Sun Valley Transportation Center Electrification Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024091122
Public Agency
Los Angeles Unified School District
Document Title
Sun Valley Transportation Center Electrification Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/27/2024
Document Description
Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified or District) has committed to the complete electrification of the Sun Valley Transportation Center (SVTC) by 2026. This Project is being developed in accordance with a resolution adopted by the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education (Board) in 2019 that commits the District to achieving 100% clean, renewable energy in its electricity sector by 2030 and in all energy sectors – including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, cooking and transportation – by 2040.
As part of this commitment, Los Angeles Unified will purchase 180 electric buses, chargers and appropriate electric infrastructure to fully electrify the SVTC. The buses currently based at the SVTC are equipped with internal combustion engines powered with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and propane fuels. This will be the first bus yard in the District to transition completely from CNG to electric-powered buses. On December 12, 2023, the Board approved a budget of $88,700,000 for the purchase of the electric buses and generators and another budget of $80,120,640 for electrification of the SVTC.
Delivery of 180 new electric buses and 25 mobile electrical generators is expected to start in October 2024 and be complete by January 2025. The new electrical buses will be temporarily stored at the former Collins Elementary School (Collins) and Rinaldi Adult Education Center (Rinaldi) sites. The buses will be commissioned (installation of safety & communication equipment, District branding, California Highway Patrol inspections, and other protocols) before they are put into service. Collins may also be used to accommodate additional temporary bus staging needs.
During the electrification of the SVTC, which is expected to take approximately one year, the maintenance service garage and the fuel station will remain in operation. The Van Nuys Bus Yard and Tuxford Bus Yard sites will serve as interim operational sites for both fossil fuel buses and the new electrical buses and mobile electrical generators.
The following is a summary of specific proposed development and logistical coordination scope for each site that will support the Project and are depicted in Figures 1 through 4:
Sun Valley Transportation Center
• Construction activities at Sun Valley are forecast to start 4Q-2025 through 4Q-2026.
• Provide 182 new Electric Vehicle (EV) charger dispensers, eight (8) Level 2 chargers for white fleet (passenger) vehicles and reconnect 6 exiting chargers with new service.
• Provide and install new electric service using two (2) new 4,000A transformers provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
• Provide and construct a new 500kW solar array and canopy support structure and 500kw battery.
• Demolish existing and construct a new approximately 1,458 square foot bus wash building.
• Construct a new approximately 2,100 linear feet, 10-foot high, ornamental security fence around the property's perimeter.
• Update the existing men’s (1) and women’s (1) restrooms to be ADA compliant.
• Provide a new accessible ramp and accessible parking at the office building.
• Remove and abate pavement containing asbestos and replace with new paving.
• Provide new paving where existing paving has deteriorated.
• Provide asphalt paving overlay where existing paving is not deteriorated.
• Trench for underground conduit servicing the EV chargers, battery inverter system, and the new electrical services.
• Cap and abandon existing underground CNG piping in place (where the abandoned gas piping does not interfere with new trenching).
Tuxford Bus Yard
• Utilize Tuxford site for 40 electric buses, approximately 175 fossil fueled buses, and 27 white fleet starting in 4Q-2024 and going through 4Q-2026.
• Provide temporary bus operation offices in existing buildings with minimal tenant improvements.
• Provide parking for approximately 28 light weight vehicles for bus operations administration and white fleet.
• Provide daily access to mobile fueling trucks to fuel propane-fueled electrical charging stations and fossil fueled buses during the hours of 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Most fossil fuel buses are expected to fuel at Van Nuys Bus Yard or off-site third-party fueling facilities.
• Fuel five (5) electrical generators during morning hours and fossil fuel buses during afternoon/evening hours.
• Commence bus operations and activities at 5:00 am going through 9:00 pm, with most activities occurring between 5:00 am and 6:00 pm.
• Operate electrical charging generators between 6:00 pm and 4:00 am, Monday through Friday.
Van Nuys Bus Yard
• Utilize the Van Nuys Bus Yard for electrical buses starting in 4Q-2024 through 4Q-2026.
• Provide parking for 136 electrical buses, 17 propane-fueled mobile electrical charging stations and 114 fossil fueled buses will remain with the existing site.
• Commence bus operations and activities at 5:00 am going through 9:00 pm with most activities occurring between 5:00 am and 6:00 pm.
• Charge electrical buses on site and operate mobile generators from 6:00 pm to 4:00 am, Monday through Friday.
• Temporarily relocate approximately 150 fossil fueled buses from the Van Nuys Bus Yard to the Tuxford site.
Rinaldi Adult Center
• Provide storage parking space for approximately 12 electrical buses starting in 4Q-2024 through 1Q-2025.
Collins ES
• Provide parking for approximately 100 non-operating buses starting in 4Q-2024 and going through 1Q-2025.
• Install temporary security lighting and temporary security field office building with restroom facilities
The Project will be implemented per all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, as well as all District Standards and Specifications; such as those provided in the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023. LAUSD’s SCs, design guidelines, and best management practices are designed to be incorporated into the Project design in order to avoid or limit potential adverse impacts associated with the District’s projects.
Contact Information
Name
Edward Paek
Agency Name
Los Angeles Unified School District
Job Title
Senior CEQA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
• Sun Valley Transportation Center - 11247 Sherman Way, Sun Valley CA 91352
• Van Nuys Bus Yard - 16200 Roscoe Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406
• Tuxford Bus Yard - 11660 Tuxford Street, Sun Valley, CA 91352
• Former Collins Elementary School - 5717 Rudnick Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
• Rinaldi Adult Education Center - 17450 Rinaldi St, Granada Hills, CA 91344
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15303, 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 Existing Facilities
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination.
The Project will utilize various sites controlled by the District that are currently used for parking and transportation related services. Only the SVTC will include a construction component, as described above. The improvements at the SVTC and the other sites being utilized as part of the Project would constitute operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing facilities involving no expansion of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project constitutes minor alterations to an existing school site that result in no expansion of use and meets the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures
Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made to the structure.
The Project will utilize various sites controlled by the District that are currently used for parking and transportation related services. Only the SVTC will include a construction component, as described above. The improvements at the SVTC would constitute construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made to the structure. Therefore, the Project satisfies the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15303.
Section 15304 – Minor Alterations to Land
Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes.
The Project will utilize various sites controlled by the District that are currently used for parking and transportation related services. Only the SVTC will include a construction component, as described above. Construction activities that may involve minor alterations to land include minor trenching and backfilling for installation of the new EV chargers, battery inverter system, and the new electrical services, as well as the augured piles required for the solar array and canopy support structures (Section 15304(f)). All impacted surfaces would be restored. The Project will not remove healthy, mature, or scenic trees.
Further, the Project will involve temporary use of the Rinaldi, Collins, and Hughes sites for storage of buses and commissioning activities, that have negligible or no permanent effects on the environment (Section 15304(e)). Therefore, the Project fulfills the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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