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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02022010 - C.2RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE the Alhambra Valley Road Safety and Bicycle Facility Improvements project (East of APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 02/02/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYES 5 NOES ____ ABSENT ____ ABSTAIN ____ RECUSE ____ Contact: Claudia Gemberling (925) 313-2192 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: February 2, 2010 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy cc: Emma Kuevor, Affirmative Action Officer, Stephen Ybarra, Auditor Controller, Sylvia Alcantar, DCD, John Pulliam, Design, Marlon Epps, Environmental C. 2 To:Board of Supervisors From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Date:February 2, 2010 Contra Costa County Subject:APPROVE the Alhambra Valley Road Safety and Bicycle Facility Improvements project (East of Castro Ranch Road). RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D) Castro Ranch Road), and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director to advertise the project. [DCD-CP# 07-56] Project No.: 0662-6R4095, and FIND, on the basis of the Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment, and ADOPT the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation and Monitoring Reporting Plan in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (the custodian of which is the Department of Conservation and Development Director who is located at 651 Pine Street, Martinez), and AUTHORIZE the Director of Department of Conservation and Development to file a Notice of Determination with the County Clerk, and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director to arrange for payment of a $50.00 fee to the County Clerk for filing the Notice of Determination, a fee of $2,010.25 for California Department of Fish and Game fees, and a $25.00 fee to the Department of Conservation and Development for processing. FISCAL IMPACT: The estimated project cost is $1,505,520.00 funded by Proposition 1B (55%) and the federal High Risk Rural Road (HRRR) program (45%). BACKGROUND: The Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) proposes to realign and widen a 1,200-foot long section of Alhambra Valley Road starting approximately 4,600 feet east of Castro Ranch Road between Pinole and Martinez to provide shoulders and clear recovery areas for motorists to regain full control of their vehicles should they veer off the traveled way. The project will also meet the design standards for a bicycle route. Adjacent land uses include restricted open space within the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) watershed including the Pinole Creek riparian corridor south of road. The road is currently 24 feet wide and will be widened an additional 5 feet on each side for the shoulders resulting in a 34-foot-wide paved road. The majority of the work will take place on the north side of the road with minor realignment and soil stabilization improvements occurring on the south side of the road. Approximately 30,000 cubic yards of soil will be excavated from the slopes on the north side of the road. Due to some relatively steep topography along the north side of the road, retaining wall construction may be necessary. The retaining wall would be up to 20 feet in height and 100 feet in length. Soil removed from the slope will either be placed adjacent to the cut slope or hauled off-site. If soil is to be placed on adjacent areas, it will conform to the existing topography of the hill and will be compacted and hydroseeded appropriately. Project construction is planned for summer 2011 and will be completed by fall 2011. At least one lane of traffic will be open at all times during construction activities. The project will not cause an increase in traffic or encourage changes to existing land use patterns; therefore no new vehicle trips are expected to occur. The project will result in permanent and temporary impacts to Alameda whipsnake designated critical habitat and California red-legged frog upland habitat. Permanent impacts will be mitigated off-site by purchasing credits from a United States Fish and Wildlife Service-approved mitigation bank or funding a local land preservation trust that supports the creation, enhancement and/or restoration of habitat for these species. Temporary impacts will be mitigated on-site. Avoidance measures will also be implemented during construction to prevent direct and indirect impacts to these species as well as other protected species that have the potential to occur in the area. CCCPWD will need to acquire land from the EBMUD in areas where the existing right-of-way cannot accommodate the realignment, shoulder widening, and utility relocations. Therefore, real property transactions including rights of entry, temporary construction easements, slope easements, and permanent fee title property acquisition will be necessary in support of the project. No comments on the Mitigated Negative Declaration were received during the public comment period. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: Delay in approving the project may jeopardize funding.