Welcome High Desert Corridor

Transcription

1 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Welcome High Desert Corridor Open House Meetings 6 8pm Monday, July 15, Lake Los Angeles Elementary School Tuesday, July 16, Stater Bros Stadium *Wednesday, July 17, Endeavor School of Exploration *Monday, July 22, Larry Chimbole Cultural Center July

2 Agenda for Today s Meeting Introduction Project Background Project Updates Purpose and Need HDC Alternative Variations HDC Strategic Multipurpose Corridor Environmental process and schedule 2

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4 HDC Project Partner Agencies Metro Caltrans HDC Joint Powers Authority (JPA) SANBAG SCAG Lancaster Palmdale Adelanto Victorville Town of Apple Valley Counties of Los Angeles and San Bernardino 3

5 HDC Funding LA County s Measure R SB County s Measure I State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Federal/State funding Public Private Partnership (P3) 4

6 HDC Purpose and Need Project Purpose: Increase capacity of east west transportation facilities to accommodate existing and future transportation demand Improve travel safety and reliability within the High Desert region Improve the regional goods movement network Provide improved access and connectivity to regional transportation facilities, including airports and the existing and future passenger rail systems, including, the proposed California High Speed Rail system and the proposed XpressWest High Speed Rail system. Contribute to state greenhouse gas reduction goals through the use of green energy features 5

7 HDC Purpose and Need Project Need: The specific needs to be addressed by the proposed action include: Recent and future population growth within the High Desert Region Limited and unreliable east west connectivity within the High Desert Region Regional demands for goods movement to support the growth of the regional economy Future demands for the use of green energy, including sustainability and green energy provisions in state law and policy 6

8 Project Area 7

9 High Desert Corridor Connects Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties Palmdale, Lancaster, Adelanto, Victorville and Town of Apple Valley Up to 8 lane corridor Approximately 63 miles Connects SR 14, US 395, I 15, and SR 18 Multipurpose corridor 500 ft. right of way between SR 14 and US ft. right of way east of US 395 to SR 18 8

10 Physical Alternatives and Variations A D B E Variation A Reduces property impacts Variation B Reduces impacts to local dairy farm Variation D Reduces number of residential relocations Variation E Reduces impacts to natural resources and address right of way constraints 9

11 HDC Multipurpose Components Highway/Expressway Creates an improved east west connection Tollroad 31 miles between 100th St. East and US 395 High Speed Rail (HSR) Feeder System Connectivity between CAHSR with XpressWest Station connections at Palmdale and Victorville Green Energy Achieve a net zero energy corridor Bikeway Create a connection to existing bikeways along the HDC 10

12 HDC Functional Alternatives Freeway/Expressway Alternative (Avenue P 8, I 15 and SR 18) Freeway/Expressway Alternative with High Speed Rail Feeder Service Freeway/Tollway Alternative (Avenue P 8, I 15 and SR 18) Freeway/Tollway Alternative with High Speed Rail Feeder Service Hybrid Corridor Alternative Transportation Systems Management/Transportation Demand (TSM/TDM) No Build Alternative 11

13 Freeway/Expressway Connections Coordinating with City of Palmdale SR 14 Freeway connection Palmdale Blvd connection to HDC SR 18 terminus connection Taper to 2 lanes based on traffic needs New Connections Report (NCR) 12

14 Rail Component High Speed Rail Feeder System Designed for speeds up to 180 mph Designed to be interoperable with the proposed California High Speed Rail and XpressWest rail systems Proposed in dedicated right of way in the median of the HDC freeway/expressway Creates the potential to connect San Francisco, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Diego regions through a high speed rail system Rail Alternatives Analysis underway 13

15 High Speed Rail Connections Palmdale Transportation Center Current rail service: Metrolink Planned rail service: CAHSR & HDC feeder service 3 proposed HDC rail connection options in Palmdale Proposed elements may include: Above, underground or at grade Speeds ranging from 60 to 110 mph 14

16 High Speed Rail Connections Victorville XpressWest Connection Located west of I 15 At grade connection 15

17 Green Energy Component Energy generation considerations: Solar and wind Energy transmission potential Opportunities for natural gas & electric refueling stations along corridor Goal to achieve a net zero energy corridor AB , Global Warming Solutions Act SB , Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Law Enhances Public Private Partnership opportunities 16

18 Bikeway Component Bikeway extends approximately from Palmdale Transportation Center to US 395 Connects to local bicycle master plans Dedicated and protected right of way Integrated with HDC alignment 17

19 EIS/EIR Process Preliminary Engineering Public Involvement 18

20 Environmental Categories 19

21 Environmental Update Most studies are about 70% 80% complete Analysis focusing on rail Completed another round of Spring surveys Cultural specialists protecting burial sites 20

22 Environmental Update (cont.) Visual/Aesthetics Delphi Panel NEPA/404 Integration 21

23 Environmental Update (cont.) NEPA/404 Integration Process MOU between 5 agencies Triggered by: Federal transportation project Preparation of EIS Impacts to over 5 acres of Waters of the U.S. Requires coordination on: Purpose and Need Range of Alternatives LEDPA (Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative) 22

24 Next Steps/ Anticipated Schedule July Open Houses Monday, July 15, Lake Los Angeles Elementary School Tuesday, July 16, Stater Bros Stadium *Wednesday, July 17, Endeavor School of Exploration *Monday, July 22, Larry Chimbole Cultural Center Fall 2013, Variation Workshops Spring 2014, Draft EIS/EIR & Public Hearings Fall 2014, Final EIS/EIR * Broadcast live meetings 23

25 Community Involvement Community Outreach Program: 13 community meetings and 45 Briefings Approximately 1,100 attendees/participants 2,000 project database contacts 24

26 Community Involvement (cont.) Social Media: About 500 Facebook and Twitter followers facebook.com/metrohdc HDC Geo Social Interactive Map (956 unique visitors to date) Explore: Alternatives Freeway ramps Post comments and share on Facebook and Twitter 25

27 Interactive Map 23

28 How to Stay Involved Mail: Robert Machuca, Metro Project Manager One Gateway Plaza, MS Los Angeles CA Toll free helpline: (888) comments to Metro, hdc@metro.net Project Websites: Metro metro.net/hdc Caltrans dot.ca.gov/dist07/travel/projects/138hdc Facebook: facebook.com/metrohdc Interactive map: interactive.metro.net/projects/high desert corridor 27

29 High Desert Corridor Thank you for your interest in this project! 28