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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.3 Attach4 Draft EIR Draft Environmental Impact Report Dublin Transit Center City of Dublin File No. P A 00-013 SCH No. 20001120395 Lead Agency City of Dublin Prepared by Jerry Haag, Urban Planner July 2001 ATTACHMENn ~ &,3 Table of Contents 2.0 Introduction 3 2.1 Purpose and Overview of the Environmental Process 3 2.2 Lead Agency 4 2.4 Topics Not Addressed in the EIR 4 2.5 Content and Organization of the Document 6 2.6 Notice of Preparation 5 3.0 Project Characteristics 6 3.2 Site History 7 3.3 Project Description 8 3.3 Project Objectives 26 3.4 Actions Addressed in EIR 27 4.0 Environmental Analysis 28 4.1 Aesthetics and Light and Glare 30 4.2 Air Quality 42 4.3 Biological Resources 54 4.4 Cultural Resources 77 4.5 Geology and Soils 81 4.6 Hazardous Materials 87 4.7 Hydrology and Water Quality 91 4.8 Land Use and Planning 98 4.9 Noise 112 4.10 Population and Housing 119 4.11 Transportation and Circulation 124 4.12 Utilities and Public Services 169 4.13 Recreation 183 5.0 Alternatives to the Proposed Project 188 5.1 No Project 188 5.2 Alternative 2: Same Intensity, Lower Building Height 190 5.3 Alternative 3: Campus Office Development 192 5.4 Alternative 4: Lower Density Transit Center 194 5.4 Environmentally Superior Alternative 196 6.0 Analysis of Long-Term Effects 198 6.1 Irretrievable Commitment of Resources 198 6.2 Growth Inducing Impacts of the Proposed Project 198 6.3 Cumulative Impacts 198 6.4 Significant and Unavoidable Environmental Impacts 201 7.0 Organizations and Persons Consulted 202 7.1 Persons and Organizations 202 7.2 References 203 8.0 Appendices 206 Appendix 8.1 Notice of Preparation 207 Appendix 8.2 Responses to NOP 208 Appendix 8.3 GP A/SPA Application 209 Appendix 8.4 Air Quality Analysis 210 ,- Appendix 8.5 Biological Report/Corps Letter 211 Appendix 8.6 Cultural Resources Report 212 Appendix 8.7 Traffic Analysis 213 Appendix 8.8 Photosimulations 214 -- List of Exhibits Exhibit 1. Regional Location 18 Exhibit 2. Site Context 19 Exhibit 3. Aerial Photo 20 Exhibit 4. Proposed Land Uses 21 Exhibit 5. Illustrative Site Plan' 23 Exhibit 6. Street Layout 24 Exhibit 7 Relationship to Eastern Dublin Specific Plan 25 Exhibit 8a. View from 1-580 40 Exhibit 8b View From BART Station Platform 41 Exhibit 8c. View From Iron Horse Trail 42 Exhibit 9. Biological Resources 76 Exhibit 10. Earthquake Fault Zone Map 85 Exhibit 11. Existing Land Use 109 Exhibit 12. Existing General Plan designations 110 Exhibit 13. Existing Zoning Designations 111 Exhibit 14. Future Noise Contours 115 Exhibit 15a. Existing AM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 131 Exhibit 15b. Existing PM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes 132 Exhibit 16a. Existing + Pending+ Approved AM Peak Hour Traffic 142 Exhibit 16b. Existing + Pending+ Approved PM Peak Hour Traffic 143 Exhibit 17a. Existing+ Pending+ Approved + Project AM Peak Hour Traffic 150 Exhibit 17b. Existing+ Pending+ Approved + Project PM Peak Hour Traffic 151 Exhibit 18a. Cumulative + Project AM Peak Hour Traffic 163 Exhibit 18b. Cumulative + Project PM Peak Hour Traffic 164 Exhibit 19. Existing Water Facilities 172 Exhibit 20. Existing Wastewater Facilities 176 List of Tables Table 1 Summary of Impacts and Mitigation Measures 1-1 Table 2. Maximum Land Use Development Potential 22 Table 3. Major Pollutant Criteria 45 Table 4. Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards 44 Table 5. Air Quality Data for Livermore 46 Table 6. Worst Case Carbon Monoxide Concentrations 50 Table 7. Project Regional Emissions (Pounds Per Day) 52 Table 8a. Special Status Plants 74 Table 8b. Special Status Animal Species 75 Table 9. Eastern Extended Planning Area General Plan Consistency 104 Table 10. Eastern Dublin Specific Plan Land Use Consistency 105 Table 11. Noise Measurements 112 Table 12. Land Use Compatibility Standards 116 Table 13. Regional Total Population & Household Projection 120 '"'- Table 14. Local and Subregional Population and Household Projections 120 Table 15. Regional Employed Residents 121 Table 16. Local and Subregional Employed Residents 122 Table 17. Existing and Projected Jobs-Housing Balance 122 Table 18. Transit Center Employment Projections 124 Table 19. Existing Intersection Level of Service, AM and PM Peak Hours 134 Table 20. Existing + Future Base Level of Service, AM and PM Peak Hours 144 Table 21. Future Base Intersection+ Project LOS, AM and PM Peak Hours 149 Table 22. Projected AM & PM Peak Hour Operation- Internal Access Intersections 153 Table 23. Cumulative Year 2025 With and Without Project LOS, AM and PM Peak Hours 160 Table 24. Projected ADT on Selected Roadway Segments 162 Table 25. Year 2025 1-580 Mainline Freeway Operation, AM & PM Peak 166 Table 26. Projected DSRSD Water Demand (AF /yr) 173 r Table 27. Estimated Transit Center Potable Water Demand 180 Table 28. Estimated Transit Center Wastewater Generation 182 --' C IMPACTS AND MITIGATIONS which are discussed in detail in 'f SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL Table 1 below summarizes the environmental impacts and mitigations the remainder of this Draft Environmental Impact Report. 1.0 Impacts and Mitigations Summary of Environmental Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-1 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Change in scale and character of development: The proposed project would permit buildings up to 10 stories high, taller than any existing or planned buildings in the Livermore/ Amador Valley. However, the proposed scale and character of development is an integral part of the "transit village" concept, a concept which has been promoted by several local and regional agencies to assist in resolving transportation, air quality and jobs-housing balance issues (less-than-signijicant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.1-1 1 ~ ations Net Impact After Mitigation Mit of Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant 4.1-1: During the Site Development Review process for individual projects within the proposed Transit Center, encourage the inclusion of breaks and corridors between building clusters, especially along the north-south axis, so that some views of Mount Diablo are maintained, taking into account the need to block freeway noise and to create a compact transit-oriented development Views and Vistas: The proposed project would reduce existing views of Mount Diablo and the surrounding ridgelands from some public viewpoints, including westbound 1- 580, the BART station platform, and the future Iron Horse Trail (significant) 4.1-2 pattern. No mitigation measures are required. Aesthetics: The proposed project could result in large, highly visible structures that detract from the image of the City of Dublin, as viewed from roadways and the surrounding area (less-than-signijicant). 4.1-3 Page 1-2 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. BART station identification: The BART station could become "lost" among the new, larger-scale developments, however, the proposed 10-story office towers would likely replace the existing BART station roof as the station landmark (less-than-significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.1.4 l' } r ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant 4.1-2: As a condition of Site Development Review for individual projects, the City of Dublin shall require submittal of lighting plans for all non-residential projects along Iron Horse Parkway to ensure that all exterior light fixtures will either be oriented downward or equipped with cut- off lenses to ensure that no spill-over of unwanted light onto adjacent residential areas shall occur. Light and glare: Implementation of the proposed project would generate new sources of light and glare within the Transit Center project from office building and parking structure lighting that could potentially intrude into adjacent residential units presenting a possible nuisance problem (significant). 4.1-5 Page 1-3 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Scenic corridor policies: The proposed project could conflict with adopted City of Dublin policies contained in the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Standards and Policies document (less-than-significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.1-6 ) 1 1 ) ations Net Impact After Mitigation of Environmental Impacts and Mit Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant 4.2-1: The following measures are recommended, based on BAAQMD standards, to reduce construction impacts to a level that is less-than-significant. The following construction practices should be required during all phases of construction on the project site: Construction impacts: The effects of project construction activities would be increased dustfall and locally elevated levels of PM10 downwind of construction activity. Construction dust has the potential for creating a nuisance at nearby properties (potentially significant) 4.2-1 Page 1-4 July 2001 Water all active construction areas as needed; Watering or covering of stockpiles of debris, soil, sand or other materials that can be blown by the wind; Cover all trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials or require all trucks to maintain at least two feet of freeboard; Pave, apply water three times daily, or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers on all unpaved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites; . . . . Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact · Sweep daily (preferably with water sweepers) all paved access road, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites; · Sweep streets daily (preferably with water sweepers) if visible soil material is carried onto adjacent public streets; Hydroseed or apply non-toxic soil stabilizers to inactive construction Page 1-5 July 2001 . areas · Enclose, cover, water twice daily or apply non-toxic soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt, sand, etc.); · Limit traffic speeds on unpaved roads to 15 mph; · Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff to public roadways; · Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 1 ) ations Net Impact After Mitigation of Environmental Imoacts and Mit Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact No mitigation measures are required Local air quality impacts: Incremental increases in air pollution could be anticipated with buildout of the proposed project, however, such increases would be below the standard of air quality significance through the year 2025, as established by the BAAQMD. Necessary permits will be required for the proposed on-site electrical generation facility from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (less-than- significant). Significant and unavoidable. Page 1-6 July 2001 Mitigation to a less-than-significant level not feasible. Regional air quality impacts: Buildout of the proposed project would exceed the maximum BAAQMD air quality standards for regional impacts (significant and unavoidable impact). PA 00-013 mpact Report Dublin Transit Center Draft Environmental City of Dublin Impact 4.2-2 4.2-3 } } ations Net Impact After Mitigation and Mit of Environmental Impacts Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant 4.3-1: The following mitigation measures would mitigate the loss of a population of Congdon's spikeweed (CNPS List 1B) and potential loss of four other special-status plant species and their habitat. Condon's spikeweed: Loss of a population of Congdon's spikeweed (CNPS List 1B) and potential loss of populations of four other special- status plant species (significant) 4.3-1 Page 1-7 July 2001 If avoidance of Congdon's spikeweed is not feasible, a long-term off-site mitigation program should be created. The program should include identification of appropriate area(s), including shallow bowls or depressions designed with an appropriate hydrological regime for Congdon's spikeweed to be sown with seed collected from the Dublin Transit Center site. Seed for Congdon's spikeweed should be collected from the transit center site prior to initiation of construction activities a) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-8 July 2001 The details of the off-site mitigation program should be developed in conjunction with the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for this ElR. The plan will be submitted to the City of Dublin for their approval prior to the first entitlement for the first specific development project within the Transit Center. b) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation Mit acts and 1m of Environmental Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Page 1-9 July 2001 c) If other special-status species are found on the site, the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan should include measures to avoid, preserve or mitigate for these plants. Measures to protect and preserve the plant populations may include collection of seeds during the appropriate developmental stage of the plant, descriptions of sowing techniques appropriate to the life cycle of the plant, development of a maintenance and monitoring plan (i.e., provide the environmental conditions necessary for the survival of the new population including periodic disturbance if necessary), identification of funding sources to provide for the implementation of the plan, and management and maintenance of the mitigation area Impact Topic/Impact - - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 1 Net Impact After Mitigation Less than significant Page 1-10 July 2001 ations of Environmental Impacts and Mit Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact 4.3-2 The following steps shall be taken to reduce impacts to California red- legged frogs to a less-than-significant level. California red-legged frogs: The development of the proposed project could adversely affect California red-legged frogs and/or their habitat (significant). 4.3-2 In order to determine if red- legged frogs occur on or adjacent to the Transit Center project area, a preconstruction survey for red-legged frogs shall be conducted prior to initiation of construction activities on adjacent development sites (Sites A and F). The survey will include all drainage channels and potential hydration, foraging, or cover habitat on or immediately adjacent to the Transit Center (e.g., pool in the northwest corner of Site A drainage channel along Iron Horse Trail, and flood control channel along northern boundary of Site F. a) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ) ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-11 July 2001 The survey will be conducted according to current USFWS survey protocols by a qualified biologist. Results of the survey will be reported to the City of Dublin. If red-legged frogs are found on or adjacent to the Transit Center project area, the project proponent will consult with the USFWS to determine a) the appropriate course of action to avoid or mitigate impacts to red-legged frogs and their habitat, and b) any necessary permits that must be obtained. All mitigation measures and permits will be obtained prior to initiation of construction activities b) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-12 July 2001 No more than 30 days prior to initiation of grading or construction activities, a qualified biologist will conduct a protocol-level, preconstruction survey for burrowing owls. Surveys should be conducted during the periods one hour before to two hours after sunrise and/ or two hours before to one hour after sunset. Surveys should be conducted without regard to season, as the site provides both potential breeding and wintering habitat for burrowing owls. A preconstruction surveys should be conducted for each phase or parcel to be developed. If more than 30 days passes between the completion of the survey and the initiation of grading or construction activities, the preconstruction survey should be conducted again. a) ) - Impact Topic/Impact 4.3-3 Burrowing Owls: The proposed project could result in the loss of potential nesting and associated foraging habitat for burrowing owls in the project vicinity (significant). - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin of Environmental Impacts and Mit Measure 4.3-3: The following measures will reduce potential impacts to burrowing owls to a less-than-significant level. .0: Summar Mitigation Section 1 Section J .0: Summary of Environmental Impacts and MitIgations Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure TopiclImpact Impact b) If burrowing owls are found on a development site within the Transit Center, the project proponent will notify the City of Dublin. A qualified biologist will establish an exclusion zone around each occupied burrow in which no construction-related activity will occur until the burrows are confirmed to be unoccupied. The exclusion zone will be 160 feet (50 meters) in diameter during the non- breeding season (September 1 through January 31) and 250 feet in diameter (75 meters) during the breeding season (February 1 through August 31). The appropriate avoidance (if during the breeding season) or passive (if outside the breeding season) relocation methods in accordance with established policies, following consultation with the City of Dublin. Page 1-13 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Wildlife migratory corridors: The proposed project would not interfere substantially with the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species (less-than-significant) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.3-4 1 ) atlOns Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact No mitigation measures are required. Raptors: Northern harrier, white-tailed kite, ferruginous hawk, and golden eagle are not expected to nest on the project site. However, it is likely that these, and other raptors, forage here for prey on an occasional basis. Because of the presence of large areas of existing open space in the project vicinity, potential impacts to foraging raptors would be less than significant (less-than-significant) 4.3-5 Less-than-significant Page 1-14 July 2001 4.4-1: If, during construction of individua development projects within the Transit Center, archeological, discrete historical or Native American artifacts are encountered, work on the project shall cease until compliance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5 is demonstrated. Project work may be resumed in compliance with any applicable resource protection plan. If human remains are encountered, the County Coroner shall be contacted immediately. Historical, archeological and Native American resources: Although no significant historical, archeological or Native American artifacts were encountered within the project area, construction of the proposed Transit Center could disturb unidentified and unrecorded historical artifacts, including but not limited to artifacts remaining from previous military uses on the site, as well as archeological and/or Native American resources (potentially significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.4-1 1 ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant No mitigation measures are required. Site grading and excavation: Approval of the proposed project would cause increased amounts of site grading and excavation for construction as the project is built out. Grading operations would proceed based on grading and excavation plans approved by the City of Dublin for individual development projects within the proposed Transit Center (less-than-significant impact). 4.5-1 Less-than-significant Page 1-15 July 2001 4.5-1: Site specific geotechnical investigations shall be required for each individual development proposed within the Transit Center project area. Design and construction of structures shall be in accordance with the seismic design requirements of the Uniform Building Code (UBC), which includes construction standards near fault factors. The site- specific geotechnical investigation should further investigate the presence of potentially liquifiable material at the site. Conventional design and engineering techniques should be able to mitigate for minor settlements. Seismic hazards: During a major earthquake on a segment of one of the nearby faults, moderate to strong ground shaking can be expected to occur at the project site. Strong shaking during an earthquake could result in ground failure such as that associated with soil liquefaction and differential compaction (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.5-2 ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant 4.5-2: For each building, as well as public streets and other pavement areas constructed in the project area, the required site specific geotechnical investigation shall address expansive soils and provide appropriate engineering and construction techniques to reduce potential damage to buildings and pavement surfaces. Expansive soils: The presence of moderately to highly plastic clay occurring near surface soils in the project area exhibit a moderate to high expansion potential. The potential for shrink-swell of expansive soils can result in damage to buildings with improperly designed foundations (potentially significant) 4.5-3 Less-than-significant Page 1-16 July 2001 be 4.6-1: Phase I and, if required, Phase II level environmental investigations shall performed for each individual development project within the proposed Transit Center prior to any grading or construction activity. Individual developers shall be responsible for performing any necessary cleanup, as recommended in the environmental investigations and as required by regulatory authorities. Hazardous materials: Individual project site- specific hazardous material investigations may locate hazardous material or polluted groundwater resulting from past military uses (potentially significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.6-1 ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant During construction of residential developments on Sites A and C/ the adjacent Iron Horse Trail right-of- way locations shall be flagged to prevent heavy equipment from crossing over the petroleum pipeline and fiber optic cable. Construction materials and equipment shall not be stored on top of the right-of-way 4.6-2 a) Risk of upset: Future residential dwellings constructed near the proposed Iron Horse Trail could be subject to fire, explosion and/ or contamination should the petroleum pipeline be broken or damaged (potentially significant) 4.6-2 Page 1-17 July 2001 Future residential development within the proposed Transit Center shall maintain a minimum setback of 50 feet from the petroleum pipeline to the nearest habitable residential structure within the proposed Transit Center. b) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant Page 1-18 July 2001 4.7-1: Development projects within the proposed Transit Center are subject to the City of Dublin's NPDES general construction permit from the State Water Resources Control Board. The terms of this permit require that project development not cause any increase of sedimentation, turbidity, or hazardous materials concentrations within downstream receiving waters. It is expected that implementation of the erosion control plan outlined below under Mitigation Measure 4.7-2 would satisfy all NPDES erosion and sedimentation requirements, but additional provisions are needed for the proper handling and disposal of fuels and hazardous construction materials. Increased stormwater runoff: Development of the Transit Center would introduce new impervious surfaces (primarily buildings, driveways, parking structures, roads and hardscape elements) onto the now vacant portions of the site, increasing stormwater runoff (less-than-signijicant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.7-1 ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit Environmental 1m of Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.7-2: Each individual development project within the Transit Center shall prepare a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that incorporates Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction and post- construction conditions. The SWPPP shall be prepared to Regional Water Quality Control Board standards in effect at the time SDR permits are requested. The SWPPP shall include, but is not limited to incorporation of grassy swales into landscaped areas, use of fossil filters, covering of solid waste and recycling areas and similar features. Page 1-19 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Flooding: The project would be located within a SOO-year flood hazard area (Zone X), which would not result in damage to improvements during a 100-year storm. A portion of the project site is included in the 100-year flood hazard area as mapped by FEMA, however, due to the installation of storm drain facilities in the area, potential flood damage to buildings would be unlikely (less-than-significant) . Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.7-2 ations acts and Mit Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-20 July 2001 Section 1.0: Summar Mitigation Measure No mitigation measures required Topic/Impact Non-point source pollution: The quality of stormwater runoff from the project site would be expected to decline resulting from an increase in the production of non-point source urban pollutants. In commercial areas, this includes debris, landscaping fertilizers and pesticides, and heavy metals, oil and gas residues, tire fragments and debris normally deposited by vehicular traffic. Stormwater runoff from developed areas on the site would carry non-point source pollutants into surface waters within the City and ACFC&WCD drainage channels, where they would cause a cumulative degradation of water quality in San Francisco Bay (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Impact 4.7-3 't 1" ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.7-3: The project sponsors shall prepare an erosion and sedimentation control plan for implementation throughout project construction. The plan should be prepared in accordance with City of Dublin and RWQCB design standards. It is recommended that this plan, at a minimum, include the following Soil erosion: During construction, short-term increases of soil erosion could result as the project area is stripped of the limited natural vegetation and exposure to wind and water erosion (significant). 4.7-4 provisions: a) Existing vegetated areas should be left undisturbed until construction of improvements on each portion of the development site is actually ready to commence; b) All disturbed areas should be immediately revegetated or otherwise protected from both wind and water erosion upon the completion of grading activities; c) Stormwater runoff should be collected into stable drainage channels, from small drainage basins, to prevent the buildup of large, potentially erosive stormwater flows; d) Specific measures to control erosion from stockpiled earth and exposed soil; Page 1-21 July 2001 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin J i ~ r ations Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-22 July 2001 Runoff should be directed away from all areas disturbed by construction; Sediment ponds or siltation basins should be used to trap eroded soils before runoff is discharged into on- site or offsite drainage culverts and channels. To the extent possible, project sponsors should schedule major site development work involving excavation and earth moving for construction during the dry season. e) g) acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure f) r - Impact TopiclImpact - - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin .0: Summar Mitigation Section i t of Environmental ! .0: Summar SectIon [:, Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-23 July 2001 No mitigation measures required Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Existing on-site land uses: Implementation of the project would convert the site from undeveloped and underdeveloped uses (vacant land and surface parking lots) to more intensive urban uses. Generally, no long- term impacts would result from this conversion, but there could be potential on- site short-term land use impacts with regard to disruption of BART station operations during construction of the proposed Transit Center. However, these potential short-term impacts can be addressed on an individual basis at the time specific development projects are submitted to and reviewed by the City of Dublin (less-than-significant short- term impact; no long-term land use impacts). 4.8-1 ~ ), I '~"- ~. \ I Mitigation Measure No mitigation measures required. No mitigation measures required. ations Net Impact After Mitigation of Environmental Imoacts and Mit .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Surrounding land use impacts: The type and intensity of land uses proposed within the Transit Center would be generally consistent with surrounding land uses, including of maintenance/ support/storage, communicate facilities and training/ranges to the north within Camp Parks, light industrial and service commercial uses to the west across the planned Iron Horse Trail, planned and approved campus office uses to the east within the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and offices to the south in the Hacienda Business within the City of Pleasanton (less-than- significant) . 4.8-2 Page 1-24 July 2001 Regulatory impacts: Approval and implementation of the General Plan and Specific Plan amendments, together with the proposed Stage 1 rezoning, would render the proposed project generally consistent with the goals and policies of the Dublin General Plan, Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and the Dublin Zoning Ordinance (less-than- significant impact) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.8-3 1 v J L L; ations Net Impact After Mitigation Environmental Impacts and Miti of Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less-than-significant Page 1-25 July 2001 4.9-1: Individual project developers shall submit a Construction Noise Management Plan that identifies measures to be taken to minimize construction noise on surrounding developed properties, particularly residential developments. Noise Management Plan shall be approved by the City of Dublin Community Development and Public Works departments prior to issuance of grading permits and shall contain, at a minimum, a listing of hours of construction operations, use of mufflers on construction equipment, limitation on on-site speed limits, identification of haul routes to minimize travel through residential areas and identification of a noise monitor. Specific noise management measures shall be included in appropriate contractor specifica tions. Construction noise impacts: Future residents of the Transit Center could be subject to short-term but potentially significant noise due to construction of other buildings and improvements within the Transit Center (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.9-1 } r v I :$.' 1 I 7 r ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Les~-than-significant Page 1-26 July 2001 4.9-2a: For all residential uses within the Transit Center, site-specific acoustic reports shall be prepared by qualified acoustical consultants for individual residential projects at the time Site Development Review applications are filed with the City of Dublin. The acoustic reports shall include detailed identification of noise exposure levels on the individual project site and a listing of specific measures to reduce both interior and exterior noise levels to normally acceptable levels, including but not limited to glazing and ventilation systems, construction of noise barriers and use of buildings to shield noise. Permanent noise impacts for residential uses: Residential dwellings proposed to be constructed near Dublin Boulevard or, the 1- 580 freeway and the existing BART line would be exposed to future noise levels considered "conditionally acceptable" or re "normally unacceptable." Employees within campus office buildings, depending on their location, may also be subject to conditionally acceptable to normally unacceptable levels of noise (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.9-2 ~ \- } ~. ations Net Impact After Mitigation Less than significant Page 1-27 July 2001 acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure 4.9-2b: For commercial projects where noise levels on a majority of the Site is projected to be Normally Unacceptable (greater than 75 dB DNL), the individual developer shall submit to the City of Dublin, at the time Site Development Review applications are filed, a site- specific acoustic report prepared by a qualified acoustical consultant. The acoustic reports shall include detailed identification of noise exposure levels on the individual project site and a listing of specific measures to reduce both interior and exterior noise levels to normally acceptable levels, including but not limited to glazing and ventilation systems, construction of noise barriers and use of buildings to shield noise. j- fi r 1 - - - - Impact TopiclImpact - - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin .0: Summar Mitigation Section " >~ } r l ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant at Mitigation Measure 4.9-2c: For commercial projects in areas where noise levels are projected to be Conditionally Acceptable or Normally Acceptable (ie, 75 db DNL or less) on a majority of the Site, the individual developer shall submit evidence to the City of Dublin, the time of Site Development Review applications are filed, that noise reduction features are included in the building design to ensure acceptable interior noise levels. Less-than-significant Page 1-28 July 2001 Mitigation Measure 4.9-3: Future residents of dwelling units within the Transit Center shall be provided with advance notification of the potential for helicopter overflights from Camp Parks. The precise language of the notification shall be approved by the City of Dublin Community Development Director. Helicopter overflight noise: Residentia dwellings proposed to be constructed within the Transit Center near Dublin Boulevard south of Camp Parks RFT A would be subject to helicopter overflights from Camp Parks (less-than-significant although mitigation is recommended) . Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.9-3 ations acts and Mit 1m of Environmental "" r f ~, Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure Topic/Impact Impact No mitigation measures are required Housing: Construction of the residential portion of the Transit Center would add 1,500 dwelling units and approximately 3000 residents to the City of Dublin. Construction of the dwellings would be consistent with regional population projections and would also be a key component to the success of the proposed mixed-use transit-oriented center (beneficial impact). 4.10-1 Page 1-29 July 2001 Although prices Qr rental rates of the proposed dwelling units have not been established, given the proposed density and applicant commitment to meeting City affordable housing requirements within the residential area, approval of the Transit Center would also contribute to meeting the City's fair share allocation of affordable housing units (beneficial impact). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin l 1 '\ J r ations Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-30 July 2001 Jobs-housing balance: Although the proposed project would contribute to the ABAG-projected jobs-housing imbalance in Dublin and eastern Alameda County, proposed employment growth would be sited near a major transit hub and would also contain a significant housing component to assist in reducing the transportation impacts associated-with a major employment center (less- than -significan t). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin acts and M of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure No mitigation measures are required. No mitigation measures are required. \ Impact 4.10-2 4.10-3 .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Employment: The project site would generate approximately 7/832 jobs at full built out of the Transit Center, plus an unknown number of short-term construction jobs. This amount of employment growth has been generally accounted for in ABAG's regional employment projections. Since this amount of employment growth is being planned as part of a mixed use, transit-oriented project which can draw on the entire Bay Area region, a less-than-significant impact is expected (less- than-significant) 1 ations \ of Environmental Impacts and Mit 1 \ } 1 l ':. Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.11-1: The following improvements shall be undertaken to reduce impacts to external intersections to a less than significant level Page 1-31 July 2001 a) The Scarlett Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard shall be constructed to relieve the Dougherty/Dublin intersection of south and east bound AM peak hour traffic and west and north bound PM peak traffic External intersection impacts: Increa levels of peak hour traffic associated - the proposed project would result in significant and unacceptable levels of service at the Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard (AM and PM) and Hacienda Drive/I-580 westbound off-ramp (AM) intersections (significant). 4.11-1 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 1 I ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-32 July 2001 b) Dougherty/Dublin intersection. The eastbound approach of Dublin Boulevard at this intersection shall be widened to include an additional through lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would have one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound left-turn lanes from Dublin Boulevard onto Dougherty Road shall be lengthened to accommodate additional traffic demand safely and efficiently. As part of these intersection improvements, Dougherty Road should be four (4) lanes in the southbound direction between Dublin Boulevard and the 1-580 westbound on-ramp. These lanes should be configured so that the right most lane would lead exclusively to the 1-580 westbound on-ramp, with the second right most lane leading to the overpass or the 1- 580 westbound on-ramp. the PM peak, LOS would improve from E (0.99) to LOS D (0.86. These improvements would require widening and re-striping the 1-580 westbound diagonal on-ramp. With improvements, intersection LOS would improve from E (0.97) to LOS C (0.74) during the AM peak. During Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ) , r } ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Page 1-33 July 2001 Hacienda/I-580 Westbound Off-Ramp: The northbound Hacienda Drive approach (overcrossing) shall be widened to three (3) northbound travel lanes. This improvement would require some alignment modifications to the 1-580 westbound loop on-ramp. In addition, the 1-580 westbound off- ramp approach would need to be widened to include three (3) left-turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from F (1.17) to LOS D (0.89) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from B (0.61) to LOS A (0.57). c) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ) '\ ations Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-34 July 2001 d) Dougherty/Scarlett intersection: The southbound Dougherty Road approach shall be widened and re- striped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. The two left- turn lanes on this approach would be required based on projected AM peak hour traffic volumes. The northbound approach should be widened and re-striped to include one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right- turn lane. The westbound Scarlett Drive approach should have two (2) right-turn lanes and one (1) shared through/left-turn lane. The two right-turn lanes on this approach would be required based on projected PM peak hour traffic volumes. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS C (0.78) during the PM peak hour. } - Impact Topic/Impact - - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin of Environmental Impacts and Mit Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section y ) Section 1.0: Summary of Environmental Imoacts and MitIgations Net Impact After Mitigation Mitigation Measure Page 1-35 July 2001 Dublin/Scarlett intersection: The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach shall be modified to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right- turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be widened to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The two right-turn lanes on this approach would be required based on projected PM peak hour traffic volumes. The northbound Scarlett Drive approach would include one (1) left-turn lane and one (1) shared through/ right-turn lane. The southbound Scarlett Drive approach would include two (2) left-turn lanes, one (1) through lane and one (1) right-turn lane. The two left-turn lanes on this approach would be required based on projected AM peak hour traffic volumes. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS A (0.59) during the PM peak hour. e) Impact Topic/Impact - Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin \ 'r ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact No mitigation measures are required. Internal and perimeter intersection impacts: Approval and construction of the proposed Transit Center would increase traffic on local streets, however, none of the internal intersections would experience significant levels of traffic especially during peak morning and evening hours (less-than- significant). 4.11-2 Page 1-36 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Public transit impacts: Use of BART and LA VTA facilities is anticipated to increase, primarily due to the close proximity of residential and employment opportunities adjacent to the eastern Dublin-Pleasanton BART station, however, the majority of BART trips are expected to be in reverse directions. Certain LA VTA bus trips may be full during peak hours, however, this is considered less-than-significant in relation to overall monthly capacity (less-than- significant) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.11-3 ~, I } ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.11-2: Post all on-street parking within the Transit Center for short-term (2 or 4 hour) use. Through the Site Development Review process for individual development projects, ensure that on-site parking lots and structures discourage unauthorized BART patron use through security, validation or other means. Parking: Due to anticipated parking demand, BART patrons could utilize on-street and nearby private residential, retail and office parking, resulting in insufficient parking for these uses (significant). 4.11-4 Significant and unavoidable 4.11-3: The southbound Dougherty Road approach shall be modified to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes and one (1) shared through/right- turn lane. The northbound Dougherty Road approach shall be modified to include three (3) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach shall be modified to include three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes and one (1) shared through/right turn lane. With these improvements, the intersection would operate at LOS E (0.7) during the AM peak hour and LOS F (1.06) during the PM peak hour. Additional improvements are not feasible given the physical constraints at the Dougherty /Dublin intersection. Cumulative traffic impacts: In 2025, the combination of project-related traffic and cumulative traffic at the Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard intersection would experience congested conditions during the AM and PM peak hours. Specifically, this intersection would be operating at LOS E (0.97) during the AM peak hour and LOS E (1.06) during the PM peak hour with proposed project traffic (significant and unavoidable impact, full mitigation not feasible) 4.11-5 Page 1-37 July 2001 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ) t ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact It is recommended that the City monitor the intersection for peak hour volumes on a periodic basis and continue to obtain updated volume forecasts for future horizon years (i.e. Year 2025). In addition, current and future phases of the 1-580 Smart Corridor Project would likely relieve some congestion at the Dougherty I Dublin intersection through ITS measures and discourage traffic from diverting off the freeway due to congestion or incidents. Less than significant 4.11-4: The road segment of Hacienda Drive between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive should be widened from three to four travel lanes and the Scarlett Drive extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road shall be constructed with four travel lanes prior to buildout of the proposed Transit Center. Roadway segment impacts: All roadway segments would operate at satisfactory and less-than-significant levels within the Transit Center area, however, the segment of Hacienda Drive between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive would exceed the 15,600 ADT volume with existing plus future base plus project traffic. The future extension of Scarlett Drive between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road would approach maximum average daily traffic volumes and would also carry a significant number of peak hour turning movements (significant) . 4.11-6 Page 1-38 July 2001 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin I e ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit of Environmental 1m Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Significant and unavoidable mitigation infeasible Full Mainline freeway operation impacts: In 2025/ without the Transit Center project, 1-580 mainline conditions will exceed the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency's threshold of significance. The addition of Transit Center traffic would worsen this condition (significant and unavoidable impact, mitigation is not feasible since freeway improvement is not under the jurisdiction of the City of Dublin). 4.11-7 Less than Significant Page 1-39 July 2001 4.12-1 Proposed high rise buildings (greater than 6 stories feet in height) shall incorporate augmented fire protection measures, including but not limited to caches of fire fighting equipment on upper floors and other project-specific measures as identified by the Alameda County Fire Marshal. Fire protection: Implementation of the proposed project would increase the number of calls for service for fire protection and emergency medical response. Construction of office buildings greater than six stories will require specialized fire equipment and fire protection procedures (significant) . Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.12-1 1 ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.12-2: Individual buildings and/or complexes of buildings proposed for construction within the Transit Center shall submit a safety and security plan for the approval of the Police Chief. Safety and Security Plans shall include but not limited to provision for private security measures, methods to achieve coordination with the Dublin Police Services Department and other items as deemed important by the Dublin Police Services Department. Police protection: Implementation of the proposed Transit Center project is expected to increase calls for police services, specifically regarding traffic control, burglary, theft and neighborhood and domestic disturbances from the residential portion of the project. Coordination of security protocol between future site users and the Dublin Police Services Department would also be of concern (significant). 4.12-2 Less than significant Page 1-40 July 2001 4.12-3: Prior to issuance of the first building permit within the Transit Center, the project proponent shall enter into a school mitigation program with the Dublin Unified School District to ensure that future land uses within the Transit Center pay a fair share towards off- setting costs for new school facilities within the District. Developers of individual projects within the Transit Center shall be required to pay mitigation fees, as specified in the mitigation agreement, at time of building permit issuance by the City of Dublin. Schools: Implementation of the proposed project would generate an-estimated 90 new elementary school students, 45 middle school students and 15 high school students at full project buildout that would need to be accommodated by the Dublin Unified School District. Anticipated students would require the cumulative construction of new school facilities. Development of "flex" residential dwelling units would generate an additional 30 K-12 students (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.12-3 t Section j .0: Summary of Environmental Impacts and Mitigations Net Impact After Mitigation Page 1-41 July 2001 Mitigation Measure No mitigation measures are required. No mitigation measures are required. Topic/Impact Impact Solid Waste: Based on discussions with the solid waste hauler for the City of Dublin, approval and construction of the proposed Transit Center would increase the amount of solid waste entering the waste stream. Additional quantities of solid waste, including construction debris could be accommodated at the nearest landfill. Additional capital equipment and personnel would be funded from user fees and charges (less- than-significant). 4-12-4 Water Demand: Implementation of the proposed project would generate an estimated increase of 447,000 gallons per day for water services. Extension of tfie recycled water pipelines through the project area and adherence to standard water conservation measures imposed by the City of Dublin would assist in reducing total water demand. Since the DSRSD and Zone 7 have long-term water agreements in place to serve the proposed development at full build out, increased water demand would be less-than-significant (less-than-significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4-12-5 1 Section 1.0: Summary of Environmental Impacts and Mitigations Mitigation Measure Net Impact After Mitigation No mitigation measures are required. No mitigation measures are required. Page 1-42 July 2001 Topic/Impact Wastewater and Collection: Implementation of the proposed project would generate an estimated 447,000 gallons per day in wastewater flows. DSRSD has anticipated this approximate level of development on the project site and existing and planned wastewater collection and treatment facilities can accommodate the build out of the project. Impacts to the wastewater collection and treatment system would be less-than-significant (less-than- significant). Impact 4.12-6 Wastewater Disposal Implementation of the proposed project would generate an estimated increase of 447,000 gallons per day of treated effluent. Based on discussions with LA VWMA staff, planned improvements to the local wastewater disposal system would be adequate to accommodate full build out of the Transit Center project, and disposal of increased quantities of treated wastewater would be 1ess-than- significant (less-than-significant). 4-12-7 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Measure .0: Summar Mitigation Section Topic/Impact Impact Less than significant 4.12.4: Prior to issuing building permits for individual projects within the Transit Center, the City of Dublin shall require that "will serve" letter issued by PG&E indicating that there is sufficient electric power and transmission capacity to serve the proposed project, taking into account anyon-site generation facility. Electric Power: Implementation of the proposed Transit Center would require additional power supplies. Until State and local power supply and transmission issues are resolved, it is uncertain whether PG&E can provide a reliable supply of electrical power. While the proposed project includes an on-site electric power generation facility, this may not generate sufficient power to supply the entire Transit Center without supplemental or back-up power from PG&E (significant). 4.12-8 Page 1-43 July 2001 No mitigation measures are required. Telecommunications: Implementation of the proposed project would incrementally increase the demand for telecommunication facilities within the project area. However, existing facilities can be extended to serve the site with no increases anticipated in staffing so the impact to telecommunication services would be less-than-significant (less-than- significant). Dublin Transit Center P A 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 4.12-9 ) ations Net Impact After Mitigation acts and Mit 1m of Environmental Mitigation Measure .0: Summar Section Topic/Impact Impact No mitigation measures are required. Local and community recreation facilities: Implementation of the proposed project would increase the demand for local and community park and recreation facilities for future residents within the Transit Center project; however, since the type of residential dwellings would not be primarily occupied by families with small children due to space constraints and adequate park and recreation facilities exist to the east, this impact is deemed less-than-significant (less- than-significant). 4.13-1 No mitigation measures are required. Regional recreation facilities: Implementation of the proposed project would increase the use of regional recreation facilities, especially the Iron Horse Trail, which forms the westerly boundary of the project site. Use of other regional recreational facilities, which are owned and maintained by the East Bay Regional Parks District is anticipated to increase based on an increase in the number of residents within the project area (less-than-significant) 4.13-2 Page 1-44 July 2001 Areas of Known Controversy: Local and regional traffic, electric power provision, air quality, water supply Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Purpose and Overview of the Environmental Review Process This document is a Draft Environmental Impact Report (to be known hereafter in this document as the DEIR), prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA), as amended. This DEIR assesses the potential environmental effects of the proposed Dublin Transit Center project, a 91 acre high-density mixed-use development located directly north and east of the East Dublin/Pleasanton Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) station in Dublin, California. The Alameda County Surplus Property Authority, which owns or controls the project area, is seeking an amendment to the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, and City of Dublin General Plan, Stage 1 Planned Development rezoning, a parcel map and a development agreement that will provide the basis for future project-specific entitlements. This document describes existing environmental conditions within and adjacent to the proposed development and assesses the potential environmental affects of the proposed project. The DEIR also includes measures which could be incorporated into the project to mitigate (lessen) anticipated environmental impacts to a level of insignificance or eliminate them entirely, where feasible. Finally, this DEIR identifies and analyzes feasible alternatives to the proposed project, cumulative impacts of this and other projects on the environment, and other mandatory elements as required by CEQA. This EIR is considered as a Program EIR, pursuant to Section 15168(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, in that it describes general impacts and mitigation measures for the proposed Specific Plan/General Plan Amendment and Stage 1 Planned Development Rezoning, Parcel Map and Development Agreement actions. Implementation of the Transit Center will require a number of follow-on actions, such as Stage 2 Planned Development Rezoning, Site Development Review and other entitlements that would be consistent with the amended Eastern Dublin Specific Plan/General Plan. It is anticipated that additional environmental review would occur at each of these stages of the project. It is further envisioned that this Program EIR will be used as the basis for any further environmental documentation. Responses to comments received regarding this DEIR during the public review period will be included in the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR). Together, the DEIR and FEIR constitute the full Environmental Impact Report for the project. As provided in CEQA and implementing guidelines, public agencies are charged with the responsibility of avoiding or minimizing environmental damage to the fullest extent feasible. In fulfilling this responsibility, public agencies must balance a variety of objectives, including economic, environmental and social Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 3 July 2001 factors. As an informational document to local officials, governmental agencies and members of the public, the purpose of the EIR is to serve as a disclosure document, identifying potential impacts, mitigation measures and alternatives. Approval of the EIR by the lead agency does not constitute approval of the underlying project, in this instance, the proposed adoption of the proposed Transit Center project. 2.2 Lead Agency The City of Dublin is the lead agency for preparation of the EIR, as defined by Section 21067 of CEQA. This means that the City of Dublin is designated as the public agency, which has the principal responsibility for approving or carrying out the proposed project and for assessing likely environmental effects of the proposal. Preparation of this ErR is in accord with CEQA, including all amendments thereto, and the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act. Methodologies used for determining standards of significance for each impact category analyzed in the EIR are based on CEQA Guidelines and are described in Section 4 of this DEIR. By applying appropriate significance criteria, impacts under each environmental topic have been categorized as either "potentially significant" or "less than significant." Methods used to determine the level of significance of potential impacts vary depending on the environmental topic, as described in the individual subsections. 2.4 Topics Not Addressed in the EIR Based on the Initial Study prepared for the proposed project (Appendix 8.1) and discussions with the City of Dublin, the following environmental topics have been deemed not to have a potential for significant environmental impacts and therefore are not addressed in this document. · Agricultural Resources: The project area)s located in an urbanized area, has not been used for agricultural production and is not encumbered by a Williamson Act Land Conservation Agreement. · Mineral Resources: The project area is not underlain by significant mineral resources and No unusual quantities of mineral resources are anticipated to be needed in the development of the proposed project. 2.5 Content and Organization of the Document Sections 15122 through 15132 of the CEQA Guidelines describe the content requirements of EIRs. EIRs must include: · a description of the proposed project, including objectives to be achieved by the project; · a description of existing environmental conditions; Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 4 July 2001 . an analysis of the anticipated impacts on the environment should the project be built or carried out as proposed; . feasible measures which can be taken by the proponent or the City to lessen or mitigate identified environmental impacts; . project alternatives, including the "no project" alternative; . significant irreversible environmental changes; · growth inducing impacts; . cumulative impacts, including environmental impacts of the proposed project viewed over time in conjunction with related past, present and reasonably foreseeable probable future projects whose potential impacts may compound or interrelate with the proposed project. 2.6 Notice of Preparation The City of Dublin has completed a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the proposed project and has circulated the NOP to all Responsible Agencies, other public agencies and interested citizens as required by CEQA. Copies of the NOP and responses received by the Lead Agency during the NOP review period are included within the appendix of this document (Appendices 8.1 and 8.2). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 5 July 2001 3.0 Project Characteristics The proposed project area is located within the south-central portion of the City of Dublin, within Alameda County. More specifically, the boundaries of the proposed Transit Center site include Dublin Boulevard and Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Center to the north, Arnold Road to the east, the 1-580 Freeway to the south and the planned Iron Horse Recreational Trail to the west. The project area encompasses approximately 91 acres of land and has a relatively flat but gradual slope to the southwest. Existing uses within the project include the East Dublin-Pleasanton Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station, a major public bus transfer station, and associated surface parking lots on approximately 18 acres, located in the southwesterly portion of the area. Other uses within the BART development area include a Pacific Gas and Electric (P,G&E) electrical generation substation located northwest of the station entrance that provides power to the BART system, a BART traction station located northeast of the BART station entrance and a telecommunication tower owned by BART and sited north of the traction station. Dublin Boulevard, a six-lane arterial that parallels 1-580, traverses the northerly portion of the project area. The four-lane DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway provide signalized access to the BART parking lots from Dublin Boulevard. Arnold Road, which forms the easterly boundary of the project area, is an improved street north of Dublin Boulevard and an unimproved right-of-way between Dublin Boulevard and 1-580. An unimproved right-of-way for Altimarino Drive parallels the 1-580 freeway, extending from the traction station easterly to Arnold Road. Various overhead and underground utility installations have also been constructed within the project areas to serve the BART station facility and/ or development to the east, including storm drains, gas, power, sewer and water lines. The remainder of the Transit Center project area is currently vacant and is characterized by relatively flat land that has been graded or are covered with grass and scattered shrubs. Limited construction debris, included pipes, woodpiles, soil stockpiles and broken concrete are sparsely scattered across the vacant lands. Exhibit 1 shows the location of Dublin in relation to surrounding communities and other major features. Exhibit 2 depicts the location of the proposed Transit Center in relationship to major community features and streets. Directly to the north of the project area is the 2,700 acre U.S Army Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Center. Existing Camp Parks facilities are characterized by one and two story buildings and vehicle storage and maintenance yards. Most of these facilities are located well north of Dublin Boulevard, with the exception of vehicle storage near Arnold Road. Lands directly to the east of the proposed Transit Center, across Arnold Road, are within the current boundaries of the 3,300 acre Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area, which was adopted by the City of Dublin in 1994. Several high-technology Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 6 July 2001 campus office developments are either under construction, have been approved, or are currently under review in the area between Arnold Road and Hacienda Drive to the east, consistent with the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. These include the six-story Sybase and Commerce One headquarters projects and the three and five-story Cisco project. Lands east of Hacienda Drive have been developed in accordance with the Specific Plan with a mix of regional retail, office, and single and multi-family housing. To the west of the project area, separated by a 100-foot wide former railroad right- of-way that will be used as the planned Iron Horse pedestrian/bike trail, is an area of one-story light industrial, warehousing, auto dealerships and similar uses served by Scarlett Court off of Dublin Boulevard. Lands south of the project area, separated by the elevated 1-580 freeway and the BART station platform are within the jurisdiction of the City of Pleasanton and have been largely developed with another surface parking lot for the East Dublin-Pleasanton BART station and four and five-story office buildings within the Hacienda Business Park. Exhibit 3 is an aerial photograph of the project site and immediately surrounding area. 3.2 Site History Until recently, the entire Transit Center project area was owned by the United States Army as part of the Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area north of the site. As part of a land exchange between the Army, the East Bay Regional Park District, and Alameda County, the County received approximately 35 acres and the City of Dublin received the right-of-way for Dublin Boulevard in 1994. The County subsequently deeded 15 acres to BART on which the BART station facilities and parking lot are located. The new BART station opened in 1995, accessed by two new City streets connecting the station to Dublin Boulevard; DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway. Major storm drainage, sewer, water and utility infrastructure was constructed to serve both the BART facility and the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area to the east. In 1997, the Army transferred the balance of the project area, between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road, to the County in exchange for funding for Camp Parks improvements. Dublin Boulevard was subsequently relocated as a six-lane arterial street in a straight alignment between Iron Horse Parkway and Hacienda Drive to the east. Construction of this alignment was completed in Spring, 2001. In summer, 2000, additional interim BART parking was constructed just west of DeMarcus Boulevard on County property. This parking lot will be removed once permanent parking is provided in a new garage, as described below. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 7 July 2001 3.3 Project Description Overview The proposed Transit Center project will create the planning framework to permit the approval and construction of a high-density mixed-use, transit and pedestrian-oriented development directly adjacent to the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. The proposal includes removing most of the existing surface BART parking lots and constructing new land uses and other improvements on the 91-acre site. These land uses would includes up to 2 million square feet of office space, a maximum of 1,500 high density residential dwellings and up to 70,000 square feet of ancillary retail commercial uses. A five-story BART parking garage containing approximately 1,700 spaces would also be constructed adjacent to 1-580 and the station entrance to replace most of the surface BART parking lots. The proposed development plan for the Transit Center project is depicted on Exhibit 4. This exhibit shows the general location and extent of proposed land uses within the Transit Center. Exhibit 5 is an illustrative concept plan of the proposed project. The proposed project includes an amendment to the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and General Plan to add the Transit Center site to the existing Specific Plan, as well as a Stage I Planned Development Rezoning, Parcel Map and Development Agreement. The entitlements currently sought are intended to provide a general framework for the comprehensive development of the area as a transit village. Precise site development plans have not yet been prepared for individual properties, but will be included in subsequent submittals to the City of Dublin. Subsequent submittals will deal with such issues as project-specific land uses, site layouts, parking, building architecture, landscaping and similar items. Future environmental reviews will be completed on specific development applications to ensure compliance with this Program EIR and CEQA. Proposed land uses The Dublin Transit Center is being sponsored by the current owner of most of the project area, the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority (ACSP A), in cooperation with the BART District, which owns the 15 acres just north of the station entrance. The intent of the project is to create a high intensity, mixed-use environment that would strongly encourage future residents and employees to use non-automobile modes of transport, taking advantage of the close proximity of the project area to the BART station, bus transfer station and the Iron Horse TraiL The existing BART station platform and entrance would remain in its present location. However, most of the surface parking lot would be replaced with a mix of office, residentiat retail and open space uses in an effort to bring these uses as close as possible to the BART station entrance. Land uses within the proposed Transit Center would generally get denser the closer to BART, new and existing streets would be designed to encourage pedestrian activity by narrowing them in width, providing wide sidewalks, attractive landscaping, lighting and other street amenities and by encouraging minimal building setbacks and building entrances directly off of the streets. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 8 July 2001 Several new streets will be constructed as p[art of adjacent, approved development projects to serve the Transit Center area. Existing streets would be modified to enhance pedestrian activity. Arnold Road is planned to be extended south from Dublin Boulevard to the 1-580 frontage by other development projects to the east. A new six-lane street parallel to Dublin Boulevard and 1-580 between Arnold and Hacienda Drive, preliminarily identified as "Digital Drive," is also planned to be constructed as part of the Commerce One project. Within the Transit Center area itself, Digital Drive is proposed to be extended as a three and four-lane street west from Arnold Drive to Iron Horse Parkway. A two-lane frontage street along 1-580, Altimirano Road, would also be extended west from Arnold Road to the BART parking garage North-south access would continue to be provided by DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway, although both of these streets would be significantly modified from their current four-lane configuration to two and three lanes, respectively. A new north-south street between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road would also be constructed, providing right-in/right-out access to Dublin Boulevard and extending south to Altimirano Road as a two and four-lane street. The existing and planned street system divides the Transit Center project area into various planning areas or Sites. These Sites are described below and illustrated in Exhibit 6. Table 2 is a summary of maximum development potential within the Transit Center project area by Site. Site areas are described in "gross acres/' which includes up to the centerline of adjacent streets, in keeping with Eastern Dublin Specific Plan land use descriptions. The term "net acre" refers to site size after dedication of required rights-of-way, easements and other dedications to result in a buildable site. Similarly, the term "gross Floor Area Ratio (FAR)" means the ratio between the of building square footage on a site prior to dedication of right-of-way, easements and similar dedications. "Net FAR" refers to the same ratio, but on a building site where required dedications have been excluded from the calculation. Office uses Office uses would be located on the easterly portion of the Transit Center (Sites D-1, D-2, E-1, E-2 and F), encompassing approximately 50.5 gross acres of land. In general, office land use intensity would increase closer to the BART station to encourage use of the station and the adjacent bus transfer station, with the most intensive uses no more than 1/4 mile from the BART station platform. Site D-1, located at the southeast corner of Iron Horse Parkway and Digital Drive, is the closest Office Site to BART. The intensity of office development on Site D-1 would be 170,000 square feet with a gross FAR of 1.12. This site is proposed to be developed for office and/or hotel uses to take advantage of the proximity of the planned adjacent BART garage and the potential to share parking resources. The adjacent Site D-2, east of Campus Drive and south of Digital Drive, would contain a maximum of 830,000 square feet of floor area with a gross FAR of 1.10. To achieve the target floor area ratios for Site D while maximizing useable site open space, it is anticipated that building heights of up to 10 stories would be constructed. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 9 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin Buildings this high-could provide a major visual focal point for the Transit Center. Parking within Sites D-1 and D-2 would be primarily structured due to the intended intensity of land use. Site E, located south of Dublin Boulevard and north of Digital Drive, between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road, would also be developed with office uses. Campus Drive would separate this Site into Sites E-l and E-2, with a combined-average gross FAR of 0.98 on approximately 17.5 acres of land. Maximum building heights would be limited to 10 stories along Digital Drive, and 8 stories along Dublin Boulevard to encourage greatest density nearest to the BART station. On-site parking would be primarily structured to accommodate proposed land use intensity. Site F, a triangular-shaped area of land located north of Dublin Boulevard and adjacent to Arnold Road, would be the least intensively developed office use. Site F is envisioned to contain a maximum of 250,000 square feet of office floor area with a gross FAR of 0.47. Maximum building heights would be limited to 6 stories, matching the Campus Office development heights and intensities east of Arnold Road. Parking-would be a mix of structured and surface lots. A large existing drainage ditch that was recently constructed along the northern border of Site F would be culverted in an underground facility to accommodate more useable open space on the Site. The applicant has also requested that the City of Dublin consider Sites D-l and E-l as "flex" sites. Here, office uses could be substituted with up to 300 higher density residential units in the event the real estate market for office uses weakens. These 300 dwellings would be in addition to other residential uses within the Transit Center and have been analyzed as part of the traffic and circulation analysis in this EIR. Residential uses Residential uses would occupy approximately 31 acres of the site, generally located in the central and westerly portions of the Transit Center within Sites A, Band C, west of Iron Horse Parkway. Residential development would consist of a maximum of 1,500 dwellings at average densities of 48 dwellings per gross acre (excluding consideration of the 300 "flex" residential dwellings described above). Net residential density (deducting streets and open spaces) would be approximately 64-70 dwellings per acre, with building heights anticipated to be 4 to 5 stories. It is anticipated that Transit Center residential development would be primarily apartments and condominiums. Parking would be primarily located in parking structures rather than surface lots. The project sponsor has indicated the residential component of the project will comply with City of Dublin affordable housing requirements by providing on-site affordable housing at or above the City's required rate, rather than paying in-lieu fees. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 10 July 2001 Retail uses A maximum of 70,000 square feet of ancillary retail floor space would be constructed within the Transit Center as a ground-floor use for both the office and residential development along Iron Horse Parkway. Anticipated retail uses would include convenience-oriented goods and services such as restaurants, coffee shops, dry cleaners, banks and similar uses. By concentrating ground-floor retail uses along Iron Horse Parkway, a centrally located pedestrian oriented environment-could be created to supply-goods and services to BART patrons, future residents of the Transit Center, as well as to employees and visitors to the office component. Public/Semi-Public uses Approximately 8.65 acres of public and semi-public land uses are planned within the Transit Center. The primary land use within this designation would include the existing BART station, bus transfer station and a new five- levet 1,700 parking garage for BART patrons. This structure would replace approximately 1,200 surface parking spaces, increasing the total permanent parking available to BART patrons by approximately 500 spaces. The garage would be designed and engineered to allow for expansion of the top level to accommodate another 250 vehicles. The garage would incorporate the existing BART traction station on the ground level and could include up to 10,000 square feet of retail use facing Iron Horse Parkway. This amount of retail space is included in the retail land use category described above. Table 2 summarizes proposed land uses within the Transit Center and includes both net and gross acres, proposed square footages and dwelling units by land use type, proposed floor area ratios and densities. r-- Street system and parking Primary access to the site would be provided by Dublin Boulevard, which forms the northern boundary for a majority of the project area. A second east-west connector roadway has been planned by the City that would extend from Hacienda Drive to the east to the approximate center of the site. This road has been tentatively designated as "Digital Drive." North-south access would be provided by Arnold Road, that forms the easterly boundary of the site. Additional primary north-south access would be provided by DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway, both existing roadways. A secondary north-south access road, tentatively identified as "Campus Drive," would be provided to facilitate access to the parking areas of Sites D-1 and D-2. A more complete discussion of local and regional streets and roads is contained in the Transportation and Circulation section of the EIR (Section 4.11). Parking for many of the proposed uses is anticipated to be predominantly structured parking, rather than surface parking lots. A new parking structure would be constructed to serve the existing BART station as described in the previous section under "Public/Semi-Public Uses." Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 11 July 2001 The precise number of parking spaces will be determined during subsequent stages of project review, once specific projects are proposed The project applicant is proposing that parking standards be reduced as much as possible to encourage the use of public transit, It is anticipated that fewer parking spaces than normally required by the Dublin Zoning Ordinance may be provided, based on the close proximity of public transit opportunities as well as shared use of parking spaces based on the mix and variety of uses planned for the site. In addition, street curbside parking is being proposed on many of the Transit Center streets to serve short-term visitor and retail customer parking needs. ~ Urban design concept _ The proposed Transit Center has been designed to foster a pedestrian friendly environment and to encourage maximum use of public transit opportunities. Using existing and proposed streets and a series of pedestrian corridors, the project area has been divided into 250 to 300 foot long "blocks", which would reflect historic street patterns in older, pedestrian-oriented cities. Buildings adjacent to most streets in the Transit Center would have minimal street setbacks, ranging from zero (behind public utility easements) to 15 feet and would orient entrances and uses to the street. Wide (8-18 feet) sidewalks are proposed to foster pedestrian use, with a high level of street amenities, including pedestrian scale lighting, ornamental street tree grates and street furniture. On- street curbside parking would be allowed in most areas to maximize parking opportunities and to buffer pedestrians from automobile traffic. Special care would made to enhance Iron Horse Parkway and Digital Drive as the major pedestrian route through the Transit Center, providing a pleasant walking experience between the BART station and the bulk of the office and residential development. The ground floor retail uses along Iron Horse Parkway that would open onto the street and the reduction in width of the street to a more human scale are proposed to create a more interesting pedestrian environment. Along Digital Drive, double rows of street trees along wide sidewalks, together with a series of plazas and open spaces, would be designed to encourage pedestrian use. Parking garages would be primarily oriented so that they did not face directly onto either of these streets. To shield pedestrian activity areas, outdoor use areas and residential areas from excessive freeway noise, the five-level BART parking garage and large office buildings are proposed to be sited as close as possible to the freeway to create noise buffers for the rest of the Transit Center development. This would permit useable open space areas and pedestrian corridors within each campus office and residential site that could be shielded from freeway noise without the use of unsightly sound walls. Between Iron Horse Parkway and DeMarcus Boulevard, a Village Green would be provided to serve as a gathering spot and focal point for project residents. It is anticipated that the Village Green would be designed with an open, turfed area enclosed by adjacent buildings to assist in providing noise screening from the 1- 580 freeway. The Village Green would be linked to adjacent areas and the BART station with pedestrian corridors. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 12 July 2001 Exhibit 5 is an illustrative concept plan of the proposed Transit Center development, indicating potential building placement and setbacks, pedestrian activity corridors and open space and street layout and design. ~ Grading and utilities The Transit Center development would be required to improve overall site drainage and to create consistent building pads. The amount of grading is not known at this time, however, the project sponsor and/or future project developers would be required to obtain grading permits prior to commencement of grading. r~ All major utilities, including water, sewer, recycled water and storm drain improvements have been extended to the project area as part of the BART station development and the realignment of Dublin Boulevard through the area. Major sewer, water, storm drain, natural gas and overhead electrical power lines currently run down the Arnold Road right-of-way between Dublin Boulevard and the 1-580 freeway. These utilities have also been provided within the DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway right-of-ways. ~,' As a condition of project approvat the City of Dublin will require that the existing overhead electrical lines within and adjacent to the project site be undergrounded. Another City of Dublin condition of project approval would require the project developer install a drainage splitter structure upstream of the proposed project near the intersection of Gleason Road and Arnold Road. On-site electrical power generator Due to the currently uncertain electric power situation in California in general, and the Tri-Valley in particular, a small on-site power generation facility (up to 22 megawatts) is proposed to be constructed adjacent to 1-580 and Arnold Road on Site D-2. This facility could take advantage of an existing natural gas pipeline along the 1-580 frontage, as well as existing high-voltage power lines, to provide an additional power source for Transit Center office development, utilizing natural gas turbines to generate sufficient power that would not be subject to regional blackouts. The proposed generation facility would consist of four 5.5 megawatt industrial gas turbine generators. The units would run on a continuous basis powered by high-pressure natural gas and would consume approximately 200 million BTU pre hour. Exhaust heat would be channeled into Heat Recovery Steam Generators where some of the heat content would be used to produce hot water for input into thermal absorption units. Remaining waste heat will flow through a small exhaust stack and cooling tower on the site. A Standby Electric Power Platform would be constructed as part of the facility, consisting of a utility-type electric substation at would connect the proposed office building on Site D-2 with the existing electric grid. Electricity from the generator would be sent through four underground feeders to on-site office buildings, a data center within the office building and the Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 13 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin proposed parking structure on site D-2. Each building on the Site would have two separate electrical service circuits and the proposed parking structure would have only one electrical service. ~ Most elements of the proposed facility would be housed in a single building, approximately eighty feet by ninety feet in area and a height of approximately sixty feet. Portions of the facility, including a water cooling tower, and other elements would need to be located outside of the building. The facility would be ancillary to any office development and would be required to architecturally blend in with the larger office complex. Air intake baffles, architectural screening and siting adjacent to the freeway would be required to ensure that the facility would not significantly increase ambient noise levels, as measured at existing and planned residential areas. Extensions from existing electrical transmission lines in Arnold Road would be made to the proposed facility as would an underground extension from the existing high-pressure natural gas transmission line within the existing right-of-way of Altimirano Road, south of the proposed Transit Center. On-site underground fuel storage tanks would also be installed as a back-up to natural fuel anticipated to be used to power the generation facility. A back-up power supply is deemed necessary if natural pressure falls below manufacturer's specifications. Prior to final approvat the proposed facility would be required to receive all necessary permits from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), the Dublin Fire and Building Departments, as well as meeting all other applicable health, safety and requirements by locat state and Federal agencies. --::> Phasing Since all major perimeter streets adjacent to the proposed Transit Center are either in place or under construction, all of the Campus Office portion of the project could be developed in any sequence, as dictated by the market for office space. Proposed internal streets, including Digital Drive, Campus Drive and Altimirano Road could be constructed without disrupting existing streets or the existing BART station configuration. .r- The Alameda County Surplus Property Authority is currently under contract with several high-technology firms, including Cisco Systems, Sun and Oracle, for the sale of campus office Sites within the proposed Transit Center. However, no formal proposals for these developments have been made to the City of Dublin at this time, and the timing of development of these projects is subject to the completion of required project-specific entitlements and the market. Development of the residential component of the Transit Center project would be required to be phased so that existing BART operations would not be disrupted. Site B would be developed first, using the existing street network. Following the construction of the proposed BART garage, the interim parking lot Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 14 July 2001 on Site A and the existing lot on Site C could be abandoned and these areas developed for residential uses. Financing A variety of funding sources are anticipated to be used to fund the infrastructure improvements required for the Transit Center. --.... The project will be subject to impact fees to pay for fire facilities and parks and community facilities on a city-wide basis. In addition, the project will be subject to the Tri-Valley Transportation Development Fee, another city-wide impact fee, which funds regional traffic improvements. Since an application has been filed to include the proposed project within the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, the traffic fee for that area will also be applicable, with whatever adjustments to it are required by virtue of the addition of the project area. Other project-specific traffic improvements would be financed by the project developer(s). ~ --"" First, since the project area has been requested to be added to the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, financing mechanisms used as part of the Specific Plan would apply to the Transit Center. This would include payment of impact fees for various community-wide internal streets and infrastructure, including the proposed Village Green, would be financed by individual developers. No special assessments are anticipated to pay for proposed improvements. ~ I The proposed BART parking garage, to be located adjacent to the 1-580 freeway, is estimated to cost approximately $18-20 million. Partial funding for this structure would come from the future sale of Site C to a private developer for residential development. The project proponent, ACSP A, proposes to donate approximately 3 acres of land for the garage, with the remainder of funding to be supplied by a number of outside sources, including State grants and City of Dublin Traffic Impact Fees. This funding mechanism must be approved by the City of Dublin. '-...~ r-- Requested entitlements The project sponsor has requested several land use entitlements from the City in order to construct the proposed Transit Center. These include: ~ Eastern Dublin Specific Plan/General Plan Amendment The proposed Dublin Transit Center lies immediately west of but outside the boundary of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. The Eastern Dublin Specific Plan was adopted by the City of Dublin in 1994 to regulate land uses, infrastructure, resources, and urban design for a 3,300-acre area generally lying east of Arnold Road, north of the 1-580 freeway, south of the Alameda County /Contra Costa County line and west of Doolan Canyon. ~ The project sponsor has proposed that the Transit Center form the eleventh planning Subarea of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan. Recommended language to be included in the Specific Plan has been submitted as well as a proposed Land Use Map, consistent with the structure of the existing Eastern Dublin Specific Plan/General Plan. The applicant's proposed Specific Plan Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 15 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin ...,.'..... amendment language can be found in Appendix 8.3 of this EIR. This application includes a request to exceed the maximum building height for office buildings currently allowed (6 stories) for office buildings located within transit-oriented developments. The application would also allow for reduced parking standards for land uses within the proposed Transit Center, recognizing the close proximity of the Eastern Dublin BART station and other public transit opportunities. .-. --"> A more complete discussion of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan and the relationship of the proposed project to the Specific Plan is contained in the Land Use and Planning Section of this document (Section 4.8). Exhibit 7 shows the relationship between the proposed Transit Center and the adjacent eastern Dublin Specific Plan area. ,Q, The City of Dublin General Plan will also need to be amended to reflect the proposed land uses. Currently, the General Plan designates the Project Area as "Public Lands./1 ~"- Stage 1 Planned Development (PD) rezoning A Stage 1 Planned Development (PD) rezoning has also been requested. The PD rezoning would establish specific permitted land uses and development standards that must be followed as Stage 2 Planned Development (PD) rezonings and Site Development Reviews (SDRs) to be requested for specific development projects. --:0. Tentative Parcel Map The project area was recently divided into five separate parcels through the approval of Parcel Map No. 7395 by the City of Dublin. A tentative parcel map has been requested to further subdivide Parcel 3 of that map into Sites D-1, D- 2, E-1 and E-2 consistent with the proposed Specific Plan Amendment as well as provide a separate lot for the proposed BART parking facility. After approval of the Tentative Parcel Map, a final Parcel Map would be prepared, approved by the City and recorded. Future tentative subdivision maps to create individual building lots, if required, would be filed at a later date. ~ I~ Development Agreement A Development Agreement has been proposed between the City of Dublin and the existing property owner. The Development Agreement would vest (or "lock inn) City development approvals related to the project for a specified period of time. _Y'", ~ Prior to receiving final approvals for individual development projects within the Dublin Transit Center site allowed by this General Plan/Specific Plan Amendment described in this EIR, applicants must submit Stage 2 Planned Development Rezoning requests to the City of Dublin. Stage 2 Rezoning includes specific information regarding development proposals and land uses. Site Development Review (SDR) applications must also be approved by the City of Dublin, to include precise information regarding building architectural design, use of exterior materials, a specific site layout, landscaping plans, conceptual Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 16 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin ~~ ~ signs plans and other design details. Other applications may include parcel maps to create individual building lots, consideration of grading and building permits, utility hook-ups by the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD), granting of encroachment permits by the City of Dublin, and filing of Notices of Intent with the State Water Resources Control Board. -- ,...-... '-'> ,.-i p..=. ...G Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 17 July 2001 .--'~ r- ---" c'" <,-"::' ,,:~ c^' -' ~ ..; 0 0 N ~ :>: ..; ..; ~ '" ~ "--' e:. ,,:It-. .-'~, i---' Exhibit 1 REGIONAL LOCATION CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT N ! ~ o I 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 miles I 'I I - - .---- ----- // ;- ~ 311N SPECIFIC Exhibit 2 PROJECT CONTEXT WITHIN CITY OF DUBLIN ---..- City Limit Project Site }, ,.,--,.,-- ,.,--,.,-- ~-"'-- ,.,--~ !) ) 1 1 Hay 2.o/ri' 11 1: '-'t\. 'B/i," PARKS RESERVE FORCES TRAINING AREA inn_nnn~hnn' ,..ono . . . ! FEDERAL! SANTA RITA : CORRECTIONAL: REHABILITATION i INSTITUTION i CENTER PLEASANTON OF TY c SAN RAMON F o TY c ':q...o "9~~00 "O~ i.P.A -v~~C! Oc.,..,o", '1--'$'!~ '" mile 314 V2 V4 o N I CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT L Exhibit 3 AERIAL PHOTO ~ Project Site 1 t ) I N I \ r.; '.BlilC o,\. [37 June 2001 SOURCE: Brian Kang CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Central Pkwy. ~. ~ Dublin Blvd. High Density Residential (A) High Density Residential (B) Campus Office (E-1 ) Campus Office (E-2) 'i5" <1l "' o e- .eo -0 a: ." <5 c:: -<: ,....- ...: Cl ]i ~ en ~ Campus Office (0-2) Scarlett Ct. Interstate 580 f Dublin.Pleasanton BART Station ... o o '" >. ~ :;: g ~ ~ J! ~ SOURCE: Transit Center application. ~ Exhibit 4 'LAND USE PLAN Site Boundary ,..,.. CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT N t o I 240 , 480 , 720 , 980 feet , I. I t 'i 1 \ J( Table 2. Maximum Transit Center Development Potential I I. L, ) Site Area Area Land Max. Max FAR Density FAR Density Retail Add'l (gr. ac.) (net ac.) Use Sq. Ft. D.U. (gr.) (gr.) (net) (net) Sq. Ft. D.U. A 10.92 8.29 High Density 530 49 64 Residential B 12.00 8.10 High Density 565 47 70 10,000 Residential C 8.58 5.80 High Density 405 47 70 20,000 Residential D_123 3.50 2.50 Campus Office 170,000 1.12 1.56 15,000 D-2 17.32 12.10 Campus Office 830,000 1.10 1.57 E_12 6.28 4.10 Campus Office 260,000 0.95 1.46 15,000 300 E-2 11.20 7.70 Campus Office 490,000 1.00 1.46 F 12.20 8.73 Campus Office 250,000 0.47 0.66 P/SP 8.65 7.93 Public/Semi-Public Total 90.65 65.25 2,000,000 1,500 70,000 imited to local-serving uses in ground Page 22 July 2001 Public use, and would be Ancillary retail square footage is in addition to proposed Campus Office, floor space along Iron Horse Parkway. Sites D-1 and E-1 would be "flex" space and could be developed with up to 300 residential units. A hotel or mixed hotel/office project is encouraged on Site D-1 that could share off-hour BART parking Residential or Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Notes 1) 2) 3) Exhibit 5 IllUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN SOURCE: ReId Paoli. 4/200 1 NOTE: This will be an llx17 page in the final CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT t "'"~; \ ......"" f, I to. l' t'r ~. .. ri... .: , '';{\' ...-.....:./": " ,'-.. .r . i J' :_;~~ ~ltl'~i . ~ 'f-- ...f., . ~,,,. .~.'fI..<<';.d~ "IV C " . ~1'i!lf>'" \. '~~If1.~-_;.y.-,~~ , I "I 'I ) \ Hay 2001 30 '13[ue Ot ( I I I I I L_ CENTR^L PKWY. SA SITE . I L__ ,/1 ~/ I /'/ . .-/ I . ---- . SITE F OFFICE 8.7:f: AC. (NET CAMP PARKS RrTA SITE 1 68 - - --- Exhibit 6 PROPOSED STREET LAYOUT -=-:;,~=====~ ~(I~:~~:=~~-~~~-~~:==== 6A SITE o < o a: o -' o Z a: < SITE E-2 OFFiCE 7. HAC. (NET I SITE 0-2 Iw OFFICE I~ 2.3:1: AC. (NET I I., I~ I~ I ~ ^\:.T~MIR^NO _ _,!O^D 1-580 I-- I ~'I ',II: ,". ". .". :11: .~ ," .~~ .".' ."' :IL " I I 11 I I .- ---- ........---.....-........ .00 t ... I JOG "- , , '50 Il SOURCE: Brian Kangas Foulk, 5/3/01 inch _ 300 N I CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT .... o o N ~ ~ " ., r- N '.,"-' --- ' --- ---- --- " ,,> N ,'I - - --;- '. CO U ---- ", OS' A - ;:.--{-< " , R A ~ - - -Co u ~ J CO~--~EDi' ' ___-- AI-A \v" j / Eastern Dublin".' Specific Plan Are~ ~ ",., ~',~,f{\~~::~,/ .. ~ /<; i .' '\ '\ ,. ......J t" " ./ r,...-;'~'i /.<-. .--- -. .,' --c; "-~........... ~:; f, "'" ., ...:::::"~:t.~~..... H ..................~, .-- ~ .., -.2i e:< "- DublinIPleasanton BART Station SOURCE: Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, Wallace Roberts & Todd, NOTE: EDSP land use map has been updated since original Specific Plan adoption. Exhibit 7 ~ TRANSIT CENTER RELATIONSHIP TO EDSP/GP Eastern Dublin Specific Plan Subareas: A Tassajara Gateway B Town Center - Commercial C Town Center - Residential D Fallon Gateway E Fallon Village Center F Tassajara Village Center G Foothill Residential H Industrial Park I County Center J Hacienda Gateway CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT N ! ~ o I 1/4 , 112 3f4 , 1 mile 3.3 Project Objectives Objectives to be achieved through the approval and development of the project include: /-""" 1) Constructing a state-of-the-art, urban-scale, mixed-use employment, residential and retail center based on close accessibility of inter-modal transportation opportunities: rapid transit, bus transit, vehicle access and non-motorized transportation modes. 2) Promoting a pedestrian-friendly environment within the Transit Center project where employees, residents and visitors are encouraged to walk or use other non-vehicular modes of transportation. ~ 3) Increasing employment opportunities in the community through the development of office, retail and similar employment-generating land uses, including a maximum of 2 million square feet of office space and 70,000 square feet of ancillary retail space. 4) Providing up to 1..500 higher density dwelling units for households desiring to live in a more urban setting, near work and public transit opportunities. 5) Encouraging use of public transit through construction of relatively intense amounts of residential and non-residential development within easy walking distance of various transit modes. 5) Ensuring that operations of the existing Dublin-Pleasanton BART station are not disrupted during either the construction or operation of the Transit Center project. This includes construction of a new multi-deck BART parking garage to accommodate approximately 1,700 vehicles. 6) Incorporating high quality design features as part of site improvements, including, but not limited to pedestrian-scale streets, landscaping buildings, plazas, walkways and similar features that enhance the pedestrian environment. .- 7) Siting buildings to encourage pedestrian activity by encouraging ground floor retail uses, entrances directly off of adjacent streets, and screening of freeway noise. 8) Constructing new and upgraded public and private utilities and related infrastructure to support the type and amount of proposed development. 9) Responding to planning policies from the City of Dublin General Plan and other local, regional and state agencies, including but not limited to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 26 July 2001 Management District, Association of Bay Area Governments, State of California and others, to develop high-density, mixed-use transit villages adjacent to transportation hubs. 10)-Increasing tax and other revenues to the City of Dublin and Alameda County. ,. 3.4 Actions Addressed in EIR Specific actions addressed in this Environmental Impact Report include: · Certification of the EIR; ,- · Consideration of an amendment to add the 91-acre Transit Center site to the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, which would include adding the land use designations and circulation diagram proposed as part of the Specific Plan/ General Plan Amendment; · Consideration of a Stage 1 Planned Development (PD) rezoning; · Consideration of a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide the site into smaller lots; ,- · Consideration of a Development Agreement between the Alameda County Surplus Property Authority and the City of Dublin. .--' Although not specifically addressed in this Program EIR, the following actions are foreseen as future actions to be considered as part of the overall Dublin Transit Center project subject to subsequent applications and environmental reviews: Stage 2 Planned Development rezoning, Site Development Review applications, consideration of grading and building permits, utility hook-ups by the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSDt granting of encroachment permits by the City of Dublin, and filing of Notices of Intent with the State Water Resources Control Board. ~ .,...,..;..;.;. I Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 27 July 2001 4.0 Environmental Analysis Topics Addressed in the DEIR This section of the DEIR identifies specific environmental areas which may be affected as a result of the implementation of the proposed project. The impact areas are discussed individually in subsections 4.1 through 4.13: ~ 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 Aesthetics and Light and Glare Air Quality Biological Resources Cultural Resources Geology and Soils Hazards Water and Hydrology Land Use Noise Population and Housing Transportation and Circulation Utilities and Public Services Recreation Each topic area is covered in the following manner: r- A. Environmental Issues An overview of issues related to the topic area. B. Environmental Setting A discussion of existing conditions, facilities, services and general environmental conditions on and around the project sites. C. Environmental Impacts An identification and evaluation of potential impacts on the environment, should the project be constructed as proposed. Standards of environmental significance will also be listed which set forth the basis on which the identification of environmental impacts will be made. Standards of significance for this DEIR are based on such standards listed in the California Environmental Quality Act and implementing Guidelines. -:- Environmental impacts addressed in this document include the following: · Potentially significant impact, which means that the identified impact would exceed the environmental standards of significance. In some instances, impacts may be positive rather than adverse. Page 28 July 2001 Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin . . Less-than-significant impact, which means that an impact would not exceed the minimum environmental thresholds of significance. · No impact, means that no environmental impact would be expected for a particular environmental topic. Significant and unavoidable impact, means that no feasible mitigation measures are available that would reduce the impacts of the proposed project to a less-than-significant level. Approval of the project would require specific findings by the City of Dublin that indicate there are overriding concerns that indicate the project should be constructed, even if not all impacts can be mitigated. D. Mitigation Measures and Impacts After Mitigation An identification of specific efforts and measures which can be incorporated into the project to reduce identified environmental impacts to a level of insignificance, where feasible. "~ r- Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 29 July 2001 4.1 AESTHETICS AND LIGHT AND GLARE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES This section of the EIR addresses potential visual impacts of the proposed project, including obstruction of important views or vistas or the creation of an aesthetically offensive view to the public. The potential effects of new light and glare sources are also addressed. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Built environment The project area is partially developed with the East Dublin-Pleasanton BART station and two surface parking lots, which comprise about 17 acres of the 91-acre Transit Center. Trees and other landscape features are located along the perimeter of the permanent BART parking lot, closest to the BART station. The recently constructed interim parking lot northwest of the BART station is not landscaped. A canopy along the western boundary of the parking lot provides shelter to people waiting for buses and there is a retail kiosk, bike racks and storage lockers at the station entrance. Other structures within the parking lot area include a PG&E substation (located northwest of the station), a BART traction station (located northeast of the station) and a telecommunication tower (north of the traction station). To the north and east of the BART station parking lots, the remainder of the lands within the project area are largely vacant. Dublin Boulevard, a recently constructed six-lane arterial street, traverses the northerly portion of the project area, and DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway, both four-lane divided streets, connect the BART parking lots to Dublin Boulevard. None of these streets is currently landscaped. The vacant lands include areas that have been recently graded or are covered with grass and scattered shrubs. Limited construction debris (soil stock piles, pipes, wood piles, broken concrete) are sparsely scattered across the vacant lands. Lands adjacent to or within the immediate vicinity of the project area are vacant or are characterized by low-rise, low density development. North of the project area is the Camp Parks military facility, where most of the buildings are older (some dating from the 1950's) and are generally one to two stories in height. Buildings are generally set back several hundred feet from the northerly boundary of the Transit Center area, separated by vacant fields, although the easterly portion of Camp Parks is used for storage of military vehicles and equipment. West of the project area, within the Scarlett Court industrial area, buildings are primarily, single-story structures which generally face away from the Transit Center area. These uses are visually separated from the project area by the 100 foot-wide former railroad corridor which is planned to contain the Iron Horse Recreational Trail. ,- Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013. Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 30 July 2001 Directly south of the project area is the 10-lane Interstate 580 (1-580), which contains the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART station platform and tracks within the median. Along the eastern portion of the project area frontage (at Arnold Road), the freeway is at surface level with the project site, but then rises above the surface grade toward the west to approximately 25 feet above the ground surface at the BART station. The BART station platform is elevated an additional 10 feet above the freeway and is covered by a sine-curve shaped aluminum roof that forms a major visual landmark for the surrounding area. Immediately to the east of the project area, across Arnold Road, the land is presently vacant and characterized by grass and shrub-covered fields and construction debris. However, several major office projects, including the six- story Sybase and Commerce One headquarters, have been approved by the City of Dublin and are either under construction or are scheduled to begin construction. Farther to the west, east and south of the Transit Center project area, development is more extensive. South of 1-580, within the City of Pleasanton, is Hacienda Business Park, characterized by office buildings ranging in height from two to five stories and multi-family residential development of two to three stories. Office development floor area ratios (FAR) are generally 0.5 or less, with extensive building setbacks and surface parking lots. To the east, within the existing Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area east of Hacienda Drive, is the Hacienda Crossings regional retail center, which includes a six-story hotel, one to two story retail development, and an IMAX movie theater with a building mass five stories in height. East of Hacienda Drive are severat three- story multi-family housing developments and a single-family residential neighborhood, New three and four story office development has been constructed north of Central Parkway and west of Hacienda Drive. To the west, along Dublin Boulevard, development is characterized by primarily one and two story suburban commercial development. Several three-story multi-family developments along Dougherty Road have recently been constructed or have been approved by the City of Dublin. The overall visual impression of the project vicinity is an area rapidly shifting from a rural character to a more suburban character. Vacant lands are being developed and existing development is becoming denser, with one and two story small structures being replaced with mid-'rise buildings of four stories or greater that cover larger land areas. r-- Landscape character The project area and vicinity is on the floor of the Livermore/Amador Valley, which is defined by the surrounding Diablo Range. The project area is relatively flat with a gradual slope to the southwest. Trees and other landscaping are limited to the BART station parking lots. The remainder of the Transit Center project area has very limited vegetation consisting of grassy areas and scattered shrubs. Vacant lands within the immediate project vicinity also are flat with few or no trees. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 31 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin The regional topography transitions to gentle slopes and ultimately steep slopes at greater distances from the project vicinity. Approximately 10 miles north of the project area is 3,800-foot Mount Diablo, the most prominent landform in the area. A series of lower, but almost continuous ridgelines surround the Livermore/ Amador Valley and provide a strong visual contrast with the flat developed areas of the valley floor. Views and vistas The contrast of flat valley floor and surrounding hilly areas within the Livermore/ Amador Valley landscape create panoramic views and vistas. Throughout the valley floor, panoramic views of the surrounding Diablo Range are available. From the higher elevations of the ridges, views look out over the valley, where the predominant view is of suburban development. The Transit Center area, due to the generally vacant condition and lack of structures or trees within the project area and immediate surroundings, offers unobstructed views of Mount Diablo to the north, the Dublin hills to the west and more distant ridgelines above Livermore and Pleasanton to the south and east. The elevated 1-580 freeway blocks some views to the south, especially as the viewer approaches the southern edge of the project area. --' Existing views of the project area are available from the surrounding public roads, the 1-580 freeway and the BART station platform located in the 1-580 median. Due to the flat terrain, there are no publicly accessible ridgelines or hilltops from which the project area would be viewed, except from distant locations where it appears as part of the larger suburban fabric of the valley floor. ,-. Three representative public viewpoints were selected to assess potential visual impacts of the proposed project because they are places that are accessible to a large number of people in the vicinity of the project area. These three key public viewpoints are: 1-580, Iron Horse Trail/Dublin Boulevard and the East Dublin BART station. Each viewpoint is described below. r- Interstate 580 1-580 is a major east-west transportation corridor that forms the southern boundary of the City of Dublin, carrying more than 150,000 vehicles a day. In undeveloped portions of the Livermore/Amador Valley, motorists traveling along 1-580 have panoramic views of the surrounding ridgelines as they travel on the valley floor. At higher elevations, to the east and west of the valley floor, distant views from I-580-are available that overlook the valley. Westbound travelers on 1-580 do not have a view of the project area until they pass under the Hacienda Drive interchange, approximately 2,500 feet to the east. The recently approved six-story, four building Commerce One headquarters project, located on the parcel just to the northwest of the Hacienda DrivelI-580 interchange, will further block views of much of the project area for 1-580 westbound travelers. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 32 July 2001 1-580 is directly adjacent to the project area for approximately 1,500 feet, at grade at the easterly portion (Arnold Road) and then rising to it's highest point at the westerly edge, at the BART station platform. Along the westbound portion of 1-580 fronting the project area itself, motorists have background views of the ridgelands west of Dublin and Mount Diablo and middleground views of the BART station parking lot, power poles and wires and vacant land. Moving west, middleground views at the BART platform are of the car dealerships and other retail and industrial uses that make up the Scarlett Court area in Dublin. Eastbound travelers along 1-580 do not have a clear view of the project area. The 1-580/1-680 interchange flyover, now under construction, blocks more distant views of the area, and it is further obstructed by the Dougherty /Hopyard interchange overpass. As eastbound travelers pass the project area itself, views to the north and east are obstructed by the BART station platform, which is constructed on top of a retaining wall, and then by the BART tracks, located in the freeway median. The tracks east of the platform are occasionally used by BART to store out-of-service trains, creating another visual barrier to viewing the project area from eastbound 1-580. -,'- Iron Horse Trail/Dublin Boulevard The Iron Horse Trail right-of-way defines the westerly boundary of the development plan area. Currently, the right-of-way is undeveloped, although. construction of the Iron Horse Trail extension from its present terminus at Dougherty Road to the BART station is anticipated for completion in early 2002. The existing Iron Horse Trail, which runs for over 20 miles from Dublin to Concord, is a very popular recreational amenity that is heavily used by the public, and completion of the trail to the Dublin BART station is anticipated to increase use. Existing views from the trail right-of-way where it crosses Dublin Boulevard include the project site, power poles and construction debris in the foreground, the BART station platform and the Hacienda Crossings shopping center in the middle ground, and the Diablo Range ridges south of Livermore in the background. ,'---<- East Dublin-Pleasanton BART Station Platform The westbound train platform of the BART station looks out over the westerly portion of the proposed Transit Center project. BART passengers waiting for a train have views of Mount Diablo and surrounding ridges in the background, the BART station parking lot and the low-rise Camp Parks facilities in the middleground and the westbound lanes of 1-580 in the foreground. Due to the majority of the platform's location west of the project area, most views from the platform are looking north and west, across the built-up portion of Dublin. Scenic policies In 1996, as part of the implementation of the Eastern Dublin Specific Plan, the City of Dublin designated 1-580 as a scenic corridor along the Plan's southern Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 33 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin boundary, extending east from Arnold Road to Doolan Canyon Road to the east. At the same time, the City adopted the "Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Standards and Policies" for the scenic corridor to allow development conforming with the Specific Plan along the scenic corridor while maintaining the visual character of the eastern ridgelands, watercourses and distinct landscape features. A major concern of the Scenic Corridor Standards and Policies is to limit the blocking of views of the Tassajara Creek corridor and a series of undeveloped rolling grassy hills located east of Fallon Road in the Specific Plan area that help define the primarily rural character of that area. The hills are identified as the "Visually Sensitive Ridgelands" in the Specific Plan. The primary policy of the Scenic Corridor Standards and Policies to protect views of the Visually Sensitive Ridgelines from 1-580, Standard 1.2, states that: j Structures adjacent to the corridor, generally within 700 feet of the Scenic Corridor, should be allowed to obstruct views of the Visually Sensitive Ridgelines from 1-580 for not more that approximately 50% of the developed frontages. Light and glare Existing night lighting within the project area is limited to overhead street and BART parking lot lighting, as well as security lighting at the BART station itself. The largely vacant condition of much of the land in the immediate vicinity of the project area limits potential sources of off-site light or glare that could impact the proposed project. The elevated nature and straight course of the adjacent 1- 580 freeway limits potential light or glare from vehicles traveling on the freeway, as seen from the project area. STANDARDS OF SIGNIFICANCE The following standards of significance are used to assess potential environmental impacts of the proposed project related to view obstruction, aesthetics and light and glare: . Eliminate or substantially alter significant visual features, view corridors or public vista points, including views from 1-580; . Result in substantial alteration of natural landforms; . Be incompatible with the scale or visual character of the surrounding area; . Create significant new sources light and glare in the vicinity. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Should the proposed project be approved and implemented, the following environmental impacts are anticipated: change in scale and character from existing development in the surrounding area; reduction in views from 1-580 and other public viewpoints; and potential impacts from new sources of light and glare. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 34 July 2001 Change in scale and character of development The proposed Transit Center project would result in the construction a mixed use development that introduces a land use pattern that would be denser and more intensive than the surrounding suburban development, or than any other area in the Livermore/Amador Valley. Office buildings with a maximum height of ten stories are being proposed for Sites D-1, D-2 and along the Digital Drive frontage of Sites, E-1 and, E-2. Office development heights would decrease as one moved northerly from the BART station, with a maximum of eight stories proposed for the northern portions of E-l and E-2, and a maximum of six stories proposed for Site F, north of Dublin Boulevard. High density residential development of between four and five stories would be located on Sites A, Band C. A new five-story BART parking structure would be located south of Site D-l and adjacent to the BART station entrance and 1-580. Most of the proposed office and residential development would require structured parking in order to achieve the proposed densities. In order to create more pleasant and useable outdoor areas for employees, residents and BART patrons, less noise-sensitive uses (such as office buildings and the BART parking structure), are proposed to be located close to the 1-580 freeway to act as noise buffers for the remainder of the proposed Transit Center. ,- Ten-story office buildings adjacent to the BART station would be a major change from the existing development pattern of the surrounding area and the Livermore/Amador Valley. Currently, the tallest buildings in Pleasanton are limited to five stories, and Livermore contains no buildings over three stories. Dublin limits building heights within the existing Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area to six stories, and has recently approved several projects just to the east of the proposed Transit Center (the Sybase and Commerce One headquarters) that include six-story buildings. In downtown Dublin, the recently approved West Dublin BART Specific Plan permits buildings up to eight stories. The proposed project would also be denser in character than existing or planned development in the vicinity. The high floor area ratios (up to 1.5 for office) and high density residential area (up to 70 units per acre) are intended to create a more urban transit-village environment than is found in the surrounding area, where floor area ratios are more typically 0.4 to 0.6, and multi-family residential projects typically have a density of less than 30 units per acre. The proposed project would also rely primarily on structured parking, in contrast to the typical surface parking lots that surround most existing development in the area. While the proposed project would represent a major change in character from existing development in the vicinity, the relative isolation of the Transit Center project area from existing development, as well as the proposed urban design of the project, limit the potential that this change in character would be construed as a negative impact. The proposed project would "feather" density down for sites away from the BART station. Office building maximum heights decrease from 10 stories to 8 stories to 6 stories at the edge of the project area, matching planned office development height limits within the existing Eastern Dublin Specific Plan area to the east while emphasizing the BART station itself. The proposed residential component is for 4-5 story structures, which would also Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 35 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin provide a visual transition to lower density development to the west. The elevated 1-580 freeway to the south provides another transition to the five-story office buildings in Pleasanton. Therefore, while the proposed project would be substantially different from the scale and visual character of the surrounding area, the relative isolation of the project area and the emphasis on creating a visual focal point at the BART station would make this a less-than-significant impact. Impact 4.1-1 (change in scale and character of development): The proposed project would permit buildings up to 10 stories high, taller than any existing or planned buildings in the Livermore/Amador Valley. However, the proposed scale and character of development is an integral part of the "transit village" concept, a concept which has been promoted by several local and regional agencies to assist in resolving transportation, air quality and jobs-housing balance issues (less-than-significant). r- Views and vistas The impact of new development on views and vistas depends on a number of factors, including the relative location of the new development to the viewer and vista (foreground, middleground or background location) and the duration of the view. In generat new development that occupies a foreground position relative to the viewer and is located where it will be viewed from a stationary position (such as a residence) will have a larger impact than new development occupying a middeground or background location and viewed from an automobile. To ascertain the potential impact of the proposed Transit Center project on views and vistas, two methods were employed. First, a series of photographs were taken from various locations in the vicinity, including the Dougherty Road/I-580 overpass to the west, Hacienda Drive to the east, as well as several existing residential neighborhoods in Dublin and Pleasanton. Using computer simulation technology, wireframe representations of a series of 10 and 8 story buildings on the Transit Center site were super-imposed on the photographs to analyze the potential visual impact from these relatively distant viewpoints, where the proposed project would be in the middle or background. The results of this analysis are shown on Exhibits 8a-c. The second method employed was to take photographs from key public views directly adjacent to the project area, including west-bound 1-580, the westbound BART station platform in the 1-580 median, and from the future alignment of the Iron Horse Trail at Dublin Boulevard. Using computer simulation technology, conceptual simulations of the proposed project were then superimposed on the photographs to analyze the potential visual impacts from viewpoints where the proposed project would be in the foreground. These computer simulations are not supposed to illustrate how the project will actually appear, but to present a solid massing with enough visual detail so that the relative scale of the project can be represented. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 36 July 2001 Exhibit A1 (included in the Appendix) presents the series of wireframe simulations from various middleground and background viewpoints in the vicinity. They indicate that even though 10 story buildings are being proposed for the Transit Center, they would not be visible from existing residential neighborhoods in Pleasanton and Dublin, due to the relative distance and the presence of foreground trees and buildings that essentially block views of the Transit Center area. From closer positions, such as Johnson Drive in Pleasanton, the Transit Center buildings would be visible, but would not significantly interrupt the background ridgeline. Prom Hacienda Drive, the 6-story Sybase and Commerce One projects will be in the viewer's foreground, and will essentially block views of the Transit Center project. Prom the Dougherty Road overpass, proposed Transit Center development would extend above a portion of the background ridgeline, but this would be limited to a small area by the relatively compact nature of the development. Exhibit A2 (included in the Appendix) presents the series of existing and simulated project views from key public viewpoints directly adjacent to the project area. Prom the westbound BART station platform, located in the 1-580 median, existing background views of Mount Diablo would be reduced, but not eliminated by the 4 and 5 story high-density residential development proposed to be constructed on Site A, Band C (the existing BART surface parking lot), due to the elevated position of the station platform in relation to the project area. Other ridgeline views, such as towards the ridgeline west of Dublin, would be unaffected. Although there would be some loss of existing ridgeline views from the station platform/ the overall effect would minor and the foreground views of the 1-580 freeway would continue to dominate. From the future Iron Horse Trail alignment, at Dublin Boulevard, views of the distant ridgelands south of Livermore would be largely replaced by foreground views of the proposed high density residential portion of the Transit Center. This is shown on Exhibit 8c. The proximity of the residential buildings would prevent most views of the office component of the proposed project/ although office buildings may be visible adjacent to Dublin Boulevard. The greatest impact to existing views of the surrounding ridgelands and Mount Diablo would be from westbound 1-580. Existing views of the project area and the ridges to the north are largely blocked for eastbound 1-580 travelers by the raised BART station platform and tracks in the freeway median. Westbound travelers, once clear of the Hacienda Drive overcrossing, have unobstructed views of Mount Diablo and the ridgelines west of Dublin along most of the project area freeway frontage. As illustrated in Exhibit A3 (Appendix), these views would be largely blocked by office buildings and the proposed BART garage, due to the proposed location of these structures adjacent to the freeway. However, for vehicles traveling the speed limit on the freeway, these views would be obstructed for approximately 15 seconds or less, with views opening up as the freeway rises in elevation to the BART station platform. Obstruction of distant ridgeline views would thus be similar to the temporary view obstructions caused by the existing Office Depot building, the Corovan building, the 1-680 flyover or the redwood trees lining the freeway in the western portion of Dublin. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 37 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin Impact 4.1-2 (views and vistas): The proposed project would reduce existing views of Mount Diablo and the surrounding ridgelands from some public viewpoints, including westbound 1-580, the BART station platform, and the future Iron Horse Trail (significant). Aesthetics No specific projects or architecture have been formally proposed as part of the general entitlements sought by the applicant for the proposed Transit Center project. While the proposed project would increase the maximum building height to 10 stories that would be visible from 1-580 and other public viewpoints, any individual project will be subject to the City of Dublin's Site Development Review (SDR) process, which analyzes proposed building design, material and color to ensure that all structures will be aesthetically pleasing and compatible with the surrounding area. This public review process ensures that potential negative aesthetic impacts are mitigated. Impact 4.1-3 (aesthetics): The proposed project could result in large, highly visible structures that detract from the image of the City of Dublin, as viewed from roadways and the surrounding area (less-than-significant). BART station identification The aluminum "sine wave" roof of the BART station platform is a visual reference point that helps identify the BART station location. Views of this unique form, from Dublin Boulevard and other points to the north and east, would be largely obstructed by the proposed Transit Center development. The proposed 10 story office buildings within the Transit Center would likely replace the BART station platform roof as a visual landmark identifying the station location. A less-than-significant impact would therefore result. Impact 4.1-4 iBART station identification): The BART station could become lilost" among the new, larger-scale developments, however, the proposed 10- story office towers would likely replace the existing BART station roof as the station landmark (less-than-significant). Light and glare The proposed Transit Center mixed-use project includes locating high density residential development directly adjacent to the Iron Horse Parkway from office buildings and a new five-story BART garage structure. There is a potential for lighting from non-residential uses to spill over onto residential areas, creating a nuisance for Transit Center residents. Although no specific development projects within the Transit Center have been formally presented to the City of Dublin for review, the actual level of impact from light and glare cannot be determined at this time. Impact 4.1-5 (light and glare): Implementation of the proposed project would generate new sources of light and glare within the Transit Center project from office building and parking structure lighting that could potentially intrude into adjacent residential units presenting a possible nuisance problem (significant). Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 38 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin Scenic corridor policies Unlike properties to the east, 1-580 adjacent to the proposed Transit Center project has not been designated by the City of Dublin as a scenic corridor, and the policies contained in the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor document are not necessarily relevant to the proposed project. As described above, the scenic corridor policies were adopted primarily to protect views of creek corridors and the "visually sensitive ridgelands" in eastern Dublin, as seen from 1-580, Tassajara Road and Fallon Road. Due to the existing BART station platform and tracks in the 1-580 median, the "visually sensitive ridgelands" identified in the scenic corridor policies are not visible from the portion of I -580 adjacent to the proposed project, nor are any of the identified creek corridors. Due to the height and foreground position of the BART platform and tracks in relationship to eastbound 1-580 travelers, buildings within the proposed Transit Center will largely be out-of-sight and will not block any views to the east. Westbound travelers are facing away from the "visually sensitive ridgelands" and therefore will not be affected. Therefore, the proposed project will not conflict with the Eastern Dublin scenic corridor policies. Impact 4.1-6 (scenic corridor policies): The proposed project could conflict with adopted City of Dublin policies contained in the Eastern Dublin Scenic Corridor Standards and Policies document (less-than-significant ). MITIGATION MEASURES The following mitigation measures are recommended to reduce potential aesthetic impacts to less-than-significant levels. Mitigation 4.1-1 (views and vistas): During the Site Development Review process for individual projects within the proposed Transit Center, encourage the inclusion of breaks and corridors between building clusters, especially along the north-south axis, so that some views of Mount Diablo are maintained, taking into account the need to block freeway noise and to create a compact transit- oriented development pattern Mitigation Measure 4.1-2 (light and glare): As a condition of Site Development Review for individual projects, the City of Dublin shall require submittal of lighting plans for all non-residential projects along Iron Horse Parkway to ensure that all exterior light fixtures will either be oriented downward or equipped with cut-off lenses to ensure that no spill-over of unwanted light onto adjacent residential areas shall occur. SIGNIFICANCE AFTER MITIGATION All visual and aesthetic impacts would be reduced to a less-than-significant level. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 39 July 2001 ~ ~ ~ '"' . 0 o N ~ ~ '"' '"' CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Exhibit Sa VISUAL SIMULATION: VIEW FROM BART STATION .... o o N ,., <ll " .... .... ~ J! ~ CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Exhibit.8b VISUAL SIMULATION: VIEW FROM HIGHWAY 580 ,.- " o o '" >. ~ :.: " " ~ ~ ...:: ~ SOURCE: Environmental Vision, January 2001 Exhibit Bc CITY OF DUBLIN DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT VISUAL SIMULATION: VIEW FROM THE CORNER OF DUBLIN BLVD. & IRON HORSE TRAil r- 4.2 AIR QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES This EIR section describes the impacts of the proposed project on local and regional air quality. [Note: The information contained in this section is based on an air quality analysis prepared by Donald Ballanti, Certified Meteorologist in January, 2001. The full text of this report is found in the Appendix). ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Air pollution climatology The project is within the Amador Valley, a part of the Livermore sub-regional air basin distinct from the larger San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. The Livermore sub-air basin is surrounded on all sides by high hills or mountains. Significant breaks in the hills surrounding the air basin are Niles Canyon and the San Ramon Valley, which extends northward into Contra Costa County. The terrain of the Amador Valley influences both the climate and air pollution potential of the sub-regional air basin. As an inland, protected valley, the area has generally lighter winds and a higher frequency of calm conditions when compared to the greater Bay Area. The occurrence of episodes of high atmospheric stability, known as inversion conditions, severely limits the ability of the atmosphere to disperse pollutants vertically. Inversions can be found during all seasons in the Bay Area, but are particularly prevalent in the summer months when they are present about 90% of the time in both morning and afternoon. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, air pollution potential is high in the Livermore-Amador Valley, especially for ozone in the summer and fall. High temperatures increase the potential for ozone, and the valley not only traps locally generated pollutants but can be the receptor of ozone and ozone precursors from upwind portions of the greater Bay Area. Transport of pollutants also occurs between the Livermore Valley and the San Joaquin Valley to the east. During the winter, the sheltering effect of terrain and its inland location results in frequent surface-based inversions. Under these conditions pollutants such as carbon monoxide from automobiles and particulate matter generated by fireplaces and agricultural burning can become concentrated. Ambient air quality standards Both the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have established ambient air quality standards for common Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 43 July 2001 pollutants. These ambient air quality standards are levels of contaminants which represent safe levels that avoid specific adverse health effects associated with each pollutant. The ambient air quality standards cover what are called "criteria" pollutants because the health and other effects of each pollutant are described in criteria documents. Table 3 (next page) identifies the major criteria pollutants, characteristics, health effects and typical sources. The federal and California ambient air quality standards are summarized in Table 4 for important pollutants. The federal and state ambient standards were developed independently with differing purposes and methods, although both federal and state standards are intended to avoid health-related effects. As a result, the federal and state standards differ in some cases. In general, the California state standards are more stringent. This is particularly true for ozone and PM10, Table 4. Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards Pollutant Averaging Federal State Time Primary Standard Standard Ozone 1- Hour 0.12 PPM 0.09 PPM 8- Hour 0.08 PPM -- Carbon Monoxide 8- Hour 9PPM 9.0 PPM 1- Hour 35 PPM 20.0 PPM Nitrogen Dioxide Annual Average 0.05 PPM -- 1- Hour -- 0.25 PPM Sulfur Dioxide Annual Average 0.03 PPM -- 24-Hour 0.14 PPM 0.05 PPM 1- Hour -- 0.25 PPM PMlO Annual Average 50 _g/m3 30 _g/m3 24- Hour 150 g/m3 50 g/m3 PM2.5 Annual 15 ~/m3 -- 24- Hour 65 _g/m3 -- PPM = Parts per Million _g/m3 = Micrograms per Cubic Meter Source: Donald Ballanti Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 44 July 2001 1 Major Criteria Pollutants Pollutant Characteristics Health Effects Major Sources Ozone A highly reactive photochemical pollutant Eye Irritation The major sources ozone precursors are created by the action of sunshine on ozone Respiratory function impairment. combustion sources such as factories and precursors (primarily reactive hydrocarbons and automobiles, and evaporation of solvents and oxides of nitrogen. Often called photochemical fuels. smog. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that Impairment of oxygen transport in the bloodstream. Automobile exhaust, combustion of fuels, is highly toxic. It is formed by the incomplete Aggravation of cardiovascular disease. combustion of wood in woodstoves and combustion of fuels. Fatigue, headache, confusion, dizziness. fireplaces. Can be fatal in the case of very high concentrations. Nitrogen Dioxide Reddish-brown gas that discolors the air, formed Increased risk of acute and chronic respiratory Automobile and diesel truck exhaust, during combustion. disease. industrial processes, fossil-fueled power nlants. Sulfur Dioxide Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent, Aggravation of chronic obstruction lung disease. Diesel vehicle exhaust, oil-powered power irritating odor. Increased risk of acute and chronic respiratory plants, industrial processes. disease. Particulate Solid and liquid particles of dust, soot, aerosols Aggravation of chronic disease and heart/lung Combustion, automobiles, field burning, Matter and other matter which are small enough to disease symptoms. factories and unpaved roads. Also a result of (PMIO/PM2s) remain suspended in the air for a long period of photochemical processes. time.. I Table 1: Page 45 July 2001 Source: Donald.Ballant Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin The U.s. Environmental Protection Agency in 1997 adopted new national air quality standards for ground-level ozone and for fine Particulate Matter. The existing 1-hour ozone standard of 0.12 PPM will be phased out and replaced by an 8-hour standard of 0.08 PPM. New national standards for fine Particulate Matter (diameter 2.5 microns or less) have also been established for 24-hour and annual averaging periods. The current PMlO standards were retained, but the method and form for determining compliance with the standards were revised. Implementation of the new ozone and Particulate Matter standards has been complicated by a lawsuit. On May 14, 1999 the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision ruling that the Clean Air Act as applied in setting the new public health standards for ozone and particulate matter, was unconstitutional as an improper delegation of legislative authority to the Environmental Protection Agency. The decision has been appealed, but the legal status of the new standards will probably remain uncertain for some time. Ambient Air Quality The project is within the nine-county Bay Area Air Basin. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) operates a network of air quality monitoring sites in the region, including one in central Livermore on Old First Street. Table 5 shows a summary of air quality data for this monitoring site for the period 1995-1999. Data are shown for ozone, carbon monoxide, PMlO and nitrogen dioxide. The number of days exceeding each standard are shown for each year. Table 5. Air Quality Data for Livermore, 1995-1999 Pollutant Standard Days Exceeding Standard In: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Ozone Federal I-Hour 7 8 0 6 2 Ozone State I-Hour 20 22 3 21 14 Ozone Federal 8-Hour 11 10 0 10 5 Carbon State/Federal 0 0 0 0 0 Monoxide 8-Hour PMlO State 24-Hour 6 6 12 12 18 PMlO Federal 24-Hour 1 0 0 0 0 0 Nitrogen State I-Hour 0 0 0 0 0 Dioxide (1) Measurements of PM-10 are made every sixth day, Data is the estimate number of days that the standard would have been exceeded had measurements been collected every day. Source: Air Resources Board Aerometric Data Analysis and Management System (ADAM) Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 46 July 2001 Table 5 shows that concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide at the Livermore monitoring site meet state/federal standards. Ozone concentrations exceed both the state and federal standards, and exhibit wide variations from year-to-year related to meteorological conditions. Years where the summer months tend to be warmer than average tend to have higher average ozone concentrations while years with cooler than average temperatures tend to have lower average ozone concentrations. Levels of PMlO at Livermore meet the federal ambient standards but exceed the more stringent state standard. Attainment status The federal Clean Air Act and the California Clean Air Act of 1988 require that the State Air Resources Board, based on air quality monitoring data, designate air basins within the state where the federal or state ambient air quality standards are not met as "nonattainment areas." Because of the differences between the federal and state standards, the designation of nonattainment areas is different under the federal and state legislation. The Bay Area is currently a nonattainment area for the federal1-hour ozone standard. Under the California Clean Air Act the Bay Area is a nonattainment area for ozone and PMlO. To meet federal Clean Air Act requirements, the District has adopted an Ozone Attainment Demonstration Plan. In addition, to meet California Clean Air Act requirements, the District has also adopted and updated a Clean Air Plan addressing the California ozone standard. The control strategy contained in these plans include new limits on emissions from industry, prohibitions on sources of hydrocarbons, regional transit and HOV programs, buy back programs for older vehicles and educational programs. The California Legislature, when it passed the California Clean Air Act in 1988, recognized the relative intractability of the PMlO problem with respect to the state ambient standard and excluded it from the basic planning requirements of the Act. The Act did require the CARB to prepare a report to the Legislature regarding the prospect of achieving the State ambient air quality standard for PMlO. This report recommended a menu of actions, but did not recommend imposing a planning process similar to that for ozone or other pollutants for achievement of the standard within a certain period of time. Sensitive Receptors The Bay Area Air Quality Management District defines sensitive receptors as facilities where sensitive receptor population groups (children, the elderly, the acutely ill and the chronically ill) are likely to located. These land uses include residences, schools playgrounds, child-care centers, retirement homes, convalescent homes, hospitals and medical clinics. There are no such sensitive receptors in the project vicinity. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 47 July 2001 STANDARDS OF SIGNIFICANCE The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's document BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines (BAAQMD, June, 1999) establishes thresholds of significance for construction and operation phases of projects. The BAAQMD significance threshold for construction dust impacts is based on the appropriateness of construction dust controls. The BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines provide feasible control measures for construction emission of PMlOo If the appropriate construction controls are to be implemented, then air pollutant emissions for construction activities would be considered less-than-significant. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's document BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines establishes the following significance criteria for the operation of projects: · A project contributing to carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations exceeding the State Ambient Air Quality Standard of 9 parts per million (ppm) averaged over 8 hours or 20 ppm for 1 hour would be considered to have a significant impact. · A project that generates criteria air pollutant emissions in excess of the BAAQMD annual or daily thresholds would be considered to have a significant air quality impact, both singularly and cumulatively. The current thresholds are 15 tons/year or 80 pounds/ day for Reactive Organic Gases (ROG), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) or PMlO. · Any project with the potential to frequently expose members of the public to objectionable odors would be deemed to have a significant impact. · Any project with the potential to expose sensitive receptors or the general public to substantial levels of toxic air contaminants would be deemed to have a significant impact. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Three potential air quality impacts are identified: short term construction impacts, long term operational impacts and cumulative regional impacts. Short term construction impacts Construction dust would affect local and regional air quality at various times during the build-out period of the Project. The dry, windy climate of the area during the summer months combined with the fine, silty soils of the region create a high potential for dust generation. Emissions during the grading phase of construction are primarily associated with the exhaust of large earth moving equipment and the dust which is generated through grading activities. Emissions in later stages of construction are primarily associated with construction employee commute vehicles, asphalt pavingJ mobile equipment, stationary equipment, and architectural coatings. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Page 48 Draft Environmental Impact Report July 2001 City of Dublin The effects of construction activities would be increased dustfall and locally elevated levels of PMlO near the construction activity. Depending on the weather, soil conditions, the amount of activity taking place, and nature of dust control efforts, these impacts could affect existing or future residential areas within or near the project. Impact 4.2-1 (construction impacts): The effects of project construction activities would be increased dustfall and locally elevated levels of PM10 downwind of construction activity. Construction dust has the potential for creating a nuisance at nearby properties (potentially significant). Local impacts from carbon monoxide The project would generate onsite and offsite traffic volumes, increasing local levels of carbon monoxide. To assess the magnitude of impact on local carbon monoxide levels, a screening form of the CALINE-4 computer simulation model was used. The screening procedure was applied to six selected intersections in the project vicinity to estimate future carbon monoxide levels in the area. The assessment of local impacts is conducted through dispersion modeling to evaluate the concentration of particular pollutants on nearby receptors. This approach is used for carbon monoxide, which unlike other criteria pollutants, does not disperse readily over wide areas and is therefore more appropriately examined nearer the source. For this report, carbon monoxide concentrations are modeled at selected intersections (where two separate roadway sources come together, resulting in the highest localized concentrations) and compared against the state standard for one-hour and eight-hour periods of 20 parts per million (ppm) and 9 ppm, respectively. ~... The CALINE-4 screening procedure provides estimates of maximum one- and eight-hour concentrations, corresponding to the one- and eight-hour averaging times specified in the state and federal ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide. Table 4 lists the results of the CALINE-4 analysis for the peak one- hour and eight-hour traffic periods in parts per million (ppm) for existing conditions and in 2005 with and without the proposed project. A cumulative run was also made with the assumption of construction of the project and other cumulative development in 2025, based on the traffic impact analysis conducted by Omni-Means for this EIR. ;'<.."'- i,..:.;.:;J The predicted future one-hour concentration values in Table 6 are to be compared to the federal one-hour standard of 35 ppm and the state standard of 20 ppm. The predicted eight-hour concentration values in Table 6 are to be compared to the state and federal standard of 9.0 ppm. Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 49 July 2001 Table 6. Worst Case Carbon Monoxide Concentrations Near Selected Intersections, in PPM --' Intersection Existing (2001) Background Proj ect Cumulative + 1-Hr 8-Hr (2005) (2005) Project (2025) 1-Hr 8-Hr 1-Hr 8-Hr 1Hr 8-Hr Tassajara/ 6.5 3.3 6.7 4.0 6.7 4.1 5.9 3.5 Dublin Hacienda/ 6.2 3.7 7.0 4.3 7.8 4.9 6.2 3.8 WB 1-580 Ramps Dublin/ 6.4 3.8 6.5 3.9 6.9 4.2 5.7 3.4 Hacienda Dublin/ 6.3 3.7 6.1 3.7 6.3 3.8 5.2 3.1 Arnold Iron Horse / 6.1 3.6 6.1 3.6 6.3 3.8 5.5 3.3 Dub lin Dublin/ 8.2 5.1 7.4 4.6 7.8 4.8 6.3 3.9 Dougherty Most Stringent 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 Standard Source: Donald Ballanti -' Concentrations for existing conditions at the intersections studied are below the state/federal standards. With the addition of traffic from approved ang pending development in the year 2005 concentrations are in some cases above and some cases below existing concentrations, but in all cases are well below the state / federal standards. :~'; Table 6 indicates that the project would increase local carbon monoxide concentrations by up to 0.8 ppm for the one-hour averaging time and up to 0.6 ppm for the eight-hour averaging time, but levels would remain below the state and federal standards. The project impact on long-term local air quality is therefore considered less than significant. Table 6 also shows concentrations in the year 2025 with project and cumulative traffic increases. Year 2025 concentrations are projected to be below current concentrations, despite increased traffic volumes and congestion, due to the --~ Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 50 July 2001 - - - Table 1: Existing Land Use - Site Area Ownershill General Plan Zonina Existina Use Desianation PM 7395 Parcel 1 8.29 ACSPA Public Lands I Aariculture Vacant/Interim Parkinc PM 7395 Parcel 2 8.96 ACSPA Public Lands Aariculture Vacant PM 7395 Parcel 3 8.73 ACSPA Public Lands Aariculture Vacant PM 7395 Parcel 4 35.83 ACSPA Public Lands Aariculture Vacant PM 7395 Parcel A 15.01 BART Public Lands Aariculture BART Parkina Street Riaht of wav~ 13.83 Dublin NA NA Streets Total 90.65 .. - - - - - - - - - - - - 11/2212000 - .. Proposed Land Use Site Area Area Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed Proposed1 Additional I (ar. ae.) I (net ae.) S.P. Land Use Sa.Ft. Units FAR (ar) Density (ar FAR (net) Density-(n' Retail Sa.Ft Units A 10.92 8.29 Hiah Density Res. 530 - 49 64 B 12.00 8.10 Hiah Density Res. 565 47 70 10000 C 8.58 5.80 Hiah Density Res. 405 47 70 20 000 D-12.3 3.50 2.50 Campus Office 170 000 1.12 1.56 15.000 D-2 17.32 12.10 Camous Office 830 000 1.10 1.57 E-12 6.28 4.10 Campus Office 260.000 0.95 1.46 15000 300 E-2 11.20 7.70 Campus Office 490.000 1.00 1.46 F 12.20 8.73 Camous Office 250.000 0.47 0.66 PISP 8.65 7.93 Public/Semi-Public 10000 Total 90.65 65.25 2,000.000 1,500 70,000 300 Summary 90.65 65.25 albIc 31.50 22.19 Hiah Density Res. 1.500 48 68 30.000 d/elf 50.50 35.13 Camous Office 2 000 000 0.91 1.31 30,000 300 plsp 8.65 7.93 Public/Semi-Public NA 10.000 Notes 1. Ancillarv retail sauare footaae is in addition to proposed Campus Office. Residential or Public Use. and would be limited to local-servina uses in around floor soace alona Iron Horse Parkwav. " 2. Sites D-1 and E-1 would be "flex" parcels. and could be developed with UP to a total of 300 units of residential development. 3. A hotel or mixed-use hotel/office proiect is encouraaed on Site D-1' that could share off-hour BART oarkina. 11/22/2000 Table 2: APPENDIX 1 PROPOSED TEXT FOR DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER EASTERN DUBLIN SPECIFIC PLAN The Eastern Dublin Specific Plan currently is divided into 10 subareas, each with its own land use concept and community design guidelines. The proposed Dublin Transit Center amendment to the Specific Plan will add the 90 acre Transit Village Center as an 11th subarea, with its own guidelines. The following text follows the format of the Specific Plan: Chapter 4: Land Use (page 43) 4.9.10 TRANSIT VILLAGE CENTER LOCATION The Transit Village Center subarea comprises the southwesternmost comer of the planning area, directly adjacent to the East Dublin!Pleasanton BART station, in the area north ofI-580, west of Arnold Road, south of Camp Parks and east of the Southern Pacific right-of-way. LAND USE CONCEPT The Transit Village Center subarea is intended to maximize the transit opportunities presented by the BART station and the associated bus hub by creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly and high-density mix of office, residential and retail uses all within easy walking distance of the BART station. Densities within the subarea are the highest planned for the Specific Plan, with residential densities averaging 50 units to the acre, and office densities proposed to be over 1.0 FAR. To accommodate these densities, office buildings of up to 10 stories will be permitted, helping to make the BART station area a visual focal point for the entire Tri. Valley area. Parking will be primarily accommodated by garages, including a new BART parking garage to replace much of the existing surface parking lots. ,- Because of the area's high visibility, architectural elements within the subarea should present a high-profile, quality image. To encourage transit use, standards in the subarea should be pedestrian-friendly by requiring short blocks, reduced parking requirements, . minimal building setbacks, on-street parking, and wide sidewalks. Ancillary retail and service uses that will offer convenient goods and services to subarea residents,-employees and commuters are encouraged as a ground-floor use in the center of the subarea to add vitality to the street. .. . - Densi .91 48 - - Chapter 7: Community Design - 7.6 TRANSIT VILLAGE CENTER The guiding design concept for the Transit Village Center subarea is to maximize use of regional transit opportunities and minimize reliance on the auto by creating a vibrant, high-density, compact, pedestrian-friendly environment that serves the daily needs of subarea residents, employees and commuters, As a regional transit hub and geographic center of the Livermore/Amador Valley, the subarea should provide a visual focal point for the surrounding area, - .. - FORM Development should be urban and compact, with a highly interconnected pattern of streets that accommodates the movement of vehicles while enhancing opportunities for pedestrian and bicycle circulation, - - BUILDING SITING Buildings should be located adjacent to the sidewalks, with no street setbacks, and be oriented toward the street to create a well-defined, pedestrian-scaled and more intimate street space, Building massing should be broken up so that there are opportunities for pedestrian movement between larger street blocks and to create visual interest. Ancillary retail and service uses, such as restaurants, cafes, and banks should be encouraged as a ground-floor use along and near Iron Horse Parkway. - .. .. Due to high levels of traffic noise from 1-580 and, to a lesser extent, Dublin Boulevard, buildings adjacent to these roads should be sited and designed to act as noise shields for the rest of the subarea. It is especially important to shield open spaces and gathering places by placing buildings between these areas and the freeway. . .. . 2 .. . . Building landscape setbacks from the sidewalk/street right-of-way along Digital Drive, DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway are discouraged. . Landscape setbacks for parking garages and along Arnold, Campus and Dublin Boulevard are permitted. . Public utility easements should be located within the street or sidewalk area to limit the need for building setbacks. . Sideyard setbacks are not required. . Residential and commercial development may be set back from Dublin Boulevard due to the high volume of traffic on the street. BUILDING HEIGHT Buildings should be of a height to enclose the street space, giving it a more intimate scale. In general, buildings adjacent to 1-580 and closer to the BART station should be higher to emphasize the transit center as a major regional focal point and to maximize densities as close to the station as possible. . Maximum building heights: High Density Residential: 5 stories over parking Campus Office: 6 stories north of Dublin Boulevard (Site F) 8 stories south of Dublin Boulevard (Sites E-1 and E-2) 10 stories adjacent to 1-580 (Sites D-1 and D-2) BUILDING TYPES Mixed use buildings are strongly encouraged, especially along Iron Horse Parkway. Both residential and office buildings along this street should accommodate ground-floor ancillary retail and service uses that provide convenient goods and services to employees, residents, and BART commuters. A hotel, or mixed-use hotel/office development on Site D-1 is encouraged that would provide ground-floor service uses and could share parking facilities with the adjacent BART garage. Residential and commercial architecture should be varied in form and style to provide visual interest and to avoid long, monotonous facades along pedestrian-orientid streets. ENTRIES Building entries should be sited to promote sidewalk activity and to maximize pedestrian use of adjacent streets. 3 - - · Locate ground-floor retail and service uses so that they front on Iron Horse Parkway and are clustered so that long stretches of "dead" street frontage are avoided. Encourage uses, such as cafes, that can "spill out" onto the adjacent sidewalks. - · Site major building entries and lobbies so that they are visible and accessible from the street, not just parking areas. .. · Design residential units with balconies and windows affording views of the street to create the security of "eyes on the street". .. PARKING .. Parking standards should be reduced as much as possible to encourage the use of public transit. Most parking should be provided in garages and located so that street frontages are not dominated by it. - · Require 1.5 parking spaces per unit for residential uses, and 3 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet for office uses. Utilize parking studies from other transit-oriented developments to encourage developments with lower ratios. .. .. · Reduce the site area needed for off-street parking by allowing curbside parking space around the project perimeter to count toward the project's parking requirements. .. · Establish a means of discouraging BART patrons from utilizing on-street and nearby residential and office parking by enforcing on-street parking limitations and providing secure parking garages. .. · Encourage the use of parking garages and minimize on-site surface parking. Locate and design garages so that they do not distract from the pedestrian experience by "wrapping" residential units around them, fronting them with retail uses, or other means. .. .. · Encourage shared-use of residential and office parking facilities with ground- floor retail and service users to provide adequate parking to encourage retail development along Iron Horse Parkway. .. · Encourage shared-use of BART garage parking with hotellconfere~ce/evening entertainment venues - CIRCULATION - The internal street system should be designed so that it accommodates the movement of vehicles, at relatively slow speeds and high congestion, while enhancing the pedestrian expenence. - 4 .. . . Utilize street and intersection standards that minimize the width of streets (curb-to-curb), and the distance between intersections. Permit a lower Level of Service (LOS) for intersections if it will limit street widths. Limit corner radii to reduce the distance pedestrians must travel to cross intersections. . Develop wide sidewalks along Iron Horse Parkway to accommodate pedestrian circulation, window shopping, outdoor merchandising and cafes. Encourage the development of sidewalk cafes and indoor/outdoor restaurants as ground-floor uses that "spill out" onto the sidewalk along this street. . Provide wide sidewalks, pedestrian-scale lighting, seating and other amenities on all Transit Center streets to encourage and accommodate pedestrian circulation from the office blocks to the retail area and to BART. . Create a logical, well-marked bicycle lane system that provides access to the BART station, the Iron Horse Trail, the East-West Trail located along the north side of Dublin Boulevard, and development within the subarea. OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Because of the relatively small size of the subarea and the desire to maximize densities within the subarea to encourage transit use, large public open space areas are discouraged. Instead, a series of public and/or private plazas, greens, and corridors should be developed that provide recreational amenities and social gathering spots for residents, workers and commuters. A pedestrian and bike trail system will provide safe and convenient access to nearby parks and schools within Eastern Dublin. . Provide a central "village green" for the residential area that provides a common meeting and gathering place for area residents that is shielded from freeway noise and wind by intervening buildings. Connect the village green to the BART station via pedestrian corridors through adjacent residential development. . Provide pedestrian corridors and open plazas within large office developments to break up building masses and to provide convenient walking access to all parts of the subarea and adjacent areas. . Create a small public "square", through building placement and landscaping, near the entrance to the East Dublin/Pleasanton BART station that can serve as a meeting or gathering place. Utilize water or other features to reduce the negative impact of freeway noise. :5 ... APPENDIX 2 - DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER PROPOSED WNING AND USES .. Zoning: The Transit Center is proposed to be rezoned from "Agriculture" to a Stage I PDITC (planned DevelopmentlTransit Cener) Zoning District. This is a mixed-use zoning district which provides for transit- oriented campus office, multi-family residential, and public/semi-public uses. Some ground floor district- serving retail and service uses are envisioned occupying ground-floor space in key areas. (General/ Specific Plan land use designations are as follows: Campus Office, High Density Residential, Public/Semi- Public) .. .. Permitted and Conditional Uses: - L Permitted Uses: The following are permitted for this PDITC (planned Development Transit Center) zoning district: .. 1) Campus Office uses on Sites 0-1, D-2, E-l, E-2 and F; including: Administrative headquarters Ancillary retail and service uses, as described below Business and commercial services Business, professional and administrative offices Hotel Laboratory Light manufacturing that is ancillary to office uses and conducted without off site noise or odor impacts Research and development .. .. .. - 2) High Density Residential uses on Sites A, B, C, including: Accessory structures and uses Ancillary retail and service uses, as described below Community care facility/small Home occupations (per Chapter 8.64 of the Dublin Zoning Ordinance) Multi-family dwelling Parking garage Private recreation facility (for homeowners' association and/or tenants use only) Small family day care home 3) Public/Semi-Public uses on P/SP sites, including: Community Center Performing Arts Center Transit Support Facilities Parking (Structured and Non-structured) Ancillary retail and service uses, as described below .. - - .. .. .. .. .. 4) Ancillary Retail and Service Uses: Mixed use developments including local- serving dining, retail and service uses as a ground-floor use may be permitted at a Stage 2 Planned Development if the following conditions are met: a) The retail and service uses are primarily oriented towards, and provide convenient goods and services within easy walking distance for transit center residents, employees and commuters that they would otherwise have to travel elsewhere for. b) The development is designed to enhance the pedestrian environment by orienting entrances and windows towards the street. c) The project is consistent with the intent of the Specific Plan and does not result in adverse environmental or service impacts. d) Permitted uses include, but are not limited to: Eating, drinking and entertainment establishments, such as: Bagel shop Cafe Coffee house Delicatessen Ice cream/yogurt) Micro-brewery Outdoor seating Restaurant (serving alcohol permitted) (no drive-through allowed) Theater - indoor (Dinner, Movie, Live Play, etc.) r-- Local-serving retail uses including but not limited to: Art gallery/supply store Auto parts Bakery Bicycle shop Book store Clothing store Computers/electronic equipment Drug store Florist/plant shop Gift shop Hardware Hobby shop Home appliances Jewelry store Liquor store Music store Newspapers and magazines Paint, glass and wallpaper store Parking lot/garage - commercial Party supplies Pet store and supplies Photographic supply store Picture framing shop ? - Shoe store Specialty food store/grocery/supermarket including meat, fish, wine, candy, health food, etc. Specialty goods including cooking supplies, housewares, linen, window coverings, china/glassware, etc. Sporting goods Stationary/office supplies Toy store Variety store Video Store \lIIIliI .. .. .. Local-serving service uses including but not limited to: Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) Bank, savings and loan and other financial institutions Barber/beauty shop/nail salon Copying and printing Dry cleaner (no plant on premises) Laundromat Locksmith Medical Clinic Photographic studio Professional offices including; accounting, architectural, dental, engineering, legal, medical, optometry, etc. Photographic studio Real estate/title office Shoe repair Tailor Travel Agency Watch and clock repair .. .. - .. . - II. Conditional Uses: The following uses would need to be approved by the Planning Commission: Bar Community care facility/large Day care center Hospitallmedical center Nightclub Religious facility Schoollprivate .. - .. .. ill. Temporary Uses: The following uses are permitted on a temporary basis: Sales office/model home complex/rental office . Temporary construction trailer - .. 1 - - Appendix 8.4 Air Quality Analysis Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 210 July 2001 AIR QUALITY IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR THE PROPOSED DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER, CITY OF DUBLIN Prepared for: Jerry Haag, Urban Planner 2029 University Avenue Berkeley, CA. 94704 January 2001 Donald Ballanti Certified Consulting Meteorologist 1424 Scott Street / El Cerrito, California 94530 / (510) 234-6087 / Fax: (510) 232-7752 I. SETTING AIR POLLUTION CLIMATOLOGY The project is within the Amador Valley, a part of the Livermore sub-regional air basin distinct from the larger San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. The Livermore sub-air basin is surrounded on all sides by high hills or mountains. Significant breaks in the hills surrounding the air basin are Niles Canyon and the San Ramon Valley, which extends . northward into Contra Costa County. The terrain of the Amador Valley influences both the climate and air pollution potential of the sub-regional air basin. As an inland, protected valley, the area has generally lighter winds and a higher frequency of calm conditions when compared to the greater Bay Area. The occurrence of episodes of high atmospheric stability, known as inversion conditions, severely limits the ability of the atmosphere to disperse pollutants vertically. I nversions can be found during all seasons in the Bay Area, but are particularly prevalent in the summer months when they are present about 90% of the time in both morning and afternoon. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, air pollution potential is high in the Livermore-Amador Valley, especially for ozone in the summer and fal1.1 High temperatures increase the potential for ozone, and the valley not only traps locally generated pollutants but can be the receptor of ozone and ozone precursors from upwind portions of the greater Bay Area. Transport of pollutants also occurs between the Livermore Valley and the San Joaquin Valley to the east. -~~ During the winter, the sheltering effect of terrain and its inland location results in frequent surface-based inversions. Under these conditions pollutants such as carbon monoxide from automobiles and particulate matter generated by fireplaces and agricultural burning can become concentrated. AIR POLLUTANTS AND AMBIENT STANDARDS Both the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have established ambient air quality standards for common pollutants. These ambient air quality standards are levels of contaminants which represent safe levels that avoid specific adverse health effects associated with each pollutant. The ambient air quality standards cover what are called "criteria" pollutants because the health and other effects of each pollutant are described in criteria documents. Table 1 identifies the major criteria IBay Area Air Quality Management District, BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines, April 1996 (Revised 1999). 1 pollutants, characteristics, health effects and typical sources. The federal and California ambient air quality standards are summarized in Table 2 for important pollutants. The federal and state ambient standards were developed independently with differing purposes and methods, although both federal and state standards are intended to avoid health-related effects. As a result, the federal and state standards differ in some cases. In general, the California state standards are more stringent. This is particularly true for ozone and PMlOo The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1997 adopted new national air quality standards for ground-level ozone and for fine Particulate Matter. The existing 1-hour ozone standard of 0.12 PPM will be phased out and replaced by an 8-hour standard of 0.08 PPM. New national standards for fine Particulate Matter (diameter 2.5 microns or less) have also been established for 24-hour and annual averaging periods. The current PMlO standards were retained, but the method and form for determining compliance with the standards were revised. Implementation ofthe new ozone and Particulate Matter standards has been complicated by a lawsuit. On May 14, 1999 the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision ruled that the Clean Air Act as applied in setting the new public health standards for ozone and particulate matter, was unconstitutional as an improper delegation of legislative authority to the Environmental Protection Agency. The decision has been appealed, but the legal status of the new standards will probably remain uncertain for some time. CURRENT AIR QUALITY The project is within the nine-county Bay Area Air Basin. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) operates a network of air quality monitoring sites in the region, including one in central Livermore on Old First Street. Table 3 shows a summary of air quality data for this monitoring site for the period 1995-1999. Data are shown for ozone, carbon monoxide, PM10 and nitrogen dioxide. The number of days exceeding each standard are shown for each year. Table 3 shows that concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide at the Livermore monitoring site meet state/federal standards. Ozone concentrations exceed both the state and federal standards, and exhibit wide variations from year-to-year related to meteorological conditions. Years where the summer months tend to be warmer than average tend to have higher average ozone concentrations while years with cooler than average temperatures tend to have lower average ozone concentrations. Levels of PM10 at Livermore meet the federal ambient standards but exceed the more 2 - - - . - - .. - - - p - \ ... ~ .. - - - .. " I ~ .1 . i 3 ,1 t: Pollutant Characteristics Health Effects Major Sources Ozone A highly reactive photochemical pollutant eEye Irritation The major sources ozone precursors are created by the action of sunshine on ozone .Respiratory function impairment. combustion sources such as factories and precursors (primarily reactive hydrocarbons and automobiles, and evaporation of solvents and oxides of nitrogen. Often called photochemical fuels. smog. Carbon Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas elmpairment of oxygen transport In the Automobile exhaust, combustion of fuels, Monoxide that is highly toxic. It is formed by the incomplete bloodstream. combustion of wood in woodstoves and combustion of fuels. eAggravation of cardiovascular disease. fireplaces. .Fatigue, headache, confusion, dizziness. eCan be fatal in the case of very high concentrations. Nitrogen Dioxide Reddish-brown gas that discolors the air, formed .Increased risk of acute and chronic respiratory Automobile and diesel truck exhaust, during combustion. disease. industrial processes, fossil.fueled power plants. Sulfur Dioxide Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent, eAggravation of chronic obstruction lung disease. Diesel vehicle exhaust, oil-powered power irritating odor. elncreased risk of acute and chronic respiratory plants, industrial processes. disease. Particulate Solid and liquid particles of dust, soot, aerosols eAggravation of chronic disease and heart/lung Combustion, automobiles, field burning, Matter and other matter which are small enough to disease symptoms. factories and unpaved roads. Also a result of (PM1JPM25) remain suspended in the air for a long period of photochemical processes. time. Table 1 Major Criteria Pollutants - Table 2: Federal and State Ambient Air Quality Standards - Pollutant Averaging Federal State Time Primary Standard Standard Ozone 1-Hour 0.12 PPM 0.09 PPM 8-Hour 0.08 PPM -- Carbon Monoxide 8-Hour 9PPM 9.0 PPM 1-Hour 35 PPM 20.0 PPM Nitrogen Dioxide Annual Average 0.05 PPM -- 1-Hour -- 0.25 PPM Sulfur Dioxide Annual Average 0.03 PPM -- 24-Hour 0.14 PPM 0.05 PPM 1-Hour -- 0.25 PPM PM10 Annual Average 50 ~g/m3 30 ~g/m3 24-Hour 150 ~g/m3 50 ~g/m3 PM2.5 Annual 15 ~g/m3 -- 24-Hour 65 ua/m3 -- - - .. .. - - '. .. PPM = Parts per Million ~g/m3 = Micrograms per Cubic Meter SIlIIi - - - - - - 4 - . Table 3: Air Quality Data for Livermore, 1995-1999 Days Exceeding Standard In: Pollutant Standard 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Ozone Federal 1-Hour 7 8 0 6 2 Ozone State 1-Hour 20 22 3 21 14 Ozone Federal 8-Hour 11 10 0 10 5 Carbon State/Federal 0 0 0 0 0 Monoxide 8-Hour PM1Q State 24-Hour1 6 6 12 12 18 PM10 Federal 24-Hour1 0 0 0 0 0 Nitrogen State 1-Hour 0 0 0 0 0 Dioxide Source: Air Resources Board Aerometric Data Analysis and Management System (ADAM) IMeasurements of PM10 are made every sixth day. Data is the estimate number of days that the standard would have been exceeded had measurements been collected every day. 5 stringent state standard. ATTAINMENT STATUS The federal Clean Air Act and the California Clean Air Act of 1988 require that the State Air Resources Board, based on air quality monitoring data, designate air basins within the state where the federal or state ambient air quality standards are not met as "nonattainment areas". Because of the differences between the federal and state standards, the designation of nonattainment areas is different under the federal and state legislation. The Bay Area is currently a "nonattainment area" for the federal 1-hour ozone standard. Under the California Clean Air Act the Bay Area is a nonattainment area for ozone and PM1o. To meet federal Clean Air Act requirements, the District has adopted an Ozone Attainment Demonstration Plan.1 In addition, to meet California Clean Air Act requirements, the District has also adopted and updated a Clean Air Plan addressing the California ozone standard.2 The control strategy contained in these plans include new limits on emissions from industry, prohibitions on sources of hydrocarbons, regional transit and HOV programs, buy back programs for older vehicles and educational programs. The California Legislature, when it passed the California Clean Air Act in 1988, recognized the relative intractability of the PM10 problem with respect to the state ambient standard and excluded it from the basic planning requirements of the Act. The Act did require the CARB to prepare a report to the Legislature regarding the prospect of achieving the State ambient air quality standard for PMlO. This report recommended a menu of actions, but did not recommend imposing a planning process similar to that for ozone or other pollutants for achievement of the standard within a certain period of time. SENSITIVE RECEPTORS - - .. \ - - - - - - - 'fill' - .. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District defines sensitive receptors as facilities where sensitive receptor population groups (children, the elderly, the acutely ill and the chronically ill) are likely to located. These land uses include residences, schools - playgrounds, child care centers, retirement homes, convalescent homes, hospitals and IBay Area Air Quality Management District et. aI., San Francisco Bay Ozone Attainment Plan for the 1-Hour National Ozone Standard, June 1999. 2Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Proposed Final Bay Area 2000 Clean Air Plan, December 6, 2000. 6 , - .. - .. . medical clinics. There are no such sensitive receptors in the project vicinity. II. IMPACTS SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's document BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines1 establishes thresholds of significance for construction and operation phases of projects; The BAAQMD significance threshold for construction dust impacts is based on the appropriateness of construction dust controls. The BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines provide feasible control measures for construction emission of PM1O. If the appropriate construction controls are to be implemented, then air pollutant emissions for construction activities would be considered less-than-significant. - The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's document BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines establishes the following significance criteria for the operation of projects: . A project contributing to carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations exceeding the State. Ambient Air Quality Standard of 9 parts per million (ppm) averaged over 8 hours or 20 ppm for 1 hour would be considered to have a significant impact. . A project that generates criteria air pollutant emissions in excess of the BAAQMD annual or daily thresholds would be considered to have a significant air quality impact, :-'" both singularly and cumulatively. The current thresholds are 15 tons/year or 80 pounds/day for Reactive Organic Gases (ROG), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) or PM1O. . Any project with the potential to frequently expose members of the public to objectionable odors would be deemed to have a significant impact. . Any project with the potential to expose sensitive receptors or the general public to substantial levels of toxic air contaminants would be deemed to have a significant impact. CONSTRUCTION-RELATED IMPACTS Construction dust would affect local and regional air quality at various times during the build-out period of the Project. The dry, windy climate of the area during the summer IBay Area Air Quality Management District, BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines, April 1996 (Revised 1999). 7 months combined with the fine, silty soils of the region create a high potential for dust generation. Emissions during the grading phase of construction are primarily associated with the exhaust of large earth moving equipment and the dust which is generated through grading activities. Emissions in later stages of construction are primarily associated with construction employee commute vehicles, asphalt paving, mobile equipment, stationary equipment, and architectural coatings. The effects of construction activities would be increased dustfall and locally elevated levels of PM10 near the construction activity. Depending on the weather, soil conditions, the amount of activity taking place, and nature of dust control efforts, these impacts could affect existing or future residential areas within or nearthe project. Consequently, project construction dust generation is considered to be a potentially significant adverse impact. LONG-TERM LOCAL AIR QUALITY EFFECTS The project would generate on site and offsite traffic volumes, increasing local levels of carbon monoxide. To assess the magnitude of impact on local carbon monoxide levels, a screening form of the CALlNE-4 computer simulation model was used. The screening procedure was applied to six selected intersections in the project vicinity to estimate future carbon monoxide levels in the area. A discussion of the methodology used in the CALlNE-4 modeling is provided in Attachment 1. The CALlNE-4 screening procedure provides estimates of maximum one- and eight-hour concentrations, corresponding to the one- and eight-hour averaging times specified in the state and federal ambient air quality standards for carbon monoxide. Table 4 lists the results of the CALlNE-4 analysis for the peak one-hour and eight-hour traffic periods in parts per million (ppm) for existing conditions and in 2005 with and without the proposed project. A cumulative run was also made with the assumption of construction ofthe project and other cumulative development in 2025. The predicted future one-hour concentration values in Table 4 are to be compared to the federal one-hour standard of 35 ppm and the state standard of 20 ppm. The predicted eight-hour concentration values in Table 4 are to be compared to the state and federal standard of 9.0 ppm. Concentrations for existing conditions at the intersections studied are below the state/federal standards. With the addition of traffic from approved an pending development in the year 2005 concentrations are in some cases above and some cases below existing concentrations, but in all cases are well below the state/federal standards. Table 4 indicates that the project would increase local carbon monoxide concentrations. by up to 0.8 ppm for the one-hour averaging time and up to 0.6 ppm for the eight-hour averaging time, but levels would remain below the state and federal standards. The project 8 r.. .. 11!1!' .. - .,., - - - .. I.' .. - '" .. JIll - - 11II ,-. Table 4: Worst Case Carbon Monoxide Concentrations Near Selected Intersections, in PPM .-.; Intersection Existing Background1 Project Cumulative + (2001 ) (2005) (2005) Project 1-Hr 8-Hr 1-Hr 8-Hr 1-Hr 8- (2025) Hr 1Hr 8-Hr Tassajara/ 6.5 3.3 6.7 4.0 6.7 4.1 5.9 3.5 Dublin Hacienda/ 6.2 3.7 7.0 4.3 7.8 4.9 6.2 3.8 WB 1-580 Ramps Dublin/ 6.4 3.8 6.5 3.9 6.9 4.2 5.7 3.4 Hacienda Dublin/ 6.3 3.7 6.1 3.7 6.3 3.8 5.2 3.1 Arnold Iron Horse/ 6.1 3.6 6.1 3.6 6.3 3.8 5.5 3.3 Dublin Dublin/ 8.2 5.1 7.4 4.6 7.8 4.8 6.3 3.9 Dougherty Most Stringent 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 20.0 9.0 Standard ,.,...,0", -"- ".,..::" Ilncludes approved and pending projects. 9 impact on long-term local air quality is therefore considered less than significant. Table 4 also shows concentrations in the year 2025 with project and cumulative traffic increases. Year 2025 concentrations are projected to be below current concentrations, despite increased traffic volumes and congestion, due to the gradual decline in emission rates from vehicles as older, more polluting, cars are retired and replaced with new, cleaner, cars. This trend of reduced emissions from vehicles has resulted in continual reductions in measured concentrations of this pollutant in the Bay Area for the past 20 years, and this trend is expected to continue. The project's cumulative impact on carbon monoxide concentrations is considered to be less than significant. REGIONAL AIR QUALITY EFFECTS Vehicle trips generated by project land uses would result in air pollutant emissions affecting the entire San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin. Estimates of regional air emissions generated by project traffic were made using the URBEMIS-7G computer program. Table 5 indicates the estimated incremental daily emissions associated with project-related traffic for reactive organic gases and oxides of nitrogen (two precursors of ozone) and PM10, Commercial and residential uses also contain a number of intermittent area sources of air pollution. The term "area" source relates to the dispersed nature of these sources. Aerosol products, household paints and solvents, gardening equipment, space/water heating and residential wood burning are examples of area sources. These sources are typically very small compared to transportation emissions. BAAQMD CEQA guidelines do not recommend quantification of these emissions sources, and the significance of project impacts is to be based on transportation emissions alone. Guidelines for the evaluation of project impacts issued by the BAAQMD consider emission increases of ROG, NOx or PMlO to be significant if they exceed 80 pounds per day. Because project emissions listed in Table 5 would exceed this criterion for all three pollutants the project would have a significant adverse impact on regional air quality. BAAQMD guidance for CEQA documents provides that any project found to have a significant air quality impact would also be considered to have a significant cumulative impact. The proposed project would therefore have a significant cumulative impact on regional air quality. Because of the general west-to-east transport of pollutants that occurs in the project area, the effects of project-related emissions would also effect the adjacent San Joaquin Valley air basin. Transport of pollutants from the Bay Area air basin to the San Joaquin air basin is a contributor to problems in that air basin. 10 I. - . - -- .. . ,. - .. . .. ... @ - ~ ., - . Table 5: Project Regional Emissions in Pounds Per Day ~, Reactive Nitrogen PM10 Organic Oxides Gases Project Emissions 305.9 474.0 184.0 BAAQMD Significance 80.0 80.0 80.0 Threshold ,....0;-;. ~;...: 11 III. MITIGATION MEASURES Construction Dust For all construction sites the following dust control measures will be implemented by construction contractors during all construction phases. · Water all active construction areas at least twice daily. . Pave, apply water as necessary to control dust, or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers on all unpaved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites. . Sweep as needed to control dust (with water sweepers) all paved access roads, parking areas and staging areas at construction sites. . Sweep streets daily (with water sweepers) if visible soil material is carried onto adjacent public streets. . Hydroseed or apply (non-toxic) soil stabilizers to inactive construction areas (previously graded areas inactive for ten days or more. . Enclose, cover, water as needed or apply (non-toxic) soil binders to exposed stockpiles (dirt, sand, etc.) . Limit traffic speeds on unpaved roads 15 mph. . Install sandbags or other erosion control measures to prevent silt runoff to public roadways. · Replant vegetation in disturbed areas as quickly as possible. Implementation of the measures would reduce the impact of the project to a less than significant level. Regional Impacts The proposed project is a mixed-use, infill, high-density development with pedestrian and transit orientation. The project site is also at the southern terminus of the Iron Horse regional bicycle trail. These characteristics provide for much higher internal and non-auto travel mode percentages compared to typical suburban residential or commercial development. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (together with five other regional agencies) has recently embarked on a program to encourage compact, infill 12 '. ., .. .. .. - - .. . 1IllJ . .. ,. .. - .. -, - .. development near public transit. Development within the project should utilize the following strategies: . Connect with and add to regional bikeways and trail systems. -"'""- · Plan for future bus stops and transit facilities. · Utilize street patterns that provide multiple and parallel routes between destinations. · Provide sidewalks and bikeways along urban arterials and collector streets. . Where possible, provide pedestrian and bicycle connections between residential areas and nearby transit stations/stops, commercial areas, centers of employment, parks and schools. ".- · At commercial sites coordinate building placement, orientation and design in order to create pedestrian-oriented spaces and pathways. · At commercial sites orient buildings and main entrances towards streets with transit facilities. . Minimize large setbacks for commercial and multi-family land uses, particularly on streets with transit facilities. 1""".;.,;., · At transit stops provide attractive shelters, benches, landscaping and lighting to protect riders from the weather, buffer them from abutting streets, and promote safety. · Provide secure and conveniently located bicycle parking and storage in commercial, public and multi-family residential developments. ~ The above mitigation program would reduce project impacts on regional air quality. The above measures could reduce projected regional air quality impacts by 20 percent or more compared to a more typical suburban development. There is, however, currently no practical way to reduce the project emissions by the more than 80 percent increment that would be necessary to bring project impacts below BAAQMD significance thresholds. Therefore, the project's impacts on regional air quality are singularly and cumulatively considered significant and unavoidable. -" 13 ATTACHMENT 1: CARBON MONOXIDE MODELING The CALlNE-4 model is a fourth-generation line source air quality model that is based on the Gaussian diffusion equation and employs a mixing zone concept to characterize pollutant dispersion over the roadway. Given source strength, meteorology, site geometry and site characteristics, the model predicts pollutant concentrations for receptors located within 150 meters ofthe roadway. The CALI N E-4 model allows roadways to be broken into multiple links that can vary in traffic volume, emission rates, height, width, etc.. A screening-level form of the CALlNE-4 program was used to predict concentrations.1 Normalized concentrations for each roadway size (2 lanes, 4 lanes, etc.) are adjusted for the two-way traffic volume and emission factor. Calculations were made for a curbside receptor at a corner of the intersection. The screening form of the CALlNE-4 model calculates the local contribution of nearby roads to the total concentration. The other contribution is the background level attributed to more distant traffic. For 2001 , the 1-hour background level in was taken as 5.1 PPM, while the 8-hour background concentration was taken as 2.9 PPM. For 2005, the 1-hour background level in was taken as 4.6 PPM, while the 8-hour background concentration was taken as 2.6 PPM. For 2025, the 1-hour background level was taken as 4.1 PPM, while the 8-hour background concentration was taken as 2.3 PPM. These backgrounds were estimated using isopleth maps and correction factors developed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Eight-hour concentrations were obtained from the 1-hour output of the CALlNE-4 model using a persistence factor of 0.7. I Bay Area Air Quality Management District, BAAQMD CEQA Guidelines, 1996. 14 .. ... .. - till! .. - - - M .. .. - ... - .. .. - - ATTACHMENT 2: URBEMIS-7G ~, Estimates of regional emissions generated by project traffic and on-site area sources were made using a program called URBEMIS-7G.1 URBEMIS-7G is a program that estimates the emissions that result from various land use development projects. Land use project can include residential uses such as single-family dwelling units, apartments and condominiums, and nonresidential uses such as shopping centers, office buildings, and industrial parks. URBEMIS-7G contains default values for much of the information needed to calculate emissions. However, project-specific, user-supplied information can also be used when it is available. Inputstothe URBEMIS-7G program include trip generation rates, vehicle mix, average trip length by trip type and average speed. The Bay Area default values for average trip lengths, average speeds and vehicle mix were used. The run included a correction for pass-by trips and for internal trips within the mixed uses proposed for the project site. The URBEMIS-7G runs assumed summertime conditions with an ambient temperature of 85 degrees F. Analysis year was 2005. ~' 1 San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District, URBEMIS-7G User's Guide, May 1998. ...- 15 ~ Corps Appendix 8.5 Biological Report of Engineers Letter Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 211 July 2001 DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER EIR June 22, 2001 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES This section describes: 1) the methods used to assess biological resources on the Dublin Transit Center property; 2) regulatory requirements and agency jurisdictions; 3) plant and wildlife resources on the site; 4) the presence or potential presence of special-status species; and 5) potential impacts to biological resources on the site and measures to mitigate these impacts. SETTING Project Site Background Previous studies and documentation for the Dublin Transit Center project site and adjacent properties include the following: Inventory of Special-Status Plants and Wildlife Species at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (Jones & Stokes 1995); BART DublinlPleasanton Extension, Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination: Maps 1 and 1A (Reynolds, 1994); Preliminary Wetland Assessment: Iron Horse Trail Extension, Alameda County, California (Harding Lawson Associates, 2000); Iron Horse Trial Extension California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander site assessment (H.T. Harvey & Associates, 2000); and Santa Rita Property Aerial Photo (Kangas Foulk, 1998). r- The proposed Dublin Transit Center lies at the southern end of the study area covered in the 1995 Jones and Stokes species inventory report. The surveys conducted for the 1995 report found no special-status plants; however, five special-status wildlife species were documented in the Camp Parks study area during the 1995 surveys and potential habitat for six special- status wildlife species was found on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. None of those special-status wildlife species found were located on the Dublin Transit Center project site however (Jones & Stokes 1995). In 1995, BART was issued a Nationwide permit from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to fill 2.8 acres of wetlands on the Dublin Transit Center project site. The wetland! water features that were permitted to be filled were shown on the Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination: Maps 1, 1A (Reynolds, 1994). These wetlands were filled in 1997, with some additional grading in 1998. These impacts were mitigated by BART through the creation of new wetlands on the adjacent Army property to the north. Most of the project site has been a construction site almost continuously since 1995, and most of the site has been disced twice a year since 1997 (Stuart Cook, pers. comm.). Since 1995, BART constructed the Iron Horse Parkway, DeMarcus Boulevard, and the Dublin BART parking lot. Alameda County made drainage improvements on the remaining portion of the site. The road and parking improvements were constructed approximately a foot above existing grade. This work was completed in 1997 (Stuart Cook, pers. comm.). Site conditions following these activity are documented on the 1998 Santa Rita Property Aerial Photo (Kangas Foulk, 1998). 2/9/0 1 (Final Bio Section) ~-:.. In April and July of 2000, H.T. Harvey & Associates staff produced two reports: Iron Horse Trial Extension California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander site assessment and Iron Horse Trial Extension California red-leggedfrogprotocol-level survey (H.T. Harvey & Associates, 2000). These reports identify three pools along the Iron Horse Trail Extension project, which could potentially support foraging and dispersing habitat for California red-legged frogs. Only one of the pools is located within the Dublin Transit Center project site. One of the off-site pools located on the southwest end of the trail and west of the BART station parking lot could provide breeding habitat for California tiger salamanders, however no upland estivation habitat for California tiger salamanders occurs at or near this site. Methods Prior to conducting a survey of biological resources on the Dublin Transit Center property, the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CDFG 2000) and the California Native Plant Society Electronic Inventory (CNPS 2000) were consulted to identify sensitive habitats and special-status species known to occur in the vicinity of the City of Dublin. LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) conducted a reconnaissance-level survey of biological resources on the Dublin Transit Center site on November 29,2000. LSA wildlife biologist Hope Kingma and botanist Rebecca Sherry walked transects in a random pattern over the entire site. The purpose of the field survey was to 1) identify plant and wildlife species present; 2) identify sensitive habitats; 3) identify special-status species and/or habitats that could support special-status species; and 4) identify potentially jurisdictional wetland and watercourse features. No species-specific surveys or formal wetland delineation were completed at this time. All sensitive habitats and special-status species observed were recorded in field notes and mapped on a site diagram at a 1 inch = 250 feet scale (Figure I). Lists of plant and animal species observed are presented in Appendices A and B, respectively. Regulatory Context - .. .. - . - .. - - .. .. The project site is located within the general geographic range of several sensitive plant _ communities and special-status plant and wildlife species, including federally protected species such as the California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii), the large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinkia grandiflora), and Contra Costa goldfields (Lasthenia conjugens). _ Biological resources on the site may fall under agency jurisdictions and be subject to regulations, as described below. US. Fish and Wildlife Service . - Federal Endangered Species Act - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has jurisdiction over species that are formally listed as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act protects listed wildlife - species from harm or "take". The term "take" is broadly defined as to "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct". 2/9/01(FinaJ Bio Section) .. .. . An activity is defmed as a "take" even if it is unintentional or accidental. Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act and its applicable regulations restrict certain activities with respect to endangered and threatened plants. However, these restrictions are less stringent than those applicable to fish and wildlife species. The provisions prohibit the removal of, malicious damage to, or destruction of any listed plant species "from areas under federal jurisdiction." Listed plants may not be cut, dug up, damaged or destroyed, or removed from any other area (including private lands) in knowing violation of a state law or regulation. !- An endangered plant or wildlife species is one that is considered in danger of becoming extinct throughout all, or a significant portion of its range. A threatened species is one that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. The Fish and Wildlife Service also maintains a list of species proposed for listing. Proposed species are those species for which a proposed rule to list as endangered or threatened has been published in the Federal Register. In addition to endangered, threatened, and proposed species, the Service maintains a list of candidate species. Candidate (formerly category 1 candidate) species are those species for which the Service has on file sufficient information to support issuance of a proposed listing rule. Any activities that could result in take of a federally listed species will require an Section 10 take permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before allowing take activities to commence. Should another federal agency, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) under the Clean Water Act, acting as the lead agency be involved with permitting the project, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires the federal lead agency to consult with the Service before permitting any activities that may take listed species. - Migratory Bird Treaty Act - The Migratory Bird Treaty Act provides for protection for migratory bird species, birds in danger of extinction, and their active nests (including their eggs and young). Habitat features (e.g., trees, shrubs, burrows, and man-made structures (power poles)) along proposed routes provide suitable nesting sites for migratory birds. Contractors/civilians are required to obtain a depredation permit from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to disturb nesting migratory birds. ~ California Department of Fish and Game California Endangered Species Act - The California Department ofFish and Game has jurisdiction over threatened or endangered species that are formally listed by the State under the California Endangered Species Act. The California Endangered Species Act is similar to the federal Endangered Species Act both in process and substance; it is intended to provide additional protection to threatened and endangered species in California. The California Endangered Species Act does not supersede the federal Act, but operates in conjunction with it. Species may be listed as threatened or endangered under both acts (in which case the provisions of both state and federal laws would apply) or under only one act. Under Fish and Game Code 2050 -2068, the California Endangered Species Act policy is to 2/9/0 1 (Final Bio Section) conserve, protect, restore, and enhance any threatened or endangered species and its habitat (including acquiring lands for habitat). Compliance with the California Endangered Species Act is required because the project area is within habitats historically or currently occupied by $tate-listed species. If project field assessments indicate that there is a likelihood of "take" of these species, consultation with the California Department ofFish and Game is required to be in compliance with Fish and Game Code 2050 and 2091. .. - - The California endangered species laws prohibit the take of any plant listed as threatened, endangered, or rare. In California an activity on private lands (such as development) will violate Section 9 of the federal Endangered Species Act if a plant species, listed under both state and federal endangered species laws, is intentionally removed, damaged, or destroyed. - The Department of Fish and Game maintains informal lists of species of special concern. These species are broadly defined as plants and wildlife that are of concern to the Department because of population declines and restricted distributions, and/or they are associated with habitats that are declining in California. These species are inventoried in the California Natural Diversity Data Base. - - Streambed Alteration Agreement - The California Department of Fish and Game requires that a proponent of a project notify the Department if project activities would substantially divert or obstruct the natural flow or substantially change the bed, channel, or bank of any river, stream, or lake designated as such by the Department under Fish and Game Code Section 1600, a streambed alteration agreement could be required from the Department to conduct steam line construction activities (pouring concrete in augured holes and installing pipe supports) adjacent to and in creeks, channels, sloughs crossed by the linear elements of the project. Ifproject activities are likely to affect areas under California Department ofFish and Game jurisdiction, a streambed alteration agreement is required. - .. - - California Native Plant Society - The California Native Plant Society has developed lists of plants of special concern in California (Skinner and Pavlik 1994). A List IA plant is a species, subspecies, or variety that is considered to be extinct. A List 1 B plant is considered rare, threatened, or endangered in .. California and elsewhere. A List 2 plant is considered rare, threatened, or endangered in California but is more common elsewhere. A List 3 plant is a species for which the California Native Plant Society lacks necessary information to determine if it should be .. assigned to a list or not. A List 4 plant has a limited distribution in California. All of the plant species on List 1 and List 2 meet the requirements of Section 1901, Chapter ..- 10 (Native Plant Protection Act) or Sections 2062 and 2067 (California Endangered Species Act) of the California Department ofFish and Game Code, and are eligible for state listing. Therefore, List 1 and 2 species should be considered under CEQA. Some List 3 plant species .- also meet the requirements of these portions of the Fish and Game Code and are eligible for state listing. Very few List 4 plants are eligible for listing but may be locally important and their listing status could be elevated if conditions change. .. 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) .. .. . us. Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act - The Clean Water Act addresses water pollution through permitting to control and eventually eliminate water pollution. The Clean Water Act establishes regulations and permitting requirements regarding construction activities that affect storm water, dredge and fill material operations, and water quality standards. This regulatory program requires that discharges to surface waters be controlled under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting requirements. The permitting requirements apply to sources of water runoff, industrial and public facilities. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for regulating the discharge of fill material into waters of the United States. Jurisdiction falls within the San Francisco District of the Corps. Waters of the United States and their lateral limits are defined in 33 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 328.3 (a). The term . "waters"includes wetlands and non-wetland bodies of water that meet specific criteria as defmed in the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). The definition of "waters of the U.S." includes ".. .intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams)... the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce..." and tributaries of water defined as "waters of the United States." Areas that meet the definition of "waters of the U.S." or the definition of wetlands would be under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction. Wetlands that are not adjacent to waters of the United States are termed "isolated wetlands" and may be subject to Corps jurisdiction. In addition, under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act if project activities affect "waters of the U.S.", a water quality certification waiver is also required from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. In general, a Corps permit must be obtained before placing fill in wetlands or other waters of the U.S. The type of permit depends on the amount of acreage and the purpose of the proposed fill and is subject to discretion from the Corps. There are two categories of Corps permits: individual and nationwide (general) permits. Where specified activities would have minimal adverse impacts, nationwide permits may be used. Eligibility for a nationwide permit simplifies the permit review process. Nationwide permits cover construction and fill of waters of the U.S. for a variety of routine activities such as minor road crossings, utility line crossings, streambank protection, recreational facilities and outfall structures. To qualify for a nationwide permit, a project must demonstrate that it has no more than a minimal adverse effect on the aquatic ecosystem. The San Francisco District of the Corps typically interprets this condition to mean that there will be no net loss of either habitat acreage or habitat value. This usually results in the need to provide mitigation for the fill of any creek or wetland which will occur. An individual permit is required where a nationwide is not applicable. The consideration of an individual permit includes, but is not limited to, factors such as significant acreage of wetlands or waters of the U.S., areas of high biological or unique value, or length of watercourse affected. To clearly demonstrate compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 404(b)(l) guidelines and applicant must clearly demonstrate that the 2/9/0 1 (Final Bio Section) proposed discharge in unavoidable and is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative that will achieve the overall project purpose. The guidelines also establish a regulatory presumption that there is a practicable alternative that would have less impact on the aquatic ecosystem. If this presumption is not rebutted, a permit may not be issued. The 1990 Memorandum of Agreement between the EPA and Corps concerning the Determination of Mitigation under the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines summarizes the hierarchal approach to assessing mitigation under the guidelines. The first priority is to avoid impacts, second to minimize and third is to provide compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts. Regional Water Quality Control Board Pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, projects that apply for a Corps permit for discharge of dredge or fill material, and projects that qualify for a Nationwide Permit, must obtain water quality certification from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) that the project will uphold state water quality standards. Alternatively, the RWQCB may elect to notify an applicant that the State may issue Waste Discharge Charge Requirements in lieu of a Section 401 certification for a project. Existing Conditions The 91 acre site covers roughly seven city blocks, bordered on the southwest by the Iron Horse Trail, on the south by Interstate 580 (1-580), and on the east by Arnold Drive (under construction). Dublin Boulevard forms the northern boundary for about two-thirds of the site, between the Iron Horse trail and the Iron Horse Parkway. A triangular-shaped parcel lies to the north of Dublin Boulevard at the corner of Arnold drive. Existing streets divide the site into four parcels (Figure I). Parcel 1 is the triangular piece of land between the Iron Horse Trail and DeMarcus Boulevard. Parcel 2 is the rectangle between DeMarcus Boulevard and the Iron Horse Parkway. Parcel 3 is the rectangular parcel to the north of Dublin Boulevard Parcel 4 is the rectangle between the Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road. Currently, approximately 29 acres of the site are in use or paved for a utility substation, a BART parking lot, public streets, and a traction station. An easement for a fiber optic cable and a high-pressure petroleum pipeline lies immediately adjacent to the northeast side of the Iron Horse Trail. The remainder of the site has been either disced or graded recently. As a result, the site has a flat topography that gently slopes to the south and west. An artificial berm was recently constructed between the BART parking lot and the open land in Parcell. The north side of this berm has been spread with fill material for a distance of approximately forty feet to the north and storm drains are evenly spaced along the north side of the berm. Piles of soil have been placed near the comer of Altamirano Road and the Iron Horse Parkway in Parcel 4. Parcel 3 is currently being used as a construction staging area, holding piles of soil and pipes, and a construction trailer. The soil on the site is a very dark brown Clear Lake clay composed of fine textured alluvium from sedimentary rock (SCS 1966). Clear Lake clays have slow runoff, moderately good drainage, high water holding capacity, little erosion, and are very permeable. Historically, the site was drained and used for irrigated pasture or grain farming (SCS 1966). Without 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) - .. - - - - - - - - - - . . .. . . - .. drainage, the water table can reach to within 5 feet of the surface in this soil type (SCS 1966). Vegetation Vegetation on the site consists primarily of weedy annual species. The site visit was conducted at the beginning of the growing season and many plants were still in the seedling stage. Because the land had recently been disced and/or graded, much oflast year's vegetation had been turned under or was unidentifiable. Consequently, it was difficult to identify many of the plants to species. Typical plants on the flat portions of the site include tumbleweed (Salsola tragus), mustard (Brassica sp.), vetch (Vicia sp.), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), common knotweed (Polygonum arenastrum.), lupine (Lupinus sp.), bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides), prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola), yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), common mallow (Malva neglecta), horseweed (Conyza canadensis), ruby sand spurrey (Spergularia rubra), hyssop loosestrife (Lythrum hyssopifolium), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and the recently introduced exotic weed skunkwort (Dittrichia graveolens). At the northwestern comer of the site is a deep pool that supported water plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) and panicled willow herb (Epilobium brachycarpum). A planted date palm tree (Phoenix canariensis) grows on the edge of this basin. This and other moist areas on the site additionally support alkali heath (Frankenia salina), swamp timothy (Crypsis schoenoides), rabbitsfoot grass (Polypogon monspeliensis), and cocklebur (Xanthium stromarium ). Potentially Jurisdictional Features The County has received an updated verification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers verifying that there are no jurisdictional waters of the U.S. on the site (letter dated June 5, 2001, Corps File # 25892S). A number of areas exist on and off-site that may provide habitat for sensitive plants and animals and may be affected by on-site construction. These features include ditches previously documented on the maps 1 and 1A of the Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination (Reynolds, 1994). These features are also noted on Figure 1. Shallow, 30- foot wide swales/ditches occur on either side of the Iron Horse Trail that borders the western edge of the project site. The bottom of the northeast ditch is dominated by salt grass (Distich lis spicata)and also supports bristly ox-tongue, prickly lettuce, and common mallow. The southwest ditch also contains large patches of creeping wild rye (Leymus triticoides) and a small patch of arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis). The uplands were dominated by the species listed above for the flat portions of the site, and additionally included wild oats (Avenafatua) and coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis). The large drainage channel along the northern boundary of Parcel 3 (Figure 1) was constructed in uplands in 1997 as part of Zone 7's drainage system (Stuart Cook, pers. comm.). The deep channel contains a concrete V-ditch at the bottom, and would likely not qualify as a jurisdictional feature. Red willows (Salix laevigata) and a large patch of cattails 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) (Typha latifolia) and red-root cyperus (Cyperus erthrorhizos) grow near the southern end of the channel, where the channel ends at a 2,000+ foot box culvert which flows under Dublin Boulevard. The uplands on either side of the drainage channel were seeded with blue wild rye (Elymus gluacus), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), and rose clover (Trifolium hirtum). White sweet clover (Melilotus alba) was also common on the banks. Wildlife Wildlife species present on the Dublin Transit Center project site are those species adapted to annual grasslands and ruderal uplands. Most of these species are known as urban-adapted species that are commensal with humans and tolerant of human disturbance. Wildlife species observed, or evidence of their presence observed (i.e., droppings, burrows, and tracks) on the project site were birds and mammals. Birds observed in the disturbed, ruderal portions of the project site, or flying over the project site, include ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), rock dove (Columba livia), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), and western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). Mammals in this community include Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae), gopher mounds were observed throughout the project site, and California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi). Ground squirrel burrows were observed in the rubble and fill piles located on Parcel 4, between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road. The drainage features, including the flood control channel along the northern portion of the site, and the drainage swales along the Iron Horse Trail, support wildlife species adapted to seasonal aquatic habitats, or species associated with wetland and riparian vegetation. Pacific tree frogs (Hyla regilla) were heard chorusing in the wetter sections ofthe drainages. Birds observed in the willows include American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) and western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica). Dense patches of cattail support red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) (scat) use these drainage features as movement corridors and foraging areas. SPECIAL-STATUS SPECIES Special-status species are defined as follows: Species that are listed, or designated as candidates for listing, as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act; Species that are listed, or designated as candidates for listing as rare (plants), threatened, or endangered under the California Endangered Species Act; Plant species on List lA, List IB, and List 2 in the California Native Plant Society=s Inventory of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plants of California (CNPS 2000); Wildlife species listed by the California Department of Fish & Game as species of 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) .. .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. WI special concern or fully protected species; Species that meet the definition of rare or endangered under the California Environmental Quality Act. (Under Section 15380 ofCEQA, a species not included on any formal list Ashall nevertheless be considered rare or endangered if the species can be shown to meet the criteria@ for listing); r"'- Species considered to be of special concern by local agencies. Plants ;---- The site was surveyed for eight special-status plant species in 1994 by Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc (Jones & Stokes 1995). No special-status plant species were found at that time. Since that time, several new species have become listed and the listing status has changed for other plant species. A 1999 survey by H.T. Harvey & Associates, on the Pao Yeh Lin property, about one mile away off of Tassajara Road, focused on 21 species, including CNPS List 3 and List 4 plants. They presumed the existence of two special status plant species in the area - Congdon's Spikeweed (Hemizonia parryi ssp. congdonii) and San Joaquin spearscale (A triplex joaquiniana). A survey for ten spring-blooming species with the potential to occur on site was conducted by Davis Environmental Consulting on April 5, 2001 (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). No special- status plant species were found on that date. Surveys for late summer and fall-blooming plants have not yet been conducted. A search of the California Natural Diversity Data Base and the CNPS Electronic Inventory for grassland and freshwater wetland plants that could occur in the nine quadrangle area around the City of Dublin revealed 18 special-status plant species known from the region surrounding Dublin (Table 1). The search excluded species strictly confined to scrub, chaparral, forests, or woodlands, and serpentine or rocky soils, as these habitat types do not occur on the Dublin Transit Center site~ One of these special-status plants, Congdon's spikeweed (Hemizona parryi ssp. congdonii), was observed during the November 2000 site visit (discussed below). No other special-status plants were observed during this site visit. However, the site inspection was not conducted during the blooming period for most of these plant species. In addition to Congdon's spikeweed, observed during the reconnaissance survey, the site is suitable habitat for fem three other plant species, all of which are listed in Table!. Although repeated disking degrades the habitat for these plants, it is unknown what level of disturbance these plants can tolerate. The site is also suitable for ten other species that could occur on site, however, these species are unlikely to occur because they do not tolerate high disturbance or because the site is outside of the typical range of the plant. Three of the plants in Table 1 prefer drier or sandy soils and so are not expected to occur on site at all. The single special-status species found on site and the fear three other species most likely to be found on the Dublin site are discussed in more detail below. Spikeweeds and tarplants tolerate disturbance well, and so are more likely than other species to found on site. Because 2/9/0 I (Final Bio Section) the alkaline-tolerant plants salt grass and alkali heath occur on the site, the soil may be mildly - alkaline or saline. Therefore, special-status plants of alkaline soils may possibly be found on the site. Congdon's Spikeweed. Hemizonia parryi ssp. congdon ii, a CNPS List 1 B plant, was found on the southeast side of the comer of the Iron Horse Parkway and Dublin Boulevard and along Altamirano Road in Parcel 4 (Figure 1). A copy ofthe CNDDB field survey form is in Appendix A. The full extent of this population was not discernable because the site had recently been disked. Congdon's spikeweed thrives on disturbance. By the early summer, a survey should be able to determine the size and physical extent of the population. Dublin is near the center of distribution for this plant. Preston (1999) reports that this species occurs in large numbers on the south end of Camp Parks RFT A from Dougherty Road to Hacienda Drive. Brittlescale. Atriplex depressa, a CNPS lB plant, is an annual herb of alkaline habitats. It typically grows with saltgrass, alkali heath, Italian ryegrass, and other Atriplex species. It is known to occur in the Livermore-Altamont area. San Joaquin Spearscale. Atriplexjoaquiniana, also on the CNPS lB List, is an another annual herb that prefers alkaline habitats. This plant also tolerates some disturbance. It is known from populations in the Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon area. Big Tarplant. Blepharizonia plumosa ssp. plumosa, another CNPS 1 B plant, has been found near Byron, Walnut Creek, and the Altamont Pass, as well as just south of the Briones Valley. Although big tarplant usually prefers relatively dry slopes, it has potential to be present on site. Plants of the genus Blepharizonia were found during the April 2001 survey of the Dublin Transit Center site (Davis Environmental Consulting 2001a). Because they were not blooming, they could not be identified to species and subspecies. Doveweed, (Eremocarpus setigerus), often found in association with big tarplant, was also found on that visit (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). The Dublin Transit Center is only marginal habitat for nine other special-status species. They are discussed briefly below. e Alkaline Milk-vetch. Astragalus tener var. tener, CNPS List IB, can tolerate mild disturbance. It is known to occur in the vicinity of Hayward. However, it was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). · The large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinkia grandiflora) is known from only three natural occurrences on undisturbed native grassland, two near Livermore and one near Los Vaqueros Reservoir. It was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). Big-scale balsamroot (Balsamorhiza macrolepis var. macrolepis) is more likely found on rocky land with other native plants such as Helianthella. It was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 2001a). 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) * - .. - ,. - - - . .. - .. - .. - .. .. - . * Palmate-bracted Bird's Beak (Cordylanthus palmatus), a federally and state listed endangered plant, typically grows in alkaline clay wetlands with saltgrass and alkali heath. Though these conditions are found on the Dublin Transit Center site, the degree of disturbance makes it unlikely that palmate-bracted bird's beak occurs here. The nearest known location ofpalmate-bracted bird's beak is in the Springtown wetlands, north of Livermore. It was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 2001a). * Recurved larkspur (Delphinium recurvatum) is found in degraded sites, but the nearest populations are on the other side of the Altamont Pass. It was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). * The diamond-petaled California poppy (Eschscholzia rhombipetala) was thought to be extinct until it was discovered growing on Site 300 of the Livermore National Laboratory in 1997. It was not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 2001a). · Although the Santa Cruz tarplant (Holocarpha macrodenia) likes disturbance, its known historical range lies closer to the coast than the City of Dublin. · Contra Costa Goldfields. Lasthenia conjugens is Federally and State Listed as endangered. The species is found in wet areas in the spring and can tolerate mild disturbance. In Alameda County, it has been found near Newark and Fremont. It is often considered a vernal pool plant, though it is not limited to that habitat. The presence of coyote thistle on site indicated that suitable habitat for Contra Costa goldfields is present on the Dublin Transfer Center site. However, it was not found on the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 200la). 00 The hairless popcorn flower (Plagiobothrys glaber) and the caper-fruited tropidocarpum (Tropidocarpum capparideum) are believed to be extinct in California and are not likely to found in a disturbed area. They were not found during the April 2001 survey (Davis Environmental Consulting 2001a). To determine whether any of the remaining late blooming special-status plant species from Table 1 are present on the property, an additional rare plant survey following U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department ofFish and Game guidelines needs to be conducted during the peak blooming periods of each species. Additional surveys for the fe.w: three other species most likely to occur on the site would be required to determine presence or absence of these species onsite. Animals Information derived from the California Natural Diversity Data Base lists 29 special-status wildlife species that occur in the region or within the project vicinity. None of these species was observed during the November 2000 site inspection. Nineteen of the wildlife species 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) ,- reported in the Natural Diversity Data Base occur in salt and freshwater marshes, salt ponds, coastal habitats, coastal and central valley streams and creeks, chaparral, wooded habitats, vernal pools, or freshwater ponds. None of these habitats types occur onsite, therefore the species dependent on these habitats would not occur. The wetland features, including the drainages and depressions, on the project site do not provide vernal pool habitat values, due to the recent grading and disturbance. The flood control channel along the northern edge of the project site appears to convey a significant volume of water during winter rain events, and would not provide habitat for vernal pools species, such as California tiger salamanders. Species that were determined to be unlikely to occur on the project site due to the absence of suitable habitat include monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), California linderiella (Linderiella occidentalis), steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense), foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata), Alameda whip snake (Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii), western snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus), salt-marsh common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa), California black rail (Laterallusjamaicensis coturniculus), California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus), California least tern (Sterna antillarum browni), bank swallow (Riparia riparia), salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris raviventris), and salt marsh wandering shrew (Sorex vagrans halicoetes). Table 2 summarizes those special- status wildlife species that potentially occur on the project site. The scientific names and state and federal status are provided. - . - .. .. - - .. . Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc. conducted standardized survey procedures for special-status species on the entire Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. The proposed Dublin Transit Center site was included as a small portion of that larger study area. Surveys were conducted .. for curve-footed hygrotus diving beetle (Hygrotus curvipes), San Francisco forktail damselfly (Ischnura gemina), vernal pool fairy shrimp, California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, western pond turtle, San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma .. fuscipes annectens), and several bat species (Jones & Stokes 1995). Special-status species observed on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area include California red-legged frogs, western pond turtle, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), and tricolored .. blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). None of special-status species observed during the 1995 surveys were found on the Dublin Transit Center project site itself. In April 2000, H.T. Harvey & Associates staff conducted a site assessment of the Iron Horse Trial Extension for California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander, and in July of 2000, a protocol-level survey was conducted for California red-legged frog (H.T. Harvey & Associates, 2000). One of the pools off-site located on the southwest end of the trail and west of the BART station parking lot could provide breeding habitat for California tiger salamanders, however, no upland estivation habitat for California tiger salamanders occurs at or near this site. Species that are known to occur in the DublinIPleasanton/San Ramon region for which suitable habitat occurs on the proposed project site are listed below as well as a brief description of their habitat requirements and likelihood of occurrence onsite. 2/9/01(Final Bio Section) .. - .. .. . .. .. California Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora draytonii). The California red-legged frog is listed as a federally threatened species. It is a California species of special concern This species is found in marshes, streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, and other permanent or seasonal sources of water. It is chiefly a pond frog that inhabits humid woodlands, grasslands, and stream sides. It is generally found in or near water, but disperses after rains and may appear in damp meadows far from water. The breeding period is from January through April, depending on locality (Stebbins 1985).. The proposed project site is located outside of and west of the boundaries of the East Bay-Diablo Range critical habitat unit (Unit 15) (USFWS 2001). Jones & Stokes Associates biologists observed California red-legged frogs in two drainages north of the project site on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (Jones & Stokes 1995). Other observational records for California red-legged frogs within five miles of the site include Chabot Canal, located south and west of the project site. Red-legged frogs were also observed at the Tassajara Creek subdivision in East Dublin about 1.5 miles northeast of the Transit Center site (Zentner and Zentner 2000). Red-legged frogs have also been observed in Chabot Canal approximately 2 miles upstream of the Transit Center site (H.T. Harvey & Associates 2000). H.T. Harvey & Associates identified three pools located along the Iron Horse Trail Extension project that could potentially support foraging and dispersing habitat for California red- legged frogs (H.T. Harvey & Associates, 2000). One of the pools is located within the Dublin Transit Center project site. The large drainage features that border the project site, as shown in Figure 1, could potentially support dispersing California red-legged frogs, or could provide potential foraging, cover, and hydration habitat for California red-legged frog. No breeding habitat for this species occurs onsite. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). The golden eagle is a California species of concern. This species has no federal status. However, the golden eagle is protected under the federal Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Act. The golden eagle occurs throughout much of California, particularly in hilly regions dominated by grassland and oak savannah. The golden eagle is a large, wide ranging predator of open grassland and savanna habitats in hilly country. Golden eagles nest on cliff faces and in large trees. Nests are large structures that are used for many years, by the same pair and often subsequently by other eagles (Palmer 1988). The breeding territories of the golden eagle can range from 20 to 60 square miles (Mallette and Gould 1976). The species feeds primarily on medium sized mammals. No golden eagles were observed on the project site and no large trees that could support nests typical of golden eagles occur on the site. There are records of golden eagles nesting on the northeast side of San Antonio Reservoir (south southeast of Pleasant on), and at the southwest end ofWalpert Ridge, 2.5 miles southeast of California State University Hayward (CDFG 2000). Golden eagles have also been observed nesting at Dublin Ranch in the Tassajara Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section Valley (LSA field notes). Golden eagles nest in the project vicinity and may include the project site as part of their foraging range. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis). The ferruginous hawk is a California species of special concern. It has no federal status. The ferruginous hawk does not nest in California (Mallett and Gould 1976). However, the Department ofFish and Game has concerns about the loss of ferruginous hawk winter foraging habitat. In California, ferruginous hawks winter in the arid plains and open rangeland along the western edge of the Central Valley, in open valleys in the inner Coast Ranges, and in the deserts of southern California. The species is not known to breed in California. The species primarily feeds on small to medium-sized mammals (Mallette and Gould 1976). Ferruginous hawks were not observed on the project site. However, ferruginous hawks have been observed on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (Jones & Stokes 1995). The open grassland on and adjacent to the site provides suitable foraging habitat for ferruginous hawks. However, because of the limited California ground squirrel population on the project site, the hawks primary prey species, ferruginous hawks may not forage regularly on the project site. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicutaria). The burrowing owl is a California species of special concern. It has no federal status. The burrowing owl occurs in open grasslands, agricultural, and urban areas that support populations of California ground squirrels. The burrowing owl nests in ground squirrel burrows and feeds on insects and small mammals (Mallette and Gould 1976). Burrowing owls were not observed on the project site, however, several burrowing owls were observed on the Parks Reserved Forces Training Area less than 0.5 miles from the Dublin Transit Center site (Jones & Stokes 1995). The presence of California ground squirrel burrows on the project site, specifically in the rubble and fill piles located on the parcel between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road, provide potential burrows for burrowing owls on the project site that could be used by both wintering and breeding birds. Additionally, the grasslands onsite could provide foraging habitat for this species. Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus). The northern harrier is a California species of special concern. It has no federal status. The Department ofFish and Game has concerns about the decline of northern harrier nesting habitat. Northern harriers breed in fresh and saltwater emergent wetlands, and grasslands, in the Central Valley, and coastal valleys, from Oregon, southward. Nests are located on the ground in areas of tall dense grasses or shrubs, usually near marsh edges. They nest from April to September (Zeiner et at., 1990). No northern harriers were observed foraging on the project site. Because of the extent of disturbance to the site, they are not likely to nest onsite. However, northern harriers wintering, or nesting, in the general area could include the project site as part of their foraging range. Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:FinaI Bio Section .. .. .. .. .. - .. - .. .. .. .. .. .. .., .. .. .. .. White-tailed Kite (Elan us leucurus). The white tailed kite has no state or federal status, however, it is listed as a fully protected species in the state Fish and Game Code. White- tailed kites are year-round residents, and nest and roost in large groves of dense, broad-leafed trees, located near suitable foraging habitat (Zeiner et al., 1990). They forage for small rodents in grassland and other open habitats. No trees or shrubs onsite could provide nesting habitat for white-tailed kites. The open grassland provides suitable foraging habitat for white- tailed kites that nest in the project vicinity. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor). The tricolored blackbird is a California species of special concern. It has no federal status. Tricolored blackbirds are highly colonial and nomadic and are largely endemic to the lowlands of California. Breeding is highly synchronized, with most pairs in a colony initiating nesting within a few days of each other. The synchronization and colonial breeding may have evolved as an adaptation to a rapidly changing environment where the locations of secure nesting habitat and food supplies were likely to change each year (Beedy et al., 1991). They prefer to nest in freshwater marshes with dense growths of emergent vegetation, but will nest in upland locations that support dense stands of herbaceous vegetation, especially plant species that are armed with thorns or spines (Beedy et al., 1991). They nest from mid- April through mid-July. They will travel up to four miles to forage (Zeiner et al., 1990). Tricolored blackbirds were not observed on the project site. There is no breeding habitat on the site for this species and tricolored blackbirds are not expected to nest on the project site. Tricolored blackbirds were observed on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area, north ofthe project site (Jones & Stokes 1995). Additional records of nesting tricolored blackbird are known from the Niles, Livermore, and Dublin. The project site could potentially provide suitable foraging habitat for tricolored blackbirds that may nest in the vicinity of the site. California Homed Lark (Eremophila alpestris actia). The California horned lark is a California species of special concern. The California homed lark is found in coastal regions from San Diego to Sonoma County and in the central San Joaquin Valley to the Sierra Nevada foothills. It nests and forages in grasslands, bald hills, and alkali flats. They have recently been observed breeding in the Tassajara Valley, north of the site. San Joaquin Kit Fox (Vulpes macro tis mutica). The San Joaquin kit fox is a federally endangered and state threatened species. The San Joaquin kit fox lives in grasslands that typically have scattered shrubby vegetation. They typically need loose-textured soil for building their dens. The highly disturbed condition of the site, its urban location, and limited prey base makes it unlikely that kit foxes occur on this site or use it even occasionally. This species was not found on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area during surveys conducted by Jones & Stokes (1995). Additional surveys in the Dougherty Valley, which included the northern portion of Camp Parks, conducted during the 1 990s, also did not demonstrate the presence of this species in Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section the vicinity of the site (WESCO 1991a, 1991b; LSA 1994). Kit fox surveys were conducted on the Dublin Ranch site located approximately 2 miles east ofthe Transit Center site in 1997 (Harvey 1997), but no kit foxes were found. - .. - WIllI .. .. .. - - . . - - .. .' - Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section .. - . IMPACTS & MITIGATION Significance Criteria The determination of significance of impacts to biological resources involves an evaluation of the context in which the potential impact may occur and the intensity and extent of the impact's effect. Potential impacts are assessed as significant (S) or not significant (NS) in site-specific, general location, and regional contexts. Project effects on biological resources would be considered significant if it results in any of the following: · a substantial effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department ofFish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. · a substantial effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. · substantial effect on federally protected wetlands as defined by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means. · substantially interfere with movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridor, or impeded use of native wildlife nursery sites. · conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources. · conflicts with the provisions of any adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan. Potential impacts of the proposed project include those to potentially jurisdictional wetlands and special-status plant and wildlife species. The mitigation measures proposed in this EIR would reduce impacts to all these resources to less-than-significant levels. Impact - 1: Loss of a population of Congdon's spikeweed (CNPS List 1 B) and potential loss of three other special-status plant species and their habitat. (S) Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section A population of Congdon's spikeweed was observed on the site during the November 2000 survey. The size of this population could not be determined due to the timing of the survey. In order to quantify the size of this population and to identify other rare plants that may occur onsite, rare plant surveys should be conducted on each parcel (or development phase) prior to ground disturbing activities. Rare plant surveys should be appropriately-timed during the growing season and conducted according to resource agency protocols (conducting surveys during the growing season may necessitate initiation of surveys months before construction activities are scheduled). The four special-status plant species with the greatest potential to occur on the property are all late-blooming species. One additional survey late season surveys is recommended (in August) to ascertain whether any of these species are actually present on the site. The locations of special-status plant populations that are detected should mapped and a report detailing the findings of the surveys should be forwarded to the City. Mitigation - 1: 1) If feasible, the areas where Congdon's spikeweed grows should be avoided so as not to disturbed the special-status plants and be designated for on-site preservation. In this case the population would be flagged and/or fenced for avoidance during development activities. If the populations are located in areas where human impact is likely to be high, they should be fenced permanently. 2) If avoidance of Congdon's spikeweed is not feasible, a long-term off-site mitigation area should be created. Shallow bowls or depressions, designed with an appropriate hydrological regime for Congdon's spikeweed, should be sown with seed collected from the Dublin Transit Center site. Seed for Congdon's spikeweed should be collected from the transit center site prior to initiation of construction activities. 3) The details of either plan (on-site preservation or off-site mitigation) should be developed in a Mitigation and Monitoring Plan. The plan will be submitted to the City of Dublin for their approval prior to fmal map approval. 4) If other special-status species are found on the site, the Mitigation and Monitoring Plan should include measures to avoid, preserve or mitigate for these plants. Measures to protect and preserve the plant populations may include collection of seeds during the appropriate developmental stage of the plant, descriptions of sowing techniques appropriate to the life cycle of the plant, development of a maintenance and monitoring plan (i. e., provide the environmental conditions necessary for the survival of the new population including periodic disturbance if necessary), identification of funding sources to provide for the implementation of the plan, and management and maintenance of the mitigation area. Impact - 2: The development of the site could adversely affect California red-legged frogs and/or their habitat. (8) Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:FinaI Bio Section - .. .. .. - .. - .. ., .. .. . - .. .. . 11III - . The pool in the northwest comer of Parcell, and the off-site drainage features bordering the project site provide potential foraging, cover, and hydration habitat for California red-legged frog. No breeding habitat for red-legged frogs occurs onsite. Red-legged frogs were not observed onsite during the reconnaissance survey, and the likelihood of this species occurring onsite is low. A protocol level site assessment of the potential red-legged frog habitats on the site has been completed [Davis Environmental Consulting 200lb]. However, California red-legged frogs have been reported to occur within 1.5 miles of the proposed transit center site (Jones and Stokes, 1995 and H.T. Harvey and Associates, 2000; Zentner and Zentner 2000) and could occur in the Parcell pool or in the off-site drainage features. Mitigation - 2: 1) In order to determine if red-legged frogs occur on or adjacent to the project site, a protocol-level pre-construction survey for red-legged frogs shall be conducted prior to initiation of construction activities onsite. The survey will include all drainage channels and potential hydration, foraging, or cover habitat on or immediately adjacent to the transit center site (e.g., pool in the northwest comer of Parcel 1, drainage channel along Iron Horse Trail, flood control channel adjacent to Parcel 3). The survey will be conducted according to current USFWS survey protocols by a qualified biologist. Results of the survey will be reported to the City. 2) If red-legged frogs or their habitat are found on or adjacent to the transit center site, the project proponent will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine a) the appropriate course of action to avoid or mitigate impacts to red-legged frogs and their habitat, and b) any necessary permits that must be obtained. All mitigation measures and permits will be obtained prior to initiation of construction activities. Impact -3: The proposed project will result in the loss of potential nesting and associated foraging habitat for burrowing owls in the project vicinity. (S) Burrowing owls were not observed on the project site, however, a species-specific survey was not conducted during the November 2000 reconnaissance. Burrowing owls have been observed on the Parks Reserve Forces Training Area within 0.5-miles of the Transit Center site (Jones and Stokes, 1995) and are known to occur in the open grasslands in the vicinity (LSA personal observations). Suitable burrowing, nesting, and foraging habitat occurs onsite and this species could use the site as breeding or wintering habitat in the future. The loss of potential nesting and associated foraging habitat would be a significant impact. Mitigation - 3: 1) At least 30 days prior to initiation of ground disturbing activities, a qualified biologist will conduct a protocol-level, preconstruction survey for burrowing owls. Four separate surveys should be conducted. Surveys should be conducted during the periods one hour before to two hours after sunrise and/or two hours before to one hour after sunset. Surveys should be conducted without regard to season, as the site provides both potential breeding and Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section wintering habitat for burrowing owls. A preconstruction surveys should be conducted for each phase or parcel to be developed. If more than 30 days passes between the completion of the survey and the initiation of the ground disturbing activities, the preconstruction survey should be conducted again. 2) Ifburrowing owls are found on the site, the project proponent will notify the City and the California Department of Fish and Game. A qualified biologist will establish an exclusion zone around each occupied burrow in which no construction-related activity will occur until the burrows are confirmed to be unoccupied. The exclusion zone will be 160 feet (50 meters) in diameter during the non-breeding season (September 1 through January 31) and 250 feet in diameter (75 meters) during the breeding season (February 1 through August 31). The project proponent (or their biological consultant) will then consult with the California Department of Fish and Game regarding implementation of avoidance or passive relocation methods. All activities will be approved by and coordinated with the California Department ofFish and Game prior to disturbance of the burrows. The project proponent will also negotiate an appropriate mitigation plan consistent with California Department of Fish and Game policies at that time (i.e., preservation of foraging habitat). Mitigation may include permanent protection of foraging habitat around the burrow of each pair or unpaired burrowing owl; or the permanent protection of habitat at a nearby off-site location acceptable to the Department. Less-tkan-significant Impacts: The proposed project would not interfere substantially with the movement of any resident or migratory fish or wildlife species. Northern harrier, white-tailed kite, ferruginous hawk, and golden eagle are not expected to nest on the project site. However, it is likely that these, and other raptors, forage here for prey on an occasional basis. Because of the presence of large areas of existing open space in the project vicinity, potential impacts to foraging raptors would be less than significant. The project site provides marginal habitat for other special-status wildlife species potentially present in the area not specifically discussed above, and potential impacts to these species are expected to be less-than-significant. Significance after Mitigation Measures No significant impacts would remain after the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures. Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section .. . - . .. - - .. .. - .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. REFERENCES Literature Cited Beedy, E. c., S. D. Sanders, and D. A. Bloom. 1991. Breeding status, distribution, and habitat associations of the tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), 1850-1989. June 21, 1991. Jones & Stokes Associated, Inc. (JSA 88-187.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento, CA. California Department ofFish and Game (CDFG). 2000. Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB): special-status species occurrences report for the following U.S.G.S. 7.5 minute quads: Niles, Dublin, Livermore, Hayward, Newark, Las Trampas Ridge, Diablo, Tassajara, and La Costa Valley. California Department ofFish and Game, Natural Resources Division, Sacramento, California. California Native Plant Society (CNPS).2000. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (sixth edition, electronic version). Rare Plant Scientific Advisory Committee, David P. Tibor, Convening Editor. Sacramento, CA. Davis Environmental Consulting. 2001a. Spring Botanical Survey Results for Dublin Transit Center Site. Letter to Mr. S. Cook, Alameda County Community Development Agency, Hayward, CA. April 19, 2001. _' 2001 b. Red-legged Frog Site Assessment at the Proposed Dublin Transit Center Site. Letter to Mr. S. Cook, Alameda County Community Development Agency, Hayward, CA. April 18, 2001. Grinnell, 1. and A.H. Miller. 1944. The distribution of the birds of California. Pacif. Coast Avif. 27: 608. Harding Lawson Associates. 2000. Preliminary Wetland Assessment: Iron Horse Trail Extension, Alameda County, California. Prepared for Alameda County Public Works Agency. H.T. Harvey & Associates, Inc. 1997. Dublin Ranch San Joaquin Kit Fox Survey. Prepared for Ted Faifield, Pleasanton, CA. _' 1999. Dublin Ranch Areas F, G, and H (Pao Yeh Lin Property) Ecological Impacts and Mitigation. Prepared for Ted C. Fairfield, consulting civil engineer, Pleasanton, CA. H.T. Harvey & Associates, Inc. 2000. Iron Horse Trial Extension California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander site assessment. Prepared for Alameda County Public Works Agency. Jones & Stokes Associates, Inc. 1995. Inventory of special-status plant and wildlife species at Parks Rese'rveForces Training Area. June 21, 1995. (JSA 93-240.) Sacramento, CA. Prepared for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Sacramento, CA. Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section Kangas Foulk, Brian. 1998. Santa Rita Property Aerial Photo, Alameda County. LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA). 1994. San Joaquin Kit Fox Assessment, Gale Ranch, Contra Costa County, California. Prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., Point Richmond, CA Prepared for Shapell Industries, Milpitas, CA. 20 pp. + appendices. Mallette, R D. and G. Gould. 1976. Raptors of California. California Department ofFish and Game, Sacramento, California. 85 pp. Palmer, R S. (Ed.). 1988. Handbook of North American birds: diurnal raptors (Vols. 4 and 5). Yale Univ. Press, New Haven and London. Preston, RE. 1999. Preliminary report on the conservation status of Congdon's spikeweed (Hemizonia parryi subsp. congdonii) in the south and east San Francisco Bay area and Monterey County, California. Prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, February 23, 1999. Reynolds, V. 1994. BART DublinIPleasanton Extension; County of Alameda; U.S. Army, Camp Parks; Joint Project Site, Dublin, California. Preliminary Jurisdictional Determination Pursuant To Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. (Maps 1 and lA) Skinner, M. W. and B. M. Pavlik. 1994. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. Special Publication #1, 5th Ed. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. 338 pp. Soil Conservation Service (SCS). 1966. Soil Survey Alameda Area, California. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with California Agricultural Extension Service. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Second edition, revised. Houghton Mifflin Book Co., Boston. 336 pp. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 2001. Jurisdictional Determination and Map for the Dublin Transit Center. Letter addresses to Mr. Stuart Cook. Letter dated June 5, 2001. Corps File Number 25892S. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2001. Final Determinations of Critical Habitat for the California Red-legged Frog; Final Rule. March 13,2001. Federal Register 66(49): 14626-14758. WESCO. 1991 a. Final Results of Surveys for San Joaquin Kit Fox and Burrowing Owl in the Dougherty Valley, Contra Costa County. Prepared by Western Ecological Services Company, Inc., Novato, CA. Prepared for City of San Ramon, San Ramon, CA. 20 pp. + appendices. WESCO. 1991 b. Results of Supplemental Surveys for San Joaquin Kit Fox on the Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section - .. .. - .. .. .. .. . . - . .. .. - .. - .. .. Dougherty Valley Project Site. Prepared by Western Ecological Services Company, Inc., Novato, CA. Prepared for Contra Costa Community Development Department, Martinez, CA. 7 -page letter report. Zeiner, D. C., W. F. Laudenslayer, Jr., K. E. Mayer, and M. White. Eds. 1990. California's Wildlife. Volume II: Birds. California Statewide Wildlife Habitat Relationships System. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, CA. 731 pp. Zentner and Zenter. 2000. Tassajara Creek Subdivision Red-legged Frog Cumulative Impacts Analysis. February 2, 2000. PersonalCommunkatwns Cook, Stuart. Alameda County Surplus Property Authority. Appendix A Plant Species Observed November 29, 2000 Dublin Transit Center, Alameda County Scientific Name Alisma plantago-aquatica Atriplex triangularis Avenafatua Baccharis pilular is Brassica sp. Bromus diandrus Centaurea solstitialis Cirsium vulgare Convolvulus arvensis Conyza canadensis Cortaderia sellona Crypsis schoenoides Cynodon dactylon Cyperus erthrorhizos Distichlis spicata Dittrichia graveolens Common Name water plantain spearscale wild oats coyote bush wild mustard ripgut brome yellow star thistle bull thistle field bindweed horseweed pampus grass swamp timothy Bermuda grass red-root cyperus salt grass skunkwort Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section Elymus gluacus blue wild rye .. Epilobium densiflorum dense-flowered willow herb Epilobium brachycarpum panic1ed willow herb .- Eryngium sp. coyote thistle Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue .. Foeniculum vulgare fennel Frankenia salina alkali heath .. Geranium moUe dove's foot geraniu..'11 Hemizonia parryi ssp. congdonii Congdon's spikeweed ., Hirschfeldia incana hirshfeldia Kickxia sp. fluellin - Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce Leymus triticoides creeping wild rye . Lolium multiflorum Italian ryegrass Lupinus sp. lupine .. Lythrum hyssopifolium hyssop loosestrife Malva neglecta common mallow .. Meli/otus alba white sweet clover Phoenix canariensis Canary Island date palm .. Picris echioides bristly ox-tongue Plantago lanceolata English plantain .. Polygonum arenastrum common knotweed . Polypogon monspeliensis rabbit's foot grass .. Rumex crispus curly dock Rumex sp. dock .. Salix laevigata red willow Salix lasiolepis arroyo willow .. Salsola tragus tumbleweed Scirpus acutus var. occidentalis hardstem bulrush .. Silybum marianum milk thistle Spergularia rubra ruby sand spurrey .. Trifolium hirtum rose clover Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section . .. .. Typha latifolia Vicia [aba Vicia sp. Xanthium stromarium broad-leaved cattail fava bean vetch cocklebur Appendix B Wildlife Species (and sign) Observed November 29, 2000 Dublin Transit Center, Alameda County Common Name Scientific Name Amphibians Pacific tree frogs Birds Ring-billed gull American crow Hyla regilla Rock dove Mourning dove Western meadowlark American goldfinch Western scrub-jay Red-winged blackbirds Mammals Botta's pocket gopher California ground squirrel Black-tailed deer Larus delawarensis Corvus brachyrhynchos Columba livia Zenaida macroura Sturnella neglecta Carduelis tristis Aphelocoma californica Agelaius phoeniceus Thomomys bottae Spermophilus beecheyi Odocoi/eus hemionus columbianus Macintosh G3:Desktop Folder:Final Bio Section FRQM C0M11UNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY-ADMIN. (THU) 6. 7' 01 14:49/ST. 14:49/NO. 4862230122 P 2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT, c:oRPS OF ENGINEERS 333 MARKET STREET SAN FRANCISCO. CAWFORNlA 94105-2197 JU It If 5 . 2fXl1 ~Pt YTO Regulatory Branch SUBJECT: File Number 258928 Mr. Stuart Cook Alameda County Comm:wlity Development Agency 224 W_ Wmton Avenue~ Room 110 Hayward, CA 94544-1215 Dear Mr. Cook: Thank you for your letter dated January 31, 2001 requesting a re-examination of Department of the Army jurisdiction on the Dublin Transit Center Site in the City of Dublin. Alameda County~ California. The site was orig:j'rwlly delineated in conjunction with the constnlction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit Station and parking lot (Corps' File Numbers 21292 E75 and 18529 E75). Subsequently, a permit was issued authorizing the fill of all 2.8 acres of jurisdictional waters delineated on the 75-acre site. Based upon our site visit of April 21" 2001 and the information you submitted to this office, we have determined that the 75-acre does not contain any jurisdictional waters of the US. A small O.03-acre wetland exists in the western comer of the property, however~ this wetland is an isolated, non-navigable~ interstate water and therefore not subject to regulation under Section 404 of the Clean. Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344). A revised jurisdictional map reflecting these changes is included with thi~ letter. This determination will expire in five years from the date of this letter unless new information warrants revi,sion of the determination before the expiration date. This determination does not obviate the need to obtain other Federal.. State or local approvals required by law, including compliance with the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). In particular, the State of Califomia's Regional Water Quality Control Board may still regulate any proposed activities that impact the small O.03-acre wetland. Therefore" in addition to contacting other Federal and local agencies, you should also contact state regulatory authprlties to determine whether .any future activities may require other authorizations or pennits. - . . - .. - - .. .. .. - - - - .. .. - - .. FROM COM1JUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY-ADMIN. (THU) 6. 7' 01 14:50/ST. 14:49/NO. 4862230122 P 3 If you have any questions. please call Phelicia Gomes of our Regulatory Branch at telephone 415-917-8452. All correspondence should reference the file number at the head of this letter. Copy furnished: US EP A, San FIa11cisco, CA Lucy MacMillan! Mill Valley, CA Sincerely, Qdvin C. .Fong CIUct: Regulatory Branch z ~. :::;;;; Cl <x:: I >- C) Z f-I.l e} -<<:: E-< Z rx.l ::? fl. o ~ J:.Ll :> rx.l Cl >- [-c1 ~. Z P ~ o C) ;:::.; o cc: J:x... "". Cl"t C'-J ~~ ..-0 <::> m C'-J C'-J ~ CO '<;j-' d ~ '. 0'1 "<;t' '<;j-' ~ U2 ", o LC'> "". ~ ~~ C;, t-- o S. :::r:: E-.. ..........--. I 1 I GRAPHIC SCALE ... ... ~ ,... . ~oo It ... CAMP PARKS RFTA I I I I I I I I I I I - - - - - ~ I "1 l . ~ - ~ 1 I ~ ~ I! ?l J ~ !If ~ ., ~ j ~ '_ - I ~ .. _ - e ::'! 2- ii i! !i'J r )1 - ? .' ; - ) ~ / . - -. ,j,~ - ~ r '" (.'~ , ~~ -t ( "If '" Rl .. \1 '" I C I ~ J) ~ ' , \ ( ,'~ d ~ r ) h: 1/ _ i ~ ~., ~ = ~ E. ~ ... ":I; D ~ ~ - - - - ~ Dublin 'f~ Center Si~ (Corps rDe No. 258928) I Appendix 8.6 Cultural Resources Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 212 July 2001 boLmamASSOC'ATES Auchaeological Consultants "SINCE THE BEGINNING" . 361S FOLSOM ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94110 41~/~SO-7.2B<5" r";"';'" Jerry Haag 2029 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94704 December 6, 2000 Dear Mr. Haag: ~ RE: ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AND FIELD INSPECTION OF THE PROPOSED DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER EIR PROJECT AREA, DUBLIN, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA At your request I have completed an archaeological field inspection of the proposed project located just north of Highway 580 in Dublin, Alameda County. While no archaeological materials were seen on the surface of the project area, archival research suggests that there is a high potential that the area could contain buried prehistoric deposits. This report contains a summary of findings to date along with recommendations for further site evaluation. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project (Transit Center) consists of an approximately 91 acre parcel ofland located directly north of the existing Dublin- Pleasanton Bart station. Located on the Dublin U.S.G.S. map ofthe area, the borders of the property are defined by 1-580 to the south, Iron Horse Trail to the west, Dublin Boulevard on the north and Arnold Road on the east. Currently the property is vacant with the exception of the Bart station parking lot. A small triangle of land is also included above Dublin Boulevard west of its intersection with Arnold Road; this property is covered with imported fill and is being used to store construction equipment currently. Plans call for the construction of two million square feet of office development, 1500 dwelling units, 70,000 feet of retail commercial development and a multi-level parking lot to serve the Bart station. ARCHIVAL RESEARCH Archival research was conducted personally by this author at the Northwest Information Center located at Sonoma State University to obtain information regarding recorded archaeological sites in and around the Transit Center, and information about previous archaeological field studies of the project area. In addition, Dr. Richard Ambro of Holman & Associates conducted research at the Map Library located at the University of California at Berkeley to trace historical settlement and/or use inside the project area. The Northwest Information Center (file no. 00-929) contains no recorded archaeological =- sites, either historic or prehistoric in nature inside the current project area. The nearest archaeological sites were recorded in the 1970 and 80s inside the Hacienda Business Park: Ala- 413 and 467 were two prehistoric sites recorded and excavated by Holman & Associates; a third historic site, the Abijah Baker house site, was also excavated by Holman & Associates in the 1980s; no report for this work has been produced to date. There have been 4 archaeological field inspections done in the immediate area, one of which covered part of the Transit Center, and one of which apparently also covered an undetermined portion of it and another which may have covered the entire area. In 1986 Rogers, Rogers and Hylkema surveyed a 400 acre portion of Camp Parks for a new cemetery area; unfortunately their report contains no map of the area covered by them. In their report they cite a 1981 report by Roop and Flynn which also covered the entire Camp Parks area, but which did not cover the current project area according to the maps on file at the Northwest Information Center: in that report Roop and Flynn recorded 4 historic sites and 26 prehistoric sites to the north of the present project area in the foothills. Research done for other projects in the past 15 years has demonstrated that perhaps none of the prehistoric site locations should have been recorded in the first place: work by this author and others has failed to find traces of the prehistoric artifacts first noted by Roop and Flynn in many of the areas first inspected by them. In 1989 Suzanne Baker completed an archaeological field and archival study of a project area which covered a portion of the Transit Center: the 35 acre parcel slated for construction of parking lot was inspected by Baker, who also noted that the area had been surveyed in 1981 by Roop and Flynn with negative findings. While Baker noted that survey conditions were less than perfect, she did report on the discovery of the several historic north-south running depressions containing burned metal, glass, bone and ash. At the time of her field inspection (1989) the area contained only a single metal shed from the period when this area contained numerous buildings associated with Camp Parks, along with standing fire hydrants which marked former street locations. Baker dismissed the potential significance of the historic deposits seen by her based upon their age, which at the time of her survey, was less than 50 years in age: "Camp Parks, as discussed above in the historical section of this report, was constructed in the early 1940s during the World War II era. It is consequently less than 50 years of age. It is also considered to be of less importance than other similar bases. The artifactual materials in this location are less than 50 years of age, have been widely dispersed, and there is no structural integrity. For all these reasons, therefore, these materials cannot be considered eligible for the National Register of historic Places (King 1987). Because the materials in this area are not over 50 years of age, they have not been recorded as an archaeological site. (Baker and Shoup pp.27). It should be noted that 11 years have passed since the Baker and Shoup report, making the materials noted by them (and by this author during the most recent field inspection) over 50 years in age, and thus potentially significant both under current CEQA guidelines and federal law. 2 - .. .. ~ - .. .-. .. - . - .. .. - .. .. .. . - III Finally a portion of the old Southern Pacific right of way through the property (now known as Iron Horse Trail) was surveyed by Alison Macdougall in 1994 with negative results. In addition to the archival research undertaken at the Northwest Information Center, Dr. Richard Ambro of Holman & Associates conducted research at the Map Library located at D.C. Berkeley to chart the historic development ofthe Transit Center in the 20th century. The earliest map consulted (1906) revealed no evidence of occupation, suggesting that the general area was open, being used either to graze cattle or for agriculture (D.S.G.S. 1906). There was a nearby late 19th century/early 20th century homesite immediately outside and some 400 feet/122 meters northwest of the northwest comer of the project area, connected by a north- south trending road to the old Livermore-Hayward Road (now Highway 580). The D.S.G.S. maps of the following two decades were reprints of the 1906 maps and offer no new information. (:~ The D.S.G.S. Survey map of 1940 reveals that by that date the old (off project) homesite had been removed, and that the northwest trending Southern Pacific railroad line had been constructed, the alignment of which now forms the western border of the Transit Center property. The only structures present on this map are one in the extreme southeast comer and the other in the extreme southwest corner of the current project area. Their use or affiliation are uncertain. The map of 1947 reveals no changes inside the Transit Center.. By 1953, the U.S.G.S. map shows the area of Camp Parks had been heavily built up into a gridwork of streets and buildings, and that a railroad spur had been built along the northern boundary of the project area, with a smaller spur cutting southwest across the narrow portion of the northwest comer of the current project area. The project parcel was otherwise devoid of structures, as the buildings previously cited in the southern corners of the project parcel were gone. By 1953 Camp Parks had been labeled "Parks Air Force Base" and six tanks set in two rows were located in the extreme northwest comer of the project parcel (U.S.G.S.196l). The revised maps of 1968 and 1970 show no additional changes to the project area. An air photo of the area in 1970 reveals that the tanks had apparently been removed leaving a pad (noted by Baker in 1989). Of interest is evidence of a disturbed area in the center of the project parcel that might have been a dump served by several dirt roads crossing the parcel. The age of this dump, presumably serving Camp Parks, is uncertain. ~ The map evidence suggests that the age of the buildings (now all removed) from the Transit Center may post date World War II. The dump however, noted by Baker and Shoup from their field investigation, and apparently visible on maps by 1953, may in fact be more than 50 years old. DESCRIPTION OF FIELD INSPECTION The visual inspection of the project area was conducted by this author during the last week of November, 2000. With the exception of the parking lot and the small triangle ofland north of Dublin Boulevard, the entire Transit Center parcel was inspected by walking 20 meter transects throughout to inspect it for evidence of either historic or prehistoric cultural resources. 3 ,..~ It is abundantly evident that the entire parcel has been altered historically in one form or another: a portion of the project area (mostly along its northern edge) has been filled several feet with imported fill and construction debris. Throughout the remainder of the parcel, which was devoid of grass covering at the time of the field inspection, the soils consisted of a brown to black clay soil containing large amounts of gravels and evidence of construction debris throughout: it appears that in the process of leveling the former military buildings in this area the debris from the demolition and removal of the streets was incorporated into the native soils. In the approximate center of the parcel near Highway 580 is an area of darker than surrounding soils which contains visible amounts of historic debris. At the time of the field inspection this area had been staked off, marking the perimeter of the darker soils for most of its aerial extent. The stakes were marked "JRA anomaly: historic debris, including several1950s vintage ketchup bottles, were piled next to one of the stakes. An inquiry with Mr. Stuart Cook of the Alameda County Planning Department revealed that the stakes marked an area which had been the subject of magnetometer sweeps to locate buried heating ducts for future removal. FINDINGS/RECOMMENDA TIONS No evidence of prehistoric cultural resources was seen anywhere inside the Transit Center project area. Historic debris, mostly in the form of debris from demolished buildings, is seen throughout the project area. Historic artifacts noted by this author included the cache of ketchup bottles (50 years or less in age) and other implements which are undatable, such as a steel file and other pieces of metal debris. Porcelain and glass fragments are seen throughout the area. In summary, it is apparent that the Transit Center parcel contains abundant historic artifactual material, which mayor may not be considered significant under current CEQA guidelines. The dumps noted by Baker and Shoup and which appear on the 1950s topographic maps may no longer be discrete entities; while concentrations may exist inside the area of the "anomaly", the historic dumping and grading of the parcel has effectively masked the exact location of the actual dump deposits. The question of the potential significance of any such deposits remains open. While Baker and Shoup dismissed historical artifactual materials noted by them based upon their relative age (less than 50 years) and based upon their findings that Camp Parks was considered an unimportant military facility based upon federal environmental guidelines, the passage of time (11 years) may have changed that view. As of2000 the historical material may in fact qualify as significant under CEQA guidelines, being over 50 years in age. Likewise the military base, which has played an active role in wars beginning with W orId II and continuing through the Gulf War, may be considered historically significant. Ifthis were the case, then any concentrations of historical archaeological material which might aid in an historical appreciation of the base through time would also be considered significant. There is also still a high potential that the Transit Center may contain buried prehistoric archaeological materials similar to those found to the south inside the Hacienda Business Park, which have been obscured either by historic activities on the property, or which exist under the 4 - . .. (IlII! ,- - . - ... - . .. Wi '. - - .. .. ,. - .,...r~ flood-born silts which cover the shorelines of the former Willow Marsh which existed in the general area of the Hacienda Business Park. Aboriginal habitation sites situated on the edges of the marsh and its tributaries were buried under silts beginning approximately 2300 years ago: two archaeological sites, Ala-413 and 394, situated along the Arroyo Mocho south of Highway 580, were discovered in the 1970s under as much as 10 feet of silt. A combination of ground subsidence, erosion from the nearby hills and flooding episodes conspired to bury these village locations which were not re-occupied by the ancestors of the Ohlone nation until some time after 300 A.D. ~ It is the recommendation of this report that further mechanical subsurface testing for the presence or absence of historic and prehistoric cultural resources be done on a project by project basis inside the Transit Center borders for those development plans which will result in the removal or disturbance of soils below the first 24 inches of the existing surface. It is understood that much of the area will have to be elevated by the importation of fill to make it buildable, but that utility trenching and different types of foundation treatments may in fact penetrate into the layers of soil which may contain historic dump deposits and/or prehistoric remains. ,,..,,,,~ In the event that future subsurface testing identify areas of concentrated historical materials or prehistoric remains, further research should be done to determine the significance of the materials under current CEQA guidelines. For prehistoric materials this may include limited test excavations of cultural deposits and analysis of the materials and information removed. For historic deposits, removal and analysis of samples of materials encountered should be done to determine the age and research potential of the deposits. In the event that either historic and/or prehistoric deposits are determined to be significant, then a program of mitigation of impacts to the resource(s) should be developed to insure that significant data and materials are retrieved for analysis from areas of additional project related impacts. Sincerely, 4~ Miley Paul Holman Holman & Associates """.'~ -:.:... 5 .,--'::::' - REFERENCES CITED ., Baker, Suzanne and Laurence Shoup 1989 TECHNICAL REPORT: CULTURAL RESOURCES BART DUBLIN/PLEASANTON EXTENSION PROJECT. On file, Northwest Information Center (NWIC), Sonoma State University .. ., Macdougall, Alison 1994 Cultural Resource Investigation ofPG&E's Proposed Willow Pass Substation Addition, Willow Pass Tap, East Dublin BART Dedicated Substation, and Castro Valley Substation Addition. On file, NWI C - . Rodgers, Rodgers and Hylkema 1986 A CULTURAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPOSED VETERANS ADMINISTRATION NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIONAL CEMETERY SITES AT SANTA NELLA AND CAMP PARKS. On file, NWIC. ~ - Roop, William and Katherine Flynn 1981 Cultural Resources Literature Search and Field Reconnaissance of Camp Parks, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California. On file, NWI C. .. United States Geological Survey 1906 Livermore Calif. Quad., 15' series. Washington, D.C. . 1940 Livermore Calif. Quad., IS' series. Washington, D.C. ,. 1947 Livermore Calif. Quad., IS' series. Washington, D. C. - 1953 Dublin, Calif. Quad., 7.5' series. Washington, D.C. .. 1961 Dublin, Calif. Quad., 7.5' series. Washington, D. C. 1968 Dublin, Calif. Quad., 7.5' series. Washington, D. C. ''@Ill 1970 Dublin, Calif. Quad., Orthophoto quad. 7.5' series. Washington, D.C. ., 1973 Dublin, Calif. Quad., 7.5' series, 1969 photorevised 1973. Washington, D.C. .. - - 6 . DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER PROJECT AREA DUBLIN, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA r~ DUBLIN U.S.G.S. MAP photorevised 1980 --"'" -~ I . I ; I I ,: / '~",,; I ..;'c.; , '~u.e~ I ~ Fi7:'~~~7~~lt:::~ ~ ~t:f' "'.~?&L!!!nlll!'.. ~~/II('~.~~7 · ~. -j -/"'<:;!.~~~~\. !Il;'''-:::'':/- ../ - ~ '010 _. . · " 1-'''7'~ . ~ ,.11, PROJECT AREA----------- "~i , I -GT>A';:;Y~' '''-ne'.e ~ ~ ~~/ . .~ \\ ~__ \p<BM } :1 ,,,,*'if,. ~ I \1~ " '.; 325 .,A: ,~"-'-..~ \ I ~ ;) , ' ,. ~:":--i'~ 1 ~ \~\ · ~l \".......".,.>1 -;; 1\\ :..t.\ ").' .-~l ';d -m \ I .. \( I -< \ '. J' ..... ~ I ~ ' .\ \ ":.~\ ~--~ \~ ;80 '.'~;~"'.'. - I ~ \' \ \ I .... 'I ~\ \ I :!:. 1> \ I 0"\ ~~\ :t.,. I o ,I\,~ ,~/~9~~j:~,~~~:f.~~!~1 J):, '.(\:i;:; \ '":;::-.::~:~~, 0 ] >~\i " ~)> " oc:x:! ~ :'~i c- hi' :tli I, 1/ -((\ ~i >"'-j) '\ ,j! . "} .a \ 1_/'-1 ~ -1r~:t~'- ------If- ~d II'''~ .I ,-----, '.580.; ~.: '" ~ i;: 'i~ I -1\1;' "Cy' ...J\~ : . CyLi..i' . . Cy"> (I)!!: 1 00 "" h"(],~ / c:,- ~t.. '; ~Cy ~il / ,\ 'f~.2 ....' ~. ~L ./~o ;! ,<">7' I ~ ~ ~,:., ,\"..\. ., , ,'\Wells ~" MIL RES t '~, ...-"';", C) ~ 1Il o ... ..J ~ <( u ~ '-6 v v T A ~ l- I- '" ~~ ~ ,"0 ~oc,. .--/ "' ~'- ').,:, ~ ,)'\, ,..,..,<'~.f .. DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER PROJECT AREA DUBLIN, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA -' \II!I DUBLIN U.S.G.S. MAP 1968 photorevised 1973 ., - @ . IIIIIi . ;:t ::,-r .' \ i' ~.~.- 1. , :\.:; . /!~ ;. ell DUBLIN U.S.G.S. MAP 1953 .. .. .. .. ~\, ..............;.............;;.....;...;.....'~.\ >1.' ~, r\ . .; .' ~\\ '. ~\ Windmill is - .. - - .~~ ,.....If"""'. Appendix 8.7 Traffic Report Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 213 July 2001 ,....., /' f._____ Consultant I S Report: Transportation Impacts For the Proposed DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER Prepared For: THE CITY OF DUBLIN Draft Report April 27, 2001 . O. .. mnl.~. r:;;:\!~iR'I@. . I U U U\9~.J u'C::::. ENGINEERS.PLANNERS - .. .. Consultant's Report On The Transportation hnpacts For The Proposed .. . Wi - .. - - . TABLE OF CONTENTS ~1rFt()I)IJ<:1rI()~............................................................................ 1 S;~1r1L~(;...................................................................................... 1 ~ Street Network........................................................................ Existing Transit Service............................................................. Existing Traffic Flow Conditions.... ...... ........ ... ..... ..... ......... ..... ..... Interim Roadway and Intersection Circulation Improvements.............. Transportation and Parking Policies............................................... 1 5 7 9 13 Jf(J~~ IJll~~ <:()~I1rI()~~.......................................................... 16 Future Base Circulation Assumptions............. ................................ 16 Approved and Pending Projects.. ................................................. 18 Intersection LOS: Future Base Conditions...................................... 20 J>FtOJrECT ~~]JOFtTATION J1v.ll>>ACT~......................................... 24 Significance Criteria............................................................ ...... 24 Proposed Project Description....................................................... 25 Proposed Project Trip Generation................................................. 26 Proposed Project Trip Distribution............... ................................ 28 Effects of Proposed Project on Intersection LOS.............................. 29 Effects of Proposed Project on Transit Operation............................... 41 Effects of Proposed Project on Parking.......................................... 43 <:~~1LJl\T~ 1rFt~~<: ~~<:1L~.................................................. ~ Year 2025 Base Year Methodology............................................... 44 Year 2025 Street Network Improvements....... ... .. ...... . .... .... .......... .. 45 Year 2025 Without Project Intersection LOS.................................... 48 Year 2025 With Project Intersection LOS....................................... 50 Average Daily Traffic Analysis. ......................... .... ..... ....... ......... 54 1-580 Mainline Freeway Operation...... ............... ................... ........ 56 Operational LOS: Dublin/Dougherty & Hacienda/I-580 EB Off........... 56 TRANSPORTATION MI1rIGA TION ................................................... 61 Existing Traffic Conditions...... ........................... ........................ 61 Exist Plus Future Base Traffic Conditions....................................... 61 Exist Plus Future Base Plus Project Traffic Conditions....................... 61 Cumulative Year 2025 Without Project Traffic Conditions.................. 64 Cumulative Year 2025 With Project Traffic Conditions...................... 65 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1: Existing Intersection LOS, AM and PM Peak Hour.................... TABLE 2: Existing + Future Base Intersection LOS.................................. TABLE 3: Proposed Dublin Transit Center Trip Generation........................ TABLE 4: Exist + Future Base + Project Intersection LOS....................... TABLE 5: Internal Intersection Operation, AM and PM Peak Hour............... TABLE 6: Year 2025 No Project Intersection LOS................................... TABLE 7: Year 2025 With Project Intersection LOS................................ TABLE 8: Projected Average Daily Traffic.... .......... ....... ........... .... ..... .... TABLE 9: Year 2025 1-580 Mainline Freeway LOS.................................. LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1: Project Vicinity Map........... .............................................. FIGURE 2: Transit Map.................................................................... FIGURE 3: Existing AM Peak Hour Volumes.......................................... FIGURE 4: Existing PM Peak Hour Volumes........................................... FIGURE 5: Existing + Future Base AM Peak Hour Volumes...................... FIGURE 6: Existing + Future Base PM Peak Hour Volumes...................... FIGURE 7: Exist + Future Base + Project AM Peak Hour Volumes............ FIGURE 8: Exist + Future Base + Project PM Peak Hour Volumes............. FIGURE 9: Internal Study Intersection AM Peak Hour Volumes................... FIGURE 10: Internal Study Intersection PM Peak Hour Volumes................... FIGURE 11: Recommended Internal Roadway & Intersection Geometries........ FIGURE 12: Year 2025 No Project AM and PM Peak Hour Volumes............. FIGURE 13: Year 2025 No Project PM and PM Peak Hour Volumes............. FIGURE 14: Year 2025 With Project AM and PM Peak Hour Volumes.......... FIGURE 15: Year 2025 With Project PM and PM Peak Hour Volumes.......... .. .. 12 23 27 32 40 49 53 55 57 .. .. .. .. 2 6 10 11 21 22 30 31 34 35 37 46 47 51 52 ~ .. .. - .. - . - - - ~ - .. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION The following section describes the transportation and parking characteristics for the proposed Dublin Transit Center. This section includes the evaluation of key intersections in the study area, points of congestion, transit service, planned circulation improvements, overall parking characteristics, and City transportation and parking policies. In evaluating the Specific Plan areas, special consideration was given to the transportation opportunities and constraints unique to the area and surrounding street network. A. SETTING 1. Street Network The proposed Dublin Transit Center would be located in East Dublin south and north of Dublin Boulevard. Specifically, the project site would be located both east and west of the existing Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station bordered by Dublin Boulevard, Hacienda Drive, and Interstate 580 (see Figure 1). Streets that provide access into and around the project study area include Dougherty Road, Hopyard Road, Dublin Boulevard, Scarlett Drive, DeMarcus Boulevard, Iron Horse Parkway, Arnold Road, Hacienda Drive, Central Parkway, Gleason Drive, Tassajara Road, Pimlico Drive, Santa Rita Road, The Boulevard (future), Campus Drive (future), and Altamirano Road (future). "'- The local circulation system serving the planning area vicinities is diagrammed in Figure 1. To preface, many of the study intersections and streets are currently under construction. This would include intersection improvements, street extensions, and street widening. For these reasons, the following descriptions of existing roadways and intersections are subject to change. A brief description of each roadway follows: Dougherty Road. Dougherty Road extends in a north-south direction west of the project site. A major arterial street, Dougherty Road has four travel lanes north of Dublin Boulevard. South of Dublin Boulevard, the roadway widens to six travel lanes as it passes over Interstate 580. A full-access interchange for eastbound/westbound traffic is located at Dougherty/I-580. In the study area, Dougherty Road provides access primarily to commercial-retail areas. North of Dublin Boulevard, the roadway provides access to residential areas as it approaches Amador Valley Boulevard. Dougherty Road is designated as a Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) roadway by the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA) Congestion Management Program (CMP).' """- Hopyard Road. Hopyard Road extends south from Dougherty Road on the south side of lAlameda County Congestion Management Agency (ACCMA), Congestion Management ProlZram, 1999. ,- Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 1 I tfUIOIHIN J IIJlItJJlDWl ItlAIlUlOflOW'/ 'SllIIAI00.l1lT. 5 tI1IS1UWr. , WOOOBIN(IIY i,Q' r I I 'ell" " ! ',: (' ,,:~ :lfttllUNAt '. '1 'j , ~ \l1~\ ,) .,~ vi , ~" BLYD i I; AP"WltA.NO o " I I I . I I I AREA , , I SANTA RITA REHABILITATION CENTER """",,,CC<.MY . SN{1'AM'A"""- DEft ---oiVii:'" - - _h~r: !l," ~~10H CII".:I IAMIEIl.GUIfC 2 IOUtlOODu. ~ I I I , , , , , I I I I 11.5- I "'. m li! TRAINING FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION ,g . .. " GlBRAllAR o " PROJECT SITE PARKS) ST. ~ ~ ~ o .' 'ntt. ,~J~! ~~.-r t,""I~"'-'l'I""'\ -.-.,\1...." . , , , I , I I I I I , """ HO fl:o.e " !> (CAMP &TII I usLw., IfESERVf ~I.~~ !5 II Pl-EASANTON + North I figure 1 . . I I I ,j Project Site Location Map I I t I . I . ~ c @1Jili)[fUOClmeans - - - - - . I J I . Interstate 580. A six lane roadway, Hopyard Road provides access to commercial and office development in the City of Pleasanton. Hopyard Road is designated as an MTS roadway in the ACCMA's CMP. .........-.- Dublin Boulevard. Dublin Boulevard is in various stages of improvement and widening between Scarlett Drive and Hacienda Drive in the project study area. Currently, the roadway has two travel lanes open to traffic in this segment. However, with ongoing widening the roadway will provide six travel lanes in each direction. In addition, new or upgraded signals are also being installed at the Demarcus Boulevard, Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road intersections. An east-west roadway, Dublin Boulevard provides access to commercial office and residential areas. Between Hacienda Drive and Tassajara Road Dublin Boulevard has been completely improved with three travel lanes in each direction and raised landscaped medians. Dublin Boulevard is designated as an MTS roadway in the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency's CMP. Scarlett Drive. Scarlett Drive is located west of the project site. Extending south from Dublin Boulevard, Scarlett Drive has two travel lanes and provides access to automobile dealerships as well as light-industrial areas between Dublin Boulevard and Interstate 580. DeMarcus Boulevard. DeMarcus Boulevard extends in a southerly direction from Dublin Boulevard and provides direct access to the East Dublin BART Station and parking areas. It consists of a four-lane roadway with raised landscaped medians. The directional flow of traffic to the BART station is generally inbound via DeMarcus Boulevard and outbound on Iron Horse Parkway (to the east). Iron Horse Parkway. Iron Horse Parkway extends in a southerly direction from Dublin Boulevard and provides access to the East Dublin BART Station. Similar to DeMarcus Boulevard, Iron Horse Parkway has four travel lanes with raised landscaped medians. Iron Horse Parkway primarily provides access to BART parking lots. Through-vehicle access to the BART station is prohibited from Iron Horse Parkway. All vehicles must access the BART surface parking lots or turn-around via a traffic circle. Arnold Road. Arnold Road extends in a northerly direction from Dublin Boulevard. A wide, two-lane roadway, Arnold Road provides access to existing office and high-tech businesses on the east side of the roadway. Currently, Arnold Road does not extend south of Dublin Boulevard. Hacienda Drive. Hacienda Drive is a north-south arterial street extending from Gleason Drive to south of 1-580. South of 1-580 Hacienda Drive has six travel lanes. North of 1-580 the roadway has four travel lanes to Dublin Boulevard and then three travel lanes continuing north to Gleason Drive. Hacienda Drive provides access to retail, office, and residential areas east of the project site. Central Parkway. Central Parkway extends between Hacienda Drive and Tassajara Road. A Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 3 two lane roadway, the street is closed to through-traffic at the Tassajara Creek vvercrossing due to ongoing construction of adjacent residential development. With raised landscaped medians, Central Parkway provides access to residential development in the study area. Gleason Drive. Gleason Drive is an east-west roadway that extends between Arnold Road and Tassajara Road. This roadway has four travel lanes with raised landscaped medians and provides access to commercial and office development north of the project site. Tassajara Road. Tassajara Road extends north from Interstate 580. A two-lane roadway, Tassajara Road primarily provides access to residential areas east of the project site. It is noted that Tassajara Road is currently being widened to provide four travel lanes between 1-580 to north of Gleason Drive. Tassajara Road is designated as an MTS roadway in the ACCMA's CMP. Pimlico Drive. Pimlico Drive extends east from Santa Rita Road opposite the Interstate 580 eastbound off-ramp. A two lane roadway, Pimlico Drive provides access to commercial-retail areas. .. ., - - - .. .. 111I1 Santa Rita Road. Santa Rita Road is a six lane roadway that extends south from Interstate 580. Opposite Tassajara Road, Santa Rita Road has raised landscaped medians and provides access to residential and office development in the City of Pleasanton. Santa Rita Road is designated .' as an MTS roadway in the ACCMA's CMP. The Boulevard (future roadway). The Boulevard would provide direct access to the Dublin .. Transit Center. This roadway would be located south of Dublin Boulevard and extend between Hacienda Drive and DeMarcus Boulevard with varying numbers of travel lanes. Campus Drive (future roadway). Campus Drive would extend south from Dublin Boulevard into the project site. Located between Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road, Campus Drive would provide access to office development. Altamirano Drive (future roadway). Altamirano Drive would extend between Arnold Road and the proposed BART parking structure. Paralleling Interstate 580, Altamirano Road would also intersect Campus Drive before continuing west towards the parking structure. On a regional basis, main access to the project site would be provided by Interstate 580 (1-580). This is a multi-lane east-west freeway that provides access to the adjoining cities of Pleasanton and Livermore. Regionally, the freeway provides access east to Tracy and west to Hayward and Oakland. 1-580 full-access interchanges are located at Dougherty Road/Hopyard Road, Hacienda Drive, and Tassajara Road/Santa Rita Road in the project study area. Interstate 680 (1-680) is a six-lane, north-south freeway that provides access north through Contra Costa County to south of Santa Clara County. On a regional basis, 1-680 provides access to San Jose to the south and 1-80 (Cordelia) to the north. Interchanges are located at Alcosta Boulevard, 1-580, and Transponarion Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - . .. '8 .. . . 4 - . Stoneridge Drive. Both freeways are designated as MTS routes in the ACCMA's CMP. 2. Existing Transit Service (a) Bus Service The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority or "Wheels" provides the primary bus transit service through the Dublin area. Figure 2 illustrates existing transit routes serving the project study area. Wheels routes that currently serve the project study area include lA, lB, 3, 4, 10, lOA, l2x, ACE. These bus routes provide access to both west and east Dublin as well as numerous outlying areas. Wheels bus routes are described in more detail below: Wheels Route lA and lB: This route serves the project study area both north, south, and east of the project site. From the Dublin BART station, route lA accesses Dublin Boulevard east to Hacienda Drive. The route then extends north to Gleason Drive and Broder Boulevard before returning south to Dublin Boulevard. From Dublin Boulevard the route access Tassajara Road, Santa Rita Road, Rosewood Drive until returning to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. Route lB travels in the opposite direction on the same streets. Headways are every 30 minutes during the weekdays. There is no operation on weekends. Current monthly ridership averages approximately 3,098 passengers. Wheels Route 3: This route serves the Dublin Boulevard corridor as well as areas to the north. In the study area, route 3 accesses the Dublin BART station, Dublin Boulevard, and Dougherty Road before continuing on to Wildwood Road, Stagecoach Road, Alcosta Boulevard, Davona Drive, Village Parkway, Amador Valley Boulevard, Regional Street, and back to Dublin Boulevard. During peak weekday service, headways are every hour. There is no operation on weekends. Current monthly ridership averages approximately 2,852 passengers. Wheels Route 4: This route serves the Dublin Boulevard corridor and areas west of San Ramon Road before extending south into Pleasanton. In the study area, route 4 accesses the Dublin BART Station and Dublin Boulevard west all the way to Silvergate Drive. From there, the route accesses Peppertree Road, Shannon Avenue, and San Ramon Road before extending to Pleasanton and back to the BART station (via Owens Drive). During peak weekday service hours, headways are every 30 minutes. There is no operation on weekends. Current monthly ridership averages approximately 3,809 passengers. - Wheels Route 10: This route serves the Dublin Boulevard corridor before extending south into Pleasanton. In the study area, route 10 accesses the Dublin BART Station and Dublin Boulevard in a westerly direction before turning south on San Ramon Road. During peak weekday service, headways are every 15 minutes. On Saturdays and Sundays, headways are every 30 minutes. It is noted that on Sundays route lOA serves the Santa Rita Jail. From the Dublin BART station, route lOA accesses Dublin Boulevard, Arnold Road, and Broder Boulevard to the jail. Current monthly ridership averages approximately 90,869 passengers. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 5 -:-,;. -.-.-.---.. 10A Dublin/Pleasanton/BART ,. 3 Dublin/Pleasanton BART ,. 4, 10 Dublin/Pleasanton BART 9 Hacienda Business Park ..Im.. . ......eD.. I ~ Transit Routes Serving Project Area -+ North ~ource: ~oute Ma~ and SC~dule for ~HEEL~a s:rviC.:. of the Livermore ~mador V~"ey Tra~it AuthO~ty) _ I @lIlJUlJil~omea!lS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ flguI!>> 2 I . " '. t I . I . I t. -. I j I j j I i I y I I ci a:: ~ <( ~ (/) ~ DR ---. ......... I : I : I : I : I : I . . ";i 'GLEASON o ~ z w () :f. CENTRAL PKWY. . " " I " " I " " I " " . " ." .~.;.~"" ..*';...... .U W --, t" .... "i.IjU'- - .: . . .". lI) . ". n ..1" 0: 0.". <{ ~." il'i III .1" o ...1-1-1 '.- " :"J ',," " ci a:: ~ W I (!) ::> o o ,"- Wheels Route 12X: This route provides service to/from the City of Livermore to the East Dublin BART Station. Route l2X serves the BART Station from Livermore via 1-580, Tassajara Road, and Dublin Boulevard Monday through Saturday. Headways are every half hour. On Saturday service, head ways are every 40 minutes to 1 hour. There is no Sunday service. Current monthly ridership averages approximately 17,539 passengers. Ace/Santa Rita/BART Shuttle: The ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) route serves the project study area from the Dublin BART station via Dublin Boulevard, Arnold Road, Broder Boulevard, Gleason Drive, and Tassajara Road before travelling south into Pleasanton. (b) BART System The East Dublin BART Station is accessed via DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway from Dublin Boulevard. From DeMarcus Boulevard, through-vehicle access is provided to the BART station and related parking areas with vehicles continuing in an outbound direction on Iron Horse Parkway. During the AM and PM commute periods, BART headways are every 15 minutes. Currently, peak ridership at the Dublin BART station occurs during the AM and PM peak hours. Specifically, during the AM peak hour of 7:30-8:30 AM 1,388 riders access the BART system (1,063 entries, 325 exits). During the PM peak hour of 5:30-6:30 PM there are 1,266 riders at the station (399 entries, 867 exits).2 Based on conversations with BART staff, there is excess ridership capacity on the BART system at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. 3 All Wheels routes listed above connect with the Dublin BART station. In addition to Wheels bus routes, the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA) or "County Connection" routes 121,259, and 970 serve the Dublin BART station. These County Connection routes serve areas to the north in Contra Costa County. 3. Existing Traffic Flow Conditions The key concern raised by the proposed Dublin Transit Center is the related traffic increases that would occur on the surrounding street network. The following sections describe the project study intersections, Level-of-Service concepts, and existing intersection capacity on the surrounding street network. (a) Critical Intersections Intersection operation is usually considered the key factor in determining the traffic handling capacity of a local roadway system. Based on discussions with City of Dublin Engineering staff, the following 20 intersections were selected for evaluation of operational characteristics: 2Pam Herhold, BART Financial Planning, DublinlPleasanton BART Station, Daily station exits/entries, 1999. 3Pamela Herhold, BART Financial Planning, Ibid..... Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 7 Key Project Study Area Intersections: Intersection Control . Dougherty Road/Scarlett Drive (future) Dougherty Road/Dublin Boulevard Dougherty Road/I-580 Westbound off-ramp Hopyard Road/I-580 Eastbound off-ramp Dublin Boulevard/Scarlett Drive Dublin Boulevard/DeMarcus Boulevard Dublin Boulevard/Iron Horse Parkway Dublin Boulevard/Arnold Road Arnold Road/Central Parkway (future) Hacienda Drive/Gleason Drive Hacienda Drive/Central Parkway Hacienda Drive/Dublin Boulevard Hacienda Drive/The Boulevard (future) Hacienda Drive/I-580 Westbound off-ramp Hacienda Drive/I-580 Eastbound off-ramp Tassajara Road/Gleason Drive Tassajara Road/Central Parkway Tassajara Road/Dublin Boulevard Tassajara Road/I-580 Westbound off-ramp Tassajara Road/I-580 Eastbound off-ramp/Pimlico Signal (assumed) Signal Signal Signal Stop-sign (Scarlett Dr.) Signal Signal Stop-sign (Arnold Rd.) Signal (assumed) Stop-sign (Hacienda Dr.) Signal Signal Signal (assumed) Signal Signal Stop-sign (Gleason Dr.) Stop-sign (Central Parkway) Signal Signal Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) Intersection Levels of Service Methodology In order to measure and describe the operational status of local roadway networks, traffic engineers and planners commonly use a grading system called Level-of Service (LOS). The LOS grading system typically involves a rating scale from LOS A, indicating relatively free-flowing conditions with minimal delays (zero to five seconds) at intersections, to LOS E, representing unstable flow conditions with traffic volumes at or near intersection design capacity. Intersections operating at LOS E or F will have major peak hour delays for vehicles crossing the intersection (40-60 seconds), resulting in long peak hour queues extending back on all intersection approaches (please see Appendices for the LOS definitions used by the City and applied in this analysis for local intersections). At signalized intersections, LOS is determined by calculating the volumes of conflicting vehicle turning movements during a one-hour period and dividing that total by the intersection's design capacity to accommodate such turning movements. The resulting calculation yields a volume/capacity (v/c) ratio that indicates the Level of Service rating (see Table 1). Intersection LOS computations have been made for proposed Dublin Transit Center traffic analysis following the accepted City of Dublin practice; peak hour LOS has been calculated using the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) methodology for signalized intersections. This methodology uses a variation of the Transportation Research Board's "Circular 212 Planning Method" with Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - - .. - .. - .. .. - .. .. .. - .. - .. . 8 - ,. operational capacities. It is acknowledged that the City of Dublin is in Alameda County. However, the City has consistently used the CCTA methodology to be compatible with other surrounding cities (Pleasanton and San Ramon). For un signalized intersections, peak hour LOS has been calculated using the Transportation Research Board, Highwav Cavacitv Manual--Special Revort 209, 3rd Edition, Chapter 10, Unsignalized Intersections (Part A), 1998. Vehicle delays at unsignalized intersections represent the delays experienced by the stop-sign controlled minor street traffic. (c) Existing Intersection Levels-of-Service Both AM (7:00-9:00) and PM (4:00-6:00) peak period turning movement counts were either obtained from the recent transportation analyses in the study area or counted by Omni-Means Engineers and Planners. ~ 5 From these counts, existing peak hour intersection turning movement counts were identified and are presented in Figure 3 and 4. Existing AM and PM peak hour intersection LOS results are presented in Table 1. As shown, the 15 signalized project study intersections are operating at LOS D or better during both the AM and PM peak hours. At the Dougherty/Dublin intersection, the calculated LOS is D (0.81) during the PM peak hour. This intersection experiences heavy northbound and eastbound traffic volumes coming to/from 1-580. Three of the five unsignalized intersections are operating at LOS E-F during the PM peak hour. Specifically, the Dublin/Scarlett, Dublin/Arnold, and Tassajara/Gleason locations are operating at LOS F, E, and E respectively for the minor street outbound left-turn movements. These three locations have been assumed to be signalized under the existing plus approved plus pending project scenario. 4. Interim Roadway and Intersection Circulation Improvements Local roadway and intersection conditions in the project study area are in a state of change due to ongoing roadway construction. This is evidenced by current widening of Dublin Boulevard between DeMarcus Boulevard and Hacienda Drive and the widening of Tassajara Road between the 1-580 westbound off-ramp to beyond Gleason Drive. In addition, signals are being installed at the Dublin/Arnold and TassajaralGleason intersections. For these reasons, the description of existing traffic flow conditions is dynamic. All approved and pending roadway and intersection improvements will be described in detail in Section B: Future Base Conditions. 4'fJKM Transportation Consultants, A Traffic Study For the Prooosed Marriott Hotel, City of Dublin, Final, October 25, 2000. sOmni-Means Engineers and Planners, AM and PM peak period intersection counts, (DeMarcus/Dublin, Iron Horse/Dublin, Arnold/Dublin, Hacienda/Gleason, and Hacienda/Central Parkway, City of Dublin, November 2000. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 9 6' ::1;1; a; 0 ~ 0 10 +0 ~Jl' l~ T 0 11 ~ ~hf'~' o .. MCOO 10.... 36 .. .... ('\I 17, -01'-0 ~ 0 ~ +0 ~..J..~ T 0 o j' ~ihr'~' o .. 0;':0 0,. M 18, ... hI'- M 0 't:.- 0 Mg + 0 ~"~TO 15 ~ ~":f[ii= 0"f:l1R0 75 ,. .... M ~ 190 T 737 +~ 1'-<0 VM ('\I CO 2Qj ~N~ ~415 ('\ICO.... ~ .. ~ f""177 95 ~ + ~ 103" ~~ 562,. <0 10 !Q +94 .. 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T 176 49 ~ ~-+~ 290.. 10 0 <X> 458 ,. co ~ ~ ~OM :g ~ I~ 687 ~ T 517 -+~ 01'- 1'-('\1 0..,. .... - tJ 0) <0 - v.... 10M .... ~ -+~ 616 ..+ ....10 1028 ,. ~n::j I -+ North qUA! 3 : . I I I I I VOlumes I AM Existing Peak Hour I I I . I I ~ @lJi1i)lliltl",means - - I . I I I 16' -<O....O-t..O (')~ +0 ~...~ TO 79 ..J. ~..+..~ 0-. 0)<00 155 ,. ~:2 !1l 0.....0 -t.. 0 .... +0 ..,. ~...~ TO ......0...]. ~..f.ii>=. o -. o~o 0,. <0 ~ (00)0 -t.. 0 N~ + 0 ~"'~TO 94 ..J. ~":f~ 0-. ~C1;0 675,. .... 10 !2l 010 -t.. 181 .....(') 0) ~... T 590 +~ 0..,. 0.... '<1"..... ~ ~o;;~ -t..347 .....10..... ~...~ T151 74..J. +~ 210 ..- (')..... (')0 158,. 0);: I + N... fiaure 4 Qj + 30 - T 71 72 -.\ ~ ~ 112,. g~ 11 0<00 -t.. 5 .......... + 0 <0 ~J'" ~ T 41 ........0...]. ~I + ~ o -. 0 0) 0) o .......,. ,. N ~ ION<O -t.. 12 10 ~ <0 + 122 ~ ... I... T 98 79 .~ ~+~ 706 -. l:; ~ ~ 252 ,. N N (') W -t.. .. ~...!...~- f............. ..J. ~+~ -. ,. !.1J 0)<0 -t.. 70 00 ..... (') ~... T 212 ~+ N<O 010 (')0 ..... - Isl - ~~ .... (') ~ +~ 68..J. 289 ,. 0(') 0)..... NO) ..... + 656 h~ ~o -. 0 0) ,. :! ~LEASON Ii o 13 z w ~ CENTRAL PKWY. BLVD. VOlumes 00..._____...._ ~ 4; ~ ~ .\... 8 "(000) -t.. 14 ~ ..,. + 370 ~J ... ~ T 0 25 ..J.i~ + ~ 989 -'1 0 0 0 0,.: BLVD. .............. ,. .,' 9 ci tr o -l o Z tr 4; PM Existing Peak Hour 865 1 I .. 578 T 78 802 -.r1 ~ 99,. C1; ~ N 6 \ ... 882 \T 12 1023~~ ~ 33,. ~ ~ '. " '. ". " ", " " " " '. 5 ci tr ~ w :r Cl :> o o ......:;:.. ..,. ...... 10 ..... 1 -<0 0) ~ -t.. 357 <0 l8 (') ~- 374 ~J ... I... T 319 103 ..J. ~ + ~ 545 -... 0) 0) 0) 783,. ~ ~ 0) -t.. 551 T 324 +~ (00) N..... ..,.N ......... +~ ON c;;~ N ~ @Iillillliltl",means (') "It N ..... ... .....0 0..... .....N ..... ~... 4J<oO) 00) ..,...... ..... ~... 394..J. 625 ,. '. Table 1 Existing Intersection Level-of-Service (LOS) Dublin Transit Center Study Area AM and PM Peak Houri .. .. Intersection LOS-V/C AM LOS-V/C PM .. 1. Dougherty /Scarlete 2. Dougherty!Dublin B 0.65 D 0.81 3. Dougherty/I-580 WB off A 0.58 A 0.52 4. Hopyard/I-580 EB off A 0.56 B 0.62 5. Dublin/Scarlett C 20.4 F 50+ 6. Dublin/DeMarcus A 0.55 B 0.64 7. Dublin/Iron Horse A 0.29 B 0.61 8. Dublin/ Arnold C 18.1 E 39.5 9. Amold/Central1 10. Hacienda/Gleason B 10.7 A9.8 11. Hacienda/ Central A 0.27 AO.38 12. Hacienda/Dublin A 0.37 A 0.42 13. HaciendalThe Boulevard1 14. Hacienda/I-580 WE off A 0.27 A 0.15 15. Hacienda/I-580 EB off A 0.50 AO.33 16. Tassajara/Gleason C 24.9 E 44.2 17. Tassajara/Central2 18. Tassajara/Dublin A 0.42 B 0.69 19. Tassajara/I-580 WB off AO.30 A 0.35 20. TassajaralI-580 EB off/Pimlico A 0.60 B 0.70 .. .. .. - .. .. . (1) Signalized intersection LOS is based on Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) methodology. LOS for unsignalized intersections is based on the 1998 Highway Capacity Manual and represents average vehicle delay in seconds for stop-sign controlled minor street traffic. - (2) The Dougherty/Scarlett, Arnold/Central, and Hacienda/The Boulevard intersections currently do not exist. Central Parkway is currently closed off between Tassajara Road and Tassajara Creek. These intersections will be analyzed in future base scenarios with approved and pending development and/or Year 2025 cumulative development. . .. - .. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center .. 12 - .. Other current local and regional roadway and intersection circulation improvements have been based on discussions with City Engineering staff as well as the City's Transportation Element of the General Plan.6 7 Circulation improvements can be categorized as short-term (within two years) or long-term improvements and are as follows: (a) Short-Term Circulation Improvements · 1-680/1-580 Interchange: As part of the overall interchange improvements, the new northbound 1-680 on-ramp from Village Parkway (south of Dublin Boulevard) and southbound off-ramp from 1-680 to Amador Plaza Road were recently completed and opened to traffic. · Dublin Boulevard Widening: Dublin Boulevard has currently been widened to three travel lanes in each direction between San Ramon Road and Village Parkway. Widening the roadway to six lanes between Village Parkway and Sierra Court is scheduled to begin in 2001. (b) Long-Term Circulation Improvements · Dublin Boulevard Widening: Dublin Boulevard would be widened to three travel lanes in each direction between Sierra Court and Dougherty Road. · 1-680/I-580 Interchange: As part of the overall interchange improvements, a new southbound 1-680 on-ramp from Amador Plaza Road/St. Patrick Way (south of Dublin Boulevard) and a southbound "flyover connector" from 1-680 to 1-580 are under construction. 5. Transportation and Parking Policies The City of Dublin I s transportation goals, policies, and programs can be found in Section 5 of the Circulation and Scenic Highways Element of the General Plan.8 While the majority of these goals and policies would apply to the proposed Dublin Transit Center, some of the key goals and policies have been highlighted below: 6Ray Kuzbari, Traffic Engineer, City of Dublin, Personal communication, December 11, 2000. 7TJKM Transportation Consultants, City of Dublin General Plan, Section 5, Circulation and Scenic Highways, Revised July 7, 1998. 8TJKM Associates, City of Dublin General Plan, Section 5, Circulation and Scenic Highways, Revised July 7, 1998. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 13 C. D. Roadways: Guiding Policy A. Design non-residential streets to (1) accommodate forecasted average daily traffic demand on segments between intersections, (2) minimize congested conditions during peak hours of operation at intersections and serve a balance of vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and transit. B. Design residential collector streets, residential streets and cul-de-sacs to serve a balance of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic and to prevent misuse of residential areas by through vehicle traffic. Additional Design Criteria A. Reserve right-of-way and construct improvements necessary to allow streets to accommodate projected vehicular traffic with least friction. B. For streets defmed as Routes of Regional Significance in the Tri-Valley Transportation Council's Tri- Valley Transportation Plan/Action Plan for Routes of Regional Significance (hereinafter referred to as "the TVTC Action Plan"), the City of Dublin is required to make a "good faith effort" to maintain LOS D (v/c < 0.91) on arterial segments and at intersections. If this Transportation Service Objective (TSO) is violated, the City can implement transportation improvements or other measures to improve LOS. If such improvements are not possible or are not sufficient, the City may refer the problem to the TVTC for joint resolution. In the event the TVTC cannot resolve the violation to the mutual satisfaction of all members, Dublin may modify the LOS standard, but only if other jurisdictions are not physically impacted. The Routes of Regional Significance within the project study area are as follows: Dublin Boulevard, Dougherty Road, Tassajara Road, Hopyard Road, Santa Rita Road and 1-580. For streets that are not defined as Routes of Regional Significance in the TVTC Action Plan, strive to phase development and road improvements so that the operating LOS for intersections in Dublin shall not be worse than LOS D. E. Use the TVTC Action Plan as a guideline for making transportation policy decisions. Freeway Access: A. Improve freeway access. Transit: Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center . - - - .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . - . . - 14 - - A. Support downtown West Dublin BART station. B. Support improved local transit as essential to a quality urban environment, particularly for residents who do not drive. Southern Pacific Railroad Transportation Corridor: A. Support preservation along the Southern Pacific right-of-way between East Dublin BART station and Dougherty Road and along the east side of Dougherty Road from the Southern Pacific right-of-way to the northern City limit as a potential transportation corridor. B. Consider potential recreational use in conjunction with transportation use. Bikeways: A. Provide safe bikeways along arterials. Truck Routes: A. Designate and accommodate truck routes to minimize noise nuisance on residential arterial streets. Scenic Highways: A. Incorporate County-designated scenic routes, and the proposed Fallon Road extension in the General Plan as adopted City-designated scenic routes, and work to enhance a positive image of Dublin as seen by through travelers. Financing Improvements: A. Continue the City's program of requmng developers to contribute fees andlor improvements to help fund off-site improvements related to their projects. For the City 1 s other goals, guiding policies, and implementation policies regarding transportation, please refer to the Circulation and Scenic Highway element. The City of Dublin I s Off-Street Parking and Loading regulations can be found in Chapter 8.76 of the City of Dublin Zoning Ordinance (City of Dublin, September 1997). Off-street parking requirements range from one space per 50 to one space per 1,000 square feet for commercial and industrial type uses. Please refer to the Off-Street Parking and Loading regulations for specific regulations. Some of the general off-street parking requirements that may apply to the Dublin Transit Center Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 15 study area include the following: . Multiple Use Projects. Where a project contains more than one use type (and typically multiple tenant spaces) such as offices, restaurants, and retail sales, the amount of parking to be provided shall be the total of that required by Section 8.76.080, Parking Requirements by Use Type, for each use type, except as otherwise provided by Section 8.76.050 (rounding to higher space). . New Buildings or Development Project Without Known Tenants. If the type of tenants that will occupy a non residential building is not known at the time of the development entitlement or building permit approval, the amount of parking to be provided shall be the minimum number of parking spaces required by Section 8.76.080 for a mix of use types typical of comparable buildings or development projects in that zoning district as determined by the Director of Community Development. The intent of this section is to ensure sufficient parking by anticipating a typical use type mix which is appropriate to the design and nature of the building or development project. . Off-Street Parking and Loading Plan Required. All uses which require a building permit, site development review or conditional use permit shall be accompanied by an Off-Street Parking and Loading Plan (which may be included in the Site Plan for those permits) unless waived by the Director. The contents of the Off-Street Parking and Loading Plan shall be to the satisfaction of the Director of Community Development. The Off-Street Parking and Loading Plan may be incorporated into the Site Plan for the Site Development Review or Conditional Use Permit. No building permit, site development review or conditional use permit will be approved unless its Off-Street and Loading Plan complies with the requirements of this Chapter. B. FUTURE BASE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS This section describes the anticipated future operation (Year 2005) of the "study" intersections under approved and pending conditions. These conditions represent existing traffic plus anticipated traffic generated by approved and pending projects (reasonably foreseeable development in the area). Future base traffic conditions do not include traffic volumes generated by the proposed Dublin Transit Center. In addition, future base traffic conditions assume currently planned or funded roadway modifications would be in place. 1. Future Base Circulation Improvements Current and planned roadway and intersection improvements for the project study area include the following: Roadways: TransportaTion Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center . - . - .. - .. .. .. .. - WI! . - .. .. .. 16 .. ... Dublin Boulevard Widening: Dublin Boulevard is currently being widened to six travel lanes between Scarlett Drive and Hacienda Drive. The roadway is also planned to be widened to six lanes between Dougherty Road and Scarlett Drive. Tassajara Road Widening: Tassajara Road is currently being widened to four travel lanes between 1-580 and north of Gleason Drive. Ultimately, Tassajara Road will be eight lanes between 1-580 and Central Parkway, and six lanes north of Central Parkway. Central Parkway Extension: Central Parkway is currently being extended between Arnold Road and Hacienda Drive. In the interim, Central Parkway would have two through lanes. Ultimately, this street would consist of four through lanes. Central Parkway is currently closed to through traffic at Tassajara Creek. Arnold Road Extension: Arnold Road would be extended in a southerly direction from Dublin Boulevard to just north of 1-580. The roadway width will vary from four travel lanes to two travel lanes depending on the segment. The Boulevard: The Boulevard would be a new east-west street constructed between Dublin Boulevard and 1-580. The Boulevard roadway segment between the southerly extension of Arnold Road and Hacienda Drive would be constructed as part of approved and pending development. Intersections: Dublin/DeMarcus: The northbound approach of DeMarcus Boulevard would be improved to include one (1) left-turn lane and one (1) right-turn lane. Dublin/Iron Horse: The northbound approach of Iron Horse Parkway would be improved to include one (1) left-turn lane and one (1) right-turn lane. Hacienda/Central: The northbound approach of Hacienda Drive would be improved in the interim to include one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and one right-turn lane (two left- turn lanes are currently in place but not being used). The eastbound and westbound Central Parkway approaches would each have one (1) left-turn lane, one (1) through lane, and one (1) right-turn lane for the interim condition. Ultimately, these approaches would be improved to include an additional through lane. Hacienda/Dublin: The northbound approach of Hacienda Drive would be improved in the interim to include three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound approach of Dublin Boulevard would be improved to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. (The additional through-lane is in place but not being used). Ultimately, these two approaches would be widened to include an additional northbound and westbound through lane. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 17 Hacienda/I-580 Eastbound off-ramp: The eastbound off-ramp approach would be improved to include two (2) left-turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. Tassajara/I-580 Westbound off-ramp: The westbound off-ramp approach would be improved to include two (2) left-turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. Tassajara/I-580 Eastbound off-ramp/Pimlico: The eastbound off-ramp approach would be widened and re-striped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, one (1) through lane, and a free right- turn lane. The westbound Pimlico Drive approach would be improved to include two (2) left- turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. The northbound Santa Rita Road approach would be improved to include four (4) lanes, with the two left most lanes leading to the overpass, the second right most lane leading to the overpass or 1-580 eastbound on-ramp, and the right most lane leading to Pimlico Drive or the 1-580 eastbound on-ramp. 2. Approved and Pending Projects Based on discussions with City Transportation staff, the following projects were assumed for the future base conditions. Approved projects are developments that are under construction, built but not fully occupied, or unbuilt but have final development approval. Pending projects would be developments that are currently proposed or are in the approval process at the time of this study. a. Approved Projects: · Hacienda Crossings (Opus): 469,000 square foot retail center (partially occupied) · Villas at Santa Rita: 324 apartments · Santa Rita Property Sites l1A and lIB (Summerhill and Jefferson Residential Development): 368 apartments and 341 single family homes · Casterson: 106 single family homes · Creekside Business Park III (Opus): 590,000 square feet office development · General Motors: 75,660 square feet of new automobiles and service · Dublin Ranch Phase 1 Residential Development: 847 single family homes · Tassajara Meadows Residential Development: 96 single family homes · Emerald Glen Residential Development: 143 single family homes and 152 townhomes · Koll Dublin Corporate Center: 590,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of hotel and 7,000 square feet of retail · Yarra Yarra Residential Development: 251 single family homes · Dublin Ranch Area G Development: 1,426 apartments and 230,000 square feet of commercial development · Dublin Ranch Area A Residential Development: 562 single family homes and 18 hole golf course · Emerald Glen Village Apartments Development: 390 apartments and 132,235 square feet of commercial development · Sybase Dublin Headquarters: 420,000 square feet of office space Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transir Center MIl .. . . .. . .. - - .. - .. . .. .. .. .. 18 - .. · Marriott Hotel Project: 214 hotel rooms · Commerce One Office Project: 760,000 square feet office of space · Downtown Dublin Specific Plans: Multiple use project with commercial, residential, and transit uses (please see referenced document below). In addition to specific approved projects in the City of Dublin, City of Pleasanton approved development was also considered. Based on the City of Pleasanton travel demand forecasting model, approved projects are expected to generate 9,661 AM peak hour trips and 10,584 PM peak hour trips. AM and PM peak hour traffic volumes from the above projects in Dublin and Pleasanton were taken from a recent traffic study conducted by TJKM Transponation Consultants. For a complete description of the approved project location and trip generation, please refer to the following transportation study: TJKM Transportation Consultants, Final: A Traffic Study for the Proposed Marriott Hotel, City of Dublin, October 25, 2000. b. Pending Projects · Silveria Residential Project: 214 single family homes · Cisco Systems Office Project: 862,000 square feet office of space For a complete description of the location and AM and PM peak hour trips of the pending Silveria residential project and Marriott hotel project, please refer to the following transportation study: TJKM Transportation Consultants, Final: A Traffic Study for the Proposed Marriott Hotel, City of Dublin, October 25, 2000. For a description of the location and AM and PM peak hour trips of the pending Commerce One and Cisco Systems, please refer to the following traffic study: Omni-Means Engineers & Planners, SURPlemental Traffic Circulation Analysis for the Proposed Commerce One Project, City of Dublin, Final Report, December 22, 2000. For a description of the location and AM and PM peak hour trips of the pending Dublin Specific Plans project, please refer to the following traffic study: Omni-Means Engineers & Planners, Consultants Report of the Transportation Impacts for the Proposed Village Parkway. Downtown Core. and West BART Station Specific Plans, City of Dublin, Final Draft Report, September 25, 2000. The re-Iocation of the Camp Parks main gate would also occur within the next five years. Based on discussions with Camp Parks staff, it is anticipated that a new roadway/gate connection will occur at the Dublin/DeMarcus intersection to form the north leg of the intersection (the roadway Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center . 19 is currently under construction). Various military activities related to the facility are expected to be most concentrated on the weekends when reservists report for training duties. In addition, Summer weekends would be most active with possible convoys coming to/from the Camp Parks area. 9 With weekend Camp Parks activity expected to generate the most intense traffic volumes, existing and future base peak hour weekday volumes would experience lesser increases in traffic volumes related to the re-location of the Camp Parks main gate. However, peak period vehicle counts were conducted at the Camp Parks gates to quantify weekday traffic that would transfer to the Dublin/DeMarcus intersection.lO Peak hour volumes related to Camp Parks have been added to the Dublin/DeMarcus intersection to account for increased traffic volumes at this location. Approved and pending project trips were added to existing AM and PM intersection volumes to create a future base Year 2005 scenario. AM and PM peak hour exisfing plus future base traffic has been shown in Figures 5 and 6. 3. Intersection Level of Service--Future Base Conditions With future base traffic added to existing volumes, AM and PM intersection LOS have been re- calculated and are shown in Table 2. With future base volumes, calculated intersection LOS contain the planned circulation improvements for roadways and intersections in the study area listed in Section B-1. (Future Base Circulation Improvements). With these circulation improvements, one study intersection would still experience significant congestion during the AM and PM peak hours with the planned improvements in place. In response, the following mitigation measures are recommended with existing, approved, and pending traffic volumes: .Dougherty/Dublin: Northbound Dougherty Road would need to be widened to provide three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, one (1) shared through/right-turn lane, and one (1) right-turn lane. The southbound Dougherty Road approach would need to be widened to provide two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be widened to provide three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would need to be widened to provide one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and two (2) right- turn lanes. With these measures, intersection LOS would improve from LOS E (0.94) to LOS C (0.73) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from LOS F (1.03) to LOS D (0.85). ~egan Chen, Camp Parks Reserve, Personal communication on January 24, 2001. 100mni-Means Engineers & Planners, Peak period counts at the 5th Street and 8th Street Camp Parks Gates at Dougherty Road, January 24, 2001. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center . - . - - - .... .. .. . '. .. .. .. - ., - 20 .. - 16' ~~O ~ 0 ..- 10 ... 0 .... ..I"~TO 61 .1- ~"f'ii>' o + MIOO co 10 36 .. ..- 10 7' ~:g ~ 10 ~ 32 10 ... 20 ~.J..~. T 110 7 .J. :;fj'l"~' 4+100)10 18.. ~.... ~COMIO ~ 5 NM N "t ... 169 ~ + ~ T 292 87 .J. ::tj"+"iii= 35 + ~ ~ f6 319 .. I'-- co .. 94 T 258 107 +rJr~ 106.. ~~ ..- I -VNN ~ 7 ..- ~ ... 0 ~ .. l., T 384 ...._...1...~. -4J ... I~ o .... I'-- V CIO 70 0) I'-- 10 .. N CIO 12 -I'--MCO ~ 154 ~ :g ~ ... 591 -.J .. l., T 559 67 .J. -4J ... ~ 293.... ~~~ 208 to)O)"- 9 8 - I'-- N V ~ 25 N N M .. 740 ..J .. ~ T 30 357 -~!"1 ... ~ 536 +1 0 0 N 327 ,.1 M _GLEASON Ii o ;3 m ~ ... 871 T 116 1195 +'''1 l~ 28,. ~ ~ t. 77 MM .. 690 ..I ~ T 216 77 .J."I I~ 1211 + N N 428,. (") ..- 6 ) \ i \ .. 673 \T 17 1619 :J"l ~ 15 -t ~~ 2l!1 I'-- N ~ ;b N... ~ 451 ... .,.J .. ~ T 187 548.J. + ~ 112+ NCIO 611,. ~ ~ + North figure 5 ~ 642 T 737 +~ ~* 1- ~ ~ ,~ 756 ~.. T 1456 -4J+ ;!<O co~ ... +~ ....co ~~ ... f:::~ ...1'-- ..- ~.. 1091 .J. 1818 t 15 ION N..- CION ... ~.. 19 I~O) (") 0 ~ 2 (")0) ..- ~ ... 0 ~...!...~. f 73 6 .J. ~"+"iJ'=' 0.... 1'--0(") ... CIO M 47 ,. I'-- ~ N ................. ~ <( ~ (J) (J) j:5 BLVD. .........',.................. BLVD. AM Existing + Approved + Pending Peal< Hour Volumes CENTRAL PKWY. ci n:: o ...J o z n:: <( ". '. ~"'"'''' '. ............ ". ........ ci n:: t ~ ~ Cl ::> o o CIO ... N N .. r r' .0) .1'-- - - - - ~ "-'0) CIO (") t 262 'tCOIO - ~ co ... 388 ~"l., T 283 49 .J. -4J"'~ 575+ MI'--CIO 569 ,.~g~ :!J01O va ~865 1'--10 ..- ..J .. T 517 +~ 1'--1'-- (,,)N vv ..- il ... (0 101'-- (0(") ... ..J .. 891 .1- +~ ..-10 1028 ,. CION o)N 1 - ~ @[JU\)lKltlcmeans 6 -(l)"OtO ~ 0 (l) 8l .. 0 ~+~.O 184 .J. ~'''+-''~' o -. (l)<OO 155 . ~lO ,... I'--C;g-l. 15 o .. 10 ~r~T44 "4'''J':;fj''f'~' 20 -. 0 (l) (Y') 10.""~tO 7 I~I'-- CO to .l <01'-- ~ 5 ~ .. 80 ~ " ~ . 139 521 .J. :;fj"+"~ 178 -. ~ ~ ffi 752 -. "Ot ~ N 121 (Y') ,... :g ~ J-l. 637 ~ " .611 +-~ ~~ "Otl'-- ..... 20 ~to (Y') CIO . (Y')(l)(Y')"- "Ot CIO..... ~ 365 ~J " ~ . 161 784 .J. +- ~ 230 -. I::: m 245 -. ~ t:: I +- North flaure 6 . I Qj .. 30 - .130 72 -.\ ~ ~ 122. 12 ~ ill ~ 5 NOO ~,... .. 0 ~+~ . 91 ......1.3".-J- ~I +- ~ O-';bN(Y') 287. ~ ~ ~!O 18 fO ~ 12 ,... ~ (Y') .. 550 ~...~ . 291 237 .J. ~l +- ~ 1210 -. ~ CIO 0 0,... 625 -. "Ot co !l/(l)1'--0~ 11 N to .. 0 ,... ~...~ T 579 ''''77''J- ~"f';':' 0-. (Y')(l)(Y') 544 . CIO ~ ~ !1/ ~;t ~ 340 ,..."Ot ,...,... ~J ... . 310 ~I +- to(l) NI'-- "Ot"Ot ,...,... - 51 - ffi~ CIO(l) ~ 930 ~ +-~ 310 -. ,...to ,...(l) ON N...- 9 8 . (l) N CIO ~ 14 ~ "Ot.. 944 ~J" ~T 4 65 ~ ~1 +- ~ 1426 .. (Y') <0 <0 36 .i ~""N 7 .. 1688 ~~ ~28 1378 -. I'-- (l) 1. ~~ ~ 50 :g Ut; .. 1707 ~ ~T 50 50 .J. ~ ~ 1315" I'-- (Y') 99. ~ <0 6 5 \ \ .. 1942 \. 12 1627 iF ~ 33. 8l ~ ci 0:: I I I. I PM Existing + Approved + Pending Peak Hour Volumes I I _Of .--.-1- __On _.____ .---- BLVD. ...."..".............- BLVD. . -, 0 ,... co ,... ... f" !.. ...... . ,... C\/ - - - - ~ g !D ~ 683 Oto .. 725 ,... ~...~ T 702 103 .J. ~+-~ 749.. (l),...1O 939. 8l ~ ~ 1.1 co 0 om ~ 689 ,...(Y') ,...,... ~J ... 'f 324 +~ COClO CO I'-- I'--C\/ ........ 4 ,... CIO 00 COM ,... ~J ... 641 .J. +~ 625. MC\/ ~~ C\/ ~ ~ - - - I - 10 lr I. I PKWY. DUBLIN CENTRAL _ GLEASON ~ ~ z w ~ ci 0:: 9 o Z 0:: ~ ". " " ", """" " ", ", " " ci 0:: f ~ w :r: Cl :J o o I Table 2 Existing Plus Future Base Intersection Level-or-Service (LOS) AM and PM Peak Hour Z Existing Existing + FB Mitigated Intersection Exist + FB AM PM AM PM AM PM l. Dougherty /Scarletr3 2. Dougherty/Dublin B 0.65 D 0.81 E 0.94 F 1.03 C 0.73 D 0.85 3. Dougherty/I-580 WB off A 0.58 A 0.52 B 0.68 A 0.60 , 4. Hopyard/I-580 EB off A 0.56 B 0.62 A 0.57 B 0.64 5. Dublin/Scarlett C 20.4 F50+ A 0.36 A 0.43 6. Dublin/DeMarcus A 0.55 B 0.64 A 0.50 A 0.51 7. Dublin/Iron Horse A 0.29 B 0.61 A 0.32 A 0.41 8. Dublin/Arnold C 18.1 E39.5 A 0.42 B 0.66 9. Arnold/Central A 0.22 A 0.38 10. Hacienda/Gleason B 10.7 A 9.80 A 0.25 A 0.15 11. Hacienda/Central A 0.27 A 0.38 C 0.71 C 0.79 12. Hacienda/Dublin A 0.37 A 0.42 A 0.60 C 0.73 13. Hacienda/The Boulevard A 0.40 A 0.57 14. Hacienda/I-580 WB off A 0.27 A 0.15 D 0.89 A 0.49 15. Hacienda/I-580 EB off A 0.50 A 0.33 D 0.89 B 0.66 16. Tassajara/Gleason C 24.9 E44.2 A 0.59 B 0.64 17. Tassajara/Central A 0.51 B 0.62 18. Tassajara/Dublin A 0.42 B 0.69 A 0.54 B 0.66 19. Tassajara/I-580 WB off A 0.30 A 0.35 A 0.49 A 0.60 20. Santa Rita/I-580 EB off/Pimlico A 0.60 B 0.70 B 0.66 D 0.87 (1) Signalized intersection LOS is based on Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCT A) methodology. LOS for unsignalized intersections is based on 1998 Highway Capacity Manual and represents average delay in seconds for stop-sign controlled minor street traffic. (2) Due to planned roadway improvements, some study intersections' LOS may improve from existing conditions. This is particularly true along Dublin Boulevard where the roadway would be widened from two to six travel lanes between Dougherty Road and Hacienda Drive. (3) The Dougherty IScarlett intersection is not expected to exist under existing plus future base conditions. This intersection will be analyzed in future base scenarios with Year 2025 cumulative development. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 23 C. DUBLIN TRANSIT CENTER TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS The following section describes the transportation impacts for the proposed Dublin Transit Center. The overall section includes a description of significance criteria, evaluation of project trip generation, trip distributions, intersection, and implications for future congestion and delay on the surrounding roadway network. 1. Significance Criteria (a) Alameda County Congestion Management Agency The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency has established significance criteria guidelines for proposed projects within the County that have the potential to impact the CMP roadway network. Specifically, the County has identified a specific Congestion Management Plan (CMP) system of freeways and roadways that must conform to the agency's LOS standards. These roadways are designated as "key routes" which include highways and principal arterials. For arterials, the following criteria must be met: .Must carry 30,000 vehicles per day for at least one mile; .Must be a four lane (or more) roadway; · Must be a major cross-town connector; .Must connect at both ends to another eMP route. As stated in the Setting Section, in the project study area these MTS routes have been identified as 1-580, Dublin Boulevard, Dougherty Road, Tassajara Road, Hopyard Road and Santa Rita Road. The County's LOS standard is E, except where F was the level of service originally measured, in which case the standard shall be F.1l In addition to LOS roadway standards, CMA guidelines also specify that any proposed project generating 100 PM peak hour trips over existing conditions must conduct a traffic analysis of the project using the Countywide Transportation Demand Model for the base years 2005 and 2020. However, the guidelines also allow for other transportation models/projections to be used for this process. For this process to occur, transportation volume projections used for the proposed Dublin Transit Center and Year 2025 must be compared to the Countywide Transportation Model to ensure that the more conservative of the two traffic projections are used for CEQA purposes. Discussions with Alameda CMA staff indicate that the Tri-Valley Transportation Model would be appropriate for Year 2025 analyses. 12 llAlameda County Congestion Management Agency (CMA), Congestion Management Pro~ram 1999, July 22, 1999. 12Beth Waluka, Senior Transportation Planner, Alameda County CMA, Personal communication on November 28, 2000. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - .. .. - .. - .. .. .. .. 11III .. 11III - .. . .. 24 - - (b) City of Dublin Based on the City of Dublin's General Plan circulation element, the following criteria would apply to City roadways and intersections: · For streets defined as Routes of Regional Significance (see below) in the Tri-Valley Transportation Council's Tri-Valley Transportation Plan/Action Plan for Routes of Regional Significance (referred to as "the TVTC Action Plan"), the City of Dublin is required to make a "good faith effort" to maintain LOS D (v/c < 0.91) on arterial segments and intersections. If this Transportation Service Objective (TSO) is violated, the City can implement transportation improvements or other measures to improve LOS. If such improvements are not possible or are not sufficient, the City may refer the problem to the TVTC for joint resolution. In the event that the TVTC cannot resolve the violation to the mutual satisfaction of all members, Dublin may modify the LOS standard, but only if other jurisdictions are not physically impacted.13 · The Routes of Regional Significance within the City of Dublin are as follows: Dublin Boulevard, Dougherty Road, Tassajara Road, and San Ramon Road; · For streets that are not defined as Routes of Regional Significance in the TVTC Action Plan, strive to phase development and road improvements so that the operating LOS for intersections in Dublin shall not be worse than LOS D. Roadways are defined as Routes of Regional Significance if: They connect to two or more "regions" of the county; They connect across county boundaries; They serve significant amounts of through-traffic; They provide access to a regional highway or transit facility (e.g. a BART station or freeway interchange) . 2. Proposed Project Description The proposed Dublin Transit Center would consist of 1,500 high density residential units (apartments), 2,000,000 square feet of office space, and 70,000 square feet of ancillary retail space. In addition, a new BART parking structure would be constructed to replace existing surface lot spaces now in existence. This parking structure would have 1,680 parking spaces. This total of 1,680 parking spaces would match the existing surface spaces now provided for BART patrons parking north of 1-580. Therefore, there would be no increase in parking 13City of Dublin, General Plan, Land Use and Circulation: Circulation and Scenic Highways Element, Revised July 7, 1998. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 25 - provided for BART patrons off DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway. ., Access to the Dublin Transit Center would be gained from Dublin Boulevard and Hacienda Drive _ via existing and proposed roadways. This would include the existing streets of DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway. Future proposed roadways in the study area include a new east-west roadway (The Boulevard) that would extend between DeMarcus Boulevard and _ Hacienda Drive. (It is noted that a segment of The Boulevard and the southerly extension of Arnold Road are included as part of approved and pending circulation improvements). Campus Drive, a new north-south roadway would be located between Iron Horse Parkway and the _ southerly extension of Arnold Road. Campus Drive would extend south from Dublin Boulevard to provide access to proposed office development. Finally, Altamirano Road would extend from Arnold Road west to the new BART parking structure. Between the new BART parking _ structure and the southerly extension of Arnold Road, Altamirano Road would intersect Campus Drive. For a schematic diagram of the proposed Dublin Transit Center, please refer to Section 5 (Internal Intersections), Figure 9. _ 3. Project Trip Generation Daily and peak hour trip generation for the proposed Dublin Transit Center has been based on three different sources: 1) The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) research on office, residential, and retail development, 2) discussions with Dublin Transportation and Alameda . County staff, and 3) peak period counts conducted at the existing Dublin BART station.14 15 16 For proposed office development, a 15 percent discount was applied to trip generation rates to account for residential/employment interaction and increased use of transit due to the proximity _ to the East Dublin BART Station. Residential development trips were also discounted by 25 percent due to the proximity to the East Dublin BART Station. Retail uses have been described as "ancillary" to the office development and are intended to serve the internal office populations. all .. Project trip generation has been shown in Table 3. As calculated, the proposed Dublin Transit Center would generate 29,252 daily trips with 4,155 AM peak hour trips and 3,970 PM peak _ hour trips. - 14Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Trip Generation, 6th Edition, Corporate Headquarters Office (#714), Apartment (#220), and Specialty Retail (#814), 1997 ., 15Ray Kuzbari, Associate Traffic Engineer, City of Dublin, Memo to Stuart Cook, Project Planner, Alameda County Community Development Agency, "Trip Generation Rates for Transit Center and Commerce One Traffic Studies, November 3, 2000." - 160mni-Means Engineers and Planners, Peak period counts at the DeMarcus/Dublin and Iron Horse Parkway/Dublin intersections, November 2000. .. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 26 .. 11II Table 3 Proposed Dublin Transit Center Trip Generation Daily, AM and PM Peak Hour A. Project Components: Corporate Office: Residential: BART Parking Structure: Retail: 2,000,000 square feet 1,500 apartments 1,680 parking spaces 70,000 square feet B. Project Trip Generation:1.2.3.4 Corporate Headquarters Office: 2,000,000 s.f. x 6.56 trips/l,OOO ksf 2,000,000 s.f. x 1.25 trips/l,OOO ksf 2,000,000 s.f. x 1.18 trips/l,OOO ksf Residential Apartments: 1,500 D.D.'s x 4.97 trips/D.D. 1,500 D.D.'s x 0.38 trips/D.D. 1,500 D.D.'s x 0.47 trips/D.D. BART Parking Structure: 1,680 spaces x 3.47 trips/space 1,680 spaces x 0.54 trips/space 1,680 spaces x 0.43 trips/space Retail: 70,000 s.f. x 40.67 trips/1,OOO ksf 70,000 s.f. x 2.59 trips/1,OOO ksf 70,000 s.f. x 2.59 trips/1,OOO ksf C. Total Project Trips: Daily Trips: AM Peak Hour Trips: PM Peak Hour Trips: = 13,120 daily trips = 2,500 (2,325 in, 175 out) AM peak = 2,360 (260 in, 2,100 out) PM peak = 7,455 daily trips = 570 (91 in, 479 out) AM peak = 705 (472 in, 233 out) PM peak = 5,830 daily trips = 904 (788 in, 116 out) AM peak = 724 (222 in, 502 out) PM peak = 2,847 daily trips = 181 (78 in, 103 out) AM peak = 181 (87 in, 94 out) PM peak = 29,252 = 4,155 (3,282 in, 873 out) = 3,970 (1,041 in, 2,929 out) (1) Institute of Transportation Engineers, Trip Generation, 6th Edition, Corporate Headquarters Office, Apartment, and Specialty Retail land uses, 1997. Some rounding may have occurred during trip generation calculations. (2) 15 percent discount was applied to the office trips to account for residential/employment interaction and increased use of transit due to the proximity to the East Dublin BART Station. (3) Residential development trips were discounted 25 % due to proximity to the East Dublin BART Station. (4) Trip rates for the planned BART parking structure have been based on peak period counts conducted at the East Dublin BART Station (Omni-Means, November 2(00). Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 27 4. Proposed Project Trip Distribution Peak hour vehicle distribution has been based on previous studies conducted for the Peoplesoft development and residential development contained in Dublin Ranch Areas F-H.17 18 For office and the BART parking structure, vehicle distribution is estimated as follows: Hacienda Drive to/from the south: Hacienda Drive to/from the north: Dublin Boulevard to/from the east: Dublin Boulevard to/from the west: Arnold Drive to/from the north: Total: 55% 3% 10% 30% 2% 100% For residential land use, peak hour vehicle distribution would be estimated as follows: Hacienda Drive tolfrom the south: Hacienda Drive to/from the north: Dublin Boulevard to/from the east: Dublin Boulevard to/from the west: Arnold Drive to/from the north: Total: 45% 3% 10% 40% 2% 100% As stated previously, the retail component of the proposed project would be considered "ancillary" uses to the proposed office space. For this reason, retail uses are provided to serve the needs of the adjacent office workers and is not expected to generate external vehicle trips. The proposed BART parking structure would not add any additional parking spaces to the existing East Dublin BART station. Currently, there are 1,680 existing surface parking lot spaces for the BART station in the City of Dublin. These surface spaces would be replaced by the proposed 1,680 space BART parking structure. Therefore, proposed BART trips shown in Table 3 are merely existing vehicle trips that have been re-distributed based on the proposed street network serving the BART parking structure and the proposed Dublin Transit Center. Proposed BART parking structure vehicle trips would not result in additional traffic volumes on the surrounding street network. 17TJKM Transportation Consultants, A Traffic Study for the Proposed Peoolesoft Development, Ibid..... 18TJKM Transportation Consultants, A Traffic Study for Proposed Dublin Ranch Areas F-H Development, City of Dublin, Final, March 21, 2000. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. . .. - .. - . - .. - 28 -- . Based on the expected vehicle distributions, AM and PM peak hour project trips have been added to existing plus future base volumes and have been shown in Figures 7 and 8. 5. Effects of Dublin Transit Center Traffic on Intersection LOS with Existing and Approved and Pending Traffic (Future Base) Volumes External Intersections: With proposed Dublin Transit Center traffic added to existing plus future base traffic volumes, study intersection LOS have been re-calculated and are shown in Table 4. With proposed project traffic, two of the study intersections would be operating at unacceptable levels of service during the AM or PM peak hour. These include the Dougherty/Dublin and Hacienda/I-580 Westbound off-ramp intersections. The following mitigation measures are suggested for impacted study intersections: eDougherty/Dublin: In addition to the mitigation measures discussed in the Future Base Scenario (Exist + Approved + Pending), the Scarlett Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard should be constructed. The eastbound approach of Dublin Boulevard should be widened to include an additional through lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would have one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound triple left-turn lanes (recommended for the existing + Approved + Pending scenario) would need to be lengthened to accommodate additional traffic from the Transit Center development. As part of these intersection improvements, Dougherty Road should be four (4) lanes in the southbound direction between Dublin Boulevard and the 1-580 westbound on-ramp. These lanes should be configured so that the right most lane would lead exclusively to the 1-580 westbound on-ramp, with the second right most lane leading to the overpass or the 1-580 westbound on-ramp. These improvements would require widening and restriping the 1-580 westbound diagonal on-ramp. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from E (0.97) to LOS C (0.74) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from E (0.99) to LOS D (0.86). eHacienda/I-580 Westbound off-ramp: The northbound Hacienda Drive approach (overcrossing) would need to be widened to three (3) northbound travel lanes. This improvement would require some alignment modifications to the 1-580 westbound loop on-ramp. In addition, the 1-580 westbound off-ramp approach would need to be widened to include three (3) left-turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from F (1.17) to LOS D (0.89) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from B (0.61) to LOS A (0.57). With the recommendation of the Scarlett Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard, the Dougherty/Scarlett intersection would be created and the Dublin/Scarlett intersection would require circulation modifications. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 29 1~1O 0) "- alN "t:.. 0 N~ +0 ~+~TO 99 ~ ~"'+ r'" o .. MalO tOtO 36 ~ ..... 10 7, '-':g g 10 ~ 32 10 + 20 ~ ;- I~ T 110 ....-24...]. ~j..+..;.:. 4 .. IONIO 18 y m..... + 178 T 305 128 ..~r'" 106 ~ ~~ ...... o ~~g~~ ,~ 10 + ~ f..~.~~... +r'" 10M to-.;t N...... 9 o M -.;t 25 ~ al M + 796 + T 388 378 ~ + r'" 743" 010...... 327 ~o M ..... 8 7 + 674 T 127 2020 "I~ r'" 170 ~ ~a ..... ............ ~ 77 M M + 744 ~I ~ T 19 77 .J ~ r'" 2231" N-.;t 57 ~ ~ to 6 I I i \ + 885 oT 17 2555 ~I~ ~ 15 ~ ~~ I --.;tON ~ 7 .....~ + 0 ~ + ~ T 432 ........r:i ~ + r'" o .. ............N 70 0) 0) 0) ~ Nal ~al M 10 t.. 5 al M N -.;t + 231 ~ ;- ~ T 292 1 00 ~ :;fj":r~ 48" ~~~ 332 ~ ...... <D 12 - M M to t.. 154 N~~ + 899 ~ + ~ T 559 102 ~ ~ + r'" 377" co ~ ~ 306 ~ 0) 0) ...... IO<D 0)...... Nal .... ~+ 1711 ~ 1818 y t.. 685 T 737 +r'" "tM Si~ 2~1O ~N~ ~ 451 ~ .. ~ T 187 548 ~ + r'" 112.. ....~ 611~ ~tO 1010 ~~ ..... ~+ 19 3 :;.J~ ~ 0 t.. 2 ......~ + 0 .~...tm~ T 73 6 j' :;;j.'r';,:' o .. ~~~ 298 Y N:! N ~~ ,~ 1299 ~ + T 1456 ~+ N<D allO re-.;t 14 15 BLVD. c:i 0:: ~-- if ~ en ~ .\..n________ ................ -- .0- BLVD. CENTRAL PKWY. DUBLIN ..QlEASON 0: o ;3 z w ~ I c:i 0:: 9 o Z 0:: of: ". '. '. '. ~"""'" ".."....".. .."....... c:i 0:: t ~ w 1: (9 ::J o o al ...... ~ + .............. + 0) 'en ....... - - - - ~O) al al t.. 319 "<t~g + 445 ~ +\. T 381 49 ~ ~+r'" 858.. M t-- (!; 569 ~ m g ;: ~~~ I ~ ~ t.. 865 I + T 517 ~- +r'" ~~ al"<t ..- - !l ..- (() - lOal <DM ...... ~ +r'" 1231 ~ O)~ 1028 .. :gN .... +r'" g}~ -.;tN ...... I +- North figure 7 . . I I Center I Existing + Approved + Pending + Dublin Transit AM Peak Hour\lolumes I I I I I I I. I ~ @lJi)i)llil~omeans . - - I. I I I I .~eol'--O -t.. (')0 0 .--~ "0 ~...~..O 258 .1- =4j'l"~ .... mOlo 155 ,. ~ ~ .-- I'--~g-t.. 15 o .. 10 ~...+ ~ .. 44 "4"]: ~.l'.~' 20 .... 0 m (') 10 ,. ..... ~ 10 17 ~~IeIO-t.. 5 ~ .. 98 ~ ... l~ .. 139 571 .1- ~":r~ 228.... ~ ~ m 802,. ~~N -t.. 650 .. 611 ...~ ~~ ~I'-- ..... 20' "~~~ ~ 365 ..... ~ ... ~ .. 161 784 -+ ... ~ 230.... ~ f8 245,. ~ t:: 19: (') .-- 100 <OOl ..... ~... !Q .. 56 - .. 84 123 +\ ~ ~ 122,. ~ ~ .-- uJ ~ 5 N~O Ol..... .. 0 ~J... ~ .. 104 ....--1.3..~ ~...~ o .... <1; 10 <0 287,. ~ ~ !lI1O 10 I'-- -t. 12 Ol<OIO ....0(') ..- 643 ..... -.J...~ .. 291 293 .1- ~...~ 1545 + Ol eo 0 ....0.... 850 ,. 10 ~ <0 ~OlC'\IO~ 11 10 I'-- .. 0 .-- ,~...!.--~- .. 579 77.1- ~i'l"~' 0+ eo~(') 1728 ,. ~ 0; ~ 11 I'-- 0 .....<0 -t. 490 ~~ ~... .. 310 ~... ~~ ......... - - ~(')<O - (') (') (')C'\I ......... ~ ...~ 1101 .1- 310 ,. 1'--10 ....m ....C'\I C'\I..... 00 ~""I-t. 15 ... ~ .. 233 ....+..~.. 00 Ol(,) 9 8 (')C'\Ieo 14 ~ ~.. 1057 ... .. 67 99 I~'" f~ 1738 +, (') (') .... 36 10 N eo ,., (') ..... .. 1739 r;;~ :2 1524 + m ~ 40,. ~ N 7 10 ~ -t. 50 10 10 .. 2484 ~J ~.. 101 50 -+... ~ 1481 + I'-- (') 147,. ~ <0 6 \ i \ .. 2768 I.. 12 1930 ~... " 33 ,. m ~ BLVD, ......#........... BLVD, CENTRAL PKWY. DUBLIN ..f2!-Et\SON Ii Q ~ Z W ~ :I: c:i 0:: 9 o Z 0:: <t i ".9.~f!Y.@P. ,;PROJECT SI1E~\11 ;~tf~~I;ii~;i~J~n;~tcj '~.,.... " ......, " " '-........... " ....... ci 0:: ~ W :I: C) :J o o 0 ..... (!) .... ... ........... ... ~ '.... . .... C'\I - - - - 2 "-J~g~ t. 910 O(!) .. 952 .... ~J ... I~ .. 1075 1 03 .1- "1 ... ~ 834.... Ol.... Ol 939,. m~~ :UI'--C'\I ~ ~ I-t.. 689 ;- ; .. 324 -- +~ oeo 01'-- OlC'\I ......... - i..!....o - O(!) (!)('t) .... ~ +~ 747 -+ 625 ,. COC'\l ~~ C'\I + North flaure 8 Center Existing + Approved + Pending -:I" Dublin Transit PM Peak Hou(Volumes ~ @lliJi)llilncmeans .. .. Table 4 Exist + Future Base Vs. Exist + Future Base + Dublin Transit Center Level-of-Service (LOS) AM and PM Peak Hour:! - Exist + F. Base E+FB+ Mitigated Intersection Project E + FB + Project AM PM AM PM AM PM .. 1. Dougherty/Scarlett B 0.63 C 0.78 .. 2. Dougherty/Dublin C 0.73 D 0.85 E 0.97 E 0.99 C 0.74 D 0.86 3. Dougherty/I-580 WE off B 0.68 A 0.60 B 0.69 B 0.61 4. Hopyard/I-580 EB off A 0.57 B 0.64 B 0.63 B 0.68 5. Dublin/Scarlett A 0.36 A 0.43 A 0.54 A 0.59 B 0.63 A 0.59 .. 6. DublinlDeMarcus A 0.50 A 0.51 A 0.60 B 0.66 7. Dublin/Iron Horse A 0.32 A 0.41 A 0.51 C 0.74 8. Dublin/Arnold A 0.42 B 0.66 A 0.52 C 0.75 . 9. Arnold/Central A 0.22 A 0.38 A 0.24 A 0.39 10. Hacienda/Gleason A 0.25 A 0.15 A 0.29 A 0.18 11. Hacienda/Central C 0.71 C 0.79 C 0.77 D 0.81 12. Hacienda/Dublin A 0.60 C 0.73 B 0.67 C 0.80 .. 13. Hacienda/The Boulevard A 0.40 A 0.57 C 0.74 D 0.88 14. Hacienda/I-580 WE off D 0.89 A 0.49 F 1.17 B 0.61 D 0.89 A 0.57 15. Hacienda/I-580 EB off D 0.89 B 0.66 D 0.90 C 0.73 .. 16. Tassajara/Gleason A 0.59 B 0.64 B 0.63 B 0.70 17. Tassajara/Central A 0.51 B 0.62 A 0.53 B 0.64 18. TassajaralDubIin A 0.54 B 0.66 A 0.57 B 0.68 .. 19. Tassajara/I-580 WE off A 0.49 A 0.60 A 0..50 B 0.61 20. Santa Rita/I-580 EB off/Pimlico B 0.66 D 0.87 B 0.66 D 0.87 .. (1) Signalized intersection LOS is based on Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCT A) methodology. LOS for unsignalized intersections is based on 1998 Highway Capacity Manual and represents average delay in seconds for stop-sign controlled minor street traffic. Due to planned roadway improvements, some study intersections' LOS may improve from existing conditions. This is particularly true along Dublin Boulevard where the roadway would be widened from two to six travel lanes between Dougherty Road and Hacienda Drive. - (2) .. . .. .. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 32 - - Dougherty/Scarlett: The southbound Dougherty Road approach should be widened and re-striped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. The northbound approach should be widened and re-striped to include one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. The westbound Scarlett Drive approach should have two (2) right-turn lanes and one (1) shared through/left-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS C (0.78) during the PM peak hour. Dublin/Scarlett: The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be modified to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be widened to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The northbound Scarlett Drive approach would include one (1) left- turn lane and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. The southbound Scarlett Drive approach would include two (2) left-turn lanes, one (1) through lane and one (1) right-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS A (0.59) during the PM peak hour. Internal Intersections In addition to impact analysis for 20 external study intersections adjacent to the project site, nine internal intersections have also been evaluated for peak hour operation. A schematic diagram showing the proposed internal street network, internal study intersections, and existing plus future base plus project volumes have been shown in Figures 9 and 10. Internal intersections included in the analysis include the following: a. DeMarcus Boulevard/The Boulevard b. Iron Horse Parkway/The Boulevard c. Campus Drive/The Boulevard d. Arnold Road/Dublin Boulevard e. Arnold Road/The Boulevard f. Commerce One Access/The Boulevard g. Hacienda Drive/The Boulevard h. Commerce One Access/Arnold Road i. Arnold Road/Altamirano Road Roadway lane geometries have also been assessed. Specifically, the future roadways of Arnold Drive (southerly extension), The Boulevard (between DeMarcus Boulevard and Hacienda Drive), Campus Drive, Altamirano Road and the existing roadways of DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway have been analyzed for minimum lane requirements. The predominant land uses would be corporate office development and BART related traffic. These land uses tend to have highly directional peak hour flows for inbound/outbound traffic. For office development, 88-93 % of the peak hour traffic would be inbouqd during the AM peak Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 33 C D E F G - t. 478 - t. 25 - 19 - t. 2 - O'l O'l 10 t. 2 O......M OMv cor-.O'l Mr-. 5 N co......... 26 v co (") ... 796 co M 0 922 10 10 O'l... 3 ...... M .... V N V N ...... 73 -4J t L." 506 .J t L." 388 -4J t L 696 .J t : .J t 51 J ~ t ~ 378 J ~ t ~ 7 - t ~ 62 6 5 CO COM 142 r-. N N 743 0 10 r-. 170 - 10 r-. M 278 0 co M 5 -. N N 327 + M...... 5 -. ...... r-. 61 1- 298 -. N ~ N - - B ~ - t. 47 GLEASON DR. -L 18 r-.co...... O'lCOCO M 10 ... 26 )> 0 10 co ""'"- 5 N ;U vvN ",-- .J tL." 5 ~ .J tL.t 5 r 47 J ~ t r+ 0 37 J ~ t r+ ;U 142 10 ro 10 ~ CENTRAL PKWY. 5 10 ~ 10 5+ 5 + I A t. ~ I 124 Z~.Ir. 0> N 10 0 r-....... L 10 ...... M N'" 5 I . )> DUBLIN BLVD. g ~ 5 ~ t L." 5 - ...!,. b!: ~ - ~ L. +- _ 102 _1' ~ t r+ ..... ....'.! ~! 25 J i ... 8: 5 10 0 10. ..: .. r 0 5 -+ ....... .. l"l. ;0 5 -, . T.'.L.: 14,040 AOT: 16,105 . " . ..,. 1IIIl ~:.-- I ,Q.:.'............ j~~ILB._____ _ I ". T l ~: . . . _ r ;. .,1 ~:O- ..... - - I ~_ I - Internal Study Intersection AM Peak Hour Volumes - .. North - - - - - - - - - - - t:I @[Jili)OUOClmeans i i i i ~ i i I I I Iii I I C D E F G t. - t. 55 - t. 14 - 226 - - 11 O'lNIO ~ ~ :g... 142 ~ N ~ ... 1057 coco..... r-.IOIO 10 5 r-.o> 259 10 0 r-. .... N .... V N N .... .J ~ L. t 579 ..J t L. +- 70 67 .J t ~ 98 ..J t L." - ~ t 5j.lt~J 99 J -41 t r+ 70 J t~ 7 77J~t~ 70 ~ ~ ~ 1738 MM...... 428 -l 100'l1O 1491 MIO 5 CO'<tM IONCO .-- ............N M ...... NIO VO'lCO 5 M N NCO ...... 1728 -. + 36 -. 5 -.\ 14 1- B t. 549 ~ - GLEASON DR. ~ CD ~ ... 142 ~IO"'" )> ON ;0 .-- ~ t L." 5 z .J ... L 0 r- 17 J ~ t r+ 0 435 - 70 10.....10 ;u 5 - v !=' CENTRAL PKWY. 5 + l") 5 - :I: A )> r- 0 t. 73 ffi ......NIO Z -L 127 ~N~ ... 5 ~ O'lID co...... 5 DUBLIN BLVD. +- 5 ~ t L." ~ L. 49 J ~ t r+ 105 J 5 10010 5-+ 10 5-. - ~ . I Internal Study Intersection PM Peak Hour Volumes =n~ t:I figure 10 @lJililouoClmeans - hour. During the PM peak hour, the traffic flows are directly the opposite of those in the AM peak hour. These peak hour traffic flows place a large burden on inbound/outbound turn lanes at project study intersections. . - Based on projected daily and peak hour volumes at these study intersections and on roadway segments, recommended lane configurations have been shown in Figure 11. These lane recommendations have been based on the carrying capacity of the roadways and peak hour turning movement volumes at the nine study intersections. While average daily traffic (ADT) is a good indicator of roadway lane requirements, intersection operation is usually considered the major factor in determining the traffic handling capacity of a local circulation system. With the cumulative traffic that would be generated by the proposed Dublin Transit Center and approved and pending development, intersection operation would especially dictate the number of lanes necessary on the surrounding street network. - .. - Based on the traffic analyses and discussions with City Engineering staff, the following lane configurations are recommended at cumulative roadway segments and intersections along Arnold Drive, The Boulevard, Campus Drive and Altamirano Road: - A. Roadway Segments: - Arnold Drive Between: - Dublin Boulevard and The Boulevard (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction] ; The Boulevard and Commerce One Mid-Block Access (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; Commerce One Mid-Block Access and Altamirano Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction]. . - The Boulevard Between: - DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction] ; Iron Horse Parkway and Campus Drive (future): Three (3) travel lanes [two in the westbound direction and one in the eastbound direction]; Campus Drive and Arnold Road (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; Arnold Road and Commerce One Mid-Block Access (future): Six (6) travel lanes [three in the westbound direction and three in the eastbound direction]; Commerce One Mid-Block Access and Hacienda Drive (future): Six (6) travel lanes [three in each direction]. - - . Campus Drive Between: - Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Cen.ter .. 36 . - ..L r r G 1!!!l~l iiiiiii ~ T .. .. L 1- ~L ~ ~ i~ T F L +-- +-- r r iiri ! I. E ~ ~ ~ T L +-- +-- ~L F -- =i: 111iri -~ T D L j!L ~ r - - 41ir c ~ r 11!l II GLEASON DR. * L T + 8 ir J.~ -4 ~ T CENTRAL PKWY. DUBLIN BLVD. $ n ffi z ~ o ;0 . ii ! ~ i +-- . +-- +-- I 1- 1-:1- fr-~~.--=r + * FREE RIGHT-TURN ~ +\ + + A + North figure 11 Center Dublin Transit Recommended Intersection Geometries and Lane Configurations For @1JUi)!JU~CJmeans Dublin Boulevard and The Boulevard (future): Two (2) travel lanes with a two-way left- turn lane [one in each direction with two-way left-turn lane]; The Boulevard and First Mid-Block Office Access (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; First Mid-Block Office Access and Altamirano Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes with a two-way left-turn lane [one lane in each direction with a two-way left-turn lane]. Altamirano Road Between: - - - - Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction]. 11III B. Study Intersections: - a. DeMarcus Boulevard/The Boulevard Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: II!IIIl 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; .. b. Iron Horse Parkway/The Boulevard .. Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 through/left-turn lane, 1 free right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane. - - c. Campus Drive/The Boulevard Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: - 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, I through lane, 1 right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, and 1 right-turn lane. - d. Arnold Drive/Dublin Boulevard: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: .. 1 left-turn lane, 3 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 1 through/right-turn lane, and 1 right-turn lane; lleft-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. - - Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 38 .. . e. Arnold Drive/The Boulevard: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 2 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; . 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, I through/right-turn lane, and 1 right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. f. Commerce One Access/The Boulevard: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 2 through lanes, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 3 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. g. The Boulevard/Hacienda Drive: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane, 2 right-turn lanes; 2 left-turn lanes, 1 through/right-turn lane; 3 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes; 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes, 1 shared through/right- turn lane. h. Commerce One Access/Arnold Drive: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 right-turn lane. i. Arnold Drive/Altamirano Road: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Southbound approach: .Future Internal Intersection Operation 1 shared left/through lane; 1 shared through/right-turn lane; 1 shared left/right-turn lane. With recommended circulation improvements, key project study intersections along Arnold Road and The Boulevard have been analyzed for peak hour operation. Specifically, the intersections of DeMarcus/The Boulevard, Iron Horse/The Boulevard, Campus/The Boulevard, Arnold/The Boulevard, Commerce One Access/The Boulevard, Commerce One Access/Arnold, and Arnold/Altamirano have been analyzed for peak hour operation. As outlined in Table 5, the Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 39 - Table 5 Projected AM and PM Peak Hour Operation of Internal Access Intersections - .. Internal Intersection AM Peak Operation PM Peak Operation - The Arnold/Dublin and Hacienda/The Boulevard intersections' LOS have been analyzed as part of the external intersection and street network. Please refer to Section 5 (External Intersections) for analysis of intersection LOS and recommended mitigation measures. - - - .. - Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 40 - .. seven internal access ir.tersections would operate at LOS B or better, representing very stable conditions. (Please refer to Table 4 for AM and PM peak hour operation of the Dublin/Arnold and Hacienda/The Boulevard intersections.) 6. Effects of Dublin Transit Center on Transit Operation BART The effects of the proposed project have been quantified in terms of potential increases in daily ridership. Discussions with BART staff indicate that BART has not performed detailed analyses regarding the impacts of adjacent office and/or residential development adjacent to existing BART stations. 19 However, other independent studies have been conducted which attempt to quantify the impact of adjacent development in and around existing BART stations. Specifically, a study conducted by the University of California Berkeley has evaluated the effects on increased ridership of development immediately adjacent to existing BART stations.::O Proportional BART ridership data for both residential and office uses could be quantified as follows: Residential: 1,500 households (units) x 1 Adult/household x 32.1 % x 2 trips per day* (481 out during the AM peak and 481 in during the PM peak). = 963 riders Office: 2,000,000 s.f. office / 200 s.f per employee x 17.1 % x 2 trips per day* (1,710 in during the AM peak and 1,710 out during the PM peak). = 3,420 riders *The above calculations assume a minimum of 250 working days per year. As shown above, during the peak commute hours the proposed project has the potential to generate 481 riders from proposed residential development and 1,710 riders from proposed office development (one-way trips). The office generated BART riders would be in the reverse commute direction (eastbound) coming to the proposed project. Based on current BART ridership data, 1,388 riders enter/exit the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station during the AM peak hour (1,063 entering [westbound] and 325 exiting [eastbound]). Currently, BART provides four 8-car trains to/from the station during the peak hours. Each train has a capacity of 560 seats which would equate to 2,240 seats (560 seats/train x 4 trains) during the peak hour. However, BART assumes a ridership load capacity of 1.35 per train during peak commute 19pam Herhold, BART Financial Planning, Personal communication on December 8, 2000. ~obert Cervero, University of California Berkeley, Development Ridership Data For BART, November 1993. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 41 periods. This load factor allows for riders in the seats as well as standing in the aisles. For this reason, total peak hour capacity would increase to 3,024 seats for the four peak hour BART trains. In the eastbound or reverse commute direction, the addition of 1,710 riders to the existing 325 riders would total 2,035 BART riders. This would be well within the carrying capacity of the current system in the Dublin/Pleasanton area which BART serves. In addition, in the westbound AM peak commute direction, the proposed project would be adding 481 new riders for a total of 1,544 riders during the AM peak hour. Again, this is well within the carrying capacity of the current Dublin/P1easanton BART system. During the PM peak hour BART, existing BART ridership is lower with 1,266 passengers. Therefore, project impacts would be less during the PM peak hour. It is noted that the calculations used for the proposed project to quantify BART impacts are likely to be conservative. These calculations assume that all potential riders from the proposed project would use BART during the AM or PM peak hour. BART studies indicate that there are AM and PM peak periods where BART riders access the system. These hours are between 6:30-9:30 AM and 4:30-7:30 PM. It is likely that riders from the proposed project would not all access the BART system during just the AM and PM peak hours and would be dispersed throughout the AM and PM peak periods. In addition, the BART percentage splits for residential and office BART use may be high. This is based on overall Bay Area transit usage, which rarely exceeds over 10 percent of all travel mode splits. LAVTA The effects of the proposed project have been quantified in terms of potential increases in monthly ridership. Based on discussions with LA VTA staff, Wheels routes lA and IE, 3, and 4 have ample capacity and could absorb increases as high as 20-30 percent in monthly ridership. 21 Wheels routes 10 and 12 are nearing capacity. Projected monthly ridership data assumes 2-3 percent mode split for bus ridership. Based on proposed residential and office uses, monthly ridership data could be quantified as follows: Residential: 1,500 households (units) / 1 Adult/household x 2-3 % transit ridership x 2 trips per day x 20 working days per month = 1,200-1,800 monthly riders Office: 2,000,000 s.f. office / 200 s.f per employee x 2-3% x 2 trips per day x 20 working days per month = 8,000-12,000 monthly riders ZISteven Spiedowski, Transit Planner, Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, Personal communication on January 24, 2001. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center .' - - - .. - .. .. .. '. .. .. .. ., .. .. - 42 .. . Ridership calculations for proposed residential and office uses indicate that there could be an increase of 9,200-13,800 monthly riders on LA VTA bus routes in the project study area. Based on an overall monthly ridership of 118,167 passengers on Wheels routes lA and 1B, 3,4,10, and 12, this would equate to an 8-11 percent increase in monthly ridership. This increase would not be considered significant for the subject Wheels routes with the exception of routes 10 and 12. LA VT A is in the process of updating their Transit Plan and will be re-timing routes 10 and 12 to allow for more monthly capacity. 22 With projected increases from the proposed project, there may be standing (seats and aisles full) on routes 10 and 12 but this would not be considered significant with respect to overall monthly capacity. 7. Parking The proposed Transit Center project would replace the existing surface parking lots for the East Dublin BART Station with a five level parking garage that would contain approximately 1,680- 1,700 spaces. The parking structure would be located south of Iron Horse Parkway on 4.1 acres of land on the site of the existing BART Traction Station. The BART Traction Station would incorporated into the ground floor of the parking garage. Based on information supplied by the project applicant, the BART parking structure would be designed to accommodate ari additional floor of parking (in the future). This additional floor would be able to accommodate 250 parking spaces. The proposed parking structure would include a mixture of standard and handicap- accessible spaces as well as parking for BART staff. With the proposed Dublin Transit Center comprised of office, residential, and retail land uses, the need for on-site parking would be requisite for orderly development. With the proposed project's proximity to the BART Station and likely interaction between the three land uses, parking demand in the area would be dynamic depending on the time of day. However, since precise development plans have not been formulated and the number and location of future parking structures/spaces is not known at this time. With respect to the BART parking structure it is anticipated that BART patronage will continue to increase community residents from outside the project area. (Future residents of the proposed Transit Center would be able to walk to/from the BART Station). With increased parking demand for the East Dublin BART Station, there is a potential for this excess demand to spill out onto the local streets. Currently, on-street parking is expected to be allowed along DeMarcus Boulevard, Main Street, Iron Horse Parkway, Campus Drive, and The Boulevard (as far as Arnold Road). It is anticipated the City will restrict these on-street spaces by time limitations and/or residential permit programs to discourage BART patrons from parking in these areas. With respect to on-site parking, there is a potential for future development in the proposed Transit Center to require less parking than stipulated in the City's parking codes. As a "Transit Center", the proximity to BART, LA VT A, and County Connection would allow future ::Steven Spiedowski, Ibid.......... Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 43 .. employees and residents to readily access transit options. Since proposed project trip generation rates have been reduced for both office and residential uses, parking demand rates could also be reduced slightly for increased transit usage. For proposed residential uses, it would be difficult ... to reduce the parking code requirement. Although the residents may not drive their car to work, they would still need a space to park their car when not in use. This would be similar to any other residential development. However, to the extent that residents living in the Transit Center .. could work in the adjacent office development, the office parking code requirements could be reduced. The office parking code requirements would also be affected by employees of the Transit Center using BART, LA VTA, and County Connection. Based on a 15% reduction in ., the parking code rates for office development (same as office trip generation discount), this would equate to reduction of 858 parking spaces (based on proposed 2,000,000 square feet office space and a City code requirement of I space/350 square feet). .. .. It is possible that future developers could request some reductions in the on-site parking code requirements based on the close proximity to public transit. This would be allowed by the _ Dublin Zoning Ordinance and would likely be considered during review of Stage 2 Planned Development rezoning and Site Development Review applications. It is noted that current development occurring immediately east of the proposed Transit Center (which includes .. Commerce One, Sybase, and Cisco Systems) either match or exceed the City's requirements for on-site parking. D. CUMULATIVE TRAFFIC IMPACTS - Cumulative traffic conditions with and without the proposed Dublin Transit Center have been .. evaluated for the horizon Year 2025. This is consistent with Caltrans guidelines for future roadway improvements and is also consistent with Alameda County Congestion Management Agency guidelines for MTS street network evaluation. .. 1. Methodology For Year 2025 Base Year Traffic Projections Cumulative year 2025 traffic volumes have been based on the Tri- Valley Transportation Model.:3 Specifically, the Tri- Valley transportation model's land use assumptions were updated using the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Projections 98 land use data. Since ABAG projections only extend to the horizon year 2020, a trendline was developed starting at the Year 2000 and extended every five years to 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 to determine land use trends and growth patterns. A five year average growth rate was determined by land use type and applied to Year 2020 land use data to generate Year 2025 land use growth projections. ~4 .. .. 11II .. :3Dowling Associates, Tri-Valley Model Update Final Report, 1996. ~4WiIlis Cheng, Transportation Modeler, Dowling Associates, Inc, "Dublin Transit 2025 Land Use Projections 98', November 15, 2000. .. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center .. 44 .. .. In addition to generating Year 2025 land use projections, the Tri-Valley Transportation Model's street network was updated using the recent Alamo Creek Transportation Model developed by Dowling Associates. The updated street network reflects the extensions of Dublin Boulevard to Hacienda Drive as well as the Scarlett Drive between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road. Base Year 2025 model projections for the AM and PM peak hour were also "furnessed" to reflect existing and base model traffic volumes. This involved manually adjusting specific turning movement volumes to be consistent with other future base traffic studies conducted in the area.2S Lastly, specific future year 2025 base model volumes for the Dublin/Dougherty and Santa Rita/l-580 Eastbound off-ramp/Pimlico intersections were reviewed by Dublin Transportation staff prior to inclusion in this study.26 ~ Year 2025 AM and PM peak hour base volumes without the proposed Dublin Transit Center have been shown in Figures 12 and 13, respectively. 2. Year 2025 Street Network Improvements Circulation improvements for the Year 2025 would be beyond those improvements currently planned or recommended with existing plus future base plus project impacts. At this time, there are specific roadway and intersection circulation improvements which would affect the project study area: Roadways: Tassajara Road: Tassajara Road would be widened from four to eight travel lanes from 1-580 to Central Parkway, and from four to six lanes north of Central Parkway. 1-580: 1-580 would have one eastbound and one westbound auxiliary lane added between the Tassajara Road/Santa Rita interchange and the Fallon Road interchange. Central Parkway: Central Parkway would be widened from two through lanes to four through lanes. Hacienda Drive: Hacienda Drive would be widened from three to four through lanes north of Central Parkway, pending traffic growth. 2SMeeting at Dowling Associates, Inc., George Nickelson and Peter Galloway (Omni-Means) and Rick Dowling and Willis Cheng (Dowling Associates), Dublin Transit Center Year 2025 Base Model volume adjustments, November 15, 2000. 26Ray Kuzbari, Associate Traffic Engineer, City of Dublin, Year 2025 intersection review for Dougherty/Dublin, Hacienda/I-580 Westbound off-ramp, and Santa RitalI-580 Eastbound off- ramp/Pimlico, December 10, 2000. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 45 .. 94 of" 258 107 ..~rJ" 106,. ~~ ...... o CO 101'" ~...... '1:.. 10 ... ~ f...~~,~ + ~' ~~ N...... 9 8 . r-. N v ~ 25 N NM .. 2040 ~I ... ~ of" 30 357 --+i-41 + rt- 1036..100N 327 "li M 7 .. 2182 of" 116 1791 ..~ 28,.1 ~~ ~ 77 ~~ ..1921 ~ ~ of" 216 77 ..J..l rt- 1770.. NN 428"l M...... 6 It) 0 10\ ~ 440 N ~\.. 1533 -41 ... ~Iof" 17 5..J.~+rJ" 1480.. -.t 0 0 15 Ilh- N "l UIO 0 10 ~ 440 .....vr-. cor-... 2 N ~ ... l.- of" 25 19 --+ :;j;":r;.=' 11 .. NOO 78 00 .... N "l . 0> I -v N N ~ 7 ......~ .. 0 -41 ... l.- of" 384 "".'''1---]' ~ + rJ" o .. r-.vCO 70 "l g} to 10 g~:g -l 146 ...... gj N .. 865 .' ... ~ of" 634 48 --+ ~ + rt- 623.. 0 ~ O'l 770"l ~ O'l a; 13 "'~ ~ 0 ~ 2 ......~ .. 0 ~..J..~ f'" 73 6 j" ~"r'iii=' 0" r-.OM ......COM 47 "l ...... ~ N ? cor-. (") co ~ 154 ~ :g ~ .. 591 .' ... l.- of" 559 267 -+ ~ t rJ" 493.. ~ ~ ~ 208"l 0> 0> ...... J:::~ ....r-. ...... ~... 1091 -+ 1818 ,. 14 ~ ~ ,~ 756 ~... f'" 1456 ~+ v(o r-.IO COv ...... 15 ci lr ...........----- ~ ~ l/) l/) ~ ::I..... BLVD. ....".,,,.............. BLVD. CENTRAL PKWY, DUBLIN ci 0:: 9 o Z lr <( ", '.l ~; tiJ i:.~' ~ (/)1 fI) I ::J . 0:: 'I : ~ ~ . ~ ~. I '<l:;.j ZOO I ~C ~ ~ . .t!~.Q~~~Y.~BP. I'I.lI: - ....l...~ . .~' l~~~1"." " I : 'iP~~~~C,I ~!P: .! . :.1~'~~~<~~ ~~9~_~~1..~j '..-..... ", ". ". '. ......... '. " ci n: . ~ W J: Cl ::l o o -l 867 f'" 722 trt- or-. CON IOv ...... 01'- 0>0 '<tCO ............ ~... +rJ" r-.r-. 00> .....N ..... O'lN ;1):g ...... -41 ... 824..J. 1133 "l 4 t~ ......co ~~ ...... I I I I AM Cumulative (Year 2025) Peak Hour Volumes I I I I I I I ~ @llifilllil~omeans . - - - I I I I I 16 - co 0> co t..36 M~~ "16 ~+~ ,9 284 ~ ~"r'~ 144 .. MO>IO 350 , re;b 'I;f' ...... !1l1O 10 N t.. 54 'l;f'COO 6 M........ ~ r ~ ,142 ";'52"]' ~"r';,:' 32 .. ~...... M COM 395 , ...... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t.. 402 CO 0> .. 520 ~ + ~, 92 457 A- :;ej":r~ 1039" om~ 1440, IO;! 10 !2l~r:: t.. 394 ......t"') ............ ~+ ,600 +~ O>v N~ ......r-. N M!lococo ~ g ~ t.. 365 ...... ,161 ~+~ 784~ +~ 344.. g m 246, ~ t:: I + N,," figure 13 Q. .. 30 - ,130 72 +\ ~ ~ 122, f2~ 1J NOO t.. 5 ~...... .. 20 -4' + ~ , 91 ......13...]' ~1 + ~ 15 + ~ N M 00 287, v ...... ~r-. 10 r-. t.. 12 co co 10 ...... 0 M .. 325 ~ .. ~ , 291 237 A- ~+~ 1210" ~~~ 625 , v v co :tl 0> r-. 0 t.. 11 N 10 .. 0 ...... ~+~ , 579 ....7.:;..J. :;fj'lhfi'=. 0.. MO'lM 544 , co~~ 11 ~~ t.. 340 ~v ............ ~, + , 310 ~+ 100> Nr-. vv ............ - - - - ffi~ co 0> ~ +~ 930 ~ 310 ,. ......10 ......O'l ON N...... ~ ~ It.. 15 + ~ f 233 "."jj;' 0>0 MM ci 0:: ..",...,............ 9 8 - (l) N CO t. 14 ~ v.. 411 ~+~, 9 65 ~l~ + ~ 1826 -~I M co co 36 ,.1 ~"""N BLVD. CENTRAL PKWY. .. 1155 f" 28 1935+~ 1,.1 ~~ ............ _GLEASON ci o ~ z w ~ I ci 0:: 9 o Z 0:: ~ t. 50 :8 ~ .. 1202 ~ ~, 50 50~~ ~ 1824" r-. M 99, ::t co 6 5 I '1O~~\t.. 383 ~ .. 1009 ~ + ~, 12 5~~+~ 1396 + 0> 10 co 33,. O'lN'I;f' ", " '" " " '"'''' " " ", " ci 0:: ~ W I C> ::l o o ~ :g c;; t.. 383 MIO.. 11 ~ r ~ f... 20 10 .J. ~ .fit"' 5.. ONIO 36 , ~~~ N U ~ ~n::: t.. 128 ............ -4- 464 ...... ~I + ~ .. 457 130 ~ -41 + ~ 950.. NO~ 1298,. ~~v ......N ll......co coco t. 732 ~IO .......... -4' + .. 462 +~ lOCO cor-. .....N M...... - !l~~ - vr-. ..... ~ +~ 1250.J. 833, CON or-. rev BLVD. PM Cumulative (Year 2025) Peak Hour Volumes DUBLIN ,~ " I ~ III III I . i :1 0::. : u ' 0 ~ . ~ g :r: ~ .: <( '-' Z 11. . ~I~, :, ~, ",.,I....j~Q~~~Y.~BP. o mi - ..~~.., . Pf{~~CT 's~l!' I .-t~~tI ..~~##,,~t._ I : . J'. :~..,..........1 ~ @1Ji1i)1Jl)~C1means Intersections : -Dougherty/Scarlett: The northbound Dougherty Road approach would be widened to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes and one (1) free right-turn lane. The southbound Dougherty Road approach would be widened and restriped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. - Dublin/Scarlett: The southbound Scarlett Drive approach would be constructed to include two (2) left-turn lanes, one (1) through lane, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would be widened and restriped to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach would be widened and restriped to include one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. It is noted that these improvements are a part of what is being recommended for existing plus future base plus project conditions with the recommended construction of the Scarlett Drive extension. -TassajaralGleason: The northbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened and restriped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The southbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened and restriped to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Gleason Drive approach would be restriped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Gleason Drive approach would be constructed to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. -TassajaralCentral Parkway: The northbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened and restriped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The southbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened and restriped to include two (2) left- turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Central Parkway approach would be restriped to include one (1) left-turn lane, one (1) through lane, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Central Parkway approach would be constructed to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. -TassajaralDublin: The southbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened to include two (2) left-turn lanes, four (4) through lanes, and one (2) right-turn lanes. The northbound Tassajara Road approach would be widened to include three (3) left-turn lanes, four (4) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would be widened to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach would be widened to include three (3) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. 3. Base Year 2025 Without Project Intersection Operation Year 2025 without project study intersection LOS have been calculated in Table 6. As Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - ., .. - . ., . .. - . - - - - .. - .. 48 - . Table 6 Cumulative Year 2025 No Project Level-of-Service (LOS) Dublin Transit Center Study Area AM and PM Peak Hour! Intersection Year 2025 No Project LOS- v IC LOS- V /C AM PM Mitigated LOS LOS-V/C LOS-V/C AM PM 1. Dougherty/Scarlett 2. Dougherty/Dublin 3. Dougherty/I-580 WB off 4. Hopyard/I-580 EB off 5. Dublin/Scarlett 6. DublinlDeMarcus 7. Dublin/Iron Horse 8. Dublin/Arnold 9. Arnold/Central 10. Hacienda/Gleason 11. Hacienda/Central 12. HaciendaIDublin 13. Hacienda/The Boulevard 14. Hacienda/I-580 WE off 15. Hacienda/I-580 EB off 16. Tassajara/Gleason 17. Tassajara/Central 18. Tassajara/Dublin 19. Tassajara/I-580 WE off 20. Tassajara/I-580 EB off/PimIico B 0.62 C 0.71 F 1.01 E 0.94 D 0.89 D 0.90 C 0.77 D 0,81 B 0.69 D 0.88 A 0.59 A 0.51 A 0.46 A 0.49 A 0.44 A 0.47 B 0.69 C 0.74 A 0.18 A 0.10 A 0.22 A 0.15 A 0.50 A 0.51 B 0.65 C 0.73 A 0.40 B 0.62 C 0.75 A 0.38 D 0.89 B 0.66 A 0.57 A 0.60 A 0.60 B 0.61 C 0.74 D 0.81 A 0.58 C 0.78 D 0.83 D 0.87 (1) Signalized intersection LOS is based on Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) methodology. (2) Year 2025 no project base year volumes based on the Tri- Valley Transportation Model updated with ABAG Projections 98'. Five year growth factor applied to Year 2020 land use projections to obtain Year 2025 volumes. Assumes Alamo Creek Transportation Model street network (Dowling Associates, Inc. Dublin Transit 2025 Land Use P'98, November 15,2000). Transponarion Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 49 calculated, one project study intersection would experience significant congestion during the AM and/or PM peak hour. This would include the Dougherty/Dublin study intersection. In addition to mitigation recommended for existing plus future base plus project conditions, the following mitigation measures are suggested for impacted study locations: -Dougherty/Dublin: The southbound Dougherty Road approach should be modified to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. The northbound Dougherty Road approach should be widened and re-striped to include three (3) left- turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be modified to include three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from LOS F (1.01) to D (0.89) during the AM peak hour and from LOS E (0.94) to D (0.90) during the PM peak hour. In addition, the section of southbound Dougherty Road between Dublin Boulevard and 1-580 would need to be modified to accommodate four (4) travel lanes. These lanes should be configured so that the right most lane would lead exclusively to the 1-580 westbound on-ramp, with the second right most lane leading to the overpass or the 1- 580 westbound on-ramp. These improvements would require widening and restriping the 1-580 westbound diagonal on-ramp. 4. Base Year 2025 With Project Intersection Operation AM and PM peak hour Dublin Transit Center project trips were manually added into base Year 2025 transportation model volumes to ensure the most conservative analysis and are shown in Figures 14 and 15. With proposed project traffic, study intersection LOS have been calculated and are shown in Table 7. Calculated intersection LOS reflects planned and recommended circulation improvements (mitigation measures) used for Year 2025 base volumes without the proposed project. As shown in Table 7, with proposed project traffic the Dougherty/Dublin intersection would experience congested conditions during the AM and PM peak hours. Specifically, Dougherty/Dublin intersection would be operating at LOS E (0.97) during the AM peak hour and LOS F (1.06) during the PM peak hour. In response, the following measures are recommended: -Dougherty/Dublin: With Year 2025 plus project volumes, both the Dougherty Road northbound left-turn movement and southbound through movement would require additional mitigation measures. Specifically, the southbound Dougherty Road approach would require five (5) through lanes and the northbound approach would require four (4) left-turn lanes. These improvements are not feasible given the physical constraints at the Dougherty/Dublin intersection. It is recommended that the City monitor the intersection for peak hour volumes on a periodic basis and continue to obtain updated volume forecasts for future horizon years (i.e. Year 2025). In addition, current and future phases of the 1-580 Smart Corridor Project would likely relieve some congestion at the Dougherty/Dublin intersection through ITS measures and discourage traffic from diverting off the freeway due to congestion or incidents. Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - .. - - .. - .. - .. - .. .. .. .. - .. .. 50 .. .. 16' =:3~~ ~ 151 NCO + 129 ~ +" ~.- 87 99 ~ ~i"r'r;;: 9 .... COMIO CON 131 t MM 11Iv 0 0 ~ 78 ......O>~ ......~ + 30 ~-.J..~. .- 443 20 ~ ~i'l"~' 3....0NCO ......co...... 111 tMCO...... !!IN CO 0 ~ 257 ..........0 vM..... +1193 N ~...~ .- 345 300 ~ :;e;":r~ 181 .... ~~~ 434 t M r-. !21 M..-- 100 ~ 685 vr-. ............ f" 737 ~... +1'" 0<0 COM NCO ..... ~OOO ro ~ ~ ~ 451 ..... f" 187 ~...~ 798 ~ +1'" 117.... mm 799 t vCO ...... I tN,.. figure 14 .. 178 f" 305 128...rJl'" 106 t ~~ ..... I '~ON ~ 7 ......~ + 15 ~ ... ~ .. 432 ........1...]. ~ + r~ 10 .... r-...-- N 70 0>0'l0'l t NCO 12 -MMCO ~ 154 N :g ~ + 963 ~ ... ~ T 559 301 ~ "I + I'" 940... ...... M N co r-. 10 392 to>O>...... 110)0'l0 ~ 2 Mr-. ......~ + 0 .~..J..~ T 73 6 ~ ~i"+"~' 0... ~co~ 298 -. .....~N " N...... o N 10'.1- ~...... ~ 10 ... ~ f..~~=... +1'" 10M CO~ N...... ci ~ ~........... ~ ~ CI) ~ ~.. ~..-...-.. ,. ...... 9 8 'OMv ~ 25 ~ co C') + 1838 ..I ... ~.- 388 378 -1-1~ + I'" 1986 "'1 010 r-. 327 T' C') ...... BLVD. CENTRAL PKWY. 7 .. 1981 f" 127 2966 "'I~ I'" 170 t ~ a ...... ci ~ 9 o z ~ <( ~ 77 ;;I)~ ..1957 ~ .- 19 77~~ ~ 3109.... ~~ 57 t ..... 6 100N\ ~ 490 N~ .. 1659 ~ ... ~ .- 17 5-1-~+~ 2261 .... v 0 0 15 10..... N T "''Il " " " ", ", ..'.... ", ", ci ~ ~ ~ W I e> ::I o o 10 M N t.. 490 ......~~+ 2 N ~ ... ~.- 25 19 ~ ~"l'~ 11 .... NOO 78 tCO~ N llg~~ ~ 164 .....~M "II' 933 -41 ... ~ .- 742 48 ..+ ~+I'" 900.... O~M 770 t gO)~ ..... ..... llcoo> r-.N ~867 lOCO ........... ..I ... f" 722 +1'" ctl\i O>v ..... - il Ov - o>r-. vco ............ ~ +1'" 1170 ..+ lOr-. 1133 t 0)0> --N ... ~~ I~ 1299 ~... T 1456 ~+ NCO co 10 ~v +~ O'lCO NM vN ...... 10<0 O'lr-. NCO ..... ~... 1711 -1- 1818 t 4 15 Center BLVD. AM Cumulative lVear 2025) + Dublin Transit Peak Hour Volumes ~j ;~L~ARD ~"_ ._._,', ~t~~t ;Jr:rtr.............. ;; PROJECT SI11!+;,1 'iJt~:::~:~;~.~;;1~4.r:I '~,~'~;lJJ ,~". :'>\.~"~' ;.-.;..~:..<;\..'" ...."'~..J ~ @OiJi)llilnameans - - 16 -'~~~ ~ 36 ,","0..--..- 16 ...' r~., 9 358 ~ ~inf"i'" 144 -. ("') O'l 10 350 ~ ~ ~ V ..-- ~~~~ 15 (")..-..- 10 ~!...(~~, f.n~.~ 152 ~ <II, t i"- 32 -. 't..-..- 39 '<I'(")M 5 T ..-~M 17 ~~~ ~ 402 ..- !Xl 0> <II- 538 ~ of l~ T 92 507 .~ '~;":rij; 1089 -. 0> 01 '<I' ..--lOO 1490 T IO;! 10 ~ 650 T 611 +rt> ""'v '<1'..- ..--,.... N '0' -1LO(")co g~~ ~ 365 ;; of ~ ., 161 784 ~ ... r~ 344 -. ~ ~ 246 T ~ ~ I +- North figure 15 I I Q -4- 56 - ., 84 123 ~I"'I rt> 122 T R ~ !1 N~O ~ 5 0>...... <II- 10 ,_~J..J,~ T 104 13 ~ -41 t r~ 15 ~ 'tIO<O 287 T <0 ~ ~ 1110 LO r-. ~ 12 0><010 ......OM ..- 643 ..-- ~...~ T 291 293 ~ <II, ... I~ 1917 ~ 0> co 0 "--0..-- 850 T lO 't (Q COvM "-..--N '<1'0> CO ~r-.o ...... co ~ 490 r-.N ..--N ~... ., 310 ~... NO'l 0,.... ""'v ........-- - 11] M co - MM MN ............ ~ 1101 ~ ...~ 310 T ,....10 ..- 0> "--N N..- "1 g" /' v 15 of ~ f...~33 f'i"- 00 0>(") MNCO ~ 14 ':i gj <11- 1052 -41 ... ~., 67 99 ~i~ ... rt> 2112 -~i M M ...... 36 .! 10 N co T: M ...... 8 7 ..- 1776 ., 62 2033 ...~l ~ 40 T 8l ~ <ON 10 't ~ 50 10 10 ..- 2324 <Ill l~., 101 50 ~ -4j ~ 1990... M O'l 147 T ~ N I> 10 '<I' LO: ~ 860 CflO>\ LOi <11- 1950 -4' ... ~\., . 12 5 ~ -4, + r" 1551... 0> 10 <0 33 T 0> N v 5 /JJ~ ~ ~ t. 860 ~IO..._ 11 ~ ... ~ T 20 1 0 ~ '~i":rijO: 5... O"--LO 36 T ~~N I.~~~~ ~ 227 ~ ..-- ..- 952 <IIJ ... ~ .,1075 130 ~ <III ... r~ 1035 -.. N 0 0 1298 ~ :e:; ~ 'f "--N 9, '<1'...... (,,)N "-'<1' ..-..- ~... 18 BLVD. I I Center I I ci a:: ~_..... <( a:: <( :t CI) CI) ~ ;\.. ,.---~--'" ---,,'" BLVD. _ GLEAS.Qti ri o (3 z w o <( I CENTRAL PKWY. DUBLIN PM Cumulative (Year 2025) + Dublin Transit Peak Hour Volumes I I I I I I I ci a:: o .J o Z a:: <( . ~ lU . . en U) : ~ =- oc': : o ' 0 ~: .. rr g r ~: ': <..J za.1 I ::< m 0 ! !BOULEVARD ~ a:: -,_, ................................ THE - .....;......:......~.-.I ................ ,-. . PROJ~CT S!TE! ......., ....'\, i i ......',... "......l........J ci 0:: >- I- a:: w I (9 :J o o I ~ -0 @lJiJi)lJi)oomeans - - - I I I t. 732 T 462 t r'" 0> co 0>,.... NN (")..-- ION ""'<0 V(O ..-...... ...J ... ... ,'" (")N ("),.... <0'<1' N <0 CO 00 '<I'CO ...... <IIJ ... 1357 ~ 833,.. I Table 7 Cumulative Year 2025 With Dublin Transit Center Project Level-or-Service (LOS) AM and PM Peak Hour 2 Year 2025 Year 2025 Mitigated Intersection No Project With Project AM PM AM PM AM PM 1. Dougherty/Scarlett B 0.62 C 0.71 B 0.64 D 0.81 2. Dougherty/Dublin D 0.89 D 0.90 E 0.97 F 1.06 E 0.97 F 1.06 3. Dougherty/I-580 WB off C 0.77 D 0.81 C 0.77 D 0.83 4. Hopyard/I-580 EB off B 0.69 D 0.88 B 0.70 D 0.90 5. Dublin/Scarlett A 0.59 A 0.51 D 0.81 B 0.64 6. Dublin/DeMarcus A 0046 A 0049 CO. 74 A 0.59 7. Dublin/Iron Horse A 0.44 A 0047 B 0.66 D 0.82 8. Dublin/Arnold B 0.69 C 0.74 C 0.74 D 0.83 9. Arnold/Central AO.18 AO.I0 AO.19 A 0.32 10. Hacienda/Gleason A 0.22 A 0.15 A 0.26 A 0.18 11. Hacienda/Central A 0.50 A 0.51 A 0.54 A 0.52 12. HaciendaIDublin B 0.65 C 0.73 C 0.74 D 0.88 13. Hacienda/The Boulevard A 0040 B 0.62 C 0.74 D 0.88 14. Hacienda/I-580 WE off B 0.75 A 0.38 D 0.89 A 0.57 15. Hacienda/I-580 EB off D 0.89 B 0.66 D 0.90 C 0.73 16. TassajaralGleason A 0.57 A 0.60 B 0.61 B 0.61 17. Tassajara/Central A 0.60 B 0.61 B 0.61 B 0.62 18. Tassajara/Dublin C 0.74 D 0.81 CO.77 D 0.82 19. Tassajara/I-580 WE off A 0.58 C 0.78 A 0.58 C 0.80 20. Tassajara/I-580 EB off/Pimlico D 0.83 D 0.87 D 0.83 D 0.88 (1) Signalized intersection LOS is based on Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) methodology. (2) Year 2025 no project base year volumes based on the Tri- Valley Transportation Model updated with ABAG Projections 98'. Five year growth factor applied to Year 2020 land use projections to obtain Year 2025 volumes. Assumes Alamo Creek Transportation Model street network (Dowling Associates, Inc. Dublin Transit 2025 Land Use P'98, November 15,2000). Transpol1arion Analysis for rhe Proposed Dublin Transit Center 53 a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. 1. J. k. 1. All other project study intersections would be operating at LOS D or better during the AM and PM peak hours with Year 2025 plus project traffic volumes. 5. Daily Volume Analysis Based on discussions with City Transportation staff, a daily traffic analysis was conducted for selected roadway segments in the project study area. 27 The following twelve segments were analyzed for daily traffic volumes: Hacienda Drive between 1-580 and The Boulevard Hacienda Drive between The Boulevard and Dublin Boulevard Hacienda Drive between Dublin Boulevard and Central Parkway Hacienda Drive between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive Arnold Road between Altamirano Road and The Boulevard Arnold Road between The Boulevard and Dublin Boulevard Arnold Road between Dublin Boulevard and Central Parkway Arnold Road between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive Central Parkway between Arnold Road and Hacienda Drive Central Parkway between Hacienda Drive and Tassajara Road Dougherty Road between 1-580 and Dublin Boulevard Scarlett Drive Extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road Consistent with previous analyses conducted in the study area, average daily traffic (ADT) volumes were generated by assuming that PM peak hour volumes represent 10 percent of ADT volumes for future base, proposed project, and Year 2025 base volumes. These projected ADT volumes were then added to existing daily volume traffic and have been shown in Table 8.28 The City has established maximum ADT thresholds for two-lane, four-lane, and six-lane roadways and arterials based on the Transportation Research Boards 1994 Highway Capacity Manual and the City of Dublin General Plan. This includes 15,600 ADT for a two-lane roadway, 30,000 ADT for a four-lane arterial, and 50,000 ADT for a six-lane arterial to maintain LOS D. Based on these maximum thresholds, all selected roadway segments would be operating at acceptable levels of service with the exception of two roadway segments: -Hacienda Drive between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive would exceed the 15,600 ADT volume with existing plus future base plus project traffic. This would require widening the roadway from three to four travel lanes in this segment (two (2) northbound lanes and two (2) southbound lanes). 27Ray Kuzbari, Associate Traffic Engineer, Personal communication on January 22, 2001. - - - .. . - - - - . - - - ~ - 28TJKM Transportation Consultants, Traffic Study for the Proposed Dublin Ranch Areas F - H, City _ of Dublin, January 31, 2000. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 54 - - Table 8 Projected Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Volumes on Selected Roadway Segments Dublin Transit Center Study Area Roadway: (Segment) Exist E+FB E+FB+PIj. 2025 No PIj. 2025 wi PIj. Hacienda Drive: I-580--The Boulevard 15,400 44,150 61,690 45,125 62,625 The Boulevard--Dublin 15,400 34,630 37,430 34,875 37,687 Dublin--Central Parkway 12,600 27,300 28,200 27,300 28,200 Central Parkway--Gleason 10,650 15,960 16,8601 15,960 16,860 Arnold Road: Altamirano-- The Boulevard 0 3,870 8,425 3,870 8,425 The Boulevard--Dublin 0 4,370 7,975 4,370 7,975 Dublin--Central Parkway 3,730 7,050 7,990 7,050 7,990 Central Parkway-Gleason 3,730 5,640 6,240 5,640 6,240 Central Parkway: Arnold--Hacienda 0 6,540 6,875 6,540 6,875 Hacienda-- T assajara 1,150 6,450 6,900 6,450 6,900 Dougherty Road: 1-580--Dublin 40,680 52,660 57,730 75,020 80,060 Scarlett Drive Extension: Dublin-Dougherty 0 0 14,000 11,600 14,000 Source: Omni-Means Engineers & Planners, Consultants Report: Transportation Impacts For the Proposed Dublin Transit Center, City of Dublin, Administrative Draft Report, December 15, 2000. The southbound volume estimate on Hacienda Drive between Gleason Drive and Central Parkway would total 970 vehicles during the PM peak hour with existing plus future base plus project traffic. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 55 .Scarlett Drive Extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road would just be approaching the City's threshold of 15,600 ADT with existing plus future base plus project traffic (14,000 ADT) for a four-lane roadway. In addition, directional turning movement volumes of 712 vehicles southbound during the AM peak hour and 891 vehicles northbound during the PM peak hour would add to these lane requirements. For this reason, the Scarlett Drive Extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road would require four travel lanes. 6. 1-580 Mainline Freeway Operation Year 2025 Without Proiect Mainline AM and PM peak hour directional volumes on Interstate 580 have been evaluated for the Year 2025 without project. As shown in Table 9, four mainline freeway segments were analyzed along 1-580 in the project study area. These include the following segments: . . 1-680 to Dougherty Road Dougherty Road to Hacienda Drive Hacienda Drive to Tassajara Road Tassajara Road to Fallon Road . . As shown in Table 9, all four segments in the westbound commute direction are projected to operate at LOS F during the AM peak hour with Year 2025 no project volumes. During the PM peak hour, the 1-680 to Dougherty and Tassajara to Fallon segments would be operating at LOS F in the eastbound commute direction. The Dougherty to Hacienda and Hacienda to Tassajara segments would be operating at LOS D and E, respectively. Year 2025 With Project With proposed Dublin Transit Center traffic added to Year 2025 no project mainline freeway volumes, projected LOS for eastbound and westbound segments would remain unchanged. However, with a projected LOS of F in the AM westbound commute direction, proposed project trips would be adding to an already deficient condition. During the PM peak hour, project trips would also be adding to a deficient condition between 1-680 and Dougherty Road and Tassajara Road and Fallon Road. These specific segments would not meet the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency's minimum freeway LOS standards. This would be true without proposed project trips. For this reason, the addition of project trips to mainline 1-580 peak hour directional volumes would be considered a significant, unavoidable impact. 7. Operational/Queuing Requirements of the Dougherty/Dublin and Hacienda/I-580 Westbound Off-Ramp Intersections The intersections of Dougherty/Dublin and Hacienda/l-580 Westbound Off-Ramp have been analyzed for projected vehicle queuing requirements with base Year 2025 volumes with and Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - .. .. - .. - - - - - - - .. - - - - 56 .. .. Table 9 Year 2025 1-580 Mainline Freeway Operation AM and PM Peak Hour LOS12 Year 2025 No Project Year 2025 With Project A.M. P.M. A.M. P.M. Location Capacity Vol. LOS Vol. LOS Vol. LOS Vol. LOS 1-580, 1-680 to Dougherty Eastbound 9,200 6.537 D 10,270 F 7,439 E 10,541 F Westbound 9,200 10,315 F 8,072 E 10,536 F 8,840 E 1-580. Dougherty to Hacienda Eastbound 13,800 6,783 C 9,714 D 7,339 C 9,878 D Westbound 9,200 10,279 F 8,126 E 10,414 F 8.600 E 1-580, Hacienda to Tassajara Eastbound 11 ,500 5,563 C 9,736 E 5,681 C 10,150 E Westbound 9,200 10,690 F 7,174 D 11,177 F 7,318 D 1-580, Tassajara to Fallon Eastbound 9,200 5,557 C 9,946 F 5,705 C 10,395 F Westbound 9,200 10,019 F '6,494 D 10,549 F 6,656 D (1) Transportation Research Board, Hi!!hwav Capacity Manual 1997, Chapter 3, Table 3-1, LOS Criteria For Basic Freeway Sections, December 1997. Assumes maximum service flow rate of 2,300 passenger cars per hour per lane, (2) Year 2025 base year no project volumes based on the Updated Tri-Valley Transportation Model using ABAG Projections 98'. Proposed Dublin Transit Center peak hour trips were then manually added into these base volumes to generate Year 2025 with project volumes. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 57 without the proposed project. (Please refer to appendices for operational calculations). Based on ultimate lane geometric and phasing split data supplied by the Dublin Transportation staff, the following storage requirements would be needed for critical turning movement volumes at the two study intersections: Year 2025 No Project a. Dublin/Dougherty AM Peak Hour: Southbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 62 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 31 vehicles or 682 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 8 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lane, this would equate to 176 feet of storage. Northbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 66 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 33 vehicles or 726 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 49 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 539 feet of storage. Eastbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 4 vehicles. Based one left-turn lane, this would equate to average queue of 4 vehicles or 88 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 35 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 385 feet of storage. Westbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 46 vehicles. Based on three left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 15 vehicles or 330 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 36 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lanes, this would equate to 792 feet of storage. b. Dublin/Dougherty PM Peak Hour: Southbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 49 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 25 vehicles or 550 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 6 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lane, this would equate to 132 feet of storage. Northbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 95 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - .. - - .. .. - .. .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. .. 58 .. .. queue of 48 vehicles or 1,056 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right- turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 20 vehicles. Based on two right- turn lanes, this would equate to 220 feet of storage. Eastbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 10 vehicles. Based one left-turn lane, this would equate to average queue of 10 vehicles or 220 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 39 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 429 feet of storage. Westbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 34 vehicles. Based on three left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 11 vehicles or 242 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 33 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lanes, this would equate to 726 feet of storage. c. Hacienda/I-580 Westbound Off-ramp AM Peak Hour: Northbound: The Hacienda Drive approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 69 vehicles. Based on three through lanes, this would equate to average queue of 23 vehicles or 506 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). Westbound: The 1-580 Westbound Off-ramp approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 50 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 25 vehicles or 550 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). Year 2025 With Project a. Dublin/Dougherty AM Peak Hour: Southbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 76 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 38 vehicles or 836 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 8 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lane, this would equate to 176 feet of storage. Northbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 66 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 33 vehicles or 726 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 80 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 880 feet of storage. Eastbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 59 queue of 4 vehicles. Based one left-turn lane, this would equate to average queue of 4 vehicles or 88 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 35 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 385 feet of storage. Westbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 54 vehicles. Based on three left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 18 vehicles or 396 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 43 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lanes, this would equate to 946 feet of storage. b. Dublin/Dougherty PM Peak Hour: Southbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 55 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of28 vehicles or 616 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 6 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lane, this would equate to 132 feet of storage. Northbound: The Dougherty Road left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 106 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to an average queue of 53 vehicles or 1,166 feet of storage (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right- turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of29 vehicles. Based on two right- turn lanes, this would equate to 330 feet of storage. Eastbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 10 vehicles. Based one left-turn lane, this would equate to average queue of 10 vehicles or 220 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 47 vehicles. Based on two right-turn lanes, this would equate to 517 feet of storage. Westbound: The Dublin Boulevard left-turn approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 58 vehicles. Based on three left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 19 vehicles or 418 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). The right-turn approach would have a 95 percent design queue of 46 vehicles. Based on one right-turn lanes, this would equate to 1,012 feet of storage. c. Hacienda/l-580 Westbound Off-ramp AM Peak Hour: Northbound: The Hacienda Drive approach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 98 vehicles. Based on three through lanes, this would equate to average queue of 32.6 vehicles or 717 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center .. .. - - .. - - - - - - - - .. - .. - 60 - .. Westbound: The 1-580 Westbound Off-ramp app:oach would have a 95 percentile design queue of 66 vehicles. Based on two left-turn lanes, this would equate to average queue of 33 vehicles or 726 feet (based on 22 feet per vehicle). E. TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION The following section summarizes the suggested mitigation measures for intersection and roadway operation from existing through cumulative plus project conditions. These mitigation measures reflect those circulation improvements which are above and beyond those programmed to occur with approved, pending, or cumulative development. 1. Existing Traffic Conditions: No mitigation measures for project study intersections/roadways are projected under existing conditions. 2. Existing Plus Future Base Traffic Conditions: -Dougheny/Dublin: Northbound Dougherty Road would need to be widened to provide three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, one (1) shared through/right-turn lane, and one (1) right-turn lane. The southbound Dougherty Road approach would need to be widened to provide two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be widened to provide three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would need to be widened to provide one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and two (2) right- turn lanes. With these measures, intersection LOS would improve from LOS E (0.94) to LOS C (0.73) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from LOS F (1.03) to LOS D (0.85). 3. Existing Plus Future Base Plus Project Traffic Conditions: a. External Intersections -Dougherty/Dublin: In addition to the mitigation measures discussed in the Future Base Scenario (Exist + Approved + Pending), the Scarlett Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard should be constructed. The eastbound approach of Dublin Boulevard should be widened to include an additional through lane. The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach would have one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound triple left-turn lanes (recommended for the Existing + Approved + Pending scenario) would need, to be lengthened to accommodate additional traffic from the Transit Center development. As part of these intersection improvements, Dougherty Road should be four (4) lanes in the southbound direction between Dublin Boulevard and the 1-580 westbound on-ramp. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 61 These lanes should be configured so that the right most lane would lead exclusively to the 1-580 westbound on-ramp, with the second right most lane leading to the overpass or the 1-580 westbound on-ramp. These improvements would require widening and restriping the 1-580 westbound diagonal on-ramp. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from E (0.97) to LOS C (0.74) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from E (0.99) to LOS D (0.86). .Hacienda/I-580 Westbound off-ramp: The northbound Hacienda Drive approach (overcrossing) would need to be widened to three (3) northbound travel lanes. This improvement would require some alignment modifications to the 1-580 westbound loop on-ramp. In addition, the 1-580 westbound off-ramp approach would need to be widened to include three (3) left-turn lanes and two (2) right-turn lanes. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from F (1.17) to LOS D (0.89) during the AM peak hour. During the PM peak hour, LOS would improve from B (0.61) to LOS A (0.57). With the recommendation of the Scarlett Drive extension between Dougherty Road and Dublin Boulevard, the Dougherty/Scarlett intersection would be created and the Dublin/Scarlett intersection would require circulation modifications. Dougherty/Scarlett: The southbound Dougherty Road approach should be widened and re-striped to include two (2) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. The northbound approach should be widened and re-striped to include one (1) left-turn lane, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) free right-turn lane. The westbound Scarlett Drive approach should have two (2) right-turn lanes and one (1) shared through/left-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS C (0.78) during the PM peak hour. Dublin/Scarlett: The eastbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be modified to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) right-turn lane. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be widened to include one (1) left-turn lane, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The northbound Scarlett Drive approach would include one (1) left- turn lane and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. The southbound Scarlett Drive approach would include two (2) left-turn lanes, one (1) through lane and one (1) right-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS is projected to be B (0.63) during the AM peak hour and LOS A (0.59) during the PM peak hour. b. External Roadways · Hacienda Drive between Central Parkway and Gleason Drive would exceed the 15,600 ADT volume with existing plus future base plus project traffic. This would require widening the roadway from three to four travel lanes in this segment (two (2) northbound lanes and two (2) southbound lanes). Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 62 - . i>-'- -Scarlett Drive Extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road would just be approaching the City I S threshold of 15,600 ADT with existing plus future base plus project traffic (14,000 ADT) for a four-lane roadway. In addition, directional turning movement volumes of 712 vehicles southbound during the AM peak hour and 891 vehicles northbound during the PM peak hour would add to these lane requirements. For this reason, the Scarlett Drive Extension between Dublin Boulevard and Dougherty Road would require four travel lanes. c. Internal Roadways/Intersections: Arnold Drive Bet'rveen: Dublin Boulevard and The Boulevard (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction] ; The Boulevard and Commerce One Mid-Block Access (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; Commerce One Mid-Block Access and Altamirano Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction]. The Boulevard Between: DeMarcus Boulevard and Iron Horse Parkway (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction] ; Iron Horse Parkway and Campus Drive (future): Three (3) travel lanes [two in the westbound direction and one in the eastbound direction]; Campus Drive and Arnold Road (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; Arnold Road and Commerce One Mid-Block Access (future): Six (6) travel lanes [three in the westbound direction and three in the eastbound direction]; Commerce One Mid-Block Access and Hacienda Drive (future): Six (6) travel lanes [three in each direction]. Campus Drive Between: Dublin Boulevard and The Boulevard (future): Two (2) travel lanes with a two-way left-turn lane [one in each direction with two-way left-turn lane]; The Boulevard and First Mid-Block Office Access (future): Four (4) travel lanes [two in each direction]; First Mid-Block Office Access and Altamirano Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes with a two- way left-turn lane [one lane in each direction with a two-way left-turn lane]. Altamirano Road Between: Iron Horse Parkway and Arnold Road (future): Two (2) travel lanes [one in each direction]. Transportation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center 63 .. DeMarcus Boulevard/TIle Boulevard - Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: I combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; - - Iron Horse Parkway/TIle Boulevard Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: Campus Drive/TIle Boulevard Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: .. 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 through/left-turn lane, 1 free right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane; 1 combination left-through-right-turn lane. - - 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 1 through lane, I right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, 1 through lane, and 1 right-turn lane. .. Arnold Drive/Dublin Boulevard: - Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: Arnold Drive/TIle Boulevard: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: I left-turn lane, 3 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, I through/right-turn lane, and 1 right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. . - I left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 2 through lanes, 1 right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 through/right-turn lane, and 1 right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. - - Commerce One Access/The Boulevard: .. Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 2 through lanes, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 3 through lanes, I right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane. - - Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center - 64 .. .. The Boulevard/Hacienda Drive: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane, 2 right-turn lanes; 2 left-turn lanes, 1 through/right-turn lane; 3 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes; 1 right-turn lane; 2 left-turn lanes, 3 through lanes, 1 shared through/right-turn lane. Commerce One Access/Arnold Drive: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Northbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, I through/right-turn lane; I left-turn lane, 1 through/right-turn lane; 1 left-turn lane, 1 through lane, 1 right-turn lane. Arnold Drive/Altamirano Road: Eastbound approach: Westbound approach: Southbound approach: 1 shared left/through lane; 1 shared through/right-turn lane; 1 shared left/right-turn lane. 4. Cumulative Year 2025 Without Project Conditions -Dougherty/Dublin: The southbound Dougherty Road approach should be modified to include two (2) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. The northbound Dougherty Road approach should be widened and re-striped to include three (3) left-turn lanes, three (3) through lanes, and two (2) right-turn lanes. The westbound Dublin Boulevard approach should be modified to include three (3) left-turn lanes, two (2) through lanes, and one (1) shared through/right-turn lane. With these improvements, intersection LOS would improve from LOS F (1.01) to D (0.89) during the AM peak hour and from LOS E (0.94) to D (0.90) during the PM peak hour. In addition, the section of southbound Dougherty Road between Dublin Boulevard and I-580 would need to be modified to accommodate four (4) travel lanes. These lanes should be configured so that the right most lane would lead exclusively to the 1-580 westbound on-ramp, with the second right most lane leading to the overpass or the 1- 580 westbound on-ramp. These improvements would require widening and restriping the I-580 westbound diagonal on-ramp. 5. Cumulative Year 2025 With Project Conditions -Dougherty/Dublin: With Year 2025 plus project volumes, both the Dougherty Road northbound left-turn movement and southbound through movement would require additional mitigation measures. Specifically, the southbound Dougherty Road approach would require five (5) through lanes and the northbound approach would require four (4) left-turn lanes. These improvements are not feasible given the physical constraints at the Dougherty/Dublin intersection. It is Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center ,..-, 65 .. recommended that the City monitor the intersection for peak hour volumes on a periodic basis and continue to obtain updated volume forecasts for future horizon years (i.e. Year 2025). In addition, current and future phases of the 1-580 Smart Corridor Project would likely relieve some congestion at the Dougherty/Dublin intersection through ITS measures and discourage traffic from diverting off the freeway due to congestion or incidents. 11II - .. - .. .. .. .. .. - .. .. .. .. - Transponation Analysis for the Proposed Dublin Transit Center III 66 .. .. Appendix 8.8 Photo simulations Dublin Transit Center PA 00-013 Draft Environmental Impact Report City of Dublin Page 214 July 2001 I I I I I I I I 580 Looking east towards site from Dougherty Rd overpass at hwy I VIEW 2 94550 35 "'~ W ~;~4$ fi/:.J C;)~""'.:i ~i~~ .A.%. .:i....:.-~ -",~ ~ ''C-. . 94688 14 - V' --~ 94568 ..u\fu: .:. J~. r-- --..:- 1!'-.....:;..~_~. . ,_.~.. ''''-=-'':"' r:7'.:."~ ,.,..-:- .;A'; ~:~- ......~., :- DU B L I N , , "" .-~. "", -', t~:_~_~_~~_;_~ ~ ;r. - ;i: C~\ .in.t:.-.-~s. -, !t t!Of _ ~ ~-_..-.' . 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