HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-08 - AGENDA REPORTS - SIERRA HWY BRIDGE NEGDEC (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item: /
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
July 8, 2003
Christopher
RESOLUTION APPROVING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION/CATEGORICAL EXCLUSION PREPARED FOR
THE SIERRA HIGHWAY BRIDGE(S) OVER THE RAILROAD -
PROJECT NO. S3009
Transportation and Engineering Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council adopt a resolution approving the Mitigated Negative Declaration/Categorical
Exclusion prepared for the Sierra Highway Bridge(s) over the Railroad, Project No. 53009, and
direct staff to file a Notice of Determination.
BACKGROUND
This project's purpose is to rehabilitate one and/or replace the second of two existing bridges on
Sierra Highway over the railroad tracks in Canyon Country. These improvements will eventually
provide better travel lane widths for motorists and cyclists, as well as enhanced sidewalks for
pedestrians in each direction. Due to the growing need to restripe Sierra Highway from four to
six lanes, both bridges in this area will need to be widened. Additionally, based on the Caltrans
bridge inspection dated December 1997, the northbound bridge has a Bridge Sufficiency List
(BSL) rating of 45.4. Given its sub 50 rating, replacement of the northbound bridge warrants
consideration. The southbound bridge, however, has a BSL rating of 72.2, and thereby warrants
further analysis in determining the most viable rehabilitation design alternative.
An important focus of this project is to allow continual flow of traffic along Sierra Highway by
replacing/retrofitting the existing structures, which have substandard lane widths, with
structure(s) that will accommodate wider lanes, medians, shoulders, and sidewalks. Independent
of this project, the County of Los Angeles will also be widening the two Sierra Highway bridges
over the Santa Clara River. The existing placement of these two bridges is quite restrictive
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relative to right-of-way concerns and plays an important role in the redesign of the bridges over
the railroad. The City is seeking to determine the most cost effective and feasible design
alternative to achieve this project goal.
Ultrasystems, an environmental consultant to the City, conducted the necessary environmental
studies and prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) and Categorical
Exclusion (CE) required to obtain state (CEQA) and federal (NEPA) environmental clearance.
Ultrasystems also prepared a Natural Environment Study (NES), requested by California State
Department of Transportation, in addition to the ISMND and CE.
In compliance with CEQA guidelines, a public review period was established on Monday,
December 2, 2002, and ended on January 2, 2003. The environmental documents were available
for review at City Hall, the Valencia Library, and the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library.
In addition, the document was sent to the State of California, Governor's Office of Planning and
Research, and the State Clearinghouse for distribution to all governmental agencies with
responsibilities related to the environmental review of this project. The resulting comments from
those agencies are included in the final MND/CE and NES.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Through the Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (HBRR) Program administered by
the California Department of Transportation, the City was previously awarded $492,000 of
federal funds. These HBRR funds and $179,000 in local match General Fund monies (for a total
of $671,000) were appropriated by the City Council for preliminary engineering and preparation
of plans, specifications, and estimates.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit "A" - Location Map