DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Bernard Jimenez, Interim Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Proposed new alignment of Fowler and Clovis Avenue over the High Speed Rail alignment
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve an alternative alignment of Fowler Avenue and Clovis Avenue over the High Speed Rail alignment.
REPORT
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
The Board may deny the alternative alignment for Fowler and Clovis Avenues. The denial of the alternative alignment for Fowler and Clovis Avenues will require the construction of a grade separation per the Cooperative Agreement executed by the Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost associated with the recommended action. Staff’s time to prepare the agenda item is funded by the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) through a reimbursement agreement.
DISCUSSION:
During the environmental review and the High Speed Rail (HSR) alignment selection process, County staff working with HSR identified roads that are necessary for transportation of agricultural goods or to provide regional connectivity. If a road is determined to be critical for transportation of agricultural goods or provides connectivity to State Highway 99 or 41, staff required the construction of a grade separation. On December 10, 2013 Staff brought before the Board a Cooperative Agreement which states which roads can be closed or where a grade separation is required.
The Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) received a request to re-evaluate the grade separation alignment for Clovis Avenue just north of Elkhorn Avenue and Fowler Avenue from Elkhorn Avenue to just north of Davis Avenue. The request to re-evaluate these alignments was initiated by the property owners impacted by the project. Working with HSR, Staff has been able to identify an alternative alignment that will minimize the amount of right-of-way that needs to be acquired.
The location and alignment of the grade separation approved by the Board for Fowler Avenue and Clovis Avenue is an “S” alignment, perpendicular to HSR alignment. The proposed location of the grade separation deviates from the current road alignment for Fowler and Clovis Avenues. To construct Fowler and Clovis Avenue, HSR would need to acquire 26 acres and 25 acres respectively. This would represent acquisition of 51 acres of land that is currently utilized for agriculture.
Property owners who are affected by HSR requested Staff to re-evaluate and consider an alternative that would minimize the amount of agricultural land that will be lost. With HSR cooperation, several alignments for Fowler and Clovis Avenues were explored. The new grade separation for Fowler Avenue will remain on the existing road alignment. Currently, the existing right of way for Fowler is 4.13 acres. HSR will need to acquire an additional 24 acres along Fowler Avenue to construct slopes for the grade separation. For Clovis Avenue, based on daily traffic count and the number of residents this road serves, the Staff feels the grade separation is not necessary. For this reason, it is proposed that Clovis Avenue to be closed at the HSR alignment by constructing a cul-de-sac.
To build a cul-de-sac, HSR would need to acquire less than one (1) acre of land. The modification to Fowler and Clovis Avenue represents saving 23 acres of land that will continue to be utilized for agricultural use. On behalf of the County, the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) contacted all of the residents directly affected by the HSR regarding the proposed changes. EDC reported all of the residents they contacted are supportive of the change. For this reason, Staff is recommending adoption of the new grade separation alignment as proposed by HSR.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #52, December 10, 2013
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE
Location Map
CAO ANALYST
John Hays