FINAL SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/
SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (SEIS/SEIR)
VOLUME I (See page xv for Table of Contents, Volume II)
s.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................ s-1
1.0 purpose and need.................................................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 CORRIDOR LOCATION.............................................................................................................................................. 1-2
1.2 PURPOSE OF PROPOSED ACTION.......................................................................................................................... 1-3
1.3 nEED FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CORRIDOR......................................................... 1-4
1.3.1 Muni Service Reliability Problems in the CENTRAL SUBWAY Corridor... 1-5
1.3.2 Inadequate Connectivity Between Corridor Transit Lines and Other Transit Services............................................................................................................................................................... 1-5
1.3.3 Projected Increases in 2030 Transit and Auto Travel Demand in the Corridor 1-6
1.3.4 Projected Increases in 2030 traffic congestion in the Corridor................................... 1-9
1.3.5 Integration of Transportation Improvements with Community Revitalization along THE CENTRAL SUBWAY CORRIDOR..................................................................................................................... 1-9
1.3.6 Air Quality Issues...................................................................................................................................... 1-11
1.4 PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................... 1-11
2.0 ALTERNATIVES............................................................................................................................................................. 2-1
2.1 Alternatives to be analyzed in the SEIS/SEIR.................................................................................... 2-1
2.1.1 ALTERNATIVE 1 - NO PROJECT/TSM............................................................................................................ 2-3
2.1.2 Alternative 2 - enhanced EIS/EIR Alignment............................................................................... 2-9
2.1.3 ALTERNATIVE 3 - Fourth/STOCKTON Alignment.......................................................................... 2-24
2.2 CAPITAL COSTS....................................................................................................................................................... 2-49
2.2.1 Capital Cost Summary........................................................................................................................... 2-49
2.3 OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) COSTS.......................................................................................... 2-51
2.3.1 O&M COST ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................. 2-51
2.3.2 O&M COST SUMMARY.................................................................................................................................. 2-51
2.4 project development history.................................................................................................................... 2-52
2.4.1 Phase 2 Central Subway Conceptual Design............................................................................ 2-55
2.4.2 initiation of supplemental eis/eir.................................................................................................. 2-56
2.4.3 Modifications to the Alternatives.............................................................................................. 2-57
2.4.4 Screening of Design Options/Alternatives Not Carried Forward............................. 2-58
2.5 Role of the SEIS/SEIR.......................................................................................................................................... 2-62
2.5.1 approval process....................................................................................................................................... 2-62
2.5.2 Required permits and approvals..................................................................................................... 2-63
3.0 [begin insertion] TRANSPORTAION [end insertion] [begin deletion] transportation [end deletion] ANALYSIS.......................................................................................... 3-1
3.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT..................................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.1 TRANSIT............................................................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.2 TRAFFIC.............................................................................................................................................................. 3-15
3.1.3 FREIGHT AND LOADING................................................................................................................................ 3-23
3.1.4 PARKING............................................................................................................................................................. 3-24
3.1.5 PEDESTRIANS.................................................................................................................................................... 3-26
3.1.6 BICYCLES............................................................................................................................................................ 3-28
3.1.7 EMERGENCY vehicle ACCESS.................................................................................................................... 3-32
3.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATION MEASURES....................................................... 3-33
3.2.1 TRANSIT............................................................................................................................................................. 3-33
3.2.2 TRAFFIC.............................................................................................................................................................. 3-45
3.2.3 FREIGHT AND LOADING................................................................................................................................ 3-56
3.2.4 PARKING............................................................................................................................................................. 3-58
3.2.5 PEDESTRIANS.................................................................................................................................................... 3-64
3.2.6 BICYCLES............................................................................................................................................................ 3-75
3.2.7 EMERGENCY vehicle ACCESS.................................................................................................................... 3-77
4.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................ 4-1
4.1 LAND USE..................................................................................................................................................................... 4-1
4.1.1 Adopted Plans and Policies.................................................................................................................. 4-1
4.1.2 proposed Plans and Projects in the corridor......................................................................... 4-17
4.1.3 Existing Land Uses In The Corridor................................................................................................. 4-20
4.2 SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.............................................................................................................. 4-25
4.2.1 POPULATION..................................................................................................................................................... 4-25
4.2.2 Housing and Household Characteristics.................................................................................. 4-26
4.2.3 Employment................................................................................................................................................... 4-27
4.2.4 Fiscal and Economic Characteristics......................................................................................... 4-28
4.2.5 environmental justice considerations...................................................................................... 4-29
4.3 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES........................................................................................................ 4-35
4.3.1 Public and Community Facilities.................................................................................................... 4-35
4.3.2 Police, Fire, and Emergency Services.............................................................................................. 4-35
4.3.3 Parks and Recreational Facilities................................................................................................ 4-35
4.4 CULTURAL RESOURCES......................................................................................................................................... 4-40
4.4.1 Regulatory Framework....................................................................................................................... 4-40
4.4.2 archaeological resources................................................................................................................. 4-41
4.4.3 historic architectural resources................................................................................................ 4-50
4.5 VISUAL AND AESTHETIC RESOURCES.............................................................................................................. 4-78
4.5.1 Viewshed.......................................................................................................................................................... 4-78
4.5.2 Visual Character...................................................................................................................................... 4-78
4.6 UTILITIES and energy......................................................................................................................................... 4-84
4.6.1 utilities............................................................................................................................................................ 4-84
4.6.2 energy................................................................................................................................................................ 4-84
4.7 geology AND SEISMICITY.................................................................................................................................. 4-86
4.7.1 Topography.................................................................................................................................................... 4-86
4.7.2 GeologY............................................................................................................................................................. 4-86
4.7.3 SeismiciTY........................................................................................................................................................ 4-89
4.8 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY................................................................................................................ 4-94
4.8.1 Regulatory Framework....................................................................................................................... 4-94
4.8.2 Surface Water............................................................................................................................................ 4-94
4.8.3 Flooding/tsunamis................................................................................................................................... 4-97
4.8.4 GROUNDWATER............................................................................................................................................... 4-99
4.9 BIOLOGICAL AND WETLAND RESOURCES.................................................................................................... 4-101
4.9.1 Special-Status Species.......................................................................................................................... 4-101
4.9.2 Wetlands...................................................................................................................................................... 4-101
4.10 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.................................................................................................................................. 4-103
4.10.1 Regulatory Framework..................................................................................................................... 4-103
4.10.2 Waste Classification and Management................................................................................. 4-105
4.10.3 Health and Safety.................................................................................................................................. 4-106
4.10.4 Potential and Known Soil and Groundwater Contamination on Sites along Light CENTRAL SUBWAY Alignment............................................................................................................. 4-106
4.11 AIR QUALITY........................................................................................................................................................... 4-112
4.11.1 Air Quality Standards........................................................................................................................ 4-112
4.11.2 AIR POLLUTANTS OF CONCERN............................................................................................................... 4-112
4.11.3 Meteorology and topography........................................................................................................ 4-114
4.11.4 Existing Air Quality and Regional Attainment Status................................................ 4-115
4.11.5 Project Conformity................................................................................................................................ 4-118
4.11.6 EXISTING POLLUTANT SOURCES.............................................................................................................. 4-119
4.11.7 Sensitive Receptors................................................................................................................................. 4-120
4.11.8 Climate Change/Greenhouse Gas Emissions............................................................................ 4-120
4.12 NOISE AND VIBRATION....................................................................................................................................... 4-122
4.12.1 Noise and Vibration Measures........................................................................................................ 4-122
4.12.2 Noise and Vibration Standards..................................................................................................... 4-124
4.12.3 Existing Noise Conditions at Sensitive Receptors............................................................... 4-130
4.12.4 Existing Vibration Characteristics............................................................................................ 4-137
5.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES AND MITIGATION MEASURES.......................................................... 5-1
5.1 LAND USE..................................................................................................................................................................... 5-1
5.1.1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 5-1
5.1.2 Consistency with ADOPTED Plans AND POLICIES and land use compatibility 5-2
5.2 SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS................................................................................................................ 5-7
5.2.1 DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS.............................................................................................. 5-7
5.2.2 ACQUISITION AND DISPLACEMENT OF EXISTING USES...................................................................... 5-9
5.2.3 environmental justice findings....................................................................................................... 5-10
5.3 COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES........................................................................................................ 5-13
5.3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-13
5.3.2 Public and ComMunity Facilities.................................................................................................... 5-13
5.3.3 Police, Fire and Emergency Services............................................................................................... 5-15
5.3.4 Parks and Recreational Facilities................................................................................................ 5-16
5.4 cultural resources......................................................................................................................................... 5-19
5.4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-19
5.4.2 Prehistoric and Historical Archaeological Resource Impacts................................ 5-20
5.4.3 Historic Architectural Resource Impacts............................................................................... 5-21
5.5 visual and aesthetic resources.............................................................................................................. 5-26
5.5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-26
5.5.2 IMPACT CRITERIA........................................................................................................................................... 5-26
5.5.3 Visual IMPACTS............................................................................................................................................. 5-26
5.6 UTILITIES AND ENERGY......................................................................................................................................... 5-44
5.6.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-44
5.6.2 IMPACTS TO Major Utilities.................................................................................................................. 5-44
5.6.3 energy impacts............................................................................................................................................ 5-45
5.7 GEOLOGY AND SEISMICITY.................................................................................................................................. 5-49
5.7.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-49
5.7.2 exposure of CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND/OR THE PUBLIC to geologic hazards AND potential DAMAGE TO PROJECT COMPONENTS.............................................................................. 5-49
5.7.3 DAMAGE TO EXISTING AND FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS FROM SETTLEMENT OR INSTABILITY OF SUBSURFACE MATERIALS........................................................................................................................... 5-50
5.8 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY................................................................................................................ 5-56
5.8.1 INTroduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-56
5.8.2 FLOODING........................................................................................................................................................... 5-56
5.8.3 water quality............................................................................................................................................. 5-57
5.8.4 GROUNDWATER RECHARGE........................................................................................................................ 5-60
5.9 BIOLOGICAL AND WETLAND RESOURCES...................................................................................................... 5-61
5.9.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-61
5.9.2 impacts............................................................................................................................................................. 5-61
5.10 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.................................................................................................................................... 5-63
5.10.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................ 5-63
5.10.2 Exposure of Site Workers and Public to Hazardous Materials................................ 5-63
5.11 AIR QUALITY............................................................................................................................................................. 5-66
5.11.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 5-66
5.11.2 SIGNFICANCE thresholds......................................................................................................................... 5-67
5.11.3 AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS....................................................................................................................... 5-70
5.12 NOISE AND VIBRATION......................................................................................................................................... 5-77
5.12.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................ 5-77
5.12.2 IMPACTS............................................................................................................................................................. 5-77
6.0 CENTRAL SUBWAY Construction Methods, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION measures 6-1
6.1 Proposed Construction methods.............................................................................................................. 6-1
6.1.1 Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) (Alternative 3 - Fourth/Stockton Alignment, Options A and B)........................................................................................................................................... 6-2
6.1.2 Cut-and-Cover (C&C) (Alternative 2 – Enhanced EIS/EIS Alignment and Alternative 3 - Fourth/Stockton Alignment, Options A and B)........................................................................ 6-2
6.1.3 Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) - (Alternative 2 – Enhanced EIS/EIR Alignment and Alternative 3 - Fourth/Stockton Alignment, Options A and B). 6-5
6.1.4 Special Excavation Method (SXM) (Alternative 2 - Enhanced EIS/EIR Alignment) 6-6
6.2 Description of Construction Methods for Build Alternatives............................................ 6-8
6.2.1 Enhanced EIS/EIR Alignment – Alternative 2.............................................................................. 6-8
6.2.2 Fourth/Stockton Alignment Option A – Alternative 3A................................................. 6-18
6.2.3 Fourth/Stockton Alignment Option B – Alternative 3B................................................... 6-27
6.3 Construction impacts and mitigation for transportation............................................... 6-34
6.3.1 transit............................................................................................................................................................. 6-34
6.3.2 traffic.............................................................................................................................................................. 6-36
6.3.3 freight and loading................................................................................................................................ 6-39
6.3.4 parking............................................................................................................................................................. 6-41
6.3.5 pedestrians.................................................................................................................................................... 6-42
6.3.6 Bicycles............................................................................................................................................................ 6-44
6.3.7 emergency VEHICLE access.................................................................................................................... 6-45
6.4 construction impacts and mitigation for land use................................................................. 6-47
6.4.1 land use........................................................................................................................................................... 6-47
6.5 construction impacts and mitigation for socioeconomics................................................ 6-48
6.5.1 socioeconomics........................................................................................................................................... 6-48
6.5.2 acquisition and displacement......................................................................................................... 6-48
6.5.3 environmental justice findings....................................................................................................... 6-54
construction impacts and mitigation for....................................................................................... 6-55
6.6 community facilities and services........................................................................................................ 6-55
6.6.1 public and community facilities.................................................................................................... 6-55
6.6.1 police, fire, and emergency services.............................................................................................. 6-56
6.6.1 parks and recreation facilities..................................................................................................... 6-57
6.7 construction impacts and mitigation for cultural resources....................................... 6-60
6.7.1 prehistoric and historical archaeological resources.................................................. 6-60
6.7.2 Historical Architectural Resources........................................................................................... 6-72
6.8 construction impacts and mitigation measures for visual and aesthetic resources 6-83
6.9 construction impacts and mitigation for UTILITIES AND ENERGY....................................... 6-85
6.9.1 utilities............................................................................................................................................................ 6-85
6.9.2 energy................................................................................................................................................................ 6-89
6.10 constuction impacts and mitigation for geology and seismicity................................... 6-90
6.10.1 geologic hazards...................................................................................................................................... 6-90
6.10.2 settlement or instability of subsurface materials........................................................ 6-90
6.11 construction impacts and mitigation for Hydrology............................................................ 6-95
6.11.1 flooding........................................................................................................................................................... 6-95
6.11.2 water quality............................................................................................................................................. 6-95
6.12 construction impacts and mitigation for Biological and Wetland Resources 6-99
6.13 construction impacts and mitigation for Hazardous Materials............................... 6-100
6.14 construction impacts and mitigation for Air Quality........................................................ 6-110
6.15 construction impacts and mitigation for Noise and Vibration..................................... 6-115
7.0 CEQA CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................................................................................... 7-1
7.1 SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA......................................................................................................................................... 7-1
7.2 FINDINGS OF significanCE................................................................................................................................... 7-8
7.3 signficant environmental effects which can not be avoided............................................ 7-8
7.3.1 Traffic (congestion).................................................................................................................................. 7-8
7.3.2 Population, housing, and employment (SOCIOECONOMIC characteristics) 7-46
7.3.3 cultural resources................................................................................................................................. 7-47
7.4 SUMMARY OF CUMULATIVE IMPACTS........................................................................................................... 7-49
7.4.1 REGIONAL CONTEXT...................................................................................................................................... 7-50
7.4.2 Local Context............................................................................................................................................. 7-50
7.5 GROWTH INDUCING IMPACTS............................................................................................................................ 7-51
7.6 IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETREIVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES.................................................... 7-52
7.7 ENVIRONMENTALLY SUPERIOR ALTERNATIVE............................................................................................ 7-53
8.0 FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY............................................................................................................................................ 8-1
8.1 Costs and available revenues.................................................................................................................... 8-1
8.1.1 Capital Costs................................................................................................................................................. 8-1
8.1.2 Operating and Maintenance Costs.................................................................................................. 8-6
8.1.3 Project Funding............................................................................................................................................. 8-7
8.1.4 Capital and Operating Shortfall.................................................................................................. 8-14
8.1.5 Additional Revenue Sources.............................................................................................................. 8-15
8.1.6 Risk and Uncertainty............................................................................................................................. 8-16
9.0 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES.......................................................................................................................... 9-1
9.1 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................................. 9-1
9.1.1 TRANSIT OPTIONS EVALUATED................................................................................................................... 9-2
9.1.2 EVALUATION FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................................................... 9-2
9.2 MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS.................................................................................................................................... 9-3
9.2.1 SUMMARY OF MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS EVALUATION.................................................................. 9-3
9.3 ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS.................................................................................................................................. 9-6
9.3.1 SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS EVALUATION................................................................ 9-6
9.4 OPERATING EFFICIENCIES....................................................................................................................................... 9-9
9.4.1 SUMMARY OF OPERATING EFFICIENCIES EVALUATION..................................................................... 9-9
9.5 COST EFFECTIVENESS............................................................................................................................................. 9-11
9.5.1 SUMMARY OF COST EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION........................................................................... 9-12
9.6 TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE EXISTING LAND USE AND FUTURE PATTERNS................................................. 9-13
9.6.1 TRANSIT SUPPORTIVE LAND USE EVALUATION.................................................................................. 9-13
9.7 OTHER FACTORS...................................................................................................................................................... 9-15
9.7.1 OTHER LOCAL EVALUATION FACTORS................................................................................................... 9-15
9.8 LOCAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT................................................................................................................... 9-17
9.8.1 LOCAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT EVALUATION............................................................................... 9-18
10.0 Section 4(f)................................................................................................................................................................. 10-1
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION................................................................................................................................ 10-7
1.1 Section 4(f)............................................................................................................................................................... 10-7
1.2 Purpose and Need............................................................................................................................................... 10-9
1.3 Project Description........................................................................................................................................ 10-11
1.4 Build Alternatives......................................................................................................................................... 10-12
1.4.1 Alternative 2 - Enhanced FEIS/FEIR Alignment....................................................................... 10-12
1.4.2 Alternative 3 – Fourth/Stockton Alignment Option A (Locally Preferred Alternative - LPA).................................................................................................................................... 10-13
1.4.3 Alternative 3 – Fourth/Stockton Alignment Option B (Modified LPA) 10-15
1.4.4 North Beach Tunnel Construction Variant.......................................................................... 10-16
1.5 Other Project Alternatives..................................................................................................................... 10-16
1.5.1 Alternative 1 No Project/TSM.......................................................................................................... 10-16
2.0 SECTION 4(f) RESOURCES........................................................................................................................................ 10-17
2.1 Park Resources.................................................................................................................................................. 10-18
2.1.1 Union Square.............................................................................................................................................. 10-18
2.1.2 Willie "Woo Woo" Wong Playground.......................................................................................... 10-21
2.1.3 Washington Square............................................................................................................................... 10-22
2.2 Historic Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 10-25
3.0 IMPACTS TO SECTION 4(f) RESOURCES.............................................................................................................. 10-28
3.1 Union Square...................................................................................................................................................... 10-29
3.1.1 Alternative 2 – Construction Impacts...................................................................................... 10-29
3.1.2 Alternative 2 - Operation Impacts............................................................................................... 10-29
3.1.3 Alternative 3 Option A – Construction Impacts................................................................. 10-31
3.1.4 Alternative 3 Option A – Operation Impacts......................................................................... 10-32
3.1.5 Alternative 3 Option B – Construction Impacts.................................................................. 10-33
3.1.6 Alternative 3 Option B –Operation Impacts........................................................................... 10-34
3.2 Willy "Woo Woo" Wong Playground................................................................................................... 10-36
3.2.1 Alternative 2 – Construction Impacts...................................................................................... 10-36
3.2.2 Alternative 2 –Operation Impacts............................................................................................... 10-37
3.2.3 Alternative 3 Option A – Construction Impacts................................................................. 10-38
3.2.4 Alternative 3 Option A –Operation Impacts.......................................................................... 10-40
3.2.5 Alternative 3 Option B –Construction and Operation Impacts................................ 10-40
3.3 Washington Square Park........................................................................................................................... 10-40
3.3.1 Alternative 2 - Construction and Operation Impacts.................................................... 10-40
3.3.2 Alternatives 3 Option A and Option B – Construction Impacts................................ 10-40
3.3.3 Alternatives 3 Option A and 3 Option B – Operation Impacts...................................... 10-41
3.4 Historic Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 10-41
4.0 AVOIDANCE ALTERNATIVES................................................................................................................................. 10-42
4.1 Evaluation of Avoidance Alternatives.......................................................................................... 10-44
4.1.1 Location Alternatives........................................................................................................................ 10-44
4.1.2 Design Alternatives............................................................................................................................... 10-45
5.0 MEASURES TO MINIMIZE HARM TO SECTION 4(f) RESOURCES................................................................ 10-46
5.1 Union Square...................................................................................................................................................... 10-46
5.2 Willie "Woo Woo" Wong Playground.................................................................................................. 10-47
5.3 Washington Square Park........................................................................................................................... 10-47
5.4 Historic Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 10-49
6.0 COORDINATION.......................................................................................................................................................... 10-49
7.0 REFERENCES 10-50
11.0 Coordination and Consultation............................................................................................................. 11-1
11.1 NOTICE OF PREPARATION.................................................................................................................................... 11-1
11.2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM..................................................................................................................... 11-5
11.3 COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP........................................................................................................................ 11-8
11.4 Agency Consultation..................................................................................................................................... 11-9
11.5 Persons and Organizations Consulted (SEIS/SEIR Distribution).......................................... 11-9
APPENDICES
A. LIST OF PREPARERS
b. notice of preparation
c. programmatic agreement with state historic preservation office (SHPO)
D. fta letter transmitting ape 2007 maps
SHPO LETTER APPROVING APE 2007MAPS
E. TRANSPORTATION BACKUP
F. historial architectural RESOURCES
g. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BACKGROUND
H. 2009 NEW STARTS COST EFFECTIVENESS
i. MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING program
J. SECTION 4(f) “de minimis” concurrence letters from recreation and parks department
K. shadow analysis, alternative 3b, chinatown station