Item 26 - Public Hearing Regarding Bristol Project

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Response to Letter L5: Huy Nguyen, dated August 10, 2024 Comment L5.1: This comment expresses concern about the vibration impacts from heavy machinery operating within the Project site and being transported along adjacent roads (specifically MacArthur Boulevard) during construction activity. Response to Comment L5.1: This comment does not provide substantial evidence of a significant environmental impact. The Draft SEIR adequately describes potential vibration impacts associated with the use of heavy machinery and trucks on page 5.9-31 of the Draft SEIR. As discussed, truck vibration levels are dependent on vehicle characteristics, load, speed, and pavement conditions. However, typical vibration levels for heavy truck activity at normal traffic speeds would be approximately 0.006 in/sec PPV, based on the FTA Transit Noise Impact and Vibration Assessment. Truck movements on site would be travelling at very low speed, so it is expected that truck vibration at nearby sensitive receivers would be less than the vibration threshold of 0.08 in/sec PPV for fragile historic buildings and 0.04 in/sec PPV for human annoyance, and therefore, would be less than significant. Comment L5.2: This comment suggests that construction traffic would result in delays and increased traffic along adjacent roads. The commenter suggests an alternative construction route to avoid impacting residents along MacArthur Boulevard to reduce traffic congestion. Response to Comment L5.2: This comment does not provide substantial evidence of a significant environmental impact. The Draft SEIR Section 5.1 3, Transportation, details that Senate Bill (SB) 743 changes include the elimination of auto delay, LOS, and similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion as the basis for determining significant impacts. As part of the 2019 amendments to the State CEQA Guidelines, SB 743 directed that the revised CEQA Guidelines "shall promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses" (Public Resources Code Section 21099[b][1 ]); and that "automobile delay, as described solely by level of service or similar measures of vehicular capacity or traffic congestion, shall not be considered a significant impact on the environment" (Public Resources Code Section 21099[b][2]). As such, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21099(b)(2), the Supplemental EIR is not required to analyze impacts related to traffic congestion during construction. As discussed in Section 5.1, Air Quality, proposed Specific Plan Mitigation Measure AQ-1: Construction Exhaust and Dust Control requires the preparation of a construction traffic control plan detailing the locations of equipment staging areas, material stockpiles, proposed road closures, and hours of construction operations, and designing the plan to minimize impacts to roads frequented by passenger cars, pedestrians, bicyclist, and other non -truck traffic. As such, the Project would be required to follow a designated construction route to avoid residential areas in the vicinity of the Project. 7