Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTY PASSENGER RAIL STATIONSALTERNATIVES ANALYSISAt the time that the Monterey County Housing Element was prepared (2003), the 2000 U.S. Censusdata regarding household income according to the income categories of lower, moderate and abovemoderate was not yet available. Based on 1990 U.S. Census Data for the County of Monterey(unincorporated and incorporated areas), approximately 22 percent of all households could beconsidered very low income and another 19 percent of households as low income.The State of California, Department of Finance, has estimated that there were 34,762 households asof January 1, 2002 in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County. The chart below demonstratesthe estimated number of households by income category using the 1990 household incomepercentage distributions as applied to the 2002 Department of Finance household estimates.HouseholdIncome:VeryLowLowModerateAboveModerateUnincorporatedArea TotalNumber of Households 7,648 6,605 8,690 11,819 34,762(Percentage of Total) 22% 19% 25% 34% 100%645188AA-097Information provided in the Housing Element (Monterey County, 2003) indicates that the two majorindustries in Monterey County are tourism and agriculture. The average annual wage in the“agricultural industry cluster” in Monterey County is approximately $18,608, which is considered verylow income for households of two persons or more. Tourism related jobs also pay very low wages.Households with members who rely on employment in either or both of these fields could beexpected to qualify as either very low or low income, depending on household size.SalinasThe 1990 U.S. Census indicates that 49.85 percent of Salinas’ population is of low and moderateincome. The city of Salinas’ economy is predominantly agriculturally oriented, with relatively lowskilled,low-paying jobs (City of Salinas, 2002).Figure 5-12 illustrates the distribution of population by block group above and below income povertylevels according to the 2000 census. The graphic illustrates concentrations of lower income familieswhich would be served by the proposed transit investment.Table 5-1 summarizes the environmental impacts and mitigation measures proposed for the project.The complete Draft Environmental Assessment dated April 2007 is incorporated with thisAlternatives Analysis by reference. With implementation of the proposed mitigations, the CaltrainExtension to Monterey County would pose no significant environmental impact. (Beneficial impacts ofthe Caltrain Extension Alternative and Express Bus Alternative are addressed in Chapter 8.)Insofar as the Express Bus Alternative, the express bus transit vehicles would operate over existinglocal streets and state highways (U.S. 101, SR 1, SR 129, SR 156, and SR 183). Other than accessto the park-and-ride sites themselves, bus operation over state highways would be eligible for aProgrammatic Categorical Exclusion under NEPA.parsons CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 134