Public Hearing August 25 & 27, 2016

Purpose of Today’s Hearing

˃ Status update and summary of next steps

˃ Provide a brief summary of the project and its alternatives

˃ Overview of Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIR/EIS)

˃ Listen to public comments ─ Incorporated into public record

─ Responses in Final EIR/EIS

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Environmental Review Process

Public Hearings

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Spring 20172014

Purpose of Draft EIR/EIS

˃ Inform decision makers and the public of potential environmental impacts

˃ Evaluate performance of the alternatives

˃ Evaluate adverse & beneficial impacts of the alternatives─ Temporary effects/impacts during construction

─ Ongoing effects/impacts during operation

˃ Draft EIS/EIR provides locations and other details of potential effects/impacts

˃ Identifies potential mitigations for adverse effects/impacts

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Outreach Program Summary

˃ Scoping Meetings (2) – March 2014

˃ Community Open House Meetings (2) – May 2015

˃ Elected & Town Council Briefings – Fall 2013 to Spring 2016

˃ Cooperating and Participating agency meetings (4)

˃ 19 Stakeholder Meetings

˃ 12 Community Events and Festivals

˃ Geo-Social Interactive Map

˃ Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, and Ustream

˃ 1,600+ stakeholder database contacts

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Project Area & Limits

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Project Background

˃ This is a joint Metro and Caltrans Project ─ Metro: Funding and Preliminary Engineering

─ Caltrans: Environmental Document

˃ Prior Studies─ North County Combined Highway Corridor Study 2004

─ SR-138 Project Study Report 2009

˃ Antelope Valley Area Plan (approved in June of 2015) ─ Supports Northwest 138 Corridor Improvement Project

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Purpose & Need

˃ Purpose─ Improve mobility and operations on SR-138 and in northwest LA County

─ Enhance safety based on current and future traffic conditions

─ Accommodate foreseeable increases in people and goods movement

˃ Need─ Future transportation demands vs. the existing capacity of the facility

─ Accident history

─ Existing non-standard roadway features

─ Forecasted economic development

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Existing Conditions

Two-Lane Undivided Highway Non-Standard Roadway Features

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Alternatives

˃ Alternative 1 - Freeway/Expressway + Antelope Acres Bypass Option─ Freeway: 6 lanes divided (I-5 to 300th Street West)

─ Expressway: 4-lanes divided (300th Street West to SR-14)

─ Antelope Acres Bypass Option (100th Street West to 70th Street West)

˃ Alternative 2 (Expressway/Conventional Highway)─ Freeway: 6 lanes divided (I-5 to Gorman Post Road)

─ Expressway: 6-lanes divided (Gorman Post Road to 300th Street West)

─ Expressway: 4-lanes divided (300th Street West to 245th Street West)

─ Conventional Highway: 4-lanes limited access (245th Street West to SR-14)

˃ No Build

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Freeway/Expressway (6-Lane Divided)

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Expressway (4-Lane Divided)

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Limited Access Conventional Highway (4-Lane)

Existing SR-138 (2-Lane Conventional Highway)

Alternative 1

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Alternative 2

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Access Treatment Options

˃ Displaced left turns with median U-turns

˃ Right-in-right outs

˃ Grade separated interchanges

˃ Jug-handles

˃ Signals

˃ Vehicular overcrossings

˃ Roundabouts

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Common Features for Build Alternatives

˃ Improvement of non-standard features ─ Non-standard shoulder widths, vertical clearance standards for structures, horizontal and

vertical curves, etc.

˃ Utility relocations

˃ Improvements to I-5 and SR-14

˃ Improvements to structures

˃ Revisions to SR-138 intersections and access

˃ Drainage improvements

˃ Enhancements for wildlife, pedestrian, and bicycle movements

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Areas of Environmental Analysis

˃ Air Quality˃ Archeological Resources˃ Biological Resources ˃ Community Impacts˃ Cultural & Historic Resources˃ Cumulative and Secondary Impacts˃ Displacement/Right-of-Way˃ Energy ˃ Environmental Justice˃ Flood Control/ Hydrology/ Water

Quality/ Storm Water

˃ Geoarcheological˃ Geology/ Soils/ Seismicity˃ Hazardous Waste/Materials˃ Historic Property & Resources ˃ Land Use & Planning ˃ Noise ˃ Paleontological Resources˃ Section 4(f) Properties˃ Traffic & Transportation ˃ Utilities & Emergency Services˃ Visual & Aesthetics

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Key Areas of Interest

˃ Cultural/Historical Resources

˃ Right-of-Way/ Relocations

˃ Noise

˃ Air Quality

˃ Biological Resources

˃ Cumulative Impacts

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Cultural/Historical Resources

˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact

˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ 1 Historic property would be adversely affected

(Kinsey Mansion)

─ Implementation of the paleontological resources mitigation plan would facilitate the identification and treatment of paleontological resources.

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Right-of-Way/ Relocations

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˃ No Build Alternative─ No housing units or businesses would be displaced

˃ Alternative 1─ 17 housing units / 2 businesses

˃ Alternative 1 w/ Antelope Acres Bypass Option─ 11 housing units / 2 businesses

˃ Alternative 2─ 14 housing units /2 businesses

Noise

˃ Noise impacts are evaluated differently under CEQA and NEPA. ─ Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) is used for NEPA

─ Baseline conditions versus the build conditions are used for CEQA

˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact

˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ Noise would increase, with significant impacts under CEQA for some properties

• Alternative 1: 9 properties• Alternative 1 w/ Antelope Acres Bypass Option: 14 properties (5 different than Alt 1)• Alternative 2: 5 properties

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Air Quality

˃ No Build Alternative─ Potentially inconsistent with regional plans and programs since the project would not be

constructed as approved in the Regional Transportation Plan for the area.• 2012 Regional Transportation Plan • 2015 Federal Transportation Improvement Plan

˃ Potential Impacts for all build alternatives─ During construction, short-term degradation of air quality may occur due to the release of

particulate emissions generated by activities related to construction.

─ No significant impacts with the implementation of the avoidance, minimization, and/or mitigation measures described.

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Biological Resources

˃ No Build Alternative─ No impact

˃ All build alternatives─ Existing culverts enhanced to accommodate wildlife travel

─ Avoidance/minimization measures will reduce impacts to:• 5 special-status plants• 21 special-status wildlife species• 18 plant communities

─ Approximately 1 acre of Waters of the U.S. (WUS) may be permanently impacted

─ Ongoing resource agency consultation for on-site and off-site mitigation options

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Cumulative Impacts

˃ Cumulative Impacts are a combination of impacts of past, present and reasonably foreseeable actions (ex: Solar projects, housing developments, NW 138 Corridor Improvement Project, etc.)

˃ Farmland ─ Pending a response from the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

˃ Natural Communities ─ Joshua Tree Woodland

─ California Juniper Woodland

˃ Special-Status Wildlife and Habitat

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Estimated Total Project Cost

˃ No Build Alternative─ No cost; no improvements

˃ Alternative 1─ $830 million

˃ Alternative 1 with Antelope Acres Loop Design Option─ $839 million

˃ Alternative 2─ $725 million

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Funding

˃ The project’s environmental study is funded by Measure R, the Los Angeles County half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2008

˃ Funding for design and construction has not been identified

˃ Potential sources of funding include:─ Developer Impact Fees (DIF)

─ Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

─ State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)

─ State Highway Operations & Protection Program (SHOPP)

─ Active Transportation Program (ATP)

─ Measure M – Potential

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Implementation

˃ Project will be built in phases as need/demand require

˃ Short-term and mid-term focus on a proactive approach to correct existing and potential safety conditions

˃ Early phases of the project will include operational & safety improvements ─ Intersection improvements

─ Shoulder widening

─ Curve corrections

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Implementation Sequence

˃ Short-Term─ Implement safety-related features

─ Measures include intersection improvements and horizontal and vertical curve corrections near Quail Lake

˃ Mid-Term─ Right of Way preservation and acquisition

─ Capacity enhancement in accordance with approved alternative on a phased approach based upon need and available funding

˃ Long-Term─ Implement the remaining ultimate improvements as identified in the approved alternative

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Early Phasing - Safety Improvements

˃ Horizontal and vertical curve corrections near Quail Lake

˃ Intersection improvements:

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─ Gorman Post Road ─ Three Points Road─ Old Ridge Road ─ La Petite Avenue─ Cement Plant Road ─ 210th Street West─ 300th Street West ─ 170th Street West─ Margalo Drive ─ 90th Street West─ 280th Street West ─ 60th Street West

˃ Intersection improvements include intersection controls and widening for turn lanes

Next Steps

˃ Review submitted public comments and oral testimony at public hearings ─ Incorporate into public record

─ Responses in Final EIR/EIS

˃ Final EIS/EIR Release & Approval – Spring 2017

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Draft EIR/EIS Release and Comment Period

˃ Draft EIR/EIS Released: August 4, 2016

˃ Public Hearings

˃ Public Comment Period Deadline: September 19, 2016

Thurs., August 25, 20166:30pm – 8:30pmGeneral William J. Fox Airfield – Lobby4555 W Ave G, Lancaster, CA 93536

* Live WebcastSat., August 27 @ 9:30amwww.ustream.tv/channel/nw138

Sat., August 27, 2016 *9:30am – 11:30amGrace Chapel Neenach25649 W Ave D, Lancaster, CA 93536

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How to Comment on the Draft EIS/EIR

˃ At the public hearings, submit comments via: ─ Oral testimony─ Written comment card ─ Electronically at a computer station

˃ After the public hearing, submit comments via:

˃ Review the Draft EIS/EIR at: www.metro.net/nw138

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Mail:Mr. Ron Kosinski, Deputy District DirectorCalifornia Department of TransportationDivision of Environmental Planning (NW SR-138)100 S Main Street, MS-16A Los Angeles, CA 90012

Email:nw138@metro.net

Formal Public Hearing – Oral Testimony

˃ Three names called at a time; please line up and be prepared

˃ State your name clearly

˃ Speak clearly for the court reporter

˃ Each comment will be addressed in writing in the Final EIR/EIS

˃ There will be no response to comments tonight

˃ Please be respectful of all speakers

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Stay Connected

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Mail:Isidro PanucoMetro Project ManagerOne Gateway Plaza, 99-22-9Los Angeles, CA 90012

Toll-Free Number: 888.586.6617

Interactive Map: http://interactive.metro.net/projects/nw138

Website:metro.net/nw138

Email:nw138@metro.net

Facebook:facebook.com/nw138

Twitter:@nw_138