DATE: July 11, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Request by City of Fresno to Obtain Road Easements in the County
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Approve City of Fresno’s request to acquire a road easement without eminent domain action from one parcel adjacent to existing County road right-of-way in unincorporated areas of the County as needed in conjunction with the City’s capital improvement project for traffic signal modifications at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Shields Avenue.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will facilitate the City’s request to acquire additional road easement at the southwest corner of the intersection (see Vicinity Map and attached Exhibit A for the right-of-way acquisition area). The City has been advised that the Board’s approval of this item will not include approval to undertake eminent domain proceedings. The City is proposing to install traffic signal modifications to provide protected left turn movements for all legs of the intersection.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
There is no alternative that is viable for this action. Denial of this action will result in the inability of the City to construct the traffic signal modifications as required for the protected left turn movements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be no Net County Cost for this recommended action. The City has initiated this request per letter (see attached Exhibit B) and paid $320 for processing of this request in accordance with the Master Schedule of Fees. The City will acquire an easement for road right-of-way from a private property owner. The City, through its contractor, will construct the road improvements with no fiscal impact to the County. Construction management of the work will be performed by the City, and County personnel will provide oversight inspection of the improvements through application of an encroachment permit for the work in County areas. Maintenance of the traffic signal improvements within the acquired area will be provided by the City’s Department of Public Works.
DISCUSSION:
The City developed a Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact (TSMI) fee that is assessed to new developments to help offset costs for traffic signals in the expanded City boundary. Based upon traffic signal warrants and collision history analysis, the City has determined that the construction of this modified traffic signal is needed at this time to mitigate traffic delays and collision occurrences experienced at the intersection. As part of the traffic signal improvements, the City will be modifying the curb ramps at the intersection to make them compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
The current street improvements at this intersection include left turn pockets for all legs of the intersection; however, there is not a separate signal phase to provide for protected left turn movements. There are also painted crosswalks on all four legs on the intersection, but not all corners include ADA-compliant ramps. The proposed road improvements will provide separate left turn phasing for the intersection, and provide new pedestrian ramps that are ADA-compliant. The right-of-way being acquired is needed at one corner for the ramp and signal modifications.
Section 1810 of the Streets and Highways Code provides the basis for the City to request this action by the Board of Supervisors. The newly acquired road right-of-way will be maintained by the City in accordance with the code section.
The proposed right-of-way acquisition is consistent with the project improvement plans provided by the City. County Department of Public Works and Planning staff has reviewed the plans for the street improvements, and any work within the County road right-of-way will be processed through an encroachment permit.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
This item has been initiated at the written request of the City of Fresno (see Exhibit B). A copy of this Agenda Item has been provided to the City per their request.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Map
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays