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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following, pending review, minor modification, and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 078-2016, authorizing the maintenance of the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Bicycle and Pedestrian Non-Motorized Facility including maintenance of the facility located within the city limits of Placerville with monies from the County of El Dorado Road Fund (4/5 vote required);
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Maintenance Agreement 16-54424 between the County of El Dorado and the State of California, Department of Transportation defining the roles and responsibilities for maintaining the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Bicycle and Pedestrian Non-Motorized Facility; and
3) Authorize the Chair to sign the acknowledgement letter from the State of California, Department of Transportation dated April 1, 2016, revising Exhibit “A” to the 2006 U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Freeway Maintenance Agreement (County Agreement 06-1299) between the State of California Department of Transportation and the County of El Dorado pertaining to the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Project, CIP 71317& 71336.
FUNDING: Road Fund. (No Federal Funds)
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The County of El Dorado, in cooperation with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Placerville (City), has constructed the majority of a bicycle and pedestrian non-motorized facility adjacent to U.S. Highway 50 between Missouri Flat Road and Placerville Drive / Forni Road. Additional modifications to complete the facility are planned for the 2016 construction season. The County of El Dorado is the lead agency for the project; therefore responsibility for maintaining the facilities lies with the County. Approximately 0.83 miles of the facility lies within the unincorporated area of the County. Approximately 0.22 miles of the facility lies within the city limits of Placerville.
Requirements for the project include completing a Maintenance Agreement between the County and Caltrans defining each agency's responsibility to maintain the facility. In addition to the Maintenance Agreement, Caltrans also requires acknowledgement from the Board of Supervisors authorizing the maintenance of the facility within the city limits of Placerville, and revision to the 2006 Freeway Maintenance Agreement between Caltrans and the County of El Dorado reflecting the changes to the facility and maintenance responsibilities associated with the completed U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Phase 1B Interchange project. Approval of the new Maintenance Agreement, Resolution and revision to the 2006 Maintenance Agreement will satisfy these conditions and allow the remaining work to proceed.
The Community Development Agency, Transportation Division (Transportation), recommends the Board consider the following, pending review, minor modification, and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management:
1) Adopt Resolution 078-2016 (Attachment 2B), authorizing the maintenance of the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Bicycle and Pedestrian Non-Motorized Facility including maintenance of the facility located within the city limits of Placerville with monies from the County of El Dorado Road Fund (4/5th approval required); and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement No. 16-54424 (Attachment 2D) between the County of El Dorado and Caltrans defining the roles and responsibilities for maintaining the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Bicycle and Pedestrian Non-Motorized Facility; and
3) Authorize the Chair to sign the acknowledgement letter (Attachment 2F) from Caltrans dated April 1, 2016, revising Exhibit “A” to the 2006 U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Freeway Maintenance Agreement (County Agreement No. 06-1299) between Caltrans and the County of El Dorado pertaining to the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange Project, CIP No. 71317 & 71336.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County of El Dorado has made several improvements to the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange (Project). The Project was split in multiple phases, primarily due to funding constraints. Phase 1A of the Project generally made improvements to Missouri Flat Road including a new bridge over U.S. Highway 50, new interchange ramps, and improvements to adjacent local roads and businesses, which were completed in 2008. Phase 1B of the Project generally completed changes to the interchange ramps and added auxiliary lanes between Missouri Flat Road and Placerville Drive/Forni Road, including a very large widening and retrofit of the U.S. Highway 50 bridges over Weber Creek. Phase 1B also constructed the majority of a joint bicycle and pedestrian path to provide non-vehicular access between the two interchanges. During construction of the Phase 1B project, a safety issue was identified and completion of the bicycle and pedestrian path was delayed while the issue was resolved. Subsequent to completion of the Phase 1B construction in 2012, modifications to the bicycle and pedestrian facility have been agreed to, and the County plans to finish the bicycle and pedestrian facility with construction of a Phase 1B.2 during the current calendar year. Phase 1C of the Project will install landscaping, riparian area plantings and oak woodland restoration to implement environmental mitigation measures and complete the project. Phase 1C is scheduled to bid during the current calendar year, with the work to be completed next calendar year after native plant seed collection and propagation is performed and plantings occur.
The Project has been funded using Federal Stimulus Grant funds, State funds, Regional Improvement funds, Local Traffic Impact Mitigation Fees, and Master Circulation and Funding Plan funds.
The Project spans multiple jurisdictions including the unincorporated area of the County of El Dorado, City and Caltrans right of way. Funding, construction and maintenance of various elements have been shared between agencies over the life of the Project. Approximately 0.83 miles of the bicycle and pedestrian facility lies within the unincorporated area of the County. Approximately 0.22 miles of the facility lies within the city limits of Placerville. The County is the lead agency for the bicycle and pedestrian facility and has taken the responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of the Project.
The annual maintenance cost of the bicycle and pedestrian facility is estimated to be $5,000 per year. Anticipated annual maintenance duties include pavement sweeping, cleaning of drainage features, graffiti control and weed abatement.
The proposed resolution (Attachment 2B) includes a provision for the period of maintenance to extend from the end of construction (expected in fall 2016) until the City modifies the facility as a portion of the Western Placerville Interchange, or other future project. The date for construction of this portion of the Western Placerville Interchange has not yet been determined. California Streets and Highways Code, section 1680 allows for the use of County Road Funds in maintaining such facilities falling within the limits of an Incorporated City upon a 4/5th approval of the Board of Supervisors. City staff has agreed to assume maintenance responsibilities of the facility within the city limits when the facility is modified by that portion of the Western Placerville interchange, or another future project, and is in the process of formalizing that commitment with action by the City Council.
In 2006, the County of El Dorado and Caltrans revised a prior Freeway Maintenance Agreement reflecting the changes to the U.S. Highway 50 / Missouri Flat Road Interchange to be made with the Phase 1A portion of the Project. As the Phase 1B project has been completed, a revision to the 2006 Maintenance Agreement identifying the changes made by the Project and subsequent maintenance responsibilities is necessary. The agreement allows for such revision by way of Caltrans providing the new exhibit to the agreement, and the County signature of the attached acknowledgement letter, dated April 1, 2016.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board of Supervisors chooses not to approve the recommended actions, the following alternative actions may be considered:
1) Do not approve the item. Caltrans has indicated they require formal commitment of maintenance activities prior to authorizing construction of the remaining elements of the project. Should the Resolution and Maintenance Agreements not be approved, further negotiations with Caltrans would be necessary and the project would not be constructed in 2016. If an agreement cannot be reached with Caltrans, it is possible that the County would have to repay approximately five million dollars (cost of the project expended to date, non-local sources - Federal Grant).
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk Management approved al is pending for the agreements.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the Resolution will commit the County to maintain the facility at an estimated cost of $5,000 per year, to be funded from the El Dorado County Road Fund.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Following approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, Transportation staff will forward documents ready for signature to the Clerk of the Board for action as identified below.
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on three (3) originals of the Resolution.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward two (2) fully executed originals of the Resolution to Bard Lower in Transportation for further processing.
3) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on three (3) originals of the Maintenance Agreement No. 16-54424.
4) The Clerk of the Board will forward three (3) partially executed originals of the Maintenance Agreement No. 16-54424 to Bard Lower in Transportation for further processing.
5) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on three (3) originals of the Acknowledgement Letter to County Agreement No. 06-1299.
6) The Clerk of the Board will forward two (2) fully executed originals of the Acknowledgement Letter to County Agreement No. 06-1299 to Bard Lower in Transportation for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Bard Lower, Transportation Division Director
Community Development Agency