Item 22 - Approve Adjustments & CIP Amendment, & Agreements with Mark Thomas, So Cal Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the U.S. Department of Transportation, & Caltrans for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project (No. 26-6718)

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Preliminary Environment S1E9Y CI(KTs9 identifies Santa Ana as a primarily arterial, which is defined as a four- or six-lane divided arterial, which is consistent with the proposed project design. The proposed project would be consistent with plans and goals adopted by the community. The proposed project is consistent with the goals that are included in the City of Santa Ana General Plan Circulation Element. Specifically it meets the following goals. • Goal 1, "Provide and maintain a comprehensive circulation system that facilitates the efficient movement of people and goods throughout the City, and enhances its economic viability." This is achieved by meeting Policy 1.10, which is to "Provide barrier-free accessibility throughout the circulation system." • Goal 2, "Provide design and construction that facilitates safe utilization of the City's transportation system." This is achieved by meeting Policy 2.7, which is to "Continue design practices which facilitate the safe use of circulation systems. Consistency with plans adopted by the community will be further evaluated further in the Community Impact Assessment that is prepared for the proposed project. 26. Does the project have the potential to divide or disrupt neighborhoods/communities? The proposed project would be constructed along an existing roadway and would not divide a neighborhood/community. The proposed project includes a sidewalk along both sides of the overcrossing which will provide an enhanced connection across the railroad tracks; pedestrians currently have to cross the railroad tracks at-grade. The pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Santa Ana Boulevard and Santiago Street, which is the primary pedestrian access across Santa Ana Boulevard, would remain as part of the proposed project. The proposed project would result in the full and partial acquisition of several parcels (businesses), see Items 23 and 24 above, and would also involve construction adjacent to single-family residences, which could cause temporary disruptions within the affected neighborhood. This will be evaluated further in the Community Impact Assessment that is prepared for the proposed project. 27. Does the project have the potential to disproportionately affect low-income and minority populations? All projects involving a federal action (funding, permit, or land) must comply with Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, signed by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1994. This Executive Order directs federal agencies to take the appropriate and necessary steps to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse effects of federal projects on the health or environment of minority and low-income populations to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. The proposed project is located within Census Tract 744.05, Block Groups 1, 2, and 3 (located along the north side of Santa Ana Boulevard) and Census Tract 744.06, Block Groups 1 and 3 (located along the south side of Santa Ana Boulevard). As shown in the following table, the project area (defined as Census Tract 744.05, Block Groups 1, 2, and 3, and Census Tract 744.06 Block Groups 1 and 3) has a lower percentage of individuals identified as White than Orange County (County) and the City of Santa Ana (City); however, the difference between the project area and the City is much less than between the project area and Orange County. The percentage of individuals identified as Latino/Hispanic is greater for the project area than for Orange County and the City with the difference between the project area and the County being much greater than between the project area and the City. For all other groups (African-American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, and Other races/Ethnicities) the percentage within the project area is less than the percentages identified for the County and the City. 7