Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station Digital Information Board
Summary
SCH Number
2022120183
Public Agency
San Diego Metropolitan Transit
Document Title
Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station Digital Information Board
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/8/2022
Document Description
On December 8, 2022, the Board of Directors for San Diego Metropolitan Transit System authorized the Chief Executive Officer to execute MTS Doc. G2702.0-23 with Big Outdoor Investments, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Big Outdoor”) for a License Agreement to construct and operate a digital information board at the Gaslamp Trolley Station (“Project’”) for a base period of 20 years and two five-year options; waived the prohibition on alcohol advertising in MTS Board Policy 21.3(j) as it relates to this Project only up to a maximum of 50% of advertising content; determined that the Project is statutorily and categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, as further explained below; and certified that the Project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce consistent with the criteria in Public Resources Code section 21080.25.The Gaslamp Trolley Station sits between the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp Quarter District. The station supports the Trolleys’ Green Line and is a popular station for those taking transit downtown for entertainment activities.
The Project would be carried out by MTS in conjunction with Big Outdoor pursuant to MTS Board Policy No. 18 (adopted July 25, 2019) authorizing joint development programs with third parties that enhance the financial stability of MTS operations and promote increased transit utilization, among other things. The Project will include a two-sided digital information board measuring approximately 20 feet by 30 feet,
elevated approximately 20-30 feet above ground (for a total estimate height of not less than 40-50 feet). The estimated square footage of each digital display area is 600 square feet. The area occupied by the digital information board will not exceed a total area of 5,000 square feet of the property owned by MTS. The Project also includes an additional 55-inch LCD screen display at street level solely for MTS use as a
supplemental project design feature to further enhance transit related messaging and leverage the larger digital information board. The digital information board may display static image messaging between the hours of 6:00am and 12:00am each day; full motion images are limited to the hours of 6:00am to 11:00pm each day. The digital information board will use LED lights that include auto-dimming technology to
maintain LED lighting levels with the applicable ambient light throughout the day and downward facing design. A digital information board at the Gaslamp Trolley Station has significant benefit for transit and for the surrounding community. It will allow
MTS to promote MTS’s transit services; provide wayfinding information for the surrounding entertainment area; share information about upcoming events in the local community; post Public Service Announcements, Amber Alerts and other public safety messages; package the digital information board into other agreement to
activate the Gaslamp Square (i.e. Comic-Con); provide a unique advertising location to attract conventions and other events that help the local economy; and generate additional revenue to support public transit operations in MTS’s service area.
Contact Information
Name
Mark Olson
Agency Name
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Job Title
Director of Marketing and Communications
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
5th Avenue between L Street and Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Zip
92101
Jobs
3
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3, 14 Cal. Code Regs., § 15303 (new construction or conversion of small structures) Class 11, 14 Cal. Code Regs.,
Reasons for Exemption
The Project is statutorily exempt under Public Resources Code section 21080.25, subdivision (b), which includes projects that would improve customer information and wayfinding for transit riders (subdivision (b)(2)) and the maintenance, repair, relocation replacement, or removal of any utility infrastructure associated with these types of projects (subdivision (b)(7), (8)). The Project is a state-of-the-art digital display at MTS’s Gaslamp Trolley Station, located within the existing MTS right
-of-way between the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp Quarter, that will provide wayfinding information, promote transit services and generate additional revenue to support public transit operations within MTS’s service area. Therefore, it is within the scope of projects subject to Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b)(2) and (7). In compliance with the statutory exemption criteria in Public Resources Code section 21080.25, subdivision (c), the Project would be carried out by MTS as the lead agency under CEQA by execution of a License Agreement for the construction and operation of the Project at MTS’s Gaslamp Trolley Station subject to all terms and conditions therein, including payment of a license fee and dedication of a minimum of
10 percent share of advertising display time which may be used for wayfinding and
informational messaging such as transit schedules and special MTS promotions or
emergency messaging, as needed, and which may not be sold to third parties. Therefore, MTS is carrying out the Project by executing a License Agreement for construction and operation. Although “wayfinding” is not specifically defined in State law, the San Diego Municipal Code uses the term to mean signage displayed near the public right-of-way “that directs pedestrians and cyclists to nearby attractions and transit connections.” (See SDMC § 143.1020(b)(7)(I).) Here, the Project will improve customer information and wayfinding for transit riders at MTS’s Gaslamp Station by dedicating a minimum of 10 percent of display time (plus additional unsold display time) solely for wayfinding and informational messaging such as train schedules and special transit ridership promotions and will therefore meet the legislative purpose of improving mobility and connectivity by enhancing access to transit. This percentage is consistent with other digital wayfinding projects that use private advertising dollars to finance the wayfinding installation, maintenance and liability related to such devices instead of scarce public transit fare dollars, regardless of whether the wayfinding/advertising device is a smaller kiosk or a larger digital format like the one
proposed at the Gaslamp station. The private advertising dollar method of enhancing transit wayfinding is just a different means of financing the same wayfinding function as a device paid for entirely by public transit dollars. Additionally, the project’s revenue sharing will also provide reliable revenue to MTS to continue improving its transit system in accordance with its governing laws. The Project would also be located within MTS’s existing public right-of-way in the City of San Diego. Public Resources Code section 21071(a)(1) defines an “Urbanized area” as an incorporated city that has a population of at least 100,000 persons. The City of San Diego is an
incorporated city that has a population of 1.382 according to the United States Census Bureau. Therefore, the Project is in an urbanized area within an existing public right-of-way. The Project would not add physical infrastructure that increases new automobile capacity on existing rights-of-way except for minor modifications needed for the efficient and safe movement of transit vehicles. The Project
consists of construction and operation of an outdoor advertising structure and supporting structures, fixture connections, electrical supply and related equipment and accessories and will not increase new automobile capacity on existing rights-of-way.
The Project is proposed to be located at MTS’s Gaslamp Trolley Station, located between the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp Quarter and does not require demolition of any affordable housing units. In compliance with the statutory exemption criteria in Public Resources Code section 21080.25, subdivision (d), the Project would be constructed by a skilled and trained workforce or,
alternatively, under a project labor agreement. The construction contract for the Project will include an enforceable commitment to MTS that the contractor and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to
perform all work on the project or a contract that falls within an apprenticeship occupation in the building and construction trades in accordance
with Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 2600) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public
Contract Code. The Board’s December 8, 2022, action included certification that the Project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce consistent with the criteria in Public Resources Code section 21080.25.The Project is also statutorily exempt under Public Resources Code section 21080, subdivisions (b)(10), (11) and State CEQA Guidelines section 15275, subdivision (a) as a project for the institution or increase of passenger or commuter service on rail lines or high-occupancy vehicle lanes already in use, including the modernization of existing stations and parking facilities. Due to its improvement of the Gaslamp Station location and addition of
passenger wayfinding improvements to the existing MTS transit use, the Project falls within this statutory exemption. Additionally, the Project is categorically exempt
under State CEQA Guidelines section 15303 (Class 3) because it consists of the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures. The Project consists of construction and operation of an outdoor advertising structure and supporting structures, fixture connections, electrical supply and related equipment and accessories, to be located within an urbanized area on premises not to exceed a
total of 5,000 square feet. Within urbanized areas, the Class 3 categorical exemption applies by its terms to commercial structures of up to 10,000 square feet in floor area and accessory or appurtenant structures. Based on its size and location, the Project therefore falls within the Class 3 categorical exemption. State CEQA Guidelines section 15311 (Class 11) also specifically exempts construction, or replacement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial,
or institutional facilities, including but not limited to on-premise signs. The Project would also fall within this exemption as construction of an on-premise sign accessory to MTS’s transit use.Finally, State CEQA Guidelines section 15332
(Class 32) applies to projects characterized as in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and policies and zoning designation and regulations; occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; is on a site with no value as habitat for
endangered, rare or threatened species; would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality; and is on a site that can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. Here, the Project
meets the criteria for infill development. None of exceptions to the categorical exemptions in State CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 applies. The Project is not located in a particularly sensitive environment as the Project is located entirely within developed areas of downtown San Diego and all impact areas are within disturbed areas of the site. The cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in
the same place, over time is not significant, as no similar wayfinding and advertising structures of this scale are proposed within the MTS right-of-way in downtown San Diego. The Project will not result in any damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway as it is not located within a designated state scenic highway. The Project site is not included on any list complied pursuant to
Section 65962.5 of the Government Code. The Project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Although the Gaslamp Quarter is a designated historic district, the Project will not impact any designated contributing resources and will enhance the transit user and pedestrian experience within the historic district by providing wayfinding and transit information
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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