2019-040 - Mainplace Mall Transformation

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City of Santa Ana Main Place Mall Transformation Project Traffic Impact Study Memory Lane is an east -west roadway in the City of Santa Ana that aligns with the southern terminus of Main Place Drive at Main Street. Memory Lane extends eastward from Main Street, and then curves northward to connect with Parker Street in the City of Orange. Memory Lane is a six -lane divided roadway between Main Street and Lawson Way, narrowing to a four -lane divided roadway to the City boundary, and narrowing to two lanes divided in the City of Orange. Memory Lane is classified as a Major Arterial on the City of Santa Ana Circulation Element, and as a Primary and a Secondary Arterial on the City of Orange Circulation Element. The posted speed limit is 35 mph, and on -street parking is prohibited. Santa Clara Avenue is an east -west roadway, located approximately one-half mile south of Main Place Mall. Santa Clara Avenue provides two travel lanes in each direction and aligns with the 1-5 northbound on -ramp at Main Street. On -street parking is prohibited between North Broadway and Main Street. 4.2 Existing Transportation Improvements Existing study intersection configurations and traffic control for the study intersections and study roadway configurations are shown on Figure 4, Existing Lane Configuration and Traffic Control. Many of the transportation system improvements currently in place were constructed as part of the mitigation program for the Fashion Square project to accommodate the full development contemplated in the Fashion Square Final EIR. Specifically, eight traffic -related mitigation measures were identified in the Fashion Square Final EIR (listed on pages 1 and 2 of this report), seven of which were implemented as planned during the initial phases of development of the Mall. The remaining mitigation measure, which required the developer of the Mall to "[p]rovide funding for the construction of a pair of new freeway ramps on the west side of Fashion Square linking the Santa Ana Freeway with a public road surrounding the project' (the future Main Place Drive) was determined to be infeasible, and replaced with an obligation to contribute to the cost of other ramps then planned by Caltrans. This change was documented in a 1992 amendment to the Participation Agreement between the City's Redevelopment Agency and the Mall developer (Third Amendment to Participation Agreement, p. 2.), which explained: "It has now been determined that the ramps specified in the Participation Agreement cannot be constructed, but that ramps providing substantially similar value to the transportation system are planned for construction...." The alternative ramps identified in the amended Participation Agreement, consisting of an off -ramp from southbound 1-5 to North Broadway and an on -ramp from Main Street to northbound 1-5, were thereafter constructed. Accordingly, all of the traffic improvements the Redevelopment Agency and City determined were necessary to accommodate the original project have been implemented. Further, significant additional vehicular capacity has been provided by other local street improvements and freeway facilities that have been completed in the vicinity of the project site since the certification of the Fashion Square Final EIR: • Completion of the North Broadway overcrossing and reconfiguration of the 1-5 freeway ramps, providing more direct access to North Broadway and Main Place; • Widening of Owens Drive (now called Memory Lane) east of Main Street, and reconfiguration of the intersection of Memory Lane at Main Street; Enhancements to the intersection of Main Street at Main Place Access Drive; Improvements to the intersection of Main Street at Main Place Drive/Town and Country Road Kimley>»Horn Page 115