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HEARING - Department of Transportation recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Freeway Agreement 03-ED-050-PM 20.5/25.8 between the California Department of Transportation and County of El Dorado, defining responsibilities of County roads on Route 50 from 0.2 mile west of Road 145 to 0.5 mile east of Snows Road, as related to the U.S. 50 / Camino Area Safety Project, Capital Improvement Program number 71319/36104015.
FUNDING: Regional Surface Transportation Program Exchange Funds-Rural-EDCTC (47%), Traffic Impact Fee - Hwy 50 (37%), State Transportation Impact Mitigation Fee (10%), Tribe Funds (5%), and Road Fund (1%). (State and Local Funds)
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The need for safety improvements to the U.S. Highway 50 Camino Corridor have been identified as a priority by the County and Department of Transportation (Transportation), the El Dorado County Transportation Commission (EDCTC), and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The U.S. 50 / Camino Area Safety Project (Project) will provide the necessary safety improvements within this corridor. The Project’s Project Study Report (PSR) identifies improvements including two proposed undercrossings of U.S. Highway 50 east of Camino Heights Drive, to improve traffic circulation and safety in the area, particularly during daily peak hour traffic. Also included is a concrete median barrier separating eastbound and westbound traffic. The completed Project is anticipated to result in substantial safety improvements reducing the number and severity of accidents in the area. The PSR included several alternative configurations and design of improvements that were determined during the environmental review and planning phase. The Project alternatives have been modified to avoid impacts to the significant commercial and agricultural businesses in the area.
All of the PSR alternatives studied included a U.S. 50 continuous concrete median barrier through the Camino area. Other alternatives included in the Phase 1 project is to widen shoulders; include acceleration/deceleration lanes; repair culverts; a wildlife undercrossing; vehicle and pedestrian undercrossing near Camino Heights; extend Pondorado Road; and, lower the profile of Carson Road to access the proposed vehicle undercrossing. The Phase 1 project is estimated to be delivered within current allocated funds of $52.69 million and started construction July 28, 2020. The Phase 1 project utilizes existing local roads to access the proposed undercrossing. The PSR also includes an unfunded future Phase 2 project for a larger undercrossing with interchange ramps at upper Carson Road. Transportation is currently working on the planning and design of a portion of the Phase 2 project, Camino Frontage Road - Pondorado Extension, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) number 72383/36105064. The Camino Frontage Road project will connect from the Phase 1 undercrossing to the El Dorado Trail and future Phase 2 interchange.
Prior to entering into the agreement with Caltrans, a public hearing is required, pursuant to Streets and Highways Code Section 100.22. Freeway Agreement 03-ED-050-PM 20.5/25.8 (Agreement) will supersede Freeway Agreement dated December 9, 1963, Supplemental Freeway Agreement dated January 18, 1965, and the described portion of Freeway Agreement dated October 26, 1959 within the Camino Corridor. A revised plan map noted as Exhibit A, has been prepared to show the effect of this Agreement to County roads. This Agreement had been previously approved by the Board on December 8, 2020, Legistar 20-1408, Item 26, but was never fully executed by Caltrans. Transportation sent the partially executed Agreement to Caltrans, and upon receipt by Caltrans, they decided to provide additional revisions to the Agreement. These revisions include description changes to the post mile limits, which also required changes to Exhibit A as part of the Agreement.
Cooperative Agreements for the Project have been approved by the Board and prepared for the early phases of the Project through construction with respect to the funding and construction of the Project. Cooperative Agreement 03-0651, which was approved by the Board on August 13, 2019, Legistar 19-0996, Item 13, defines the County’s contribution of funds for the Construction Capital and Construction Support phases of the Project. This Agreement sets forth the control and maintenance of each of the relocated or reconstructed County roads, any frontage roads, and other local roads constructed as part of the Project.
ALTERNATIVES
1) The Board could choose to not approve the Agreement. Transportation will work with Caltrans to revise the Agreement as directed by the Board and return at a later date.
2) The Board could choose to cancel the Project. Canceling the Project will violate the previous Cooperative Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) already in place. Canceling the County's commitment to the Project would not relieve the County from having to pay for the previously agreed to County share (County road extension portion) of Caltrans planning, design, and construction costs on the Project.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The MOU and Cooperative Agreement 03-0583, which was approved by the Board on December 15, 2015, Legistar 15-0217, Item 29, defines the County’s contribution of funds for the Project Approval and Environmental Document phase and the respective intentions of both Caltrans and the County related to the proposed improvements of the Project.
Cooperative Agreement 03-0638, which was approved by the Board on April 2, 2019, Legistar 19-0152, Item 29, defines the County’s contribution of funds for the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate and Right-of-Way phases of the Project.
The Project Specific Maintenance Agreement for the Pondorado Road Undercrossing ED-50-PM 23.81, which was approved by the Board on December 8, 2020, Legistar 20-1408, Item 26, defines the roles and responsibilities for maintaining the Pondorado Road Undercrossing as part of the Project.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact or change to Net County Cost associated with this item. The Project is included in Transportation’s 2021 CIP, which was approved by the Board on June 8, 2021, Legistar 21-0624, Item 54.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on two (2) originals of the Agreement.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the originals of the Agreement to Transportation, Fairlane Engineering, attention Matt Smeltzer, for further processing.
TRANSPORTATION FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Transportation will send the original copies of the partially executed Agreement to Caltrans for signature.
2) Upon receipt from Caltrans, Transportation will return one (1) fully executed original Agreement to the Clerk of the Board for its files.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure, Public Safety
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation