Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board consider the following actions related to the Hanks Exchange Road at Squaw Hollow Creek - Bridge Replacement Project, CIP 77135:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Easement Acquisition Agreement for Public Purposes and the Certificates of Acceptance accepting Grant of Right of Way Easements, Grant of Slope and Drainage Easements, and Grant of Temporary Construction Easements from David W. Fausel and Deanna M. Fausel as Trustees Under Declaration of Trust dated February 24, 1997, for Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 046-022-001, 099-010-023 and 099-010-024. The Easement acquisitions provide right-of-way necessary to construct the project, at a cost of $31,200;
2) Authorize the Department of Transportation Director, or designee, to execute the escrow instructions and any other related escrow documents pertaining to the transaction, including payment of title and escrow fees, which are estimated to be $2,500; and
3) Authorize the Department of Transportation Director, or designee, to extend the date of closure of escrow upon mutual agreement of both parties, if necessary.
FUNDING: Highway Bridge Program (99%) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (1%).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation (Transportation) has concluded negotiations with property owners, David W. Fausel and Deanna M. Fausel as Trustees Under Declaration of Trust dated February 24, 1997, securing the County’s interest in the subject easement acquisition, and a settlement has been reached that is representative of the appraised value rounded to a compensatory value of the necessary land rights for project construction.
Transportation proposes to replace the existing functionally obsolete bridge (No. 25C0053) over Squaw Hollow Creek on Hanks Exchange Road, located approximately 0.4 miles south of Pleasant Valley Road. Hanks Exchange Road is a local rural road with a two-way travel lane that has an average daily traffic count of 1,245 trips near the project area. The existing bridge over Squaw Hollow Creek was constructed in 1930 and is considered functionally obsolete per Caltrans Standards with a sufficiency rating of 30.7 out of 100.
The purpose of the Hanks Exchange Road at Squaw Hollow Creek - Bridge Replacement Project (Project) is to improve traffic safety conditions on a public roadway and comply with current County and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Guidelines by: (1) replacing a functionally obsolete bridge built in 1930 with a new structure that meets current standards and (2) widening the road geometry approaching the bridge from both south-bound and north-bound directions. The overall Project objective is to improve safety and traffic operations along Hanks Exchange Road.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Easement Acquisition Agreement is not approved, the County will not be able to acquire the necessary right-of-way for the proposed Project, and the Project will not proceed as planned.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On May 22, 2018 (Item 24), the Board adopted the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan; and approved the Project as described in the CEQA Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Project is included in Transportation’s adopted 2018 CIP, which was approved by the Board on June 26, 2018 (Item 61). The cost of the Easements is $31,200. The cost for the title and escrow fees is estimated at $2,500, for a total cost of $33,700. This Project is federally funded.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on the Easement Acquisition Agreement for Public Purposes and the Certificates of Acceptance for the corresponding Easements, six (6) total Certificates of Acceptance.
2) The Clerk of the Board will return one (1) copy of the fully executed Easement Acquisition Agreement to Transportation, attention Grayson Lee, for final processing.
3) The Clerk of the Board will return the six (6) original Easements, with their corresponding signed Certificates of Acceptance to Transportation, attention Grayson Lee, for final processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation