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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 05 E. TRANS CORR 06-01-92REPORTS NO. 5 6-1-92 AGENDA-, ,ATE: JUNE 11 1992 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION OVERVIEW OF THE FOOTHILL/EASTERN TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR SUBJECT: AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF MAY 14, 1992 RELATIVE TO ACTIONS TAKEN ON EASTERN TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council, at their meeting of June 11 1992 receive and file this report on the proceedings of the May 14, 1992 Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Board of Directors meeting. Direct staff to continue its participation in the implementation phase of the Eastern Transportation Corridor by carefully monitoring the actions and decisions of Transportation Corridor Agency staff, the Board of Directors, and the member agencies. BACKGROUND The Eastern Transportation Corridor (ETC) is part of a major transportation facility being developed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA). This facility is proposed as a grade -separated toll road, with three lanes of travel in each direction and provisions for high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. With the exception of the proposed toll facilities, the physical and operational characteristics of the ETC will be similar to existing freeways in Orange County. The ETC will extend southerly from the Riverside Freeway (State Route 91), near the Gypsum Canyon Road interchange, and split into two legs at the proposed East Orange interchange, near the existing intersecti6n of Chapman Avenue and Santiago Canyon Road. The segment between the East Orange interchange and the Riverside Freeway is referred to as the North Leg of the ETC. The East Leg of the ETC extends easterly from the East Orange interchange, generally parallel to the Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5), and terminates at the Santa Ana Freeway and Laguna Freeway (State Route 133) interchange. The West Leg of the ETC extends southerly from the East Orange interchange, skirting the eastern limits of the City of Tustin, and running generally parallel to Jamboree Road. The southerly extension of the West Leg of the ETC is planned to terminate at the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in the vicinity of Jamboree Road and Edinger Avenue. -- Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency June 1, 1992 Page 2 After many years of planning, engineering, environmental studies, and public input, the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Board, at its May 14, 1992 meeting voted on certification of the ETC Environmental Impact Report (EIR); ETC project approval; and adoption of policies concerning construction of the ETC. Present at this meeting were the following Board members: Gene Beyer, City of Orange Sharon Cody, City of Mission Viejo Scott Diehl, City of San Clemente Ken Friess, City of San Juan Capistrano Eileen Krause, City of Dana Point Iry Pickler, City of Anaheim Jeff Thomas, City of Tustin Rob Richardson, City of Santa Ana Tom Riley, County of Orange Sally Anne Sheridan, City of Irvine Gaddi Vasquez, County of Orange Helen Wilson, City of Lake Forest Gene Wisner, City of Yorba Linda William Woollett, Jr., Chief Executive Officer DISCUSSION A motion was made early in the meeting to continue all matters pertaining to the ETC for one month. A•subsequent amendment to this motion provided for public input at the present meeting. Support for this motion came primarily from the Cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Orange. After much debate, the issue was put to a vote. The results were six for and six against the motion. The tie meant that the motion was defeated and the meeting would proceed as planned. Opening of the public hearing was delayed until 10:20 A.M., at which time a presentation was made by TCA staff. The staff presentation covered the breadth and scope of the ETC project and the accompanying EIR. The Board opened the hearing to receive public testimony. The meeting was briefly disrupted by a group of protesters representing the Earth First Organization who were opposed to the ETC. Public comment varied, but seemed to focus on particular elements of the EIR and the phasing aspect of the project, rather than general opposition to the ETC. For example, the City of Santa Ana expressed strong concern over the perceived inadequacies of the EIR in the areas of air quality and land use accountability; citizens from the City of Laguna Beach expressed concern over the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency June 1, 1992 Page 3 lack of input regarding potential traffic impacts created by the termination of the East Leg of the ETC at the Laguna Freeway (State Route 133); and a group of residents of the Cowan Heights and Lemon Heights area complained about the inadequacy of noise analysis in the EIR. Other issues included the provision of adequate wildlife undercrossings along the ETC; financial uncertainties; Caltrans acceptance of the ETC as a State maintenance responsibility; and the phasing provisions for the ETC, should funding.shortages materialize in the future. TCA staff responded to these concerns, but were apparently unconvincing in some of their arguments, as the final voting was not unanimously in favor of the certification of the EIR, the project, or adoption of the accompanying resolutions. After nearly three hours of testimony and debate, the Board, voted by a majority to: ° Certify the Eastern Transportation Corridor (ETC) EIR (Resolution 92F-05); ° approve the West Leg of the ETC Project and plans for construction (Resolution 92F-06, as amended by the Board) ; approve the North Leg of the ETC Project and plans for construction (Resolution 92F-07); ° approve the East Leg of the ETC Project and plans for construction (Resolution 92F-08); and ° adopt policies concerning construction of ETC (Resolution 92F-091 as amended by the Board). The final wording of the above resolutions, and the approved minutes of the May 14, 1992 meeting, will not be available until the June 11, 1992 Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency Board meeting per information received from TCA staff. It should also be indicated that the above noted documents have incorporated the various items previously requested by the City of Tustin. Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency June 1, 1992 Page 4 As a final note of interest, other Board business included a Resolution of Appreciation (No. F92-03) bestowed upon Dick Edgar for his past service to the Board. Robert S. Ledendecker Director of Public Works/ City Engineer RSL:DRK:ccg:etc-end Dana R. Kasdan Engineering Services Manager