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Department of Transportation recommending the Board of Supervisors take the following actions pertaining to the Saratoga Way Extension Project:
1) Certify that:
a) The Environmental Impact Report on the Saratoga Way Extension Project dated May 2010 has been completed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act;
b) The Board has reviewed and considered the information within the Environmental Impact Report prior to approving the project; and
c) The Environmental Impact Report reflects the independent judgment of the Board as adequate to approve the project.
2) Adopt the Findings of Fact Related to the Certification of the Environmental Impact Report on the Saratoga Way Extension Project dated May 2010.
3) Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring Plan.
4) Approve the project as described in this staff report and in the Environmental Impact Report.
FUNDING: Transportation Impact Mitigation Fees.
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Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no fiscal impact or change to Net County Cost associated with approval of this project and certification of this Environmental Impact Report.
These actions are based upon the Findings of Fact Related to the Certification of the Environmental Impact Report on the Saratoga Way Extension Project (Attachment 1).
Background:
Project Location: Saratoga Way is located east of El Dorado Hills Boulevard, approximately one-quarter mile north of the US Highway 50/El Dorado Hills Boulevard interchange in the community of El Dorado Hills in western El Dorado County. Saratoga Way currently runs westward for approximately one-half mile until it terminates just west of its intersection with Finders Way. The proposed Project would extend Saratoga Way to intersect with the stub out of Iron Point Road at the boundary of El Dorado County and the City of Folsom, approximately one-half mile due west.
Objectives of Project: The extension of Saratoga Way as a four-lane divided (in Phase 2) road to the western County boundary is identified as a future improvement in the 2004 El Dorado County General Plan Circulation Element and Circulation Map. The extension of Saratoga Way to Iron Point Road would provide access for local trips between El Dorado Hills and the City of Folsom and would provide parallel capacity to the north of US Highway 50 between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Iron Point Road. The Project would also provide continuous pedestrian and bicycle facilities between areas of the community of El Dorado Hills and the City of Folsom. The El Dorado County Bicycle Transportation Plan (El Dorado County 2005) identifies Class II bicycle lanes as a Tier 2 improvement on this segment of Saratoga Way.
Project Description: In Phase 1, the County would extend Saratoga Way approximately 2,300 feet from its existing western terminus to Iron Point Road as a two-lane facility. Improvements would also be made to the existing segment of Saratoga Way from the current western terminus to approximately 1,200 fee east of Finders Way. Phase 1 would include the installation/replacement of Class II bicycle lanes along the entire Phase 1 segment of Saratoga Way and a paved pedestrian path from Finders Way to the County line.
Phase 2 of the Project would widen Saratoga Way to four lanes between El Dorado Hills Boulevard and Iron Point Road. Phase 2 would also include Class II bicycle lanes along the entire segment of Saratoga Way and a pedestrian walkway along the northern side of Saratoga Way from Finders Way to the County line. Phase 2 would install traffic signals at Finders Way and Arrowhead Drive and would prohibit left turns from Mammoth Way onto Saratoga Way.
Agency and Public Notification: The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was made available for public and agency review and comment between August 13 and September 28, 2009. The document was made available for review by the public at the Department of Transportation (DOT) public counter, 2850 Fairlane Court in Placerville, and at the County Libraries in Placerville and El Dorado Hills, as well as the DOT website at http://www.co.el-dorado.ca.us/DOT/ceqa.html.
On September 8, 2009, during the Draft EIR circulation period, the DOT hosted a public meeting on the Saratoga Way Extension Project. The purpose of the meeting was to provide general information about the Project and the environmental review process and to allow individuals to provide oral comments on the Draft EIR. A summary of the public meeting, including comments provided by meeting attendees, is provided in Section 2 of the Final EIR document.
A total of fifteen (15) comment sets, including letters, electronic mail messages and public meeting comments, were received during the Draft EIR circulation period. These comments are included in their entirety in Section 2 of the Final EIR and the County's responses to the individual comments/issues contained within each comment set are provided.
Final EIR: Following consideration of the comments received, the DOT has completed a Final EIR dated May 2010, containing copies of all comments and the County's response to those comments. In the course of reviewing and responding to comments received during the public review and comment period on the Draft EIR, supplemental analysis of indoor and outdoor noise levels was conducted to verify information and impact conclusions presented in the Draft EIR. The supplemental analysis is included in the Final EIR and does not alter the impact determinations presented in the Draft EIR.
Mitigation Measures: The County will adopt and implement a mitigation monitoring plan which includes any mitigation measures adopted in conjunction with the Project. A Mitigation Monitoring Plan is included as Attachment B of the Final EIR document.
Project Construction: The DOT would retain a construction contractor who would be responsible for compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and ordinances associated with construction activities and for implementation of the adopted construction-related mitigation measures.
Action to be taken by the DOT following Board approval:
1) The DOT will file a Notice of Determination with the office of the County Recorder/Clerk.
2) DOT staff will proceed with the Project through completion of plans, specifications and estimates.
Contact:
James W. Ware, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: County Counsel