HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08021994 - S.5 TO: _, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS S.
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FROM: Mark DeSaulnier .I �, 4''.•
Contra
`I " Costa
a� s
DATE: August 2, 1994 County
rT'9 C-iiN'Y'{ 4
SUBJECT: Request Letter Be Sent to Governor Wilson re Continuing
Funding for 1680/SR24 Construction Project
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATIONS)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
Request that the Board of Supervisors send a letter to Governor Wilson requesting his
assistance to assure that funding continues for the completion of the 1680/SR24
construction project.
BACKGROUND
The 1680-SR24 construction project is on time and proceeding to bidding for the next
phases. However, the Legislature has mandated that earthquake-safety retrofitting
has the highest priority over other projects. Because this major arterial through central
Contra Costa County is of extreme importance to the economic vitality and viability
of the entire region, it is critical that we seek the Governor's assistance to insure that
funding continues for this construction project.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON '2 9 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS{ABSENT _ AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE D TE SHOWN.
CC: Community Development-Transp. Planning ATTESTED
PHIL BATCHELOR, ERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AN OUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88) BY
,DEPUTY
s.s
r Phil Batchelor
Ti(e B6ard of Supervisors Contra Clerk oi the Board
Costa and
County Administration Building County Administrator
651 Pine Street, Room 106 (510)646-2371
Martinez, California 94553-1293 County
Tom Powers,1st District
cE
Jeff Smith,2nd District
Gayle Bishop,3rd District
Mark DeSaulnier,4th District i
Tom Torlakson,5th District
Cols
August 9, 1994
Governor Pete Wilson
State Capital
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Wilson:
On behalf of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to request your
assistance in assuring the State's commitment to completing the Interstate 680/State Route 24
interchange construction project. It has been brought to our attention that there has been a shift
in the State's transportation funding program giving highest priority to seismic repair and retrofit
of the highway system, and this could mean a significant delay in completion of the I-680/SR-24
interchange project.
We recognize that seismic retrofit and repair of the highway system is imperative and that the
State is under severe transportation funding constraints with many competing demands for
limited funds. However, we believe that completion of vital projects, such as the new I-680/SR-
24 interchange which is currently under construction, is also essential.
The I-680/SR-24 interchange project in Walnut Creek, which is of critical importance to the
economic health of Contra Costa County and the East Bay, is being constructed in phases and
is currently in the middle of completion. Today, we have a partially completed interchange in
which nearly 300,000 vehicles must daily pass through a "temporary" two-lane bottleneck.
Contra Costa County residents and businesses have willingly endured many months of traffic
congestion, travel delay and inconvenience resulting from construction in anticipation of the day
when a new, improved interchange will be completed. Unless the State commits funding to
crucial construction phases, County residents and businesses are facing the prospect of using a
"temporary" and substandard highway interchange past the original completion date to at least
the Year 2000. This will result in worsening travel delays and inconvenience for not only
Contra County, but for much of the East Bay.
As your Administration evaluates which non-seismic highway projects should proceed under the
constrained transportation funding environment, we ask that you consider following facts about
the I-680/SR-24 interchange project:
• Part of the Interstate Highway ystem Completion. The interstate system has
been under development and construction since 1956, and there are only a few
Governor Wilson Date: August 9, 1994
I-680/SR 24 Project
components which remain to be completed. The I-680/SR-24 interchange is a part
of the interstate highway system, and this construction project, is one of only
three remaining interstate completion projects in the entire state. Almost all of
the I-680/ SR-24 project is funded from the federal highway trust fund.
i
• Large Project Already Under Construction. Major community disruption, traffic
detours, and temporary, substandard highway alignments are not addressed if
subsequent phases of the project are halted. The work completed to date on I-
680/SR-24 is a prelude to the most crucial freeway to freeway connectors in the
next construction phases.
• Project Lies Within a Major Congested Corridor and Will Reduce Congestion and
Improve Safety. The I-680/SR-24 interchange is the fifth most congested location
in the Bay Area. When completed, the new interchange will improve traffic flow
and safety.
• Long-Standing Commitment. This project dates back to the 1988 State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) which legislatively mandated
commitment for delivery. In fact, this project pre-dates the 1988 STIP having
been included in the STIP as long ago as 1983.
• Project Readiness. The next construction phase of the I-680/SR-24 interchange
project, the critical freeway to freeway connectors, is ready for contract signing.
Two additional phases are nearly ready for contract.
• Significant Local Funding Committed. Although most of the actual construction
cost for the I-680/SR-24 interchange is federally funded, there is approximately
$20 million in both county sales tax funds and city funds dedicated toward local
access improvements for the interchange project.
• Replaces Older Freeway Bridges in Fault Areas. This project will replace the
existing interchange freeway structures which are located near at least three major
active earthquake faults ( Hayward, Calaveras, and Concord faults ).
In summary the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors urges your Administration to
continue funding commitments that will insure the timely completion of the I-680/SR-24
interchange project.
Thank you for consideration of our views.
Sinter
Tom Powers, Chair
Board of Supervisors .
cc: State Legislative delegation
U. S. Reps. Baker and Miller
Contra Costa Transportation Authority