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When the 1994 Master EIR was prepared, it was not known that there was the Great <br /> Valley Fault Zone one mile west of the project site beneath the east foothills of the <br /> Diablo Range. The rupture surface of the nearest segment of the Great Valley Fault <br /> Zone, a system of northwest-trending concealed ("blind") thrust faults, lies at depth and <br /> does not usually extend to the ground surface. This fault system has only recently been <br /> recognized as a potential source of earthquakes. Nevertheless, the mitigation measures <br /> identified to reduce ground shaking and to minimize seismic risks, as identified in the <br /> 1994 Master EIR, would still apply to the project. Seismic risks are not significantly <br /> greater based on this new information. <br /> The updated traffic study prepared as a part of the Initial Study incorporated newly <br /> generated information on cumulative growth related to residential buildout and <br /> employment for the 2010 analysis year of the MEIR. The new cumulative growth <br /> information was prepared in May, 2000 by the Community Development Department to <br /> address recent, updated San Joaquin Council of Government (SJCOG)housing and <br /> employment projections. The new information showed lower increases in projected <br /> regional residential development and employment for 2010. <br /> The new information does not result in significant effects not discussed within the MEIR, <br /> or impacts that are substantially more severe. Direct project traffic impacts are <br /> essentially unchanged and regional cumulative traffic impacts are essentially similar or of <br /> lower impact than the 1994 Master EIR. The independent traffic study prepared by <br /> Dowling & Associates for the Initial Study found substantial decreases in freeway and <br /> highway traffic on 7 of the 9 segments evaluated and small increases on two segments. <br /> All freeway/highway segment levels of service remained the same or improved in <br /> comparison to the MEIR traffic analysis. Of the 24 arterial road segments evaluated, 11 <br /> had similar levels of service, 11 had improved levels of service, and two, Grant Line <br /> Extension and Tracy Boulevard north of Lammers Road, had decreased levels of service. <br /> The few road segments with lower levels of service can be mitigated with measures <br /> similar to that proposed in the MEIR. The proposed Grant Line Road Extension which is <br /> currently projected to have LOS "D" in comparison to prior MEIR projections of LOS <br /> "C" can be mitigated by amending the LOS standard from "C"to "D"as was done for <br /> Grant Line Road within Mountain House, or by widening the road from four to six lanes. <br /> A portion of the proposed roadway within one-quarter mile of 1-205 already is designated <br /> for a LOS "D" standard under the Tracy General Plan. Tracy Boulevard north of <br /> Lammers Road is projected to decrease in Level of Service from LOS "C"to LOS "D" in <br /> A.M. and LOS "E" in P.M. This impact can be mitigated by adding the roadway to the <br /> San Joaquin County Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee (TTMF) program at the appropriate <br /> time for widening from two to four lanes. The added mitigation measures are to be <br /> incorporated into the environmental documentation for the Neighborhood F Project <br /> which will be tiered onto the MEIR. As such, there are no new significant effects or <br /> more severe significant effects related to regional, cumulative traffic growth sufficient to <br /> affect the adequacy of the 1994 Master EIR and require a supplemental or subsequent <br /> EIR. <br /> 30 <br />