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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRiverside Avenue and Newport BoulevardCOAST HIGHWAY BICYCLE TRAIL BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AVENUE AND NEWPORT BOULEVARD ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT NEGATIVE DECLARATION BY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH j;y479• 1. Location: The proposed project is located within the City of Newport Beach along the southerly side of Coast Highway between Riverside Avenue and Newport Boulevard. The project length is 1400 feet. . 2. Project Description: The work consists of constructing a 6' wide concrete sidewalk with drive approaches and a 6" curb over the existing pavement in Coast Highway. This will widen the existing sidewalk from 6 feet to 12 feet. The widening will • take place in the parking lane. The proposed bicycle trail is in conformance with the City's and County's Master Plan of Bikeways. 3. Purpose of Project: To provide a wider sidewalk so that bicycles may travel along the southerly side of Coast Highway between Riverside Avenue and Newport Boulevard without riding in the traveled way. 4. Discussion of Environmental Impacts a) Land Use: This project will eliminate 18 parking spaces and the parking lane on the southerly side of Coast Highway. The adjacent businesses have off-street parking and a loading zone turn out will be provided for Rosan's to accommodate deliveries. b) Secondary Consequences: The widening of the sidewalk and signing it as a bicycle trail may increase bicycle usage. This could in turn increase the pedestrian -bicyclist conflict and the conflicts between bicyclists and automobiles entering and exiting driveways. The increased.sidewaik width should allow more room to maneuver and pass pedestrians. Signs and warning devices will be needed at the blind driveways to warn bicycles. 5. Basis for Negative Declaration: The proposed project has been reviewed in conjunction with Sections 15081, 15082, and 15083, Chapter 3 -- Guidelines. for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970, Division 6, Title 14, California Administrative Code. The project is not in conflict with environmental plans and goals of the community; it does not have a substantial and demonstrable negative aesthetic effect; it does not affect rare and endan- gered species of animal or plant life, it does not interfere with movement of migratory fish or wildlife; and it will not result in a substantial detrimental effect on the air or water quality,or on ambient noise levels for adjoining areas. Review of the criteria set forth in the above noted sections indicate that the proposed project will not have a significant environmental impact and could possibly be considered categorically exempt under Class 1: Existing Facilities; minor alteration to (c) existing highways and streets (within already established rights -of -way) sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrial trails. A copy of the informational fact sheet is attached for reference. July 29, 1974 COAST HIGHWAY BICYCLE TRAIL RIVERSIDE AVENUE TO NEWPORT BOULEVARD FACT SHEET TO DETERMINE - IF PROJECT HAS SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ' The project consists of the construction of a widened sidewalk section on th southerly side of Coast Highway from Riverside Avenue westerly to the south- easterly ramp from Newport Boulevard to Coast Highway. The work would be done within existing right-of-way owned by the State of California. The exist- ing sidewalk would be widened by 4 feet to 6•feet creating a total sidewalk width of 10 to 12 feet. The purpose of the project is to provide more room for bicyclists and pedes- trians to utilize the sidewalk area. This is a heavily used route for junior and high school students going to and from school. In summer months, it serves as a main route for beach bound cyclists from the Newport Heights and Westcliff areas of Newport Beach. The sidewalk widening would be accomplished by eliminating parking on the southerly side of Coast Highway from Riverside Avenue westerly to Newport Boulevard and placing a curb and asphalt paving in the parking lane to raise the surface to the same grade as the existing sidewalk. Existing drive approaches would be replaced to provide a smooth transition. The improvements would be constructed in such a manner that they could be removed in the future if it were found necessary to widen the roadway section. The project length is approximately 1400 feet. B. CONFORMANCE WITH CITY'S GENERAL PLAN A bicycle trail along Coast Highway is a part of the City's Master Plan of Bikeways. C. LAND USE This project will be constructed in right-of-way which is publicly owned by the State of California. 1150 feet are in the roadway section of Coast Highway 250 feet are in landscaped area adjacent to the Newport Boulevard --Coast High- way interchange. D. HUMAN RESOURCES No right-of-way is being acquired and no one is being displaced. E. GEOLOGIC HAZARDS There are no known unique geologic hazards within the project area. 'My 29, 1974 Fact Sheet Page 2 F. FLOODING, EROSION OR SILTATION This project will increase the impervious asphalt area by approximately 2500 square feet. It will be necessary to import approximately 35 cubic yards of fill material to level one section of the sidewalk area. This area will be covered by asphalt or will be planted. Runoff from the area will not be substantially affected. G. GROUND WATER The work will not require excavation which will affect the ground water condi- tions. H. NOISE LEVELS The widening of the sidewalk into the street section will not change the am- bient noise levels for the surrounding area. The removal of concrete and the work during construction of the project will have a short-term effect on the noise levels. It is anticipated that the project will take only 15 working days. I. AIR RESOURCES The project will not increase or decrease the volume of vehicle emissions. J. WATER RESOURCES The sidewalk widening will not affect the water resources of the area. K. SECONDARY CONSEQUENCES The widening of the sidewalk and signing it as a bicycle trail may increase bicycle usage. This could in turn increase the pedestrian -bicyclist conflict and the conflicts between bicyclists and automobiles entering and exiting driveways. The increased sidewalk width should allow more room to maneuver and pass pedestrians. Signs and warning devices will be needed at the blind driveways to warn the bicyclists. The elimination of 18 parking places should not affect the adjacent business. They have off-street parking to serve their customers and employees. A load- ing zone area will be provided in front of Rosan's so that delivery trucks can deposit their loads without blocking traffic. L. SHORT-TERM IMPACTS The short-term impacts anticipated for this project are motorist inconvenience and construction noise during the actual construction process. These impacts are not considered to be significant. M. SUMMARY The project does not appear to have a significant effect on• the environment and could be considered Categorically Exempt under Class 1: Existing Facilities; minor alteration to (c) existing highways and streets (within al.ready.established rights -of -way) sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails.