Title
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following related to the Greenstone Road at Slate Creek Bridge (Bridge 25C0087) Replacement Project (CIP 77137):
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act Mitigated Negative Declaration; and
2) Approve the Project as described in the California Environmental Quality Act document.
FUNDING: Federal Highway Administration Local Assistance Highway Bridge Program, authorized under the "100% Funded Program." (Federal Funds)
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division (Transportation), recommends the Board adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and approve the Greenstone Road at Slate Creek Bridge (Bridge 25C0087) Replacement Project (Project), CIP 77137, as described in the CEQA MND.
The recommended Board actions are based on the following findings:
A) The CEQA document on file with the Clerk of the Board and on the Transportation website, http://www.edcgov.us/DOT/CEQA.aspx, was prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code §21000 et seq., and the State CEQA Guidelines.
B) There is no substantial evidence that the Project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
C) The MND for the Project reflects the lead agency’s independent judgment and analysis.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Transportation is proposing to replace Slate Creek Bridge at Greenstone Road. The existing bridge is a functionally obsolete, reinforced concrete slab bridge that is thirty-two (32) feet long and nineteen (19) feet wide. The preliminary design of the new bridge is approximately thirty-four (34) feet long and thirty-four (34) feet wide and meets current standards. The Project also proposes to widen the road geometry approaching the bridge from both southbound and northbound directions. The Project is located on Greenstone Road approximately one (1) mile south of U.S. Highway 50 (Attachment D). Greenstone Road is a regional road with a two-way travel lane that has an average daily traffic count of about 1,300 vehicular trips in both directions near the project area. The existing bridge has been classified as functionally obsolete and has a sufficiency rating of 54.2 out of 100.
Transportation is the CEQA lead agency and prepared the MND to consider the significance of potential Project impacts in accordance with the State CEQA Guidelines (14 CA Administrative Code, §14000 et seq.). Certification of this MND would complete the CEQA portion of the environmental phase toward ultimate delivery of this Project. Because this is a federally-funded project, the Federal Highway Administration designated the California Department of Transportation as the lead agency to administer the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Categorical Exclusion, utilizing the required studies completed by the County. At this time, NEPA is not yet approved.
Project Description: The Project's current preliminary design includes a new bridge with two (2) 11-foot lanes and two (2) 4-foot shoulders, guardrails, and would be located slightly east of the existing bridge to straighten out the curve approaching the bridge from the north. The bridge structure type has not yet been determined. The roadway approaches are proposed to be realigned slightly east of the existing road and widened from twenty-two (22) feet to thirty-two (32) feet to align with the new bridge. Approximately two hundred and thirty (230) feet and three hundred and eighty-five (385) feet of Greenstone Road would be reconstructed to the south and north of the new bridge, respectively.
A detailed Project description can be found in the MND document, which is available as Attachment B of this Legistar item or on the Transportation website at <http://edcgov.us/DOT/CEQA.aspx. A hard copy can be obtained at the Transportation Division office at 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville.
Construction: The Project is anticipated to be constructed in 2017 or later and may require two (2) construction seasons due to the required relocation of an El Dorado Irrigation District water line. Construction would be implemented in stages and a long-term closure of Greenstone Road near the bridge would be required for one construction season (seven [7] months). While Greenstone Road is closed, motorists would be required to use detours on El Dorado Road to the east and Shingle Springs Drive to the west.
Mitigation Measures: Mitigation measures summarized below are added to the Project to reduce potential impacts to a level of insignificance. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan can be found within the MND document that outlines the details of these measures.
Mitigation Measure 1: Implement measures to prevent the spread of invasive plant species.
Mitigation Measure 2: Conduct preconstruction botanical surveys for special-status plants and protect individuals or populations in work areas.
Mitigation Measure 3: Implement construction measures to reduce impacts on foothill yellow-legged frog and western pond turtle.
Mitigation Measure 4: Conduct preconstruction surveys for nesting birds and establish construction-free buffer zones around active nest sites.
Mitigation Measure 5: Comply with permit conditions and compensate for the loss of wetlands in the Project area.
Public Notification: The Notice of Intent to Adopt a MND was advertised in the Mountain Democrat and the entire document was posted on the County website at <http://www.edcgov.us/Government/DOT/CEQA.aspx. Hard copies have been available at the Transportation office at 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville. Individual notices were also sent to those directly affected in the Project area and to relevant agencies. The public review period began on April 4, 2016, and ended on May 4, 2016.
Agency and Public Comments: Comments were received from the local community and from local, state and federal resource agencies. Concerns included the width of the bridge, the County’s plans to mitigate the presence of naturally occurring asbestos, impacts to biological resources and whether or not the improvements would accommodate future bike lanes. All concerns were addressed in the environmental document. No new information, no new impacts, and no new mitigation were necessary as a result of these comments. Attachment C provides these comment letters and County responses
ALTERNATIVES
1) The Board could choose not to adopt the MND and approve the Project. Transportation would make adjustments as directed by the Board and bring this item back to the Board at a later date. This would increase Project cost and delay delivery.
2) The Board could cancel the Project. Transportation would be required to return all federal funds spent thus far.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Prior to construction, resource agency permits will likely be required as follows:
1) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Section 404 Clean Water Act Nationwide Permit
2) Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board - Section 401 Water Quality Certification
3) California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Streambed Alteration Agreement
4) El Dorado County Air Quality Management District - Fugitive Dust Plan Approval
County Counsel has approved the MND.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Project is included in the adopted 2016 Interim Capital Improvement Program and is funded through the Federal Highway Administration Local Assistance Highway Bridge Program, authorized under the "100% Funded Program." Adoption of this MND and approval of the Project will not result in any net change to County cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
John Kahling, Deputy Director, Engineering
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division