DATE: November 17, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Freeway Maintenance Agreement with California Department of Transportation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Freeway Maintenance Agreement with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), clarifying and defining the division of maintenance and responsibilities between the agencies with regard to County streets, frontage roads and other State constructed local streets along State Highway Route (SR) 99, effective upon execution by both parties and remaining in effect until terminated by mutual written consent.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost (NCC) associated with this item. Approval of the recommended action would update the current Freeway Maintenance Agreement, clarify maintenance responsibilities between the County and Caltrans for designated facilities along SR 99, which was last updated August 3, 1965. The item pertains to locations in Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, maintenance responsibilities will not be clearly defined, and the existing Freeway Maintenance Agreement will remain in effect and the proposed updates to the division of maintenance responsibilities between the County and Caltrans would not be implemented.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no NCC associated with this item, as the Agreement defines the responsibilities of the County and Caltrans in regard to affected County streets and roads that intersect with SR 99. County would be responsible for costs associated with its assigned maintenance obligations. Maintenance costs associated with the County’s responsibilities will continue to be funded through existing Department appropriations.
DISCUSSION:
The Agreement with Caltrans is for the clarification and delineation of responsibilities for both the County and Caltrans for County-maintained streets and roads that share right-of-way with SR 99. The most recent executed agreement was executed on August 3, 1965, and as such, needs to be updated. This Agreement supersedes the prior Agreements.
The Agreement also defines the types of facilities that are covered. These facilities include vehicular and non-vehicular undercrossings, vehicular and non-vehicular overcrossings, retaining walls, columns and soundwalls, landscaping, screening, interchange operations and bicycle paths.
The County-maintained roads that are addressed in the Agreement are the intersections of SR 99 and Bethel Avenue, Adams Avenue, Clovis Avenue, American Avenue, Chestnut Avenue and Central Avenue, which are the county-maintained roads that intersect with SR 99.
The recommended agreement deviates from the County’s standard in that it contains mutual indemnification and mutual insurance clauses. The mutual indemnification and mutual insurance clauses have been reviewed by Risk Management and deemed to be acceptable for this agreement between public entities. The Department has determined the benefits of this agreement outweigh any potential risks.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Caltrans developed the Agreement.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Freeway Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia