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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04161996 - C77 V � TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS =s . - ��=-����� Contra FROM: TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ni s Costa County DATE: April 1, 1996 rq c 'nf t SUBJECT: Report on the Status of the Carquinez Bridge Retrofit and Replacement Projects SPECIFIC REQUESTS) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I. Recommended Action: ACCEPT report on the status of the Carquinez Bridge Retrofit and Replacement Projects. IL Financial lmpact: No impact to the General Fund. III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background: Caltrans is proceeding with the planning for the Seismic Retrofit and Replacement projects for the Carquinez Bridge. Many issues are surfacing that impact how the projects will be completed as well as issues that affect the local community. Following is a status report on the projects and a summary of some of the key issues. RETROFIT PROJECT 1958 (Easterly) Span The easterly span is to be retrofitted as soon as possible in all scenarios. 1927 (Westerly) Span The issue is whether to proceed with the retrofit or to accelerate the replacement. Caltrans is doing a risk assessment which will drive the decisions on replacement versus retrofit. The study should be completed in 6 months. Continued on Attachment: X SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMI _APPROVE _OTHER SIGNATURES : Jeff SmithV Tom Torlakson SIGNATURE( S): OF BOARD ON April 16 , 19 6 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER_ VOTE OF SUPERVISORS X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: JB:eh g:\transeng\ib\bol Carq.t4 I hereby certify that this is a tnis and correct copy of Orig. Div: Public Works ME) an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Su sora on fm date shown. Contact: Julie Bueren,Tel. 313-2342 ATTESTED: cc: S.Goetz, PW Community Development PHIL BA H LOR,Clerk of the Board William R. Gray Wpervis and County dministrator Caltrans CCTA By w, DODUty Crockett Improvement Association Crockett Chamber of Commerce Report on the Status of the Carquinez Bridge Retrofit and Replacement Projects April 1, 1996 Page 2 III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background: (Continued) CONSTRUCTION DETOUR Construction of either the retrofit or replacement projects would be significantly easier, cheaper and quicker if the ramps to Crockett could be closed during construction. This would necessitate a detour to provide access to Crockett during construction. The Cummings Skyway Extension would be a possible detour route if it were in place. Caltrans has expressed a desire for the County to complete environmental clearance for Cummings Skyway in a time frame such that they could utilize the project as a construction detour for either the retrofit or replacement project. REPLACEMENT PROJECT Ramp Issue There has been discussion on whether the ramps to and from Crockett should be eliminated and replaced with an interchange at Cummings Skyway. This would necessitate the construction of the Cummings Skyway Extension as mitigation for the project. Caltrans is preparing an operational analysis that will look at this option. The analysis should be completed in May. Caltrans will also study an alternative that looks at using the Cummings Skyway interchange with a frontage road as access to Crockett. Historic Significance of the Bridge Because the 1927 Span and the southbound off ramp are on the Registry of Historic Places they have protections that go with that designation. Caltrans will have to consider that when they do the environmental process. A factor also is the risk analysis which must examine the consequences of not retrofitting the 1927 Span. This may lead to its removal. Esthetics of New Span Careful consideration was given to the design of the 1958 Span. It had to meet the same appearance as the 1927 Span. Caltrans is considering the use of a cable-stayed bridge type. This has a completely different appearance from any bridge on the Bay. It would be a significant structure in that there is only one other in the world comparable in length and number of spans. COMMUNITY ISSUES Caltrans needs to recognize the impact of the bridge project on the community of Crockett. What should be done to make the .community whole? How will local impacts of the retrofit or replacement project be mitigated? How will the community be compensated for the hardship? The County has initiated a dialogue with interested members of the community on these local issues. There have been several meetings, the last being in June 1993. The ramp closures and Cummings Skyway Extension alternative access were discussed with Caltrans stating that they would consider those alternatives for the environmental study. Seismic retrofit was not discussed. REGIONAL ISSUES High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes Between State Route 4 and Carquinez Bridge This would complete the HOV lanes from State Route 4 to the Bridge. This is part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's draft plan for the 1-80 Corridor Study. Funding is a key issue here since it is the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's position that this should be bridge replacement mitigation. Rail/Transit Access Across Bridge Caltrans is currently looking at the possibility. However this may not be the place to invest significant capital for improvements. The 1-80 Corridor Study essentially writes off a rail corridor on 1-80 due to its expense. This may also have local impacts if transit access requires more right of way through Crockett. 7� Report on the Status of the Carquinez Bridge Retrofit and Replacement Projects April 1, 1996 Page 3 III. Reasons for Recommendations and Background: (Continued) Crockett Intermodal Facility Crockett could be an ideal site for an intermodal transfer point for western Solano, Napa and Contra Costa County transfers to Amtrak or Commuter Rail. A station site at the western end of the Cummings Skyway Extension would be an alternative to the proposed station site in Crockett. Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Trail and bicycle advocates will push for pedestrian and bicycle facilities on the Bridge, which must connect to local facilities. CUMMINGS SKYWAY EXTENSION PROJECT If it is determined that Caltrans needs Cummings Skyway Extension, either as a construction detour or for Crockett access mitigation, then Caltrans should fund the construction of the Cummings Skyway Extension project as part of the bridge project. This would free up much of the Unocal Community Transportation Fund for other community priorities. The County is proceeding with the environmental clearance and preliminary design for the Cummings Skyway Extension project per the communities' priorities and the expenditure plan for the Unocal Community Transportation Fund adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The conditions of Approval for the Point Crockett project require Wickland Oil to dedicate the right of way for the Cummings Skyway Extension project. The County will prepare the right of way maps for dedication. The Cummings Skyway Extension project is to provide additional access to the communities of Rodeo and Crockett and to reduce truck traffic through the towns. The environmental analysis for the County project will not consider Cummings Skyway Extension as a replacement for the ramps at the bridge. This would be done by Caltrans as part of the bridge environmental document.