Title
Transportation Department recommending the Board receive and file the El Dorado County Transportation Commission presentation on the State Route 49 Realignment Study. (Est. Time: 1 Hr.)
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no fiscal impact and no change to Net County Cost associated with this item.
Background:
On August 29, 2008, Caltrans awarded the El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC) $250,000 from the 2008/2009 Partnership Planning Grant to fund the State Route 49 Realignment Study - Coloma to El Dorado (Study). The Study's "Purpose and Need" states that State Route 49 (SR 49) provides a regional and interregional route for the movement of goods and people within El Dorado County. The purpose of the Study is to evaluate potential alternative alignments for the safe and efficient transport of goods and people along SR 49 from Coloma to the community of El Dorado while minimizing impacts to historic, cultural, and natural resources.
The Study will evaluate potential alignments to eliminate the existing alignment of SR 49 through Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park and the at-grade intersection of SR 49 and Route 50. The alignments should address the current and projected regional and local traffic demand on the state and local road systems along SR 49 and U.S. Highway 50, particularly through densely populated residential areas and the business districts in the City of Placerville and the communities of Coloma, Diamond Springs, and El Dorado. The sharp curves and steep grades of the existing alignment within the study area, in conjunction with commercial, regional and local traffic, are not adequate for modern transportation demands resulting in congestion and reduced traffic safety for vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian travel. The Study will focus on the use of existing roads to reduce the resources needed to improve conditions in the SR 49 corridor and to support the adopted general plans of El Dorado County, the City of Placerville, and Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.
Reason for Recommendation:
EDCTC staff and Keith Rhodes, Project Manager with T.Y. Lin International, presented an overview of the Study and its results to the EDCTC on November 5, 2009. They are providing the attached overview presentation to the Board of Supervisors today and are scheduled to make a presentation to the Placerville City Council the evening of December 8, 2009 Based upon comments received during six Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings, two public information meetings, presentations to the EDCTC, and today's presentations to the Board of Supervisors and the Placerville City Council, a Draft SR 49 Realignment Study will be prepared and presented to the EDCTC in February of 2010.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Receive and file.
Contact:
James W. Ware, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: None