Final Environmental Assessment ADOT TRACS No. 0000 MA PHX SS979 03D October 2013 Federal Aid No. PHX-0(266)A

Appendix C. Agency Stakeholder Comments and Matrix of Responses

To:

City of Phoenix PUBLIC TRANSIT DEPARTMENT

Dana Owsiany Traffic Engineering Supervisor Street Transportation Department

Date: June 19, 2013

From: Mark Melnychenko ~ Principal Planner Public Transit Department

Subject: REVIEW OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR BLACK MOUNTAIN BOULEVARD: SR 51/LOOP 101 INTERCHANGE TO CAVE CREEK ROAD

The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department has reviewed the Draft Environmental Assessment for Black Mountain Boulevard: SR S11Loop 101 Interchange to Cave Creek Road and have prepared a list of questions, comments or conc~rns that address public transportation and development of this roadway.

The Public Transit Department agrees with the findings in the reports and fully supports the recommended alternative (1 A-S) for the boulevard corridor. However, it is our belief that the certain areas in the documents could be strengthened to make transit a more viable alternative to the automobile in this corridor and provide transportation choices for area residents.

Public Transit Department comments:

• Pg. 1, first paragraph, add "increase efficiency of the transportation network by reducing congestion and travel times for motorists and public transit service."

• Pg. 12, Additional jobs created in the area that correlate with the population projections for 2035 would require additional transit service including reverse commute transit service.

• Pg. 14, add the park-and rides (Bell Road/SR-51 and Shea Boulevard/SR-51 ) along SR-51 in the destinations list at the bottom of the page.

• Pg. 14, first paragraph, add sentence after "Without a grid of major arterial streets", Public Transit typically operates on major arterial streets as opposed to secondary residential streets and will be more likely to expand service, provide system linkage and accommodate service requests in the future with the construction of a major arterial street.

• Pg. 18, add impacts to public transit with existing scenario and future with BMB and the Desert Ridge Park-and-Ride.

Public Transit: It's How You Get There

302 N First Avenue, Suite 900, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 (602) 262-7242

Review of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Black Mountain Boulevard: SR-51/Loop 101 Interchange to Cave Creek Road

Page 2

• Pg. 20, The Future land Use Map is not correct. The future Desert Ridge Park­and-Ride should be marked Public/Quasi Public at the location southwest of Tatum Boulevard and Deer Valley Road. Public Transit currently owns the land for the future facility.

• Pg. 22, add impacts to public transit without a comprehensive network of arterial streets in middle of page.

• Pg. 54, Under the Planned Uses title add text that the City of Phoenix has plans for a park, library and park-and-ride, approximately 500' west of the southwest corner of Deer Valley Road and Tatum Road. Access to this development and use by the buses will be enhanced by construction of the BMB.

• Pg. 69, Under Conclusion paragraph, add in "and access to local services, Public Transit and facilities would be enhanced due to reduced traffic congestion of surface streets."

• Pg. 70 first paragraph, add in "which could make travel between residences and employment areas, public transit, local services and other amenities more difficult for populations in the study area. In addition, the 81-96% of all employees in the area traveling alone in a car could be mitigated with more convenient access to transit options through a comprehensive roadway network. This could also have a positive impact on air quality through the use of alternative-fueled buses (CNG/LNG).

• Improvements at the future Deer Valley Road/BMB intersection and the Reach 11 roundabout should be designed (apron, turning radii etc.) to safely accommodate future bus travel (40' , 45' and 60' buses) and connections to the planned park-and-ride approximately 500' west of the southwest corner of Deer Valley Road and Tatum Road.

Agency Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment: City of Phoenix Public Transit Department

# Comment Response

1Pg. 1, first paragraph, add "increase efficiency of the transportation network by reducing congestion and travel times for motorists and public transit service."

Public transit service is referenced as requested in the Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 10).

2Pg. 12, Additional jobs created in the area that correlate with the population projections for 2035 would require additional transit service including reverse commute transit service.

Demand for public transit service due to employment growth is referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 11).

3

Pg. 14, first paragraph, add sentence after "Without a grid of major arterial streets", Public Transit typically operates on major arterial streets as opposed to secondary residential streets and will be more likely to expand service, provide system linkage and accommodate service requests in the future with the construction of a major arterial street.

Major arterial streets being conducive to transit service is referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 11).

4Pg. 14, add the park‐and rides (Bell Road/SR‐51 and Shea Boulevard/SR‐51 ) along SR‐51 in the destinations list at the bottom of the page.

These destinations are referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 11).

5Pg. 18, add impacts to public transit with existing scenario and future with BMB and the Desert Ridge Park‐and‐Ride.

Impacts to the planned transit service is referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 11).

6

Pg. 20, The Future land Use Map is not correct. The future Desert Ridge Park‐and‐Ride should be marked Public/Quasi Public at the location southwest of Tatum Boulevard and Deer Valley Road. Public Transit currently owns the land for the future facility.

The City owned parcel has been correctly identified as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (pages 12 and 13).

7 Pg. 22, add impacts to public transit without a comprehensive network of arterial streets in middle of page.Public transit service is referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 12).

8

Pg. 54, Under the Planned Uses title add text that the City of Phoenix has plans for a park, library and park‐and‐ride, approximately 500' west of the southwest corner of Deer Valley Road and Tatum Road. Access to this development and use by the buses will be enhanced by construction of the BMB.

The future City facilities are referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 14).

9Pg. 69, Under Conclusion paragraph, add in "and access to local services, Public Transit and facilities would be enhanced due to reduced traffic congestion of surface streets."

Transit facilities are referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 14).

10

Pg. 70 first paragraph, add in "which could make travel between residences and employment areas, public transit, local services and other amenities more difficult for populations in the study area. In addition, the 81‐96% of all employees in the area traveling alone in a car could be mitigated with more convenient access to transit options through a comprehensive roadway network. This could also have a positive impact on air quality through the use of alternative‐fueled buses (CNG/LNG).

The percentage of workforce traveling alone and transit service being better facilitated through the Build Alternative are referenced as requested in the FEA Chapter 3. Errata from the Draft Environmental Assessment (page 15). However, qualitative statements regarding positive impacts to air quality were not added to the Environmental Consequences section of Economic Conditions subchapter. 

11

Improvements at the future Deer Valley Road/BMB intersection and the Reach 11 roundabout should be designed (apron, turning radii etc.) to safely accommodate future bus travel (40', 45' and 60' buses) and connections to the planned park‐and‐ride approximately 500' west of the southwest corner of Deer Valley Road and Tatum Road.

This comment does not pertain to the analysis of impacts to environmental or socioeconomic conditions as a result of the proposed alternatives and has been forwarded to the design staff of the study team for consideration should the Build Alternative be selected.

Final Environmental AssessmentAppendix C 1

PHX‐0(266)A0000 MA PHX SS979 03D

Black Mountain Boulevard: SR 51/Loop 101 Interchange to Cave Creek Road