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Department of Transportation recommending the Board take the following actions related to the Sly Park Road at Clear Creek Crossing Bridge Rehabilitation Project (SCH 2008102030):
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration; and
2) Approve the Project as described in the CEQA document.
FUNDING: The project is funded 88.53% through the Highway Bridge Program (HBP). The County's local 11.47% matching funds is available through a combination of Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) dollars and local Traffic Impact Mitigation fees.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
Approval of this Mitigated Negative Declaration will not result in any fiscal impacts.
Recommendations:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is recommending that the Board take the following actions related to the Sly Park Road at Clear Creek Crossing Bridge Rehabilitation Project (Project):
(1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration; and,
(2) Approve the Project as described in the CEQA document.
These actions are based on the following findings:
A) The CEQA document on file with the Clerk of the Board and on the DOT website http://www.edcgov.us/DOT/index.html was prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines.
B) There is no substantial evidence that the Project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
C) The Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Project reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Background:
The Sly Park Road at Clear Creek Crossing Bridge (Bridge No. 25C0047) is a narrow two-lane bridge that was constructed in 1936. Caltrans has determined that the bridge is functionally obsolete, thus enabling DOT to be eligible to receive Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Caltrans District 3 administers the HBP program for FHWA in El Dorado County and is responsible to ensure the Project complies with federal laws and regulations. The Project is included in DOT's Capital Improvement Program and the Federal Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (FSTIP) and is being funded by a combination of federal, state and local funds.
DOT is the local lead agency and prepared the Initial Study to consider the significance of potential Project impacts pursuant to CEQA and in accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines (14 California Administrative Code, Section 14000 et seq.).
Certification of this MND for Sly Park/Clear Creek Bridge Replacement Project would complete the CEQA portion of the environmental phase toward ultimate delivery of this project. As a federally funded project, Caltrans is the designated agency for the Federal Highways Association to administer the NEPA Categorical Exclusion utilizing the required studies completed by the County.
As stated in the funding section of this report, the Federal Highway Bridge Program is funding 88.53 percent of the total project's costs. The remaining match amount is anticipated to be funded through a combination of RSTP and TIM dollars.
Project Location:
The proposed Project is located on Sly Park Road at Clear Creek, 1.1 miles east of the Pleasant Valley Road/Mount Aukum Road intersection, approximately 6 miles east of the Community of Diamond Springs, El Dorado County (Figure 1).
Project Purpose and Objectives:
The purpose of the Project is to improve traffic safety conditions on a public roadway by: (a) replacing a functionally obsolete and substandard bridge with a new structure that meets current standards; (b) correcting the road geometry approaching the bridge from both east-bound and west-bound directions; and, (c) providing a turn lane and turning access at Clear Creek Road and local driveways.
Project Description:
The existing Clear Creek Bridge would be replaced by a new concrete bridge 45 feet long and 52 feet wide. The existing bridge is a two-lane, single-span structure, approximately 20 feet long and 20 feet wide, with cast-in-place concrete bridge abutment structures. The new bridge would have three (3) 12-foot lanes and two 8-foot shoulders with guardrails. Construction of the new bridge would be implemented in stages to allow vehicle traffic during the construction period.
The Project would generally involve: site clearing, preparation, and earthwork; utility relocations; demolition and removal of the existing bridge structure; construction of new bridge foundations, abutments, retaining structures, deck, and guardrails; widening and realignment of a segment of Sly Park Road; applying pavement overlay and conforming a segment of Clear Creek Road to match the new grade; restoration of existing driveways; installation of culverts and drainage facilities; and, re-vegetation of disturbed areas (Figure 2).
A detailed Project description can be found in the MND document available on the DOT website at http://www.edcgov.us/DOT/index.html, or a hard copy can be obtained at the DOT offices at 2850 Fairlane Court in Placerville.
Construction Schedule:
The Project is scheduled to commence in 2012 and is expected to take two (2) construction seasons to complete.
Mitigation Measures:
Mitigation measures are added to the Project to reduce potential impacts to a level of insignificance. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan can be found in the MND Document as Appendix A.
Public Notification:
The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was advertised in the Mountain Democrat, the entire document was posted on the DOT website and hard copies were available at the DOT offices. Individual notices were also sent to those directly affected in the Project area and to relevant agencies. The review period began on June 9, 2010 and ended July 9, 2010.
Comments Received:
No comments were received from the public regarding this Project.
Action to be Taken by DOT Following Approval:
1) File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2) DOT staff will proceed with the Project through NEPA clearance, preparation of the plans, specifications and estimates, utility relocation coordination and Right-of-Way acquisition.
Contact:
James W. Ware, P. E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: County Counsel