Title
Transportation Department recommending the Board approve the following pertaining to the U.S. 50/El Dorado Hills Boulevard Interchange Bicycle / Pedestrian Overcrossing Project:
1) Adopt the California Environmental Quality Act Mitigation Negative Declaration;
2) Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Appendix A of the Mitigated Negative Declaration Document;
3) Approve said project as described in the California Environmental Quality Act document; and
4) Authorize Department staff to proceed with any right-of-way acquisitions necessary to construct the project.
FUNDING: Air Pollution Control Grant, Regional Surface Transportation Program Grant, Transportation Enhancement Grant, Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program, anticipated grants.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
Approval of this Mitigated Negative Declaration will not result in any fiscal impact. There are no General Fund or Road Fund monies associated with this Project.
Recommended Findings:
A. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document on file with the Clerk of the Board was prepared in accordance with CEQA, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., and the CEQA Guidelines.
B. There is no substantial evidence that raises a fair argument that the project, as mitigated, will have a significant effect on the environment.
C. The Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the U.S. 50/El Dorado Hills Boulevard Interchange Pedestrian Overcrossing (POC) Project reflects the lead agency's independent judgment and analysis.
Background:
Project Location: The proposed project is located on the east side of El Dorado Hills Boulevard / Latrobe Road from the Saratoga / Park Drive intersection (north of U.S. 50) to the Town Center intersection (south of U.S. 50) in the community of El Dorado Hills in western El Dorado County. A more detailed description can be found in the MND document available on the Department webpage <<http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/DOT/ceqa.html>> .
Purpose of Project: The U.S. 50/El Dorado Hills Boulevard Interchange Bicycle / Pedestrian Overcrossing Project is needed to address improved pedestrian and bicycle access across U.S 50 at a very busy interchange. As set forth in the 2005 El Dorado County Bicycle Transportation Plan, this project is listed as a Tier I improvement because it alleviates a significant barrier created by U.S. 50 and the El Dorado Hills Interchange between two major activity centers in El Dorado Hills.
Project Description: El Dorado County proposes to construct a shared use pedestrian and bicycle path overcrossing. Proposed improvements include widening the existing walkway to a total width of ten (10) feet, placing a barrier between the path and adjacent roadway, constructing elevated approaches with retaining structures to the proposed overcrossing, and constructing a pedestrian / bicycle overcrossing at the El Dorado Hills Boulevard / Latrobe Road interchange on U.S. 50. A more detailed project description is included in Section 3 of the MND document.
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 IS/MND Declaration document.
Reason for Recommendation:
Agency and Public Notification: The Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was advertised in the Mountain Democrat, the entire document was posted on the Department webpage, and hard copies were available at Department offices. The review period began on October 16, 2009, and ended on November 16, 2009. Individual notices were sent to those directly affected and to affected agencies. County Counsel has reviewed the draft MND.
Comments Received: One comment letter was received with two concerns as follows:
The first concern was that this project would result in a bond that would be billed through property taxes.
Response: This project is funded through a variety of sources, none of which would result in a bond to be billed through property taxes. In addition to Transportation Impact Mitigation (TIM) fees on new development, this project will be primarily funded through grant programs that are set aside for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. In other words, these funds cannot be used for any other type of uses. To date, the County has received $765,391 in funding for this project from an Air Pollution Control Grant ($34,500), a Regional Surface Transportation Program Grant ($530,891), and a Transportation Enhancement Program Grant ($200,000). The remainder of the project funding will be provided by TIM fees and future grant programs.
The second concern stated in the letter said that the overcrossing is unrealistic and would not be used.
Response: The County's Bicycle Transportation Plan, adopted in 2005, identified the overcrossing as a Tier I Improvement. Tier I Improvements are those that have been determined to be the highest priority projects because they address all the criteria of the Goals, Objective and Policies applied during the development of the Bicycle Transportation Plan. This criterion includes a facility that addresses bicycle commuting opportunities, safety, multi-modal integration, and connectivity between local and regional activity centers. The project will provide for safer bicycle / pedestrian travel through the El Dorado Hills Interchange which sits between two major activity centers in El Dorado Hills. This overcrossing is also listed as a high priority project in the Sacramento Area County of Governments (SACOG) 2009 Regional Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Master Plan because of the barrier to non-motorized regional connectivity. The identification of this project as a high priority improvement supports the assumption that this overcrossing is needed and will be used.
Action to be taken by Department following Board approval:
1) A Notice of Determination will be filed with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2) Department staff will proceed with the project through completion of the plans, specifications and estimates, and right-of-way acquisition process as funding becomes available.
Contact:
James W. Ware, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: County Counsel