CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The San Dieguito River Bridge Replacement, Double Track, and Del Mar Fairgrounds Special Events Platform Project (Proposed Action) would construct rail improvements within portions of the cities of Solana Beach and Del Mar generally between mileposts 242 and 244 and would provide a direct passenger connection to the Del Mar Fairgrounds (Fairgrounds). As shown on Figures 1-1 and 1-2 (Regional Location Map and Proposed Action Location Map, respectively), the Proposed Action site extends approximately 2.1 miles along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor between the rail undercrossing at Lomas Santa Fe Drive and Control Point (CP) Del Mar, just north of Coast Boulevard (project limits). Proposed rail improvements include: (1) construction of new double track bridge structures over the San Dieguito River; (2) 2.1 miles of track improvements, including the addition of 1.7 miles of new double track; (3) a special events rail platform at the Del Mar Fairgrounds; and (4) other rail improvements and modifications within the project limits plus a new signal line that would extend south of CP Del Mar to reconnect an existing signal house just south of Coast Boulevard. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will act as the federal lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S. Code 4321 et seq.). The Proposed Action is considered a major FRA action, which is defined as any FRA action that does not fall within one of the class of actions that is categorically or otherwise excluded from NEPA. This chapter provides an overview of the planning background for the Proposed Action and describes the purpose, scope, content, and structure of the Environmental Assessment (EA). 1.1 BACKGROUND LOSSAN Rail Corridor The LOSSAN Corridor is a 351-mile-long rail corridor, stretching from San Diego in the south, up the coast to Orange County, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and Santa Barbara County to San Luis Obispo County. The LOSSAN Corridor is the nation s second busiest rail corridor and serves Southern California s key coastal population centers and two of the state s most congested regions: Los Angeles and San Diego. The San Diego coastal rail corridor is the southern terminus of the LOSSAN rail corridor. In San Diego County, the 60-mile coastal rail corridor extends south from Orange County to downtown San Diego through the coastal cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and San Diego. With sections of the corridor dating back to the 1880s, about half of the corridor is single track. The San Diego County portion of the LOSSAN Corridor is shared by commuter and intercity passenger and freight rail services. Amtrak s Pacific Surfliner trains provide intercity passengers with stations in downtown San Diego, Solana Beach, and Oceanside that connect the region to the rest of the nation. The North County Transit District s (NCTD) Coaster commuter trains operate south from Oceanside to downtown San Diego, serving the cities of Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and San Diego. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Co. is the freight rail operator on the corridor, operating trains from the Port of San Diego north. Environmental Assessment 1-1 October 2014

2 1.1.2 Previous Planning and Environmental Documents Previous planning studies and environmental documents have addressed the installation of a double track through the San Diego County portion of the LOSSAN Corridor. These are briefly described below. Los Angeles to San Diego Proposed Rail Corridor Improvements Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement In 2009, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and FRA completed the Los Angeles to San Diego Proposed Rail Corridor Improvements Program Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (LOSSAN PEIR/EIS) to evaluate improvements to the Los Angeles to San Diego portion of the LOSSAN rail corridor. The purpose of the proposed improvements addressed in the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS is to relieve the growing capacity and congestion constraints on intercity travel using existing highway and passenger rail infrastructure between Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties. Rail improvements evaluated in the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS included various alternative alignments; improvements to existing stations; new stations; and design options including at-grade rail, tunnels, and trenches. As noted in the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS, that document s program-level analysis was warranted because of the comprehensive nature and scope of the corridor improvements proposed by Caltrans and FRA, and the conceptual stage of planning and decision-making. The LOSSAN PEIR/EIS enabled public agencies to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed rail improvements, evaluate the improvements against the No Project Alternative, select a preferred alternative, and define mitigation strategies to address potentially substantial adverse impacts. The LOSSAN PEIR/EIS further stated (pg. S-26) that: Project-level environmental review would focus on individual projects, a portion or portions of the LOSSAN rail corridor, and would provide full analysis of potential impacts and issues at an appropriate level of detail in order to obtain the necessary approvals, permits and the ability to proceed with construction. The LOSSAN PEIR/EIS addressed the currently proposed double-tracking and San Dieguito Bridge replacement within the larger context of the ultimate solution for replacing the single-track alignment through the City of Del Mar with a tunnel, either under Camino Del Mar or Interstate 5 (I-5). While a tunnel is not proposed as a component of the currently Proposed Action, double-tracking the LOSSAN Corridor within the project limits was identified as proposed rail improvements of the preferred alternative. The LOSSAN PEIR/EIS programmatic analysis did not address a passenger platform at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The FRA signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS in October The ROD, together with the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) adopted by FRA, established environmental commitments and mitigation requirements for the planned LOSSAN Corridor improvements. Environmental Assessment 1-2 October 2014

3 ORANGE COUNTY RIVERSIDE COUNTY SAN DIEGO COUNTY Vail Lake O'Neill Lake Camp Pendleton!"^$ Oceanside A Vista Fallbrook Ä WÛ Lake Wohlford Lake Henshaw Aª Warner Springs I:\PROJECTS\D\DEA\DEA-04.09_SDRBridge\Map\ENV\EA\Fig1_1_Regional.mxd DEA /18/13 -RK N Pacific Ocean 0 8 Miles Carlsbad Solana Beach Del Mar Encinitas San Marcos Lake San Marcos San Diego Escondido Otay Poway Santee Lake Jennings Santee Lakes La Jolla?h!"_$ Alpine Aª!"^$ A?z 56 %&s( Coronado San Diego Bay Imperial Beach Lake Hodges Proposed Action AÒ WÛ Aù San Diego!"a$!"a$ National City Lake Ramona Lake Poway Miramar Reservoir!"_$ Lake Murray AÀ!"^$?j La Mesa Lemon Grove Chula Vista Tijuana WÙ %&s( AÛ A A El Cajon Sweetwater Reservoir A?z?j?z San Vicente Reservoir AÀ Otay Reservoir Ramona UNITED STATES MEXICO Sutherland Reservoir A El Capitan Reservoir Loveland Reservoir Dulzura Barrett Lake Julian Regional Location Map SAN DIEGUITO RIVER BRIDGE, DOUBLE TRACK, AND DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS SPECIAL EVENTS PLATFORM PROJECT Figure 1-1

4 Lomas Santa Railroad Right-of-Way Fe Drive sa ven Ste H South ven ue $ ^ "! C South! y 101 ighwa CP Valley City of Solana Beach edros City of San Diego ns S t e veee k Cr CP Crosby S an Del Mar Fairgrounds D I:\PROJECTS\D\DEA\DEA-04.09_SDRBridge\Map\ENV\EA\Fig1_2_Vicinity_Aerial.mxd DEA /18/13 -RK! ieg ui Jim m to R iv lle La Va a n te Bo u le va r d e PA C I F I C OCEAN e Via D ur A v e nu City of Solana Beach City of Del Mar y D er CP Del Mar! Camino Del Mar a rd ulev C oas t Bo Proposed Action Location Map N 0 2,000 Feet SAN DIEGUITO RIVER BRIDGE, DOUBLE TRACK, AND DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS SPECIAL EVENTS PLATFORM PROJECT Figure 1-2

5 2050 Regional Transportation Plan In its role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and a Regional Transportation Planning Agency, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) prepared the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) as a blueprint for a regional transportation system. The 2050 RTP, which updated and replaced the 2030 RTP, contains a number of proposed transit and transportation improvements, as well as goals for sustainable community development as they relate to regional transportation. Among the capital improvements to the LOSSAN Corridor included in the 2050 RTP are double-tracking the rail line between Orange County and downtown San Diego, building new platforms at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, and replacing all aging single-track trestle bridges made of timber with modern, double-tracked structures. Accordingly, the 2050 RTP envisions the proposed rail improvements of the Proposed Action Regional Transportation Improvement Program SANDAG, in its role as a MPO and Regional Transportation Planning Agency, develops and adopts a Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) every two years. The current RTIP, adopted in September 2012, is a multi-billion-dollar, multi-year program of proposed projects for major highway, arterial, transit, and bikeway projects. Any transportation projects funded with federal or state monies or by the TransNet local transportation sales tax ordinance must be included in an approved RTIP. Each RTIP covers five fiscal years and incrementally implements specific projects identified in the RTP. The Proposed Action is included in the 2012 RTIP. LOSSAN Corridorwide Strategic Implementation Plan The 2012 LOSSAN Corridorwide Strategic Implementation Plan deals primarily with improved integration of operations between the various LOSSAN Corridor rail operators, improvements to levels of service, and better connections for rail passengers to other transit service providers. The plan also includes a capital improvement component, identifying specific projects which will be needed in order to implement additional service in the corridor. One of the projects specifically identified in this plan includes the San Dieguito Bridge Double Track project. With regard to the Proposed Action, the operational analysis states: This project envisions the replacement of an existing single-track trestle over San Dieguito Bridge with a new double-track bridge. When complete, this improvement would extend the second main track from CP Valley (MP 242.2) south (railroad east) to CP Crosby (MP 243.3). It was assumed that the existing Del Mar Siding would remain as a controlled siding at its current location. A seasonal Del Mar Fairgrounds platform was not assumed as part of this infrastructure assumption since only year-round stops were included. The 2012 LOSSAN Corridorwide Strategic Implementation Plan acknowledges each of the Proposed Action s main elements, and therefore envisions the Proposed Action. Environmental Assessment 1-3 October 2014

6 California State Rail Plan The adopted 2013 California State Rail Plan (CSRP) (Caltrans 2013) establishes an overall vision for the state rail system and supports California s goals and policies to improve passenger and freight rail transportation and serve the public interest. The adopted CSRP discusses an unconstrained 10-year capital program, which includes all immediate and near-term projects in the LOSSAN plans, and a few long-term projects (Caltrans 2013). The adopted CSRP specifically includes construction of a double-track concrete bridge over the San Dieguito River and addition of 1.1 miles of second main track to connect the existing passing tracks at Solana Beach and Del Mar. Replacement of the San Dieguito River Bridge, addition of a second main track from CP Valley to CP Crosby, and a Del Mar Fairgrounds special events platform is included in the capital investment projects list for the southern LOSSAN Corridor (from Los Angeles to San Diego; referred to in the CSRP as the southern portion of the Pacific Surfliner ) as a mid-term project. Del Mar Fairgrounds Master Plan In 2008, the 22 nd District Agricultural Association (22 nd DAA), which operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, prepared a Master Plan to guide the future development of the Fairgrounds. Among the long-term projects that were identified in the Master Plan and evaluated at a program level in the Final EIR prepared for the Master Plan was a seasonal train platform intended to Enhance transit access to the Fairgrounds site by assisting SANDAG with implementation of a seasonal train platform on site at the Fairgrounds (22 nd DAA 2011: pg. 1-9). 1.2 PURPOSE, SCOPE, CONTENT, AND STRUCTURE Purpose of the Environmental Assessment This EA documents and identifies reasonable alternatives that meet the Proposed Action s purpose and need (as identified in Chapter 2, Purpose and Need); evaluates the potential environmental impacts of those alternatives; and where appropriate, identifies measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential impacts. This EA will be used by FRA to determine if the Proposed Action would cause substantial adverse environmental impacts, necessitating the preparation of an EIS. If the EA concludes that no substantial adverse environmental effects would occur due to the Proposed Action, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be prepared. As discussed above under the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS, the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS was the first phase of a tiered environmental review process (Tier 1), and was prepared for the first and programmatic-level of review and consideration of early policy decisions on LOSSAN rail corridor improvements. The LOSSAN PEIR/EIS MMRP stated that project-level activities will undergo future environmental analysis tiered from the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS, as applicable. Consistent with the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS and ROD prepared by FRA, this EA is a Tier 2 environmental document that evaluates the Proposed Action at a project level, consistent with the Environmental Assessment 1-4 October 2014

7 requirements of NEPA and FRA s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts. The design practices and mitigation strategies identified in the LOSSAN PEIR/EIS have been reviewed to determine their applicability to the Proposed Action, and have been used as a starting point to develop additional mitigation measures for adverse impacts identified in the project-specific analysis Scope of the Environmental Assessment This EA contains an analysis of Action Alternatives under consideration for the Proposed Action, as described in Chapter 3, Proposed Action Description and Alternatives. A public scoping meeting was held in the vicinity of the Proposed Action on January 22, 2013 in the City of San Diego at Del Mar Hills Academy, located at Mango Drive, which was an open house format with various topical stations and display boards. Attendees were given the opportunity to provide input and comments regarding the scope of the EA. The scoping meeting was advertised through a direct mail newsletter sent to more than 2,000 households in the Proposed Action area, newspaper advisements, and a legal notice posted in the Del Mar Times on January 17, All environmental resource topics identified in FRA s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts were considered for the Proposed Action. Based on the proposed components of the Proposed Action and their potential to affect environmental resource topics identified in FRA s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, this EA evaluates in detail the potential environmental effects of the Proposed Action with respect to the following environmental resources topics: Air Quality Water Quality Noise and Vibration Biological Resources Hydrology and Floodplain Energy Aesthetics Land Use Socioeconomics Section 4(f) Resources Public Health and Safety Cultural and Paleontological Resources Geology and Soils Environmental resource topics that were determined to have no adverse environmental impacts due to the Proposed Action are also addressed in this EA, but not in detail. These environmental resource topics include the following: Transportation Public Utilities Environmental Assessment 1-5 October 2014

8 Use of Other Natural Resources (mineral, agricultural, and forestry resources) Solid Waste Disposal Content and Structure of the Environmental Assessment The EA has been prepared in accordance with NEPA, as amended (42 U.S. Code [U.S.C.] 4321 et seq.), as well as Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Part ), and FRA s Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts. Technical studies prepared for the Proposed Action are summarized within individual environmental issue sections, and the full technical studies are included in the EA Appendices. This EA is organized in the following manner: Summary: Provides a synopsis of the Proposed Action, the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, the Action Alternatives, and impact analysis of the EA. Impacts and avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures are provided in a tabular format. Chapter 1, Introduction: Provides an overview of the planning background for the Proposed Action and describes the purpose, scope, content, and structure of the EA. Chapter 2, Purpose and Need: Describes the overall purpose and need for the Proposed Action, as well as the need for the Proposed Action that justifies the purpose. Chapter 3, Proposed Action Description and Alternatives: Describes the location, setting, and proposed components and specific rail improvements of the Proposed Action, as well as a detailed description of the Action Alternatives under consideration. Chapter 4, Affected Environment; Environmental Consequences; and Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures: Constitutes the main body of the EA and contains environmental analysis of the Action Alternatives. For each environmental resource topic analyzed in detail, this chapter includes a discussion of the regulatory setting, the affected environment, environmental consequences, and if applicable, avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures. This chapter also addresses the environmental resource topics that are not analyzed in detail and cumulative effects. Chapter 5, Coordination with Public Agencies, Local and Tribal Governments, and the General Public: Documents the coordination and consultation that has been completed with public agencies and the public regarding the Proposed Action. Chapter 6, List of Preparers: Identifies the individuals who contributed to the preparation of the EA and associated technical studies. Chapter 7, References: Presents the references used in preparation of the EA. Environmental Assessment 1-6 October 2014