MID-COAST CORRIDOR PROJECT

BALBOA EXTENSION AND NOBEL DRIVE COASTER STATION

Federal Transit Administration

Me t r 0 p of ita n T ran sit D eve lop men t Boa r d

Final Environmental Impact Statement

VOLUME I

June 2001

MID-COAST CORRIDOR PROJECTSan Diego, California

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

(Final EIS)

Volume I

by the

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)

and the

METROPOLITAN TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT BOARD

PREPARED PURSUANT TO:

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, §102 (42 U.S.C. §4332); Federal Transit Laws(49 U.S.C. §5301(e), §5323(b) and §5324(b)); Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice);Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, 23 CFR 771; National Historic Preservation Act of1966, §106 (16 U.S.c. §470f); and Executive Order 11990 (Protection ofWetlands).

June 2001

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSISIFINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

for the

MID-COAST CORRIDOR

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Prepared pursuant to:

Prepared by

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION

and

SAN DIEGO METROPOLITAN TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT BOARD

With the cooperation of

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

Pursuant to

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 102 (42 U.S.C.. 4332); Federal Transit Laws(49 U.S.C.. 5301 (e), 5323(b) anc! 5324(b»; 49 U.S.C. §470; 23 CFR Part 450; ExecutiveOrder 12898 (Environmental Justice); Environmental Impact and Related Procedures,23 CFR 771; National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. 106 (16 U.S.C.' 470f); andExecutive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands).

Date: __J_U_N_l_2_20_01 _ For FTA: +-+-...;.;...---A-----

ForMTDB:~0·~Thomas F. LarwinGeneral Manager

FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

LEAD AGENCIES:

TITLE OF PROPOSED ACTION:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)

andMETROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATIONDEVELOPMENT BOARD

MID-COAST CORRIDOR PROJECTSAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

ABSTRACT: The Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) proposes to improve transitservices to the Mid-Coast Corridor in the City of San Diego. Alternatives include a No-BuildAlternative, a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative, and the Mid-Coast LRTProject, Balboa Extension and Nobel Drive Coaster Station Project, which would extend light railtransit (LRT) service along the San Diego Northern Railway (SDNR) corridor fromjust south oftheSan Diego River, 5.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) to Balboa Avenue (State Route 274). Three new LRTstations would be located at Tecolote Road, Clairemont Drive, and Balboa Avenue. The proposedproject would also provide a new station on the existing commuter rail (Coaster) line, at a locationsouth of Nobel Drive and east of Towne Centre Drive. Reductions in traffic congestion on arearoadways and improvements in mobility and accessibility are expected to result from the project.Negative impacts would include noise, loss of wetlands and protected habitat, conversion of openspace area to transportation uses, and visual impacts of retaining walls and station facilities.Mitigation measures include sound attenuation walls, construction of replacement wetlands andhabitat, reconfiguration ofan informal hiking/bicycle path, and landscaping to screen visual impacts.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS DOCUMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mr. Tim PenningtonPlannerU.S. Department of TransportationFederal Transit Administration, Region IX201 Mission Street, Suite 2210San Francisco, California 94105

Phone: (415) 744-3116

Ms. Toni BatesPrincipal PlannerMetropolitan Transit Development Board1255 Imperial Avenue, Suite 1000San Diego, California 92101

Phone: (619) 557-4538

PREFACE

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was prepared for the Mid-Coast Corridor inSan Diego, California. An Alternatives Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement/DraftEnvironmental Impact Report (AAIDEIS/DEIR) was prepared for the Corridor and circulated in1995. Pursuant to requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), this FEIS

.analyzes potential impacts of transit improvements, proposed by the Metropolitan TransitDevelopment Board (MTDB) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), at the project-specificlevel. It is the result ofan extensive evaluation ofalternatives and impact assessment process. Fivetransportation investment alternatives for the Mid-Coast Corridor, involving different transit servicesand high occupancy vehicle lanes along various alignments, were initially identified and evaluated.Technical analyses of each alternative were conducted regarding a range of environmental issues,and results were compiled into the 1995 AA/DEIS/DEIR. A public hearing on the AA/DEIS/DEIRwas held on April 27, 1995. A total of64 written and oral comments were received from agencies,individuals, and organizations.

In response to information and analyses contained in the AAlDEIS/DEIR and to public commentsregarding the impacts and benefits ofproject alternatives, the MTDB selected a Preferred InvestmentStrategy/Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) on October 26, 1995. The first phase of the LPAwould include an extension oflight rail transit (LRT) service along the San Diego Northern Railway(SDNR) corridor from just south of the San Diego River, north approximately 5.5 kilometers(3.5 miles) to Balboa Avenue. Three new LRT stations would be located at Tecolote Road,Clairemont Drive, and Balboa Avenue. The construction phase would also include a new station onthe existing commuter ni.il (Coaster) line at a location south of Nobel Drive and east of TowneCentre Drive. Preliminary Engineering (PE) has been completed for these proposed improvements.MTDB is committed to ongoing public involvement to increase community understanding of theproject and to elicit community input regarding environmental and design issues. Communityinvolvement was conducted during preparation ofthe AAlDEIS/DEIR and culminated in its publiccirculation and public hearing. Public involvement, through two community-based project advisorycommittees, also continued into the PE and Final EIS phase of the project.

The first volume ofthis FEIS contains information regarding the purpose and need for the project,alternatives considered, and the environmental and socioeconomic effects that can be expected iftheproject is implemented. Information contained in the AAlDEIS/DEIR is summarized, and additionalclarification is provided regarding potential impacts of the Mid-Coast LRT Project, BalboaExtension and Nobel Drive Coaster Station Alternative, and a low-cost Transportation SystemsManagement (TSM) Alternative. A No-Build Alternative is also evaluated. The second volumecontains copies ofall written and oral comments received on the AAlDEIS/DEIR, along with writtenresponses to those comments.

A copy of this FEIS is being provided to all agencies, organizations, and individuals whocommented on the AAlDEIS/DEIR. A series of technical studies was prepared as part of theenvironmental investigations for the proposed project. These studies built upon the technical workthat was conducted during the AAlDEIS/DEIR phase ofthe project, analyzed conditions under theNo-Build Alternative, and identified potential impacts under the TSM and the Mid-Coast LRTProject, Balboa Extension and Nobel Drive Coaster Station Alternatives. These studies are availablefor review at MTDB's offices. The technical studies completed for the AAlDEISIDEIR and FEISare listed in Appendix E (References) of this document.