Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign Cooperative Agreement No. 03-0510 (12-53434) with the State of California Department of Transportation for the construction of the U.S. 50 El Dorado Hills Interchange - Phase 2B.1 (AKA HOV Phase 0) Project, CIP No. 53124 pending County Counsel review and approval.
FUNDING: State Corridor Mobility Investment Account Funds and Local Transportation Funds.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
Funding for the construction phase of the U.S. 50 El Dorado Hills Interchange - Phase 2B.1 (AKA HOV Phase 0) (Project) will be provided by two sources: $15.5 million in State Corridor Mobility Investment Account (CMIA) Funds - the California Transportation Commission (CTC) is anticipated to vote on the inclusion of the Project in their April 26th/27th 2012 meeting for allocation of CMIA funding; and $1.74 million in Local Transportation funds. The total current estimated cost for construction and construction engineering for this Project is $17.24 million.
Background:
On January 20, 2012, the El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC) proposed to the CTC and Caltrans that the Phase 2B.1 construction be allocated $15,500,000 in CMIA funds.
On January 31, 2012, the Board authorized the Department of Transportation (Department) to advance the Project and to issue a Task Order with Quincy Engineering to prepare PS&E and to provide Right of Way and Utility Certification.
On February 28, 2012, the Board adopted Addendum No. 3 to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to split Phase 2B, and create a Phase 2B.1 and 2B.2. Phase 2B.1 includes improvements to the westbound on and offramps.
On March 6, 2012, the Board authorized the ordering of title reports, certified appraisals, and the commencement of the acquisition process.
Subsequent to these actions, the Department is working with Quincy Engineering to finalize PS&E and Right of Way in anticipation of the CTC allocation of CMIA funding on April 26th/27th.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Project has been a priority for the Department for more than fifteen years. Construction of the Project is identified as a need in the County General Plan, the Caltrans U.S. Highway 50 Corridor Management Plan, and various specific plans. Local Transportation funds have previously been identified in the Department's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for this Project. The anticipated CMIA funds, will allow this portion of the overall project to be advanced years earlier than otherwise possible under the prior funding constraints, and potentially allows previously programmed funds to advance additional projects.
The Department's submittal of the Ready To List PS&E package to Caltrans on April 3rd has allowed the Project to compete for the available CMIA funds. When evaluating competing projects for possible funding, the CTC prioritized programming by construction start date with the earliest delivery projects being programmed for funding.
Execution of the Cooperative Agreement (Coop) is a prerequisite for the CTC's allocation of the CMIA funds, currently scheduled for April 26th/27th, and a requirement for the Project to move forward to construction. Execution of the Coop by the County and Caltrans will allow scheduling the Project on the CTC agenda for allocation. Delays in allocation of the CMIA funds could potentially jeopardize their availability for this Project.
The Coop provides for the use of the CMIA funds for the construction phase of the Project. The Coop also defines the obligations of both the County and Caltrans regarding Project activities and funding. The Board should be aware that several elements of the Coop would require the County to utilize its own funds to complete the Project in the event that Project cost overruns (in the form of higher than anticipated bids, claims, substantial change orders or other unforeseen circumstances) cause the Project to exceed its currently anticipated cost.
Because this Coop is a condition of allocation of the CMIA funding windfall and delays in delivery of the Project may jeopardize the allocation of the CMIA funds, and the reasonably foreseeable risks associated with potential Project cost overruns are substantially less than the potential benefit of these available funds, the Department recommends the Board approve this item.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. The Chair will sign four originals of the Coop, subject to reveiw and approval by County Counsel and the Department of minor modifications.
2. The Clerk of the Board will forward four originals of the partially executed Coop to the Department to send to Caltrans for its approval and signature.
Action to be taken by the Department following Board approval:
1. The Department will send a fully executed original Coop to the Clerk of the Board for its files.
2. The Department will work with Caltrans, EDCTC and the CTC for allocation of CMIA funds.
3. The Department will return in mid 2012 requesting approval of the Project and authorization to advertise for construction.
Contact:
Robert S. Slater, P.E.
Assistant Director of Transportation