I-70 EAST SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SECTION 4(F) EVALUATION CONCEPTUAL STAGE RELOCATION TECHNICAL REPORT

Transcription

1 I-70 EAST SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND SECTION 4(F) EVALUATION CONCEPTUAL STAGE RELOCATION TECHNICAL REPORT ATTACHMENT G AUGUST 2014

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3 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table of contents Chapters Page 1. Introduction Project limits Project background Applicable laws, regulations, and guidance National Environmental Policy Act Council on Environmental Quality Regulations Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of CDOT Right of Way Manual CDOT National Environmental Policy Act Manual Existing conditions Land use and right of way Demographic profile Housing characteristics Economic characteristics Description of alternatives Effects analysis Methodology Highway alternative effects Mitigation Acquisition Relocation References Figures Figure 1. Project area... 1 Figure Age distribution... 6 Figure 3. No-Action Alternative Figure 4. Revised Viaduct Alternative Figure 5. Partial Cover Lowered Alternative Tables Table 1. Existing I-70 right of way... 3 Table 2. Study area census block groups by neighborhoods... 4 Table racial composition... 8 Table 4. Hispanic or Latino origin... 9 Table 5. Limited English proficiency Table 6. Housing trends, Table 7. Occupancy status of housing units Table 8. Median home value Table 9. Median household income Table 10. Low-income households Table 11. Alternatives and Options August 2014 i

4 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table 12. Relocations by alternative and neighborhood Table 13. Income levels of relocated households by alternative in Elyria and Swansea Table tax value of owner-occupied households Table 15. Residential relocation assistance services Table 16. Non-residential relocation assistance services Appendices Appendix A. Neighborhood Relocation Summary Tables by Alternative ii August 2014

5 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report List of acronyms ACS American Community Survey AMI30 30 Percent Area Median Income CDOT Colorado Department of Transportation CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Denver City and County of Denver DS&S Decent, safe, and sanitary EIS Environmental Impact Statement FHWA Federal Highway Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development LEP Limited English proficiency LRH Last resort housing MOC Ministry Outreach Center MSA Metropolitan Statistical Area NEPA National Environmental Policy Act PACT Preferred Alternative Collaborative Team ROW Right of way RTD Regional Transportation District Uniform Act Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970 USDOT United States Department of Transportation August 2014 iii

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7 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report 1. Introduction The I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a joint effort between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The intent of the EIS is to identify potential highway improvements along I-70 in the Denver metropolitan area between I-25 and Tower Road and to assess their potential effects on the human and natural environment Project limits As shown on Figure 1, the project limits extend along I-70 between I-25 and Tower Road. The project area covers portions of Denver, Commerce City, Aurora, and Adams County. This area includes the neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea, Northeast Park Hill, Stapleton, Montbello, and Gateway. The portion of Aurora in the project area is referred to as the Aurora Neighborhood in this report. Each resource has a specific study area based on the resource. Figure 1. Project area 1.2. Project background Analysis of I-70 began in June 2003 as part of the I-70 East Corridor EIS, a joint effort conducted by CDOT, FHWA, the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the City and County of Denver (Denver). In June 2006, CDOT and RTD determined that the highway and transit elements of the I-70 East Corridor EIS process serve different travel markets, are located in different corridors, and have different funding sources. Therefore, the highway and transit components of the analysis were separated. After the project separation, the alternatives that made it through the screening process by addressing the purpose and need of the project were fully evaluated in the Draft EIS, published in November of With the release of the 2008 Draft EIS, the public and agencies had an opportunity to review and comment on it. Public hearings were held to present the information and August

8 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report encourage formal comments. Due to the complexity of the project and the extensive number of public comments received during the formal comment period, the project team decided to form the Preferred Alternative Collaborative Team (PACT) as part of a collaborative process with project stakeholders to recommend a preferred alternative. Through this collaborative process, additional analysis was performed, which resulted in the elimination of two previous alternatives and the addition of a new alternative. During the five years that have passed since the 2008 Draft EIS was published, many federal and state regulations and requirements have changed. Since 2008, additional analysis and public involvement efforts were performed to determine the validity of alternatives in the 2008 Draft EIS. Based on public comments, additional analysis, and the PACT collaborative process, the project team determined that the Realignment Alternatives are no longer reasonable. Consequently, a new alternative option was designed to address concerns voiced through public comments received regarding the 2008 Draft EIS. Due to the changes in the alternatives, new data, and new federal and state laws and regulations, the analysis in the 2008 Draft EIS was revisited and a Supplemental Draft EIS was prepared. This technical report to the Supplemental Draft EIS provides updated information on potential residential, business, non-profit, and farm operation relocations and displacements in the I-70 project study area neighborhoods. 2. Applicable laws, regulations, and guidance Several laws, regulations, and guidance were used as a basis for the analysis of potential relocations for the EIS National Environmental Policy Act The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, (42 United States Code 4321 et seq., Public Law , 83 Stat. 852), mandates that transportation decisions involving federal funds and approvals consider social, economic, and environmental factors in the decision-making process. NEPA also requires that agencies making such decisions consult with other agencies and involve the public, disclose information, investigate the environmental effects of a reasonable range of alternatives, and prepare a detailed statement of the environmental effects of the alternatives Council on Environmental Quality Regulations Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations Part 1502, Environmental Impact Statement (40 Code of Federal Regulations ), requires that an EIS be prepared when a proposed federally funded action is projected to have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Under the Council on Environmental Quality regulations, an EIS must provide full and fair discussion of significant environmental effects and inform decision makers and the public about project alternatives Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Uniform Act) (Public Law ; 42 United States Code 4601), as amended, contains specific requirements that determine the manner in which a government entity acquires private property for public use when federal funds are used for any phase of a project. The purpose of this act is to provide a uniform policy for fair and equitable treatment of persons and businesses displaced as a result of federal and federally assisted programs. The acquisition and relocation program will be conducted in accordance with the Uniform Act 2 August 2014

9 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report and relocation resources will be made available to all residential and business displacees without discrimination CDOT Right of Way Manual CDOT s Right of Way Manual (2011) provides additional guidance on policies and procedures relating to acquisition of right of way (ROW) and the relocation program CDOT National Environmental Policy Act Manual CDOT s National Environmental Policy Act Manual (2010) provides additional guidance on preparing and processing documents that comply with NEPA and other applicable state and federal environmental laws affecting transportation projects in Colorado. 3. Existing conditions Existing conditions in the study area include the land uses surrounding the I-70 corridor and ROW width of the facility. A demographic profile was developed from 2010 U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey (ACS) data for general population, housing, and economic characteristics of neighborhoods in the study area. These data provide baseline information to determine the effect of potential impacts from the proposed alternatives on the neighborhoods in the study area Land use and right of way The primary land use of properties immediately adjacent to I-70 from Washington Street to Steele Street is residential. From Steele Street to Quebec Street, the existing land use of properties adjacent to I-70 is predominantly industrial. In the site of the former Stapleton International Airport from Quebec Street to Havana Street, vacant and newly developed land is prominent. From Havana Street to Tower Road, the primary land use is industrial. The narrower ROW between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard is due to the elevated portion of I-70. This section of the I-70 corridor, located in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood, has the highest number of potential residential and business relocations. Table 1 lists existing CDOT right-of-way widths in the project area. Table 1. Existing I-70 right of way Section Existing ROW Average Width (feet) Washington Street to Brighton Boulevard 195 Brighton Boulevard to York Street 90 York Street to Steele Street/Vasquez Boulevard 90 Vasquez Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard 90 Colorado Boulevard to Holly Street 300 Holly Street to Tower Road 250 August

10 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report 3.2. Demographic profile A demographic profile was prepared to identify characteristics of social and economic conditions in project study area neighborhoods (referred to as study area in this technical report). This information is used to assist with public outreach and identify potential mitigation strategies for potential impacts. The demographic profile study area is based on Denver neighborhood boundaries and U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Block Groups. Information was obtained from the most current data available from the U.S. Census Bureau s 2010 Census and ACS 5-Year Estimate ( ) by Census Block Group and summarized for each neighborhood in the study area. Table 2 lists the Census 2010 block groups that were aggregated to define each neighborhood in the study area. Data for each neighborhood are compared with the other neighborhoods in the study area, with the study area overall, and with the respective county of the neighborhood to identify if there is higher incidence of a particular population, such as low-income residents. Denver and Adams County are presented and compared to the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield Colorado Metropolitan Statistical Area (Denver MSA). The Denver MSA, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget and used in the 2010 United States Census of Population and Housing, consists of nine counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park. Table 2. Study area census block groups by neighborhoods Neighborhood Census Tract Block Group(s) Globeville 15 1, 2, 3 Elyria Swansea 35 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Northeast Park Hill Stapleton Montbello Aurora , 2, , 2, 3, , 2, , 2, , 2, 3, , 2, , , , 2, Gateway , 2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011a Population characteristics Population characteristics include the age distribution, racial and ethnic composition, and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) of the study area neighborhoods. 4 August 2014

11 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Age distribution Overall, the age distribution of the study area is consistent with the Denver MSA and Denver and Adams counties, as shown in Figure 2. Figure 2 also shows four neighborhoods that have concentrations of residents in particular age groups: Globeville, Elyria and Swansea, Montbello, and Gateway. There are no concentrations of elderly (age 65 or older) residents in any of the study area s neighborhoods. The Elyria and Swansea, Montbello, and Gateway neighborhoods have a higher percentage of residents under the age of 18 compared to Denver County. This concentration of individuals is expected in the Montbello and Gateway neighborhoods because of the suburban setting of the neighborhoods. The higher percentage of residents under the age of 18 in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood is most likely associated with the high concentration of Hispanic or Latino population. According to a report prepared by the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, the number of Latino children in the nation grew 39 percent from 2000 to That is, there were 17.1 million Hispanic or Latino children under the age of 18 in 2010, or 23.1 percent of this age group, compared to 12.3 million Hispanic or Latino children in 2000, or 17.1 percent of the age group. Approximately 14.6 percent of the Globeville Neighborhood is college aged (18 to 21). The concentration of residents in this age group is higher when compared to Denver County as a whole. This is largely due to the fact that the Regency Student Housing Community is located in the neighborhood in the northeast quadrant of the I-70/I-25 interchange at 3900 Elati Street. The community offers housing for students attending school at the Auraria campus located approximately two miles away in downtown Denver. August

12 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Figure Age distribution Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011a, Table P12, "Sex By Age" 6 August 2014

13 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Racial and ethnic composition The racial composition of demographic study area neighborhoods, Denver MSA, as well as Denver and Adams Counties is shown in Table 3. Approximately half of the study area population in 2010 was nonwhite. This is a decrease from 2000, when the study area was largely minority at 67.2 percent. This indicates that the racial composition of the study area is changing. In 2000, African Americans accounted for 36.8 percent of the study area population, with notably higher concentrations in the Northeast Park Hill, Stapleton, Montbello, Aurora, and Gateway neighborhoods than identified in Denver and Adams Counties. The study area percentage of African Americans decreased to 23 percent by 2010, with population concentrations in the same neighborhoods except Stapleton. In 2000, the white population of the study area was approximately 32.8 percent. In 2010, whites made up approximately 49.7 percent of the study area population. This population increase is primarily the result of infill development in the Stapleton Neighborhood. The neighborhoods of Globeville and Elyria and Swansea in 2000 identified notably higher concentrations in the Census category of Some Other Race when compared to Denver County. In past Census datagathering efforts, and in general, many Hispanics or Latinos have identified themselves in the Other category. The percentage of residents identifying as other decreased in the 2010 Census, but remained notably higher in these neighborhoods when compared to Denver County. The U.S. Census recognizes Hispanic or Latino as an ethnic category that can include persons of any race. As a result, the Hispanic or Latino population is discussed exclusive of race. The percentage of all other racial groups increased slightly or remained the same from 2000 and August

14 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table racial composition Geography Total Population White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race Two or More Races # % # % # % # % # % # % # % Denver MSA 1 2,543,482 1,982, , , , , , , Denver County 600, , , , , , , Adams County 441, , , , , , , Globeville 3,687 2, , Elyria and Swansea Northeast Park Hill 6,401 3, , ,821 2, , Stapleton 13,948 11, , Montbello 30,348 11, , , , Aurora 7,380 4, , , Gateway 6,962 3, , , Study area 76,547 38, , , , , , Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011a, Table P3, Race 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park. 8 August 2014

15 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Hispanic or Latino origin According to the 2010 Census, 48 percent of residents in the study area identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. As shown in Table 4, this percentage is notably higher compared to the Denver MSA (22.5 percent), Denver County (31.8 percent), and Adams County (38.0 percent). This is an increase from 41.9 percent of residents identifying themselves as Hispanic or Latino in The two oldest neighborhoods in the study area (Globeville and Elyria and Swansea) have the highest percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents. In recent years, both neighborhoods have catered to immigrant communities, as evidenced by numerous markets, restaurants, and other businesses. Table 4. Hispanic or Latino origin Not Hispanic or Hispanic or Latino Geography Total Latino # % # % Denver MSA 1 2,543, , ,972, Denver County 600, , , Adams County 441, , , Globeville 3,687 2, , Elyria and Swansea 6,401 5, , Northeast Park Hill 7,821 2, , Stapleton 13,948 1, , Montbello 30,348 17, , Aurora 7,380 3, , Gateway 6,962 3, , Study area 76,547 36, , Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011a, Table P4, Hispanic or Latino Origin 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park. Limited English proficiency Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency," requires all recipients of federal funds to provide meaningful access to persons who have LEP. The U.S. Department of Justice defines LEP individuals as those "who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English" (67 FR 41459). Many recipients of federal funds would like to ensure they comply with their obligations to provide written translations in languages other than English. Toward that end, the U.S. Department of Transportation s (USDOT) Policy Guidance Concerning Recipients Responsibilities to Limited English Proficient Persons (2005) outlines the circumstances that can provide a safe harbor for recipients regarding the requirements for translation of written documents. This guidance defines the Safe Harbor threshold as either 5 percent of the total study area adult population or 1,000 adult persons within a particular language group who speak English less than Very Well. Data were used from the ACS 5-Year Estimates ( ) to identify adults aged 18 or older who speak English less than Very Well by language group. Results of the LEP analysis are shown in Table 5. The study area meets the U.S. Department of Justice s Safe Harbor threshold requirement for presence of a Spanish LEP population. August

16 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report In accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions, written translations of vital documents will be provided for the Spanish LEP language group, in addition to other measures assuring meaningful access. These other measures include providing notice of citizens Right to Language Access for meetings associated with this project and use of interpreters to assist with public participation. Table 5. Limited English proficiency Geography Total Adult Population Primary Language Groups of Persons Who Speak English Less than Very Well Spanish Other-Indo European Asian / Pacific Other # % # % # % # % Denver MSA 1 1,844, , , , , Denver County 452,947 50, , , , Adams County 303,605 38, , , Globeville 2, Elyria and Swansea 4,260 1, Northeast Park Hill 5, Stapleton 8, Montbello 18,675 5, Aurora 4, Gateway 4,434 1, Study area 49,257 11, Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011b, Table B16004, "Age by Language Spoken at Home for the Population 5+ Years" 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park Housing characteristics The existing housing characteristics of the study area and neighborhoods include the number of units, occupancy status, and median home value. This information is used to determine if potential impacts represent a disproportionate effect to neighborhoods in the study area Housing units and occupancy The number of housing units in the study area increased 88.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, as shown in Table 6. This growth rate is considerably higher than the growth rate experienced by the Denver MSA, as well as Denver and Adams Counties. The Stapleton and Gateway neighborhoods account for the majority of housing unit growth in the study area. The growth in housing units in these neighborhoods is in line with the rate of population growth in these neighborhoods. 10 August 2014

17 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table 6. Housing trends, Geography Total Housing Units Difference Percentage Change Denver MSA 1 882,552 1,078, , Denver County 251, ,797 34, Adams County 132, ,136 30, Globeville 955 1, Elyria and Swansea 1,814 1, Northeast Park Hill 2,714 3, Stapleton 3 4,338 4, ,500.0 Montbello 8,194 8, Aurora 2,021 2, Gateway 771 9,900 9,129 1,184.0 Study area 16,472 30,977 14, Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2002, Table H001; 2011a, Table H1, "Total Housing Units" 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park. The percentage of occupied housing units in the study area and each neighborhood is similar to that of the Denver MSA, as well as Denver and Adams Counties (approximately 90 percent to 95 percent). The 2010 occupancy status of housing units in the study area is shown in Table 7. The Stapleton, Montbello, and Gateway neighborhoods have a considerably higher percentage of homes occupied by owners in comparison to the Denver MSA and counties. Table 7. Occupancy status of housing units Total Vacant Units Total Owner Renter Geography Housing Occupied Occupied Occupied Units # % Units # % # % Denver MSA 1 1,078,837 74, ,004, , , Denver County 285,797 22, , , , Adams County 163,136 9, , , , Globeville 1, , Elyria and Swansea 1, , NE Park Hill 3, ,722 1, , Stapleton 4, ,092 3, Montbello 8, ,942 5, , Aurora 2, ,059 1, Gateway 9, ,427 6, , Study Area 30,237 1, ,273 18, , Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011a, Table H3, Occupancy Status, and Table H4, Tenure 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park. August

18 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Median home values Median household value for each neighborhood was obtained from the ACS 5-Year Estimates ( ) for each block group within the study area neighborhoods. This results in a range of income for each neighborhood, as shown in Table 8. Median home values are lower in the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea, Northeast Park Hill, Montbello, and Aurora neighborhoods than the median value of the county in which they are located.. The neighborhoods with higher median home values in the study area are those that are experiencing high rates of new construction (Stapleton and Gateway). Table 8. Median home value Geography Median Value (dollars) Denver MSA 1 $246,200 Denver County $240,900 Adams County $196,100 Globeville $162,500 to $203,900 Elyria and Swansea $136,200 to $165,700 Northeast Park Hill $164,800 to $212,700 Stapleton $355,400 to $458,600 Montbello $120,700 to $210,300 Aurora $35,600 to $207,800 Gateway $127,300 to $303,700 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011b, Table B25077, "Median Value" The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park Economic characteristics Economic characteristics include median household income and the population below poverty level or lowincome. This information is used to determine if potential impacts represent a disproportionate effect to neighborhoods in the study area Median household income Median household income for each neighborhood was obtained from the ACS 5-Year Estimates ( ) for each block group within the study area neighborhoods. This results in a range of income for each neighborhood, as shown in Table 9. The Stapleton and Gateway neighborhoods have the highest median incomes in the study area. This is consistent with the high growth in new housing construction in these neighborhoods. The neighborhoods that experienced population decline or little growth from 2000 to 2010 (Globeville, Elyria and Swansea, and Northeast Park Hill) also have the lowest median household incomes in the study area. 12 August 2014

19 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table 9. Median household income Geography Median household income in the past 12 months (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) Denver MSA 1 $60,137 Denver County $45,501 Adams County $54,666 Globeville $22,333 to $33,563 Elyria and Swansea $18,563 to $39,837 Northeast Park Hill $20,172 to $49,375 Stapleton $85,213 to $132,688 Montbello $30,618 to $64,808 Aurora $49,245 to $54,875 Gateway $42,571 to $100,769 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011b, Table B19013, "Median Household Income" 1. The Denver MSA includes the following counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Park Population below poverty level To identify residents living below the poverty level, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 30 Percent Area Median Income (AMI30) methodology was used. Denver and Adams Counties are included in the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSA. The 2010 fiscal year HUD median income for the Denver- Aurora-Broomfield MSA was $75,900. The AMI30 for a four-person household was $22,750. HUD s methodology for calculating median family income is based on ACS 5-Year Estimate data. The ACS provides household income in $5,000 increments. Although the 2010 Denver-Aurora-Broomfield MSA AMI30 for a four-person household was $22,750, CDOT s Title VI and Environmental Justice Guidelines for NEPA Projects notes that, it may be necessary to count some households that may have a higher income than the threshold income because they fall in the same income range. That is acceptable. Project teams are encouraged to be more, rather than less, inclusive (2005, pp ). As a result, the income threshold for the study area was rounded up to $24,999 to be consistent with the ACS income increments, and includes all households (regardless of the number of individuals in the household) as being low-income. Table 10 identifies the percentage of households in each neighborhood of the study area that are considered to be low income. August

20 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Table 10. Low-income households Geography Total Households Households with income of $24,999 or less # % Denver County 254,181 71, Adams County 147,951 29, Globeville 1, Elyria and Swansea 1, Northeast Park Hill 2,531 1, Stapleton 3, Montbello 8,422 2, Aurora 2, Gateway 9,348 1, Study area 28,470 6, Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011b, Table B19001, "Household Income in the past 12 months in 2010 Dollars" 4. Description of alternatives The I-70 East Supplemental Draft EIS examines potential effects to social, environmental, and economic resources resulting from proposed improvements to I-70 between I-25 and Tower Road. Consistent with federal regulations, the Supplemental Draft EIS fully evaluates potential effects that might result from the No- Action Alternative and the Build Alternatives (Revised Viaduct Alternative and Partial Cover Lowered Alternative). The alternatives and options are presented in Table 11. For more detail on the alternatives and their options, see Attachment C, Alternative Analysis Technical Report. Table 11. Alternatives and Options Alternative Expansion Options Connectivity Options Operational Options No-Action North South N/A N/A Build Alternatives Revised Viaduct Partial Cover Lowered North South N/A N/A Basic Modified General-Purpose Lanes Managed Lanes General-Purpose Lanes Managed Lanes No-Action Alternative The No-Action Alternative replaces the existing viaduct between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard without adding any capacity; the remainder of the corridor will reflect current conditions and include existing, planned, and programmed roadway and transit improvements (such as FasTracks) in the study area. The No-Action Alternative is shown in Figure August 2014

21 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Figure 3. No-Action Alternative Build Alternatives Build Alternatives add capacity to I-70 by constructing additional lane(s) or restriping between I-25 and Tower Road. Revised Viaduct Alternative. The Revised Viaduct Alternative is shown in Figure 4. This alternative replaces the existing I-70 viaduct between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard. It adds two additional lanes in each direction from Brighton Boulevard to Tower Road. It also adds capacity from I-25 to Brighton Boulevard. Figure 4. Revised Viaduct Alternative Partial Cover Lowered Alternative. The Partial Cover Lowered Alternative is shown in Figure 5. This alternative removes the existing I-70 viaduct between Brighton Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, lowering the highway below grade in this area, while adding two additional lanes in each direction from Brighton August

22 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Boulevard to Tower Road. This alternative includes a cover over the highway between Clayton Street and Columbine Street. The alternative also adds capacity from I-25 to Brighton Boulevard. Figure 5. Partial Cover Lowered Alternative Alternative Options Expansion Options. Expansion Options, shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, refer to moving the north edge of the highway north or the south edge of the highway south of the existing facility from Brighton Boulevard to Colorado Boulevard to accommodate the larger footprint resulting from standard width lanes, expanded shoulders, and construction phasing. These options apply to the No-Action Alternative and the Revised Viaduct Alternative. The Partial Cover Lowered Alternative does not include the Expansion Options because expansion of the highway can occur only on the north side due to engineering restrictions and the location of the UPRR rail yard to the south. Connectivity Options. Connectivity Options are shown in Figure 5 and apply only to the Partial Cover Lowered Alternative. They include different frontage road and highway cover combinations. The Basic Option includes a highway cover between Clayton Street and Columbine Street, with 46th Avenue operating as a one-way road on each side of the highway (westbound on the north side and eastbound on the south side). The Modified Option removes the Steele Street/Vasquez Boulevard interchange to include an additional cover in the vicinity of Steele Street. 46th Avenue is designed as a two-way street on both the north and south sides of the highway; however, it is discontinued between Clayton Street and Columbine Street on the north side to allow for a seamless connection between Swansea Elementary School and the cover. Vehicular north/south connectivity across the highway at Josephine Street will be eliminated and replaced with a bike/pedestrian bridge. Additional connectivity and intersection improvements are discussed in Chapter 3, Summary of Project Alternatives. Operational Options. Operational Options include two scenarios on how the additional capacity will be managed and operated. The General-Purpose Lanes Option will allow all vehicles to use all the lanes on the highway, while the Managed Lanes Option implements operational strategies (such as pricing) for the additional lanes. The additional lanes are separated with a four-foot buffer from the rest of the lanes under the Managed Lanes Option, and they have direct connections to I-225, I-270, and Peña Boulevard. Operational Options apply to the Revised Viaduct Alternative and the Partial Cover Lowered Alternative, and they are shown in Figure 4 and Figure August 2014

23 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report 5. Effects analysis Property acquisition is an important element to all of the I-70 East project alternatives, as additional ROW is required for each alternative and option. In certain situations, it may be necessary to also acquire buildings that are located within a proposed acquisition parcel. In instances where the buildings are occupied, it is necessary to relocate or displace those individuals from the property (residential, business, or non-profit) to a replacement site. The relocation and displacement analysis provides an overview of the relocation effects relative to each of the proposed alternatives and assesses the availability of suitable properties for residential and business relocations near the project area Methodology Engineering plans were prepared to define the construction limits required for the Supplemental Draft EIS alternatives. The conceptual-level plans show the anticipated construction limits and the proposed permanent roadway footprint. For the purposes of the relocation analysis, the anticipated construction limits extend 5 to 10 feet from the edge of the proposed permanent roadway footprint, 15 feet from walls, and 20 feet from bridges. The proposed permanent roadway footprint and the anticipated construction limits were overlaid with parcel data to identify the properties that require either full or partial acquisition. A parcel is considered a full acquisition if the construction impact limits encroach on a structure, remove all reasonable access, or acquire more than 20 percent of a parcel. Parking areas located within a parcel are evaluated on a site-bysite basis. If more than 50 percent of parking is taken, a full acquisition is assumed. Potential acquisitions identified with this methodology are a conservative estimate based on conceptual design plans. The methodology is consistently applied to all proposed alternatives. Upon further refinement of design impacts and working with impacted property owners, certain assumed full acquisitions could become partial acquisitions and vice versa. All parcel data are obtained from the Denver and Adams County tax assessor s databases. Potentially affected parcels were field-verified by the project team to prevent misclassification due to dated or inaccurate records. Properties identified as full acquisitions are reviewed to determine the number and type of potential relocations Types of relocations All of the potential relocations were categorized as one of the following types: Residential Any property with single-family or multi-family housing structure(s) Business Any property with commercial or industrial structure(s) and/or storage yard. This includes government-owned property, such as might be owned by the City and County of Denver or CDOT Non-Profit Any property owned by a non-profit organization with a structure providing services to the community The conceptual design plans were used to determine the parcels with potential relocation effects to residential, business, and non-profit operations. The relocation spreadsheets used to summarize these effects by neighborhood per alternative and option are in Appendix A. Availability of resources needed to accomplish the necessary relocations also has been considered, as well as governmental and non-profit agencies that may be able to provide assistance to displacees affected by the project. Internet searches were used to research these resources. August

24 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report No farming operation relocations are caused by project alternatives; therefore, there is no further discussion for this type of relocation Highway alternative effects Potential residential, business, and non-profit relocation impacts caused by each of the alternative options are summarized by neighborhood in Table 12. Table 12. Relocations by alternative and neighborhood Alternative Option Neighborhood No-Action Alternative Revised Viaduct Alternative Partial Cover Lowered Alternative North South North South Basic Modified Business Relocations Non- Profit Residential Relocations Total Owners Tenants 1 Residential Elyria and Swansea Total Elyria and Swansea Total Elyria and Swansea Northeast Park Hill Stapleton Total Elyria and Swansea Northeast Park Hill Stapleton Total Elyria and Swansea Northeast Park Hill Stapleton Total Elyria and Swansea Northeast Park Hill Stapleton Total Occupancy status of owner-occupied housing determined by Denver and Adams County Assessor data Residential relocations No residential relocations are anticipated for any of the alternatives or options from the Globeville, Northeast Park Hill, Stapleton, Montbello, Aurora, and Gateway neighborhoods. As shown in Table 12, the total number of residential relocations estimated for each alternative ranges from 13 residences (No-Action Alternative, South Option) to 53 residences (Partial Cover Lowered Alternative, Basic Option). The percentage of tenants that will be relocated is approximately 57 percent or higher in every option. All of the residential relocations are located in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood. As identified in Section 3.2, Demographic Profile, the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood is 83.8 percent Hispanic or Latino, Spanish is the primary language for 40.8 percent of the residents, and approximately 44.4 percent of the households are low income. Households earning $24,999 or less are considered low income regardless of household size. The Partial Cover Lowered Alternative, Basic Option will relocate the highest number of households with annual incomes of $24,999 or less (25 households). The No-Action Alternative, North and South Options would relocate the lowest numbers of households with annual incomes $24,999 or less (6 households each). Table 18 August 2014

25 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report 13 shows the estimated number of households by income level to be relocated by each alternative and option. Table 13. Income levels of relocated households by alternative in Elyria and Swansea Alternative No-Action Alternative Revised Viaduct Alternative Option Total Relocations $0 to $24,999* $25,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $74,999 $75,000 to $99,999 $100,000+ North South North South Partial Cover Basic Lowered Alternative Modified Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2011b, Table B19001, Household Income in the past 12 months in 2010 Dollars *Households earning $24,999 or less represent low-income households regardless of household size. The value of owner-occupied households to be relocated by each alternative and option is shown in Table 14. All of the households are located in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood, with the majority of households impacted by each of the alternatives valued between $50,000 and $99,999 dollars. No homes are valued at $150,000 or more. Table tax value of owner-occupied households Alternative No-Action Alternative Revised Viaduct Alternative Partial Cover Lowered Alternative Source: Denver Assessor s Office 2012 Tax Value of Property (Land and Improvements) Option Total Owner Occupied $0 to $49,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $149,999 $150,000 to $199,999 $200,000 + North South North South Basic Modified Based on the existing condition data presented in Section 3 of this report, all of the project alternatives and options will result in a disproportionate impact to the residents of the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood. While the loss of residential units in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood results in a disproportionate impact to the neighborhood, the loss of these units will not affect neighborhood service providers, such as convenience stores, banks, restaurants, gas stations, and shopping centers. The customer base for these service providers includes adjacent neighborhoods not in the study area; therefore, it is determined that the services necessary to support existing project area neighborhoods will not be overly inhibited by residential relocations that result from the project alternatives and options. Available housing Based on 2012 property information, the tax value of impacted residential property located in the Elyria and Swansea Neighborhood ranges from a low of $36,300 to a high of $210,400. The median tax value is approximately $85,000. A search of available properties within the Elyria and Swansea and surrounding August

26 I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report neighborhoods ranging in value from $85,000 to $250,000 was completed using the REcolorado.com website. This search resulted in 152 available properties. No available residential rental homes (including duplexes) that were located in Elyria and Swansea or surrounding neighborhoods were found in classified ads on the Denver Post, Zillow, Craig s List, or Colorado Housing search websites. According to Zillow s website, there are 973 houses for rent in all other Denver neighborhoods combined. It is anticipated that additional listings for rental properties from other websites combined with those listed on Zillow indicate that there is an adequate supply of replacement housing in the Denver area. Apartments, condominiums, and townhomes provide additional sources of available rental properties. Current market conditions indicate that an adequate supply of Decent, Safe, and Sanitary (DS&S) replacement housing is available to support the residential displacements that result from any of the project alternatives or options. Last resort housing consideration Last resort housing (LRH) consideration ensures that comparable DS&S replacement housing will be made available to a displaced person when such housing cannot otherwise be provided within the person s financial means. In both tenant and owner/occupant displacements, LRH may be required when any of the following occur: The number of bedrooms in the subject dwelling is not considered adequate to support the number of occupants of the dwelling under DS&S guidelines. There is a lack of available DS&S replacement housing or replacement housing that is within the financial means of the displacee at the time of title transfer. Consideration for special needs, such as handicap accessibility in a residence, is required. LRH can be provided in several ways: Super supplement payments in excess of statutory requirements for the purchase or rental of replacement housing; Rehabilitation of or modifications to existing dwellings that do not meet DS&S standards; Construction of new dwellings; Physical relocation of the current dwelling; and Mortgage assistance programs LRH is not limited in its application. Any alternative source of providing DS&S replacement housing should be specific to the needs of the displacee. Preliminary research of census data along the corridor indicates that low-income and Limited English Proficient populations reside in the project area. These are two primary categories that indicate the potential need for LRH. Primary sources of information derived from preparation of the Acquisition Stage Relocation Plan will help identify the specific needs for LRH that may arise. Special cases and considerations/unique relocations Projects of the magnitude of the potential I-70 East improvements, especially when affecting a lower-income neighborhood, typically will displace persons with special needs. The following are examples of groups or individuals with special needs: Elderly Physically handicapped Low-income households Large families 20 August 2014

27 Seriously/terminally ill Poorly managed debt Alcohol/drug addicts Welfare recipients Reclusive/hoarders Unemployed I-70 East Environmental Impact Statement Conceptual Stage Relocation Technical Report Mentally handicapped Transportation inaccessible Language barriers Business proprietors It is anticipated that many displacements requiring special assistance will be encountered for any of the alternatives. During this preliminary study, however, no specific displacees have been identified as having special needs. When an alternative has been selected and the project is initiated, household surveys that will identify individuals requiring additional assistance will be completed. The special needs of any displacee will be addressed as required per the Uniform Act and Chapter Five of the CDOT Right of Way Manual (2011). Availability of government and social service agencies Relocation assistance is required on all federal and federally funded projects with residential displacements, including the following services: Assessing the needs of displaced entities, such as reading or writing assistance, interpreters based on primary languages, credit counseling, transportation, health or welfare services, and offer of assistance in all relocation matters. Offering advisory assistance in accordance with the needs of each displacee to minimize the hardship of relocating. Providing information concerning federal and state housing programs, federal loan programs, and all other governmental programs offering relocation assistance to displaced individuals. Many services are available to residential displacees through governmental agencies and non-profit programs. Some of these providers include, but are not limited to, those shown in Table 15. Table 15. Residential relocation assistance services Denver Department of Human Services (720) Main Office: 1200 Federal Boulevard Denver, Colorado East Office: 3815 Steele Street Denver, Colorado Montbello Office:4685 Peoria Street Denver, Colorado Colorado Housing Assistance Corporation 670 Santa Fe Drive Denver, Colorado (303) Colorado Housing and Finance Authority 1981 Blake Street Denver, Colorado (303) 297-CHFA (2432) (800) 877-CHFA (2432) (303) TDD Community Resource Office Adams County Human Services Department 7190 Colorado Boulevard Commerce City, Colorado (303) Home and Community-Based Services Adams County Human Services Department 7190 Colorado Boulevard, 4th Floor Commerce City, Colorado (303) Tri-County Health Department (serving Adams County) Commerce City Office: 4201 E. 72nd Avenue Commerce City, CO (303) Aurora Office: E. 14th Avenue, #309 Aurora, CO (303) August