REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 27, 2024
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Plans and Specifications for Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch Bridge Replacement Project on National Trails Highway in the Amboy Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the plans and specifications for the Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch Bridge Replacement Project on National Trails Highway in the Amboy area, as signed and sealed by a registered civil engineer.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to advertise the Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch Bridge Replacement Project on National Trails Highway in the Amboy area for formal bids.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch Bridge Replacement Project on National Trails Highway in the Amboy area (Project) is funded with $5,000,000 of Discretionary General Funding allocated to the Department of Public Works (Department) in the 2023-24 budget. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department’s Road Operations budget (6650002000 12H15220) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project involves the replacement of two timber trestle bridges, known as the Dola Ditch Bridge and the Lanzit Ditch Bridge, with new concrete bridges. These bridges are located at National Trails Highway, otherwise known as United States Highway 66 and traditionally known as Route 66. The Dola Ditch Bridge and Lanzit Ditch Bridge are approximately 2.08 and 2.77 miles respectively, east of Kelbaker Road in the unincorporated community of Amboy.
The Project consists of removing the existing timber trestle bridges and constructing new concrete bridges, rock slope protection, guardrails, and roadway reconstruction. In the interest of public safety, the road is closed to through traffic and will remain closed for the duration of the construction. Appropriate measures will continue to take place to notify surrounding businesses and residences of the road closure and detour. All work for the Project will be done within the existing right-of-way and no additional right-of-way will need to be acquired.
On April 19, 2016 (Item Nos. 50 and 51), the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the Mitigated Negative Declarations (MND) for the Project, approved the Notices of Determination, and directed the Clerk of the Board to file and post said notices fulfilling the County’s obligation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
In 2023, the Dola Ditch and Lanzit Ditch Bridge Replacement Project was analyzed and an Addendum to the Initial Studies (IS)/MNDs was prepared in August 2023 to evaluate the site-specific environmental effects associated with the proposed rebuild and determine whether these impacts are consistent with the evaluation presented in the IS/MNDs in compliance with CEQA (Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations Sections 15000 et seq.). According to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15164(b), “an addendum to an adopted negative declaration may be prepared if only minor technical changes or additions are necessary or none of the conditions described in Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or negative declaration have occurred”. Based on the analysis presented within the Addendum, it was determined that none of the conditions apply which would require preparation of a subsequent MND and that an Addendum to the certified MNDs was the appropriate environmental documentation under CEQA for the proposed Project.
The Project aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives by constructing new bridges along this historically significant highway, which improves access to both the Interstate 15 and Interstate 40 highways, thus creating, maintaining, and growing jobs and economic value in the County.
PROCUREMENT
The Project will be advertised for bids in accordance with Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code. The Department anticipates returning to the Board for an award of the contract in Spring 2024.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on January 31, 2024; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on February 6, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 9, 2024.