Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement
On August 31, 2012, the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement was released for a 45-day public review and comment period. The document provides a more in-depth look at the studies completed for the project which evaluate how enhancements to highway and rail bridges may improve tidal flow and overall health of the NCC’s six lagoons in conjunction with the highway project. Additionally, the Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS affirms the Express Lanes Only option (8+4 Buffer Alternative) as the Caltrans Locally Preferred Alternative for the I-5 Project, which was announced in July 2011. Caltrans identified the Locally Preferred Alternative after extensive outreach and collaboration with the community, resource agencies and the Federal Highway Administration. PLEASE NOTE: This is a large document that may require significant time to download. Instead of opening the document, you may want to right click on the link to save it to your computer.
The Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS does not address responses to comments received during the original comment period for the Draft EIR/EIS for the I-5 NCC Project. All public comments will be addressed in the project’s Final EIR/EIS, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2013.
A public meeting was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center. The meeting allowed community members an opportunity to provide feedback and ask project team members questions about the new items not contained in the original Draft EIR/EIS issued in 2010. To view the materials handed out or on display at the meeting, please visit the Documents page. If you were unable to attend the meeting, there are a number of ways to get your comments into the official record including submitting comments by letter, email or U.S. mail via the information below.
Shay Lynn Harrison
Environmental Analysis Branch Chief
Caltrans, District 11
4050 Taylor Street
Division of Environmental Analysis, MS 242
San Diego, CA 92110
I-5.NCC.EIR.EIS@dot.ca.gov
All comments must be received by October 15.
I-5 Express Lanes Project
In July 2010, Caltrans released a Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), providing a detailed environmental analysis of the I-5 Express Lanes Project. After extensive public outreach and consideration of input from the community and resource agencies, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) identified the Express Lanes Only (8+4 with Buffer/Striping) option as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the I-5 Express Lanes Project. This option would add two Express Lanes in each direction from La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego to Harbor Drive in Oceanside, separated from the existing general purpose lanes by a painted, striped buffer. This option has the smallest footprint of the build alternatives studied in the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report, has the least impacts to natural resources, requires the fewest property relocations, and has the lowest construction costs.
When completed, the Express Lanes will ensure a reliable, congestion-free travel option throughout the corridor, serve carpools, vanpools, buses and solo drivers using FasTrak®. Fee revenue generated through FasTrak® will support transit within the corridor, and provide priority access to the Express Lanes through Direct Access Ramps.
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