that
impacts to our schools are mitigated to the maximum extent feasible
• Identify the Palmdale to Burbank alternative alignment that is expected to have the least impacts on LAUSD schools
LAUSD
Questions
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