Reso PC17-07 0032 PC Reso Approving CEQA - 860 Charter St

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LSA ASSOCIATES, INC. SEPTEMBER 2016 ROCKETSHIP REDWOOD CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT INITIAL STUDY/ MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION P:\RWC1401B Rocketship School\PRODUCTS\IS-MND\Public\Rocketship Public Review 09-29-16.docx (09/29/16) PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT 29 The San Francisco Bay Area Air Basin is under State non-attainment status for ozone and PM10 and PM2.5 standards. The Air Basin is also classified as non-attainment for both the federal ozone 8-hour standard and the federal PM2.5 24-hour standard. Air pollutant emissions associated with the proposed project would primarily occur over the short-term in association with construction activities, including demolition, excavation and vehicle/equipment use. Long-term operational emissions would result from vehicle trips to and from the project site. The following is a description of potential air quality violations that could occur as a result of short-term construction emissions, including fugitive dust, and long-term operational emissions. Mitigation measures are recommended to reduce these impacts to a less-than-significant level, as necessary. Localized CO Impacts. The BAAQMD has established a screening methodology that provides a conservative indication of whether the implementation of a proposed project would result in significant carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. According to the BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines,19 the proposed project would result in a less-than-significant impact to localized CO concentrations if the following screening criteria are met:  The project is consistent with an applicable congestion management program established by the county congestion management agency for designated roads or highways, regional transportation plan, and local congestion management agency plans;  The project would not increase traffic volumes at affected intersections to more than 44,000 vehicles per hour; and  The project would not increase traffic volumes at affected intersections to more than 24,000 vehicles per hour where vertical and/or horizontal mixing is substantially limited (e.g., tunnel, parking garage, bridge underpass, natural or urban street canyon, below-grade roadway). The proposed project would not conflict with an applicable congestion management program for designated roads or highways, the regional transportation plan or other agency plans. Additionally, traffic volumes on roadways in the project vicinity are less than 5,000 vehicles per hour, and the project is expected to generate a maximum of 434 peak hour trips.20 Therefore, the proposed project would not increase traffic volumes at affected intersections to more than 24,000 vehicles per hour and would not result in localized CO concentrations that would exceed State or federal standards. Construction Period Impacts. Air pollutant emissions associated with the proposed project would occur over the short-term in association with construction activities. Construction vehicle traffic, the use of construction equipment, and wind blowing over exposed earth would emit exhaust and dust that affect local and regional air quality. Construction emissions were quantified using the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod) v.2013.2.2 and are presented in Table 1 (see Appendix B for calculation details). 19 Ibid. 20 Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc., 2016. Rocketship Redwood Academy at 860 Charter Street, Traffic Study Report. September 28. ATTY/RESO.0032/PC RESO APPROVING CEQA - 860 CHARTER ST. EXHIBIT A REV: 06-15-17 PR Page 37 of 124