P & D CONSULTANTS - 2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Grand Avenue Widening Project Environmental Impact Report Section 3.0 Planned Improvements The City of Santa Ana MPSH designates Grand Avenue as a Major Arterial throughout its entire length, consistent with the OCTA MPAH designation for this segment of Grand Avenue. Grand Avenue is also classified for Class II bike lanes in the City of Santa Ana Bikeway Master Plan. A Class II bikeway provides a striped bike lane for one way travel in the street right-of-way. In the vicinity of the study area, Seventeenth and First Streets are also classified as Major Arterials. Santa Ana Boulevard and Fourth Street are designated as Primary Arterials. Existing Conditions Related to Parkin On street parking is not currently provided on the project segment of Grand Avenue. Off street parking is provided by the existing residential and commercial uses adjacent to the project segment of Grand Avenue. City policy generally does not allow on street parking on arterials. 3.5.2 THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION A project will normally have a significant impact related to transportation and circulation if it will cause an increase in traffic which is substantial in relation to the existing traffic load and capacity of the street system. In addition, the General Plan Circulation Element establishes LOS D or better as the desired LOS for major intersections in the City. Therefore, if the proposed Grand Avenue widening causes the LOS at any intersection to be LOS E or worse, then the project would result in a significant adverse impact related to transportation and circulation. 3.5.3 METHODOLOGY RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION Methodology Related to Surface Transportation The traffic study for the proposed widening of the project segment of Grand Avenue analyzed traffic operations at seven intersection operations under the following scenarios: 2001 Existing Conditions 2020 No Project Alternative 2020 Build Alterative The LOS concept was developed to evaluate the operating conditions of components of a transportation circulation system. The Highway Capacity Manual (Transportation Research Board, Highway Capacity Manual, Special Report 209, Third Edition, Updated December 1997). defines LOS as a qualitative measure which describes operational conditions within a traffic stream, generally in terms of such factors as speed and travel time, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions, comfort and convenience. LOS is rated from A to F, with LOS A representing the best operating conditions and LOS F representing the worst. Specific criteria are used to define LOS for different types of facilities as discussed below. F: IPROJ-ENVIGrand eirWew Text - GrandlSection 3 SplitlSection 3.5.doc Page 3.5-7