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Transportation Department recommending the Board adopt a Resolution sanctioning a "rolling" road closure on Sunday, May 16, 2010 of Rattlesnake, Salmon Falls, Green Valley Road, Silva Valley Parkway and White Rock Road from 1:00 p.m. until the race enters Sacramento County at 3:00 p.m. for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, subject to the conditions set forth in Resolution No. 110-79 dated May 1, 1979 and the Application for Road Closure.
Resolution 055-2010
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no fiscal impact and no change to Net County Cost associated with this item for the Department of Transportation. Other County departments such as the Sheriff's Department may have expenditures related to this road closure depending on their involvement.
Background:
The 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a professional bike race modeled after the Tour de France. The race is governed by the same international cycling federation, follows the same rules, and has the same teams and riders as the Tour de France. The Amgen Tour of California is a shorter event: 8-days versus 21-days. The race consists of 16 teams - each with eight riders. The 2010 race will have eight point to point road stages. The race begins in Nevada City on May 16th and concludes in Thousand Oaks on May 23rd.
Stage 1 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will begin in Nevada City. From there, the race will head south en route to Sacramento, traveling through Grass Valley and Auburn. The race will continue on Highway 49 to Rattlesnake Bar Road, then Salmon Falls Road. The cyclists will have a very short duration on Green Valley Road, then a right onto Silva Valley Parkway and White Rock Road and on into Sacramento County. This stage finishes at the State's Capitol building. Total distance travelled on unincorporated El Dorado County roads is 25 miles that will be covered in just under an hour.
The entire 850 miles of the route has been reviewed and approved by both Caltrans and CHP. The California Travel and Tourism is a key supporter and sponsor of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.
The race organizers will be utilizing the same road closure and crowd control plans that were effective the past four years.
They saw little to no trash along the route for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California event. The fans along the way were well behaved and took whatever trash they may have generated with them when they left the area. Amgen also has a crew that follows the race to collect signage and any obvious trash left by spectators.
Reason for Recommendation:
The race is self-contained and only requires a temporary "rolling" road closure as it moves through the County. Aside from the 128 professional racers, there are approximately 85 vehicles that travel within the race. This includes the California Highway Patrol (CHP), team cars, medical support, mechanical support, race officials, motorcycle marshals, TV crews, etc. The entire race convoy moves as one entity at an average speed of approximately 26 MPH. From the "lead" CHP car to the "follow" CHP car is approximately 1 ½ miles. It takes the race convoy about five minutes to pass any given spot on the road.
The tour requires total road closure that is managed by the CHP. There are four elements to the closure: (1) Cross traffic that flows across the course at an intersection; (2) Traffic moving the same direction and ahead of the race convoy ; (3) Traffic moving the same direction and behind the race convoy ; and (4) Traffic moving towards the race convoy . CHP/Police will allow cross traffic and traffic turning onto the course and heading away from the race until approximately 5-10 minutes before the race convoy reaches the intersection but will prevent cars from turning onto the road heading into the race convoy . Traffic that is behind the race convoy will not be allowed to pass. Traffic that is moving into the race convoy will be stopped approximately 20 minutes before the race reaches any given point.
Traffic management is variable based on the type of road, the amount of traffic and the type and number of opportunities where traffic can be pulled off the road for a short period. Where there are roads that are divided by medians, traffic will be allowed to flow on the side opposite the race.
The Department of Transportation is recommending the Board approve the proposed Resolution for the safety and success of this event. No involved agencies objected to this closure.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1) The Board Clerk will obtain the Chair's signature on the Resolution.
2) The Board Clerk will send an executed copy of the Resolution to the Department of Transportation.
Contact: James W. Ware, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: Risk Management, EDC Sheriff's Department