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4 Environmental Analysis 4.15 Transportation The Project would diversify land use by changing the current use from undeveloped cropland grazing land to renewable energy storage. While the Project would increase the VMT from undeveloped to developed conditions, nearly all of the VMT are added during a relatively short construction time window. The expected facility maintenance would generate infrequent and light traffic during operations, and it is anticipated that eventually maintenance visits would be reduced to once per month or less and would not impact peak hour traffic. Development of the Project would, therefore, support California's statutory energy goals—reduction of GHGs through development of a storage facility for renewable energy, development of multimodal transportation networks, and a diversity of land uses. Development of Multimodal Transportation Networks This CEQA guidance criterion is not relevant to the Project. The additional vehicle miles that would be traveled by workers and delivery trucks during construction of the Project is considered a less than significant impact. The Project would have less than significant impacts on VMT during the operational lifecycle due to the very low maintenance and on-site staff need on a weekly basis. Mitigation: None required. IMPACT 4.15-3: Would the project substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature (e.g., sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses (e.g., farm equipment)? (Less than Significant Impact) The Project would not permanently alter any roadways that would result in a design feature that could substantially increase hazards. The Project would construct a new access road from the terminus of Midway Road that would conform to County sight distance standards and would not introduce new hazards. All Project infrastructure would be set back from public intersections to avoid any sight distance hazards. During construction, slow-moving oversized trucks could potentially disrupt the movement of slow- moving farm equipment on Midway Road in the Project area. However, standard traffic control, such as signage and use of orange cones and flaggers, would be implemented on the roadway, if necessary. The Project land use is considered a compatible use as discussed in Section 4.11, Land Use and Planning, of this Draft EIR. For these reasons, the Project would result in less than significant impacts related to increased hazards due to design features or incompatible uses. Some of the heavy construction equipment and facility materials may be transported to the site by oversize vehicles. The use of oversize vehicles during construction can create a hazard to the public by limiting motorist views on roadways and by the obstruction of space. Oversize vehicle loads must comply with permit-related and other requirements of the California Vehicle Code and California Streets and Highway Code. California Highway Patrol and San Joaquin County may require oversize load permits, which would specify if California Highway Patrol escorts are required during oversize vehicle trips. Due to the rural nature of the area roads and relatively low traffic volumes, construction vehicles are not anticipated to cause hazards to Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.15-17 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023