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Transportation Department recommending the Board take the following actions related to the Northside Bicycle Path Project:
(1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration and associated Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program;
(2) Approve the project as described in the CEQA document;
(3) Make Findings A-C as recommended in the Staff Report.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: Approval of this Mitigated Negative Declaration will not directly result in any fiscal impacts. The project is funded through a combination of federal grant programs specific to bicycle facilities as well as Regional Surface Transportation Program funds.
Recommended Findings: The recommended actions are based on the following findings:
A. The CEQA document on file with the Clerk of the Board and on DOT website <http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/DOT/ceqa.html> was prepared pursuant to Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines.
B. There is no substantial evidence that the project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
C. The Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Northside Bicycle Path Project reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Background: The need for a bike and pedestrian facility linking the Northside School on SR-49 and the residential community of Auburn Lake Trails off SR-193 has long been recognized, particularly since the expansion of commercial use at the intersection of SR's 49 and 193 in Cool. Listed as a high priority project in the County's Bicycle Transportation Plan (BTP), the Northside Bicycle Path project was originally planned to include Class II bike lanes along the SR-193 leg of the project and a Class I along SR-49. (Class I facilities are separated from the road and serve both bikers and pedestrians, whereas, Class II facilities are signed bicycle lanes located within the shoulder of the road). However, after extensive public outreach and close coordination with the staff at Northside School, DOT determined that a Class I facility for the entire length of the project would better satisfy the community's desire to provide a safe route for school children, and the design was revised accordingly.
Reason for Recommendation: DOT has been awarded two federal grants for this project. The first grant was from the Transportation Enhancement (TE) program in 2005/06, and funded the planning, environmental and design of the project. The second came in 2008 from the federal Safe Routes to School program, and, when awarded, will fund construction of Phase I. Both grants are administered through Caltrans.
Because the entire project is located within Caltrans right-of-way, a Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans was prepared to define the responsibilities for the design and environmental phase. In the existing Cooperative Agreement, El Dorado County is responsible for planning, design and environmental, and will also function as the Lead Agency under CEQA. Caltrans is responsible for quality assurance and is providing oversight for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as the Federal Lead Agency for NEPA.
Project Description:
The proposed project is to construct a separated 8-foot wide Class I Bike Path on the west side of SR-49 from Northside School (Cave Valley Road) to SR-193 and an 8-foot wide Class I Bike Path along the north side of SR-193 from SR-49 to American River Trail at the entrance of the Auburn Lake Trails subdivision.
Other significant features include extending the SR-49 culvert at Knickerbocker Creek, providing crosswalks at the intersection of SR-49 and SR-193, and building retaining walls and drainage culverts along portions of the bike path.
Project construction is proposed to be carried out in two phases. Phase I extends from the entrance to the Auburn Lake Trails subdivision on SR-193 westward to the SR 49 /193 intersection. Phase II continues southward from the SR 49/193 intersection to Northside School. Timing of the first phase of construction is dependent upon when the Safe Routes to School grant is awarded, but will likely begin in the summer of 2010.
Mitigation Measures: Mitigation measures are added to the project to reduce potential impacts to a level of insignificance. The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan, which lists each mitigation measure as well as who is responsible for implementation, can be found in Attachment 1 of the Initial Study document.
Public Notification: The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was advertised in the Mountain Democrat, the entire document was posted on the DOT website, and hard copies were available at the DOT offices. The review period began on October 21, 2008 and ended on November 20, 2008. Individual notices were sent to those directly affected along SR-49 and SR-193 and to affected agencies.
Comments Received: Several comments were received with questions for clarification and many comments were received in support of the project.
Action to be taken following Board approval: DOT will take the following action:
1. File a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2. DOT staff will proceed with the project through preparation of the plans, specifications and estimates, and Right-of-Way acquisition process.
Contact: Richard W. Shepard, P. E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: None