DATE: April 14, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Alta Main Canal Bridge Replacement Project on Frankwood Avenue (Initial Study Application No. 7594, SCH No. 2020029045), Federal Project Number BRLO-5942(247)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the Alta Main Canal Bridge Replacement Project on North Frankwood Avenue No. 42C0289 (Initial Study Application No. 7594, SCH No. 2020029045), Federal Project Number BRLO-5942(247).
REPORT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Department of Public Works and Planning prepared an Initial Study (IS), which determined that mitigation measures are required to reduce project impacts on the environment to a less than significant level, see Exhibit A. A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) have been prepared for the Alta Main Canal Bridge Replacement Project (Project), see Exhibit B and C. This item pertains to a location in District 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to adopt the MND if determined that a significant environmental impact may result from the Project, then direct the Department to modify the MMRP or prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Project is eligible for 100% reimbursement of costs, under the Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Roads Org 4510 FY 2019-20 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
According to CEQA Guidelines Section 15063(c), the purpose of an IS is for the Lead Agency to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment, and whether a Negative Declaration, a MND, or an EIR should be prepared. If an IS identifies any significant impacts, the Lead Agency may modify the project, to eliminate or reduce the impacts to a less than significant level. If mitigation measures are required to reduce environmental impacts to a less than significant level, a MND and an accompanying MMRP are prepared. The EIR is required if the IS determines the project may have a significant impact on the environment that cannot be reduced to a less than significant level.
IS No. 7594 (see Exhibit A) indicates there is no evidence that the Project will have a significant impact on the environment with the implementation of mitigation measures. For this reason, a MND and accompanying MMRP are required for the Project. The MMRP includes mitigation measures to address potential impacts to Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Hazards and Hazardous Waste, Land Use and Planning, and Tribal Cultural Resources. The recommended action consists of the adoption of the MND in conformance with CEQA.
The County posted and circulated the Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration, attached hereto as Exhibit A, on February 14, 2020 as required by section 15072 of the CEQA Guidelines. The County did not receive comments that were not fully addressed in the IS, from any interested parties or other members of the public.
The existing bridge on North Frankwood Avenue over Alta Main Canal, approximately 1.15 miles south of Piedra Road and 1.7 miles north of State Route 180, is a functionally obsolete four-span cast-in-place/reinforced concrete bridge with asphalt deck surfacing that was built in 1925. It is integrated with a controlled weir structure that stretches the full length of the bridge, which is owned and operated by Alta Irrigation District (District). The Project will address the transverse deck cracking over the bents, longitudinal and pattern cracking, insufficient curb-to-curb clear width, narrow traffic lanes without shoulders, narrow and winding approach roads with poor sight distance, and guardrails and railings that do not meet American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards. The Project will replace the bridge and improve overall safety conditions along North Frankwood Avenue.
The replacement bridge would be a three-span, cast-in-place, concrete slab bridge located on a new alignment slightly downstream of the existing bridge and approximately 35-feet wide by 145-feet long, with two 12-foot wide traffic lanes and two 4-foot wide shoulders, which will meet current standards improving sight distance of the bridge compared to existing conditions. The west bridge approach extends about 460 feet from the bridge and the east extends about 345 feet from the bridge.
The new alignment would require the driveways that serve the properties north of Frankwood Avenue and the canal access roads to be modified to conform to the new roadway alignment and profile. The access road to the District field office, located northwest of bridge, will also be realigned to conform to the new roadway alignment. The District owns and operates the Alta Main Canal and associated right-of-way (ROW). The Department will work with the District to schedule construction of the Project and obtain ROW for the new alignment. The roadway and bridge alignment may require additional ROW acquisition from two adjacent private properties, and project construction would require temporary construction easements from the District and nearby property owners.
During Project construction, vehicular traffic on North Frankwood Avenue would be maintained using the existing bridge and roadway. Once the Project is completed, the existing bridge would remain intact and continue to serve as an irrigation control structure. Access to the bridge would be limited to the District, with no general traffic allowed on the bridge after the replacement bridge is operational, estimated by 2022.
Based on the IS, Department staff has concluded that preparation of an EIR is not required for the Project. The Department recommends adoption of an MND based on the findings of IS No. 7594. A Notice of Intent to adopt an MND for the Project was published in the Fresno Business Journal on February 14, 2020.
With your Board’s approval, the MND will be adopted for the Project on North Frankwood Avenue. It is anticipated that the Department will return to your Board requesting approval to award the construction contract in 2022. Plans and specifications are being prepared by the Department’s consultant, MGE Engineering, Inc.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Development of the Project was coordinated with Caltrans, who provides oversight on local projects where Federal funds are allocated.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
Exhibit A - C
CAO ANALYST:
Debbie Paolinelli