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C'tV +., 4.4 TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION INTRODUCTION l 1 A study of the transportation system in the vicinity of the project site was conducted to y determine the potential impacts of the project on traffic and circulation. The cumulative 1 effects of the proposed project in combination with other proposed projects were also considered in the analysis. Technical data and other background information is presented as an Appendix to this EIR is Section 7.3. SETTING The study area roadway system is a mix of four-lane interstate freeways, rural two- and four-lane state highways, and rural two-lane local collector roads serving predominately rural agricultural land uses. The study area roadway system is shown in Figure 4.4-1. Descriptions of the regional and local roadway facilities in the study area are provided in the following sections. Regional Environment The region is served by interstate highways that serve long-distance travel needs. The regional highways that most directly serve the project site are described below. i Interstate 5 (1-5) is a north/south freeway providing an important transportation link between the Pacific Coast states of Washington, Oregon, and California. Within the study area, 1-5 is a four-lane freeway with an Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) of 12,500 vehicles north of the State Route (SR) 132 interchange and 12,600 vehicles to the south. The peak month Average Daily Traffic (ADT) exceeds 15,000 vehicles both north and south of the SR 132 interchange (Caltrans, 1995). To the south of the study area, 1-5 intersects 1-580 via a freeway to freeway interchange. Interstate 580 (1-580) is a northwest to southeast freeway which extends from the San Francisco area to its junction with 1-5. Within the study area, 1-580 has four lanes and carries an AADT of 13,600 vehicles north of 1-5 and 25,500 AADT north of the SR 132 interchange. Peak month ADTs are 16,600 and 29,000 vehicles respectively (Caltrans 1995). The 1-5/1-580 interchange provides access between 1-580 and 1-5 to the south. Access between 1-580 and north 1-5 is currently provided via SR 132. State Route 132 (SR 132) is an east/west state highway which begins at its intersection with 1-580 and ends at Coulterville in Mariposa County at SR 49. SR 132 is a major connector between 1-580, 1-5 and the City of Modesto. SR 132 is generally a two-lane highway except for short sections near its freeway interchanges with 1-5 and 1-580. SR 132 is designated as a future freeway under the terms of a freeway agreement; all access Draft Environmental Impact Report 4-36 ER-96-3