Environmental Impact Report for the Transportation 2035 Plan

1. Environmental Impact Reportfor the Transportation 2035 Plan Scoping Meetings March 10 and March 13, 2008 Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter101 Eighth StreetOakland, California

2. Purpose of the EIR • Inform decision-makers and the general public of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Regional Transportation Plan • Identify mitigation measures to minimize significant impacts • Evaluate reasonable alternatives that may reduce or avoid one or more significant environmental effects • Identify any significant environmental impacts, including unavoidable, irreversible, growth-inducing, and cumulative impacts

3. Issues for Evaluation • Transportation • Increases in traffic congestion and average travel times to and from various zones in the Bay Area • Adverse change in the number of work opportunities within 15, 30, and 45 minutes by auto and transit • Adverse change in vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled • Air Quality • Conformance with air quality attainment plans • Increased regional emissions associated with criteria pollutants (e.g., NOx, CO, ROG, PM2.5, PM10)

4. Issues for Evaluation (cont’d) • Land Use and Physical Development • Conversion of resource lands (e.g., open space, prime agricultural land) to transportation uses • Land use displacement or disruption that may occur as a result of construction or right-of-way acquisition for transportation projects funded by Transportation 2035 Plan • Conformance with local land use plans • Energy • Non-renewable energy consumption during project construction • Long-term energy consumption from full implementation of the Plan • Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change • Increased emissions of gases which contribute to global warming

5. Issues for Evaluation (cont’d) • Noise • Construction-related noise during construction of new or expanded transportation projects • Increases in noise levels resulting from increases in speeds and regional traffic, including rail transit • Geology and Seismicity • Increased exposure of travelers or structures to risk of injury or loss of life due to earthquakes, landslides, or ground failure, including liquefaction • Soil erosion and slope instability potential associated with proposed projects • Increased development on expansive soils or on weak, unconsolidated soils

6. Issues for Evaluation (cont’d) • Water Resources • Changes in absorption rates, drainage patterns, surface water runoff quantity or quality, or increases in flooding within the region • Biological Resources • Disturbance or reduction of important habitats for plant and animal species, especially rare and endangered species, wetlands and aquatic resources • Obstruction of the migration and movement of species within their habitats • Cumulative effects of habitat fragmentation and growth on sensitive species • Conformance with adopted resource plans

7. Issues for Evaluation (cont’d) • Visual Resources • Disruption of panoramic views of significant features or alteration of the appearance of areas near scenic highways • Creation of significant contrasts or addition of incongruous visual elements • Cultural Resources • Destruction or damage of archaeological, historical, or paleontological resources • Housing and Social Environment • Disruption of existing neighborhoods or displacement of people or businesses • Disproportionately large impacts on minority or low-income populations (Environmental Justice analysis) • Population growth (growth-inducing effects) and changes in the demand for housing