Title
Transportation Department recommending the following pertaining to the Durock Road/Business Drive Intersection Improvement Project:
(1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration;
(2) Approve said project as described in the CEQA document; and
(3) Chairman be authorized to sign the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: 2004 General Plan Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$1,500,000.00 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$1,500,000.00 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$1,500,000.00 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$-0- |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no direct fiscal impact with the action requested, the adopted mitigation measures will be incorporated into the project. The mitigation measures identified in the Draft Document are common and as such have already been incorporated into the project budget. Preliminary project costs are currently estimated at approximately $1.5 million. There is no net cost to the County General Fund.
Reason for Recommendation:
Background: The project is located in Cameron Park at the intersection of Durock Road and Business Drive (Attachment A). The northern terminus of Business Drive tees at Durock Road, where a single stop sign controls traffic entering Durock Road from Business Drive within Barnett Business Park. The proposed intersection improvements were originally required as a condition of approval for a commercial parcel map within the Barnett Business Park, located directly to the south of the widening project. According to the traffic study prepared for that project, additional traffic as a result of the development will send the level of service into the LOS E during existing conditions and level of Service F category during future conditions and create long lines of vehicles waiting at the stop signs, (PRISM 2001). The installation of a traffic signal will help alleviate this problem and improve the level of service to A and B during existing conditions and future conditions respectively.
The objective of the proposed project is to improve traffic operations and safety conditions at the Durock Road/Business Drive intersection. The addition of turn lanes on eastbound and westbound Durock Road and the installation of the three-way traffic signal at the project location will achieve this objective through improved traffic flow and level of service.
A Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration and availability of the Draft Document for a 30-day public review period ran from April 5, 2007 through May 07, 2007, was advertised in the Mountain Democrat newspaper, and at the County Clerk's office. Individual notices were also sent to those property owners in the area.
The CEQA Initial Study identified potential significant impacts to biological resources that would be mitigated to less than significant. The Draft Document is available to the public at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and in the Board Clerk's office as well as on the DOT website. Copies of the Draft Document have been provided to the Board Clerk for distribution to the members of the Board of Supervisors.
Project Description: For a more detailed project description of the various aspects of this project, see the pages 2-1 through 2-7 of the Draft Document. A brief summary is as follows:
The proposed project would add a three-way traffic signal to the intersection of Durock Road and Business Drive, widen and expand the existing right of way on Durock to accommodate turn lanes, add Class II bike lanes on both sides of Durock Road, and make ancillary improvements to the intersection of Durock Road and Via del Gatos (replacement of an existing culvert under Durock Road at Via del Gatos, a new outfall facility, and new drainage improvements on Business Drive). The improvements on Durock Rd include adjusting the horizontal and vertical grades of the roadway to improve the sight distance on the existing curves. This work includes existing structural section removal and replacement. (See Attachment B)
Additionally, the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) plans to construct their Motherlode Force Sewer Replacement Project concurrently with this project to limit construction impacts on the area. EID's work is all done within the roadway, within the County's right of way, and has already been cleared environmentally (April 2005 and SCH#200008204).
Construction for the road improvements may include a one way detour route during limited portions of the construction period.
Mitigation Measures and Reporting Plan:
Several Mitigation Measures were identified in the Biological Section of the Document to reduce potentially significant impacts to a level of insignificance. California Public Resources Code Section 21081.6 requires public agencies to adopt mitigation or reporting plans when they approve projects requiring preparation of a MND that identifies significant environmental impacts. The reporting and monitoring plans must be adopted when a public agency makes its findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) so that the mitigation requirements can be made conditions of project approval. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan is provided in Attachment C.
Construction schedule:
Construction is proposed to commence in fall of 2007 and would require approximately 80 working days to complete. A traffic management plan will be prepared and will include construction staging and traffic control measures to maintain and minimize impacts to traffic during construction. Minor traffic stoppages or delays may be allowed if necessary during project construction. A detour using Shingle Lime Mine Road is proposed during construction and will be used for one directional traffic on Durock Road. Full roadway closures will be avoided during project construction and provisions for emergency vehicle movement through the project area will be provided at all times.
Comments Received on MND:
Three comment letters were received during the comment period.
· The first letter was received from Dennis Otani, Senior Air Quality Specialist for the El Dorado County Air Quality Management District. In his letter, Mr. Otani concurs with the recommendations set forth in the Draft Document. No response is necessary.
· The second letter came in the form of an email from the property owner located on the southwest corner of Business Drive and Durock Road whose main concerns had to do with impacts upon his property in terms of existing landscaping, his building sign, potential impacts to the creek that runs through his property and sight distance issues for west bound travelers turning left onto Business Drive.
Response to Second Comment Letter:
DOT staff has met with the commenter and agreements are being worked out regarding placement of the road relative to the existing landscaping. It may be that landscaping within the County right of way must be removed, but DOT will work with property owner to avoid impacts as much as possible. The building sign is partially within the County right of way, but is not in the way of the project and will not need to be relocated. No fee right of way is necessary from this property owner. However, both slope easements and temporary construction easements will need to be acquired.
Regarding any potential impacts to the creek, the project limits are such that the creek is not impacted. In addition, mitigation measures are in place that will make certain any impacts that may occur are mitigated to the satisfaction of the California Department of Fish and Game and the US Army Corp of Engineers. Please reference the Biology section of the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
The commenter is also concerned about the site distance problem for westbound vehicles turning left onto Business Drive due to the curvature of the road. The traffic signal and associated left turn lanes along with the horizontal and vertical sight distance corrections to the roadway will address that safety issue.
· A third comment letter was received from a local homeowner whose property is approximately 540 feet east of the project intersection. The property owner expressed concerns summarized as follows:
1. Few cars use the Business Drive intersection with Durock, and the necessity of a signal is questioned.
2. The traffic signal may cause traffic build up in front of his home on Durock, making it difficult for him to enter or exit his property from Durock.
3. The commenter supports the installation of left turn lanes and bike lanes.
Response to Third Comment Letter:
A traffic impact study was prepared for a commercial lot split within the Barnett Business Park in May 2002. This study indicated that, even though existing traffic conditions during a.m. and p.m. peak hours do not exceed level of service (LOS) 'A', the increase in traffic as a result of the development triggered the need for a signal at Durock Road and Business Drive. The traffic analysis for existing conditions with the project indicated that the LOS will drop from 'A' to unacceptable level of service 'E' during both AM and PM peak hours. The analysis further showed that the future conditions (2010) with this project drops the level of service to an unacceptable 'F' during both AM and PM peak hours. The signal installation and left turn lanes improves future levels of service to acceptable levels and provides safer access to the additional traffic traveling in and out of Business Drive due to the Business Park development.
With regard to the concern that the traffic signal may cause traffic build up in front of his home on Durock, the driveway in question is approximately 540 feet east of the proposed signal, which is well outside the expected length of queues for this signal approach. The signal should provide adequate time to clear all the vehicles in the queues in each approach during each cycle for both AM and PM peak hours, and shouldn't block any local driveway access.
The Department requests the Board make the following findings:
1. The CEQA document on file with the Clerk of the Board was prepared in accordance with Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines.
2. There is no substantial evidence that the project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
3. The Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Durock Road/Business Drive Intersection Improvements reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
The Board Chair will sign the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Attachment C cover sheet).
The Department of Transportation will:
1. File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder Clerk.
2. Proceed with the development of the project through preparation of the plans, specifications and estimates, and right-of-way acquisition process, with construction anticipated to commence in the fall of 2007.
Contact: Janet Postlewait