Title
Supervisor Hidahl and Supervisor Turnboo recommending the Board direct Department of Transportation to:
1) Prepare an analysis that would identify the preferred route alignment for a new roadway to connect Latrobe Road to the Sacramento County Line south of the El Dorado Hills Business Park;
2) Prepare a programmatic-level environmental analysis for the proposed alignment; and
3) Return to the Board with a proposed amendment to the Transportation and Circulation Element of the General Plan which would add the new roadway to Figure TC-1 Circulation Map. (Districts I and II)
FUNDING: Road Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Transportation and Circulation Element of the General Plan provides the framework for decisions in El Dorado County concerning the countywide transportation system and reflects the urban and rural diversity of the unincorporated areas of the County. The Circulation Element includes the Circulation Map (Figure TC-1), which depicts the proposed circulation system to support existing, approved, and planned development through 2035.
Since the General Plan was adopted in 2004, a significant amount of development has occurred in the County, particularly within the El Dorado Hills Community Region. As projects continue to come forward, particularly south of US Highway 50, and as development continues in neighboring jurisdictions, particularly Sacramento County and the City of Folsom, it has become apparent that a connection between Latrobe Road and White Rock Road would provide a great benefit to the circulation network in the area.
This new roadway would connect to Latrobe Road at the southern end of the El Dorado Hills Business Park and extend west to the County line, where it would tie-in to future Sacramento County improvements and continue north towards white Rock Road and the future Empire Ranch Road interchange at US Highway 50. Staff has had preliminary conversations with Sacramento County and confirmed that this new roadway would conform with future infrastructure improvements planned on the other side of the County line. The new roadway would serve as a relief valve for the Latrobe Road corridor by diverting a significant number of vehicles to the west and towards the proposed Empire Ranch Road interchange at US Highway 50.
The Supervisors from District 1 and District 2 are requesting that the Board provide direction to the Department of Transportation to do the following: prepare an analysis that would identify the preferred route alignment, prepare a programmatic-level environmental analysis for the preferred route, and return to the board with a General Plan Amendment to add the identified route to the Circulation Map in the Transportation and Circulation Element of the General Plan.
By adding this new “road to the west” to the Circulation Map, the project could then be added into the CIP and TIF Program, thereby requiring new development to pay its fair share towards the project. The inclusion of the roadway alignment on the Circulation Map would also allow the Department of Transportation to condition proposed development projects to dedicate the necessary right of way and potentially construct segments of the roadway.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not direct staff to study a route alignment, prepare a programmatic-level environmental analysis, or work towards preparing a General Plan Amendment that would add the proposed roadway to the Circulation Map in the Transportation and Circulation Element of the General Plan.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning Division
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
[This section is completed by the CAO's Office. This section is required]
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with this item. Analysis of route alignments and environmental impacts will be funded by Road Fund. Once a route is adopted, the General Plan amended, and the project added to the Capital Improvement Program and Traffic Impact Fee (TIF) Program, future updates will be funded by TIF collected.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure - “Provide, operate and maintain our infrastructure, public facilities, and associated services that protect our community, environment and economic well-being.”
CONTACT
John Hidahl, District 1 Supervisor
George Turnboo, District 2 Supervisor