HELIX Environmental Planning (HELIX) supported Caltrans District 11 on the I-5 North Coast Corridor (I-5 NCC) Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS). This highly controversial project involves the widening of I-5 within an approximately 27-mile long corridor between La Jolla and Oceanside. Planned improvements include up to two High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) managed lanes in each direction, auxiliary lanes, and direct access ramps (DARs) where needed, improved crossings of lagoons, and a number of regional and community enhancements including segments of the I-5 North Coast Bike Trail and pedestrian paths.

HELIX prepared a Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS with input from Caltrans staff to provide the public and agency stakeholders with additional impact analysis and mitigation related to the six lagoons crossed by the I-5 NCC project, additional water quality analysis, and refined detail related to proposed regional and community enhancements. Working in close coordination with Caltrans technical staff, HELIX also prepared/compiled responses to comments on the Draft EIR/EIS and Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS (over 6,000 comments were received), updated the Section 4(f) Evaluation, and prepared the Final EIR/EIS, including the incorporation of project refinements. HELIX also prepared the CEQA Findings/Statement of Overriding Considerations and Record of Decision in the staff-required format.