STATE ROUTE 138 (Palmdale Boulevard)

STATE ROUTE 138 (Palmdale Boulevard)
5th St East to 10th St East Improvement Project
FACT SHEET
BACKGROUND
Project Schedule
The City of Palmdale, in cooperation with Caltrans District 7,
proposes to widen Palmdale Boulevard (State Route 138)
between 5th Street East and 10th Street East from 2 lanes to 3
lanes in each direction. Additionally, the project proposes to
widen Sierra Highway between Avenue R and a point 500 feet
south of Avenue Q from 2 lanes to 3 lanes in each direction.
ALTERNATIVES
Ave Q
Ave Q
No Build Alternative
Under the No Build Alternative, roadway improvements
associated with the proposed project would not be constructed.
There would be no change in existing traffic facilities along
Palmdale Boulevard or Sierra Highway.
Sierra Highway
Widening at Ave Q
Project Site
Palmdale
SR 138 Palmdale Blvd
Widening at 5th Street
Legend
500
Feet
138
SR 138 Palmdale Blvd Widening at 10th Street
1000
way
Sierra High
Sierra Highway Widening at E Ave R
0
SR 138 Palmdale Blvd
k
UPRR Trac
Track
Metrolink
Proposed Widening
11th St E
10th St E
9th St E
5th St E
SR 138 Palmdale Blvd
way
Sierra High
ack
UPRR TrTr
ack
6th St E
Metrolink
Ave Q 3
Ave R
PURPOSE
The purpose of the proposed project is to:
•Reduce traffic congestion through the Palmdale Boulevard/
Sierra Highway intersection,
•Increase traffic capacity on Palmdale Boulevard and on Sierra
Highway,
•Enhance traffic operations on Palmdale Boulevard and on
Sierra Highway,
•Improve railroad pre-emption, thus improving traffic safety
and reducing vehicle queuing at the Palmdale Boulevard atgrade Union Pacific Railroad and Metrolink crossing between
6th Street East and Sierra Highway.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
No significant impacts that cannot be mitigated to a level
of less than significant have been identified. The resources
that are being evaluated for the project include: community
impacts, traffic, visual, cultural resources, hydrology and
water quality, hazardous materials, noise, air quality, biology,
and cumulative impacts.
Build Alternative
The Build Alternative proposes to widen Palmdale Boulevard
between 5th Street East and 10th Street East from 2 lanes to 3
lanes in each direction and widen Sierra Highway from 2 lanes
to 3 lanes in each direction between Avenue R and a point 500
feet south of Avenue Q. With this alternative, the existing Class
I bike path which runs along the west side of Sierra Highway
will be extended southerly to connect to Avenue R.
The Build Alternative would enhance safety by providing
improvements to the following existing features:
•Upgrading traffic signal operations at the railroad crossing.
•Installing off-quadrant flashing lights and pedestrian gates on
each approach of the sidewalks crossing the railroad.
•Widening and increasing the height of the median islands at
the railroad crossing to provide safe channelization.
•
Upgrading existing nonstandard pedestrian accessibility
features to comply with current ADA standards.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Public participation is a vital part of this study. Please plan on
attending the Open House Meeting to be held as part of the
environmental review process for this project on Tuesday, June 7,
2016 from 6pm-8pm at the Chimbole Cultural Center, 38350
Sierra Hwy Palmdale, CA 93550. If you have any concerns or
questions about the project, please contact:
Eric Dietrich
Environmental Planner
Caltrans District 7
100 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
eric.dietrich@dot.ca.gov
Tel: 213 897-2824
Mike Behen
Transportation/GIS Manager
Department of Public Works
38250 Sierra Highway
Palmdale, CA 93550
MBehen@cityofpalmdale.org
Tel: 661 267-5337