Averill Park, San Pedro

Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council: Answers to questions posed to Caltrans, Mr. Jackson & Michelle Quan, Questions answered by email.

1. How does Caltrans review an E. I. R. for new development in the City of Los Angeles?  What is the process for determining what traffic mitigations are needed?

During environmental reviews of new development, Caltrans generally requests that a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) be prepared that includes analysis of potential impacts to State roadway facilities.  The TIS determines whether such impacts from proposed developments would be significant.  If a significant impact is identified, Caltrans cooperates with the approving agency to determine appropriate mitigation measures.  According to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) would describe feasible measures that could minimize significant adverse impacts.  Caltrans considers mitigation alternative(s) that meet one or a combination of the following criteria:
(a)     avoid the impacts;
(b)     minimize the impacts;
(c)     rectify the impacts;
(d)     reduce or eliminate the impacts over time;
(e)     compensate for the impacts.
 
Caltrans welcomes opportunities to participate in the development of the TIS.  It can assist in various ways including:
(a)     Determine the scope of the TIS, including which freeway segments, on-and-off ramps, and intersections need to be analyzed.
(b)     Assist in providing traffic data, such as current and projected volumes.
(c)     Advice on methodology preferred for freeway operational analysis.
(d)     Assist in identifying current operational deficiencies.
(e)     Inform of any planned improvements in the area.

2. What still needs to be done on Western Ave. in Rancho Palos Verdes/San Pedro to connect your traffic signal control system with the City of Los Angeles’ ATSAC system?  Are there plans in place for doing this?

Currently there is no plan to connect the Western Ave portion which runs on ATCS owned and operated by Caltrans (from W. Summerland Blvd. to 262nd to the rest of the Western Avenue run by LADOT.  Such integration would require a global interagency agreement to integrate all of ATCS run signals by both agencies which is a significant undertaking but one that will remain under consideration.

However, both agencies are using the intersection of Western Avenue and PCH as one of critical intersections that control the adaptive functionality of both Western and PCH corridors in the effected signal operations system area.  This means that, even though, the two systems are not physically connected, the main factors dictating the adaptive traffic
signals adjustments, such as demands on various approaches, are consistently factored in both systems.  This will help ensure that both systems take into account the most critical real time demand information as part of the automated analysis that takes place to alter cycle length, splits and offsets on their corresponding ATCS operation towards reducing travel time and longer green bands on critical segments. This essentially provides for a virtual integration ( based on common parameters defining the needed adjustments) of both systems.  In addition, our signal engineers will continue to monitor the State operated signals and maintain a very close communication with LADOT signal operation engineers collocated in the same building towards solving congestion problems and other traffic management objectives.

3. Traffic is increasing dramatically on the 110 Freeway in Wilmington and San Pedro.  Does Caltrans have a process for looking at ways to handle the increase?  One alternative is another off-ramp on Harbor Freeway.  What is process to follow to consider this option? 

We have higher truck % in this area because the 110 connects to LA port. At present we do not have any on-going improvements in this area; however, we have 2 consultant oversight projects listed in "MTA call for projects list for goods movement."
(1) Widen all ramps at 110/John Gibson Blvd(Sr-47)
PSR was done in year 2007 and now in PR/env. stage and planned for year 2011.
(2)Modify Interchange and on/off ramps at 110/C Street
This project is in PSR stage and planned for year 2013.

4. In light of the enormous and increasing number of trucks, what are the chances of having a freeway offramp/onramp directly into the Port Distribution Center?  Requested more time to answer.

5. How does Caltrans work together with MTA, SCAG, City of LA, Rancho Palos Verdes & the Port of Los Angeles on traffic issues in our area?

a. Draft TCRs were reviewed by MTA, SCAG related Cities and other agencies. Relevant comments were included in TCRs. Regular stakeholders meetings are held as part of the process for completion of CSMPs. All stakeholders are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings and express their concerns, issues and input. The CSMP will attempt to address these issues.   Both State and Federal legislation require Caltrans to work in partnership with  regional agencies including MPO’s, RTPA’s CTC’s and other stakeholders.  Caltrans work very closely with SCAG (The Metropolitan Planning Agency of the region) in developing the RTP (Regional Transpiration Plan – long range transportation plan).

b.   RTIP (Regional Transportation Improvement Program – multi-year listing of proposed transportation projects to be funded through a variety of federal, state, and local sources)

c.   Overall Work Program (OWP -This work program describes proposed transportation planning activities for the upcoming fiscal year) etc.  Caltrans get involved in reviewing SCAG’s modeling activities, seats as a voting member at SCAG’s Transportation and Communication Committee (TCC). Caltrans plays a vital role by participating and providing input in all of SCAG’s planning activities.  The Regional Planning branch of Caltrans actively engages in the regional transportation planning process with the Southern California Association of Governments, and other agencies.  Caltrans works with MTA (METRO) closely in developing their long-range Transportation Plan by providing input, and comments.  Currently, Caltrans is actively involved in City of LA’s Downtown LA Transportation Study. Caltrans is responsible for providing comments of all the downtown projects City of LA is proposing and supposedly work in partnership with them in developing a final project list.

Caltrans also worked with Port of Long Beach very closely on Alameda Corridor (along with SCAG), various bridge re-construction projects and Goods Movement Action Plans.

The Circulation Element is second only to the Land Use Element in terms of  importance
Because it determines the route and mode by which persons are going to travel within the Community and to other destinations outside the community.  Caltrans IGR Group closely monitors and reviews all developmental activities taking places within certain radius of the state highway system. They do look at each developmental proposal and analyze how this new development will effect the circulation pattern of the existing system.
 
The Caltrans Project Development Procedures, which include Project Study Reports (PSR), Project Report (PR), preliminary engineering (PE), and plans, specifications and engineering estimates (PS&E) are tools for implementing improvements consistent with the City’s Circulation Element on the state-owned transportation facilities such as freeways, interchange ramps, freeway over-crossings, park-and-ride facilities, and improvements to conventional state highways (surface street routes).

6. What role will Caltrans play with regard to the traffic & circulation element in our community plan? How does that element effect what you do?

The TCR process aims to suggest a configuration for route 110 (or any route) that will meet projected demands within a framework of regional policy. The TCR is intended to provide an initial look at developments within the corridor over the following 20 years. The primary focus is to identify "need" defined as the difference between forecast demand and capacity.  A series of alternatives are proposed for the development of the route. One of the alternatives is recommended as the preferred concept. The latest update for route 110 is dated January of 1991, at the time the existing data was from 1998 and projected year was 2010. The time frame for the route 110 CSMP is not determined at this time. However once said CSMP is in progress the above issues including the alternative for an off-ramp on Harbor Freeway could be considered. In light of the enormous and increasing number of trucks, what are the chances of having a freeway offramp/onramp directly into the Port Distribution Center? 

7. Why does Caltrans not allow non-profits to put banners on poles the way the City of Los Angeles does?  No answer received.