Comment Letter B32: Laura Owens (06/18/09)media.metro.net/projects_studies/freeway_terminus/images/... · 2013. 4. 17. · Comment Letter B32: Laura Owens (06/18/09) Appendix H. Comments

Appendix H. Comments on the Draft IS/EA

State Route 2 Freeway Terminus Improvement Project Final Initial Study/Environmental Assessment

October 2010 H-113

Comment Letter B32: Laura Owens (06/18/09)



October 2010 H-114



October 2010 H-115

Response to Comment #1

Please see the responses to Comment Letter B2.


Comments noted.


Comments noted. Under the preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, the unused portion of the overpass structure could be used to provide pedestrian and bikeway connections from Tommy Lasorda Field of Dreams and Waterloo Street on the south to the new open space created east of Glendale Boulevard. These paths could then be extended through the new open space to connect to Oak Glen Place to the north. From Oak Glen Place, Class II or III bikeways could be provided via local surface streets to Riverside Drive and the Los Angeles River. The ultimate route would need to be determined by the City of Los Angeles and development of the pedestrian and bikeways would be contingent upon securing the necessary funding and securing agreements with the City of Los Angeles; however, they could potentially provide a safer alternative route to Glendale Boulevard.



October 2010 H-116

Comment Letter B33: Randall Riese (06/16/09)



October 2010 H-117


Comments noted. Also, please see the responses to Comment Letter B2.



October 2010 H-118

Comment Letter B34: Ruth Ross (06/24/09)



October 2010 H-119


Comments noted. Also, please see the responses to Comment Letters B29 and B30.



October 2010 H-120

Comment Letter B35: Ruth Ross (07/02/09)



October 2010 H-121


Comments noted. The preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, would retain the flyover for motor vehicle use. Alternative would also relocate the southbound SR-2 exit ramp to the east and allow right-turns only onto northbound Glendale Boulevard, restripe Glendale Boulevard to reduce the safety hazards posed by high-speed traffic on the flyover merging with the southbound Glendale Boulevard lanes, restripe the southbound SR-2 lanes to improve operation of SR-2, include new signage at the I-5/SR-2 interchange and along southbound SR-2, and would provide meters on the flyover to regulate traffic flow. These improvements would reduce overall vehicle delay through the terminus, improve safety, reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic, and also provide for additional open space for the community.


Comments noted. The preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, would help reduce cut-through traffic by preventing SR-2 motorists who exit onto northbound Glendale Boulevard from making a left turn onto Waterloo Street at the intersection of Waterloo and Glendale.


Please see the response to Comment #1 above.



October 2010 H-122

Comment Letter B36: Ida Talalla (07/01/09)



October 2010 H-123



October 2010 H-124


Comments noted.


As noted in the Draft IS/EA, this segment of SR-2 provides ingress and egress to the densely populated communities of Echo Park and Silver Lake and is a major thoroughfare for the surrounding area. This segment of SR-2 also provides a vital link for commuters traveling from communities in the northern and eastern parts of the Los Angeles Basin to downtown Los Angeles. The improvements proposed under the preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, would reduce vehicle delay through the terminus and thereby improve access for the local community as well as commuters traveling to and from downtown Los Angeles. The improvements would also reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians in the vicinity of the terminus.


The new open space created under the preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, would be landscaped in accordance with Caltrans standards. There is no evidence that the landscaping provided by the project would increase dangers for wildlife. Also see the responses to Comment Letter B13, Comments #28 through #30.


Please see the responses to Comment Letter B13, Comments #28 through #30.


Comments noted. The preferred alternative, Alternative F, would include widened sidewalks along the west side of Glendale, the elimination of the sidewalk on the east side of Glendale Boulevard at the terminus, which poses a safety hazard for pedestrians trying to cross on-ramp entrance to SR-2, and crosswalk improvements to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians. Also, the unused portion of the overpass structure could be used to provide a grade separated pedestrian connection from Tommy Lasorda Field of Dreams on the south to the new open space that would be created east of Glendale Boulevard.


The preferred alternative would have a potentially beneficial air quality impact by reducing overall vehicle delay through the terminus.



October 2010 H-125


The commenter is referred to Sections 2.2.2 and 2.2.5, which discuss the water quality and hazardous materials impacts of the project, respectively, and identify measures that will be implemented to ensure no substantial adverse or significant impacts would occur.


The study areas for each impact category were defined by the consultant team, in consultation with the appropriate agencies with jurisdiction over the affected resources, in order to encompass the full range and extent of potential impacts.


Comments noted. Also see the response to Comment #2 above.



October 2010 H-126

Comment Letter B37: Michael Webster (06/16/09)



October 2010 H-127



October 2010 H-128


Comments noted. The potential hazardous situation for bicyclists noted in the comment is one that presently exists for bicyclists and pedestrians on the east side of Glendale Boulevard who have to cross the SR-2 on-ramp traffic lanes. Directional signage or other measures will be considered to alert bicyclists and direct them to safer alternate routes.


Under the preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, the flyover would remain precluding a new direct connection to Duane Street from Glendale Boulevard. However, improvements to the existing pathway on the west side of Glendale Boulevard and the southern terminus of the flyover could be made to improve pedestrians and bicycle accessibility to Duane Street.

The commenter’s proposed modification to the (existing) signal at Waterloo Street and Glendale Boulevard to accommodate bicyclists will be forwarded to the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation for their consideration during final design.


Please see the responses to the comments above.


Creation of a bike path running the length of Glendale Boulevard would need to be evaluated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation as part of a separate study. A bike bridge over the SR-2 on-ramp entrance may not be feasible and not warranted if alternate routes are provided as part of the proposed project improvements.


Under the preferred alternative, Alternative F – Hybrid Alternative, the flyover would remain. However, the southbound SR-2 off-ramp would be relocated to the east and the unused portion of the overpass structure could be used to provide a pedestrian and bicycle connection from Tommy Lasorda Field of Dreams on the south to the new open space created by removing and relocating the existing SR-2 off-ramp.


The preferred alternative, Alternative F, does not include a new retaining wall on the east side of the SR-2 on-ramp lanes. Also, please see the response to Comment #5 above.


Comments noted. Also, please see the responses above and to Comment Letter B2.



October 2010 H-129

Comment Letter B38: Todd Wexman (06/11/09)



October 2010 H-130


Please see the responses to Comment Letter B2.

Documents

Comment Letter B32: Laura Owens (06/18/09)media.metro.net/projects_studies/freeway_terminus/images/... · 2013. 4. 17. · Comment Letter B32: Laura Owens (06/18/09) Appendix H. Comments