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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08051997 - C120 l TO,,:. " BOARD OF SUPERVISORS r Contra FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Costa DATE: August 5, 1997 County SUBJECT: Report on State Route 4 Gap Closure Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report SPECIFIC REQUEST (S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS AUTHORIZE the Chair to send the attached comment letter on the State Route 4 Gap Closure Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) . FISCAL IMPACT No impact to the County General Fund. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The California Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (DEIS/R) for the State Route 4 Gap Improvement Project . The DEIS/R comment period closes on August 5, 1997 . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE E ;� /anciamilla T • r SIGNATURE (S) : Donna Ge r, Chair ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Patrick Roche - (510/335-1242) Orig: Community Development Department (CDD) ATTESTED cc : PHIL HELD , CLERK OF CONTRA COSTA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY THE BO OF SUPERVISORS CITY OF HERCULES ANDUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WCCTAC BY � ,DEPUTY PR:aw bo\j:proch\wcctac\tcgapeis Report on' State Route 4 Gap Closure Project DEIS/R August 5, 1997 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS !continued) The State Route 4 Gap Improvement Project is in response to the need to improve safety and traffic operations along a 4 .7 mile segment of Route 4 between Cummings Skyway and I-80 . The segment of Route 4 is a two-lane, two-direction, undivided highway. The proposed project is designed to mitigate safety and congestion concerns to ensure that Route 4 can effectively function as a primary east-west interregional corridor in northern Contra Costa County. Although the Contra Costa Transportation Authority is considered the project sponsor for the State Route 4 Gap Improvement Project, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration are the designated lead agencies for the DEIS/R because the project proposes to improve a state-owned highway facility that requires federal regulatory permits and approvals . The project DEIS/R describes the various project alternatives and identifies potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures . Per the Board of Supervisors ' request from July 15, 1997, the Transportation Committee reviewed the DEIS/R and considered staff recommended comments on the environmental document at its July 21, 1997 meeting. Based on this review, the Transportation Committee recommends the Board authorize the Chair to send the attached comment letter to Caltrans on the State Route 4 Gap Improvement Project DEIS/R. The, Board of Supervisors Contra SII�� County Administration Building cuAdmi�•� 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Costa y Martinez,Calitomia 94553-1293 County Jim Roper,1st District e e L Gayle B.Uilkema,2nd District -- o" Donna Garber,3rd District %/ ' - - '• Nark DeSaWnler,4th District -_ Joe Canclunilla,5th District os •� '9 COUh'� August 5, 1997 Mr. Mitch Alavi Branch Chief, District 04 California Department of Transportation 111 Grand Avenue P.O. Box 23660 Oakland, CA 94623-0660 SUBJECT: Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Route 4 West Gap Improvement Project Dear Mr. Alavi: Thank you for the opportunity to review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Route 4 West Gap Improvement Project. On behalf of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, I want to express our commitment to work with the Department of Transportation(CalTrans) , Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA),the City of Hercules, and other interested parties toward a timely completion of a project to upgrade and improve the 4.7 mile gap on Route 4 through Franklin Canyon. We offer the following comments on the draft document: General Comments 1. Support Ultimate Goal to Construct a Full Freeway When Financially Feasible The Board of Supervisors supports,when financially feasible,the ultimate construction of a four-lane facility (two lanes in each direction)to full freeway standards for the 4.7 mile segment of Route 4 between I-80 and Cummings Skyway along the alignment footprint immediately north of the existing roadway for Route 4. This support would include retention of the existing roadway as a frontage road that would provide access to properties in the corridor and limit the need for an additional interchange. Page Two Route 4 DEIS/R Comment Ltr. 8/5/97 2. Support an Upgraded Conventional Highway (Four Travel Lanes Divided)As an Interim Measure As an interim measure until such time as funding for a full freeway becomes available, the Board of Supervisors believes CalTrans and CCTA should aggressively pursue an upgraded conventional highway for the gap segment of Route 4 based on a design objective which will correct the worst safety problems by dividing four travel lanes (two lanes in each direction) between 1-80 and Cummings Skyway and ease the eventual conversion of the 4.7 mile segment to a full freeway standard. 3. Encourage Project Design to Safest Standards The selected alternatives for the upgraded conventional highway and the ultimate full freeway for Route 4 through Franklin Canyon should be designed to the highest safety standards and least overall impact. It is our firm belief that the project design for an upgraded conventional highway should not only eliminate the worst existing safety problems but also avoid creating any potential new safety problems. The approved alternative for the upgraded conventional highway should be one which will reduce roadway geometric deficiencies, increase operational efficiencies, and improve safety. If exceptions to established state mandated design standards are to be considered,they should neither create new operational/safety problems nor exacerbate existing operational/safety problems. The selected project alternative for the upgraded conventional highway must clearly indicate an ability to provide a high level of operational safety and efficiency. 4. Overcrossing Preference for Burlinoon Northern Santa Fe Railroad Tracks The selected alternative for Route 4 Gap Improvement under both the upgraded conventional highway and ultimate full freeway should include the provision for the four travel lanes to over cross the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad tracks just east of the Franklin Canyon Golf Course. 5. More Review of Local Access Options for Christie Road and Franklin Canyon Golf Course In reviewing various alignment alternatives,the DEIS/R provides a good discussion on project access to various commercial and residential uses within the corridor. However, the document should provide more specific review of local access options for Christie Road and the Franklin Canyon Golf Course under each alternative studied. Page Three Route 4 DEIS/R Comment Ltr. 8/5/97 6. Encourage Project Design to Preserve Scenic/Natural Characteristics of Franklin Canyon Both the proposed interim upgraded conventional highway and the ultimate full freeway for Route 4 should be designed to preserve the scenic and natural characteristics of Franklin Canyon consistent with the policy guidelines described in the Contra Costa General Plan (1991). 7. Consider Provisions for Bicycle Access The document should address how the project would incorporate direct bicycle access for the alternatives described under both the upgraded conventional highway and full freeway, such as incorporating bicycle lanes or adequate shoulder width and signage into the project design. At a minimum the document should consider other bicycle routes or other access alternatives in the corridor in lieu of incorporating bicycle lanes or added shoulder width into the project design. 8. Selection Process for A Preferred Alignment It is noted that the document does not at this time identify a preferred alignment option among the four options considered for both the upgraded conventional highway and full freeway. It would be our expectation that selection of a preferred alignment option for the project will be done in consultation and in concurrence with the two jurisdictions most directly affected, the County and City of Hercules, and, of course,the Contra Costa Transportation Authority as the project sponsor. Specific Comments 9. Section 1.8 Required Permits and Approvals pages 1-6 to 1-7 The air quality conformance procedure for transportation projects as required by MTC's Resolution 2270 should be listed as a Required Permit and Approval. 10. Section 3.5 Alternatives Considered but Withdrawn from Further Consideration. 12aees 3- 11 to -14 The County supports the findings described in this section of the document which describes various alternatives and non-standard design features considered through the Major Investment Study (MIS) and environmental scoping process but withdrawn from further consideration. Page Four Route 4 DEIS/R Comment Ltr. 8/5/97 11. Section 3.8 Project Costs,2a eg 3-15 It would be very helpful to provide reviewers of the DEIS/R with a table breaking down the cost estimates for each the various alternative considered for both the upgraded conventional highway and the ultimate full freeway. 12. Section 6.1 Land Use Regulatory Setting,nage 6.1-8 The text under the heading"Contra Costa County Urban Limit Line"should be corrected to note the difference between Measure C (1990) and Measure C (1988). Measure C (1990) established the urban limit line in Contra Costa County, and Measure C (1988) established the '/z cent sales tax program for transportation improvements. 13. Section 6.12. Biological Resources Species Status, page 6.12-9 Note that the daisy flower called "Contra Costa goldfields"identified in the area of potential project impact should be relisted from Special Species Status to Endangered Species Status. 14. Section 7.6.1. Full Freeway (Alternative 2) Local Access Mitigation,page 7.6-3 The existing two lane roadway will be converted to a frontage road under the Route 4 full freeway alternatives. Under the upgraded conventional highway alternatives, certain improvements would be made to the existing roadway. These improvements, even with the necessary exceptions to state design standards, should include elements that would increase operational safety of the two lane roadway toward its future function as a frontage road, such as geometrics for driveways onto the frontage road. 15. Section 7.6.2. Upgraded Highway (Alternative 3)Local Access Mitigation,pages 7.6-5 to 7.6-9 The document provides a review of possible mitigation measures to deal with operational and safety concerns under the upgraded conventional highway alternatives,particularly those results from allowing left turns which cross the mainline travel lanes at proposed unsignalized intersections. More consideration should be given to restricting left turns and/or crossings at these unsignalized intersections during peak hours as a mitigation measure to prevent future safety hazards. Page Five Route 4 DEIS/R Comment Ltr. 8/5/97 16. Section 7.17 Construction Impacts Traffic DisaMt-ion/Construction Staging,page 7-17. Perhaps it was an oversight, but Table 1-1, Summary of Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts does not include the Project's Construction Impacts as described in Section 7.17. Section 7-17 in the document does provide a general description of construction impacts and lists CalTrans' standard package of construction mitigation measures. Project construction will inevitably lead to some disruption and inconvience for motorists who now have an unimpeded direct travel connection between West County and Central County via Route 4 through Franklin Canyon. We recommend that Caltrans develop and implement a more comprehensive traffic mitigation plan to mitigate traffic impacts during project construction. This traffic mitigation plan should be prepared in consultation with the City of Hercules, Contra Costa County, California Highway Patrol, other agencies, and local property owners, and should be tailored to deal with the unique conditions and setting for Route 4. Contra Costa County appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the Route 4 West Gap Improvement Project. We look forward to working with the CalTrans, CCTA, City of Hercules, and other concerned interests on completing this critical project. Should you have any questions regarding Contra Costa County's comments,please contact Lowell Tunison, Transportation Engineering Division, Contra Costa County Public Works Department, at(510) 313-2382, or, Patrick Roche, Transportation Planning Division, Contra Costa Community Development Department, at(510) 335-1242. Sincerely, vm*a�- Mark DeSaulnier, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors cc: R.McCleary,CCTA K.Hobbs,City Manager,City of Hercules L.Hogeboom,WCCTAC MD S/PR:j\proch\wcctac\4gape i s