UCSC recirculates portion of Draft LRDP EIR's traffic section for public comment

UC Santa Cruz is recirculating additional traffic analysis for public comment as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Report related to the campus's proposed Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP). The recirculated analysis evaluates traffic conditions on sections of Highways 1 and 17, assuming full implementation of the LRDP. The additional traffic analysis is the only part of the Draft EIR that is being recirculated.

Highways 1 and 17 impacts reassessed in response to earlier comments

"Based on comments we received during the public review period for the Draft EIR, we expanded the traffic/transportation analysis to include sections of Highways 1 and 17 and are recirculating that analysis for public comment," said campus architect Frank Zwart, associate vice chancellor for UCSC's Office of Physical Planning and Construction. "The earlier analysis considered vehicle 'trip' distribution on campus and City of Santa Cruz intersections associated with LRDP implementation," Zwart said, noting that the additional analysis examines freeway segments and interchanges on Highway 17, south of Granite Creek Road, and on Highway 1, between the 'Fishhook' and State Park Drive.

The additional traffic analysis is available for public review at three local libraries (the downtown branch of the Santa Cruz Library and UCSC's McHenry and Science & Engineering Libraries). A printout may be purchased from Santa Cruz Fed-Ex Kinko's on Laurel Street in downtown Santa Cruz or on campus at XpressIt!, located next to the Bay Tree Bookstore. In addition, the document will be posted on the UCSC web site at lrdp.ucsc.edu as a convenient option for those with access to a personal computer.

The 45-day comment period, which will begin on Monday, March 20, ends at 5 p.m. on May 3, 2006. Reviewers are requested to limit their comments to the materials contained in the recirculated document. Comments must be submitted in writing and received by UCSC before that deadline. Written comments may be mailed, emailed, or hand-delivered to UCSC. For details on precisely how to submit a comment, please go to lrdp.ucsc.edu or phone (831) 459-2170. Comments on the recirculated additional traffic analysis and on the Draft EIR circulated for public review from October 18, 2005, through January 11, 2006, will be addressed in the LRDP's Final EIR, which will be submitted to the UC Board of Regents for consideration this summer or fall.