REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 27, 2020
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Measure “I” Five-Year Capital Project Needs Analysis Project List
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution approving the Measure “I” Five Year Valley Capital Project Needs Analysis - Project List for 2021-22 through 2025-26, Major Streets, Valley Freeway Interchange, and the Victor Valley Major Local Highways Programs identified in Exhibit “A”, attached to the Resolution.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Measure “I” Five-Year Capital Project Needs Analysis (CPNA) project list identifies County of San Bernardino (County) projects eligible for Public Share reimbursement under the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Valley Major Streets, Valley Freeway Interchange, and the Victor Valley Major Local Highways Programs, consistent with the SBCTA’s Nexus Study and the County’s Regional Transportation Development Mitigation Plan approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on December 5, 2006 (Item No. 57) and last updated and approved on July 22, 2014 (Item No. 41). The CPNA project list must be approved by the Board annually through adoption of a resolution. The CPNA project list for 2021-22 through 2025-26 updates the previous year’s CPNA project list, with projects approved by the Board on November 5, 2019 (Item No. 28).
The total cost of projects listed in the Measure “I” Five-Year CPNA project list for 2021-22 through 2025-26 is $186,709,890, which includes a 4% escalation cost on projects that are in progress, and of this amount, $111,691,816 is the SBCTA’s Public Share contribution; and $15,397,987 will be financed by the federal Highway Bridge Program funds assigned to the County (Rock Springs Road Bridge Project). The remaining $59,620,087 is the Development Mitigation Program fair-share contribution, which is anticipated to be funded through fees collected by the County’s Regional Development Mitigation Plan, as well as development impact fees collected by the cities of Rialto and Fontana (or a “loan” of local funds in anticipation of reimbursement from future collected regional fees). Pursuant to the SBCTA’s Nexus Study, the cities of Rialto and Fontana have a contribution share for the Cedar Avenue at Interstate 10 Interchange project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Adoption of the Resolution approves the annual update to the Measure “I” Five-Year CPNA project list for 2021-22 through 2025-26 and authorizes the County to submit the CPNA project list for 2021-22 through 2025-26 to the SBCTA for consideration (attached to the Resolution as Exhibit “A”).
The County receives Measure I funds in two different ways.
1. Local Pass-Through funds: These funds are allocated to the County and administered by the Department of Public Works. These funds can be used for projects on any road in the CMRS, in a similar manner as the gas tax. The County is required to adopt a resolution annually that identifies a 5- Through funds is called the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The Measure I Local Pass-Through Project list CIP was approved by the Board on September 15, 2020 (Item No. 51).
2. Measure I Public Share funds: Funds are administered by SBCTA and require contribution of a development share from County. These funds are spent on arterial roads, freeway interchanges, and railroad grade separations. The County is required to adopt a resolution that identifies a list of capital projects from the Nexus Study on which these funds will be spent in the next in 5 years. The project list for this program is called the CPNA and last year’s Measure I Public Share funds project list was approved by the Board on November 5, 2019 (Item No. 28).
The Measure “I” CPNA project list on this resolution are comprised of projects in which the County is the lead agency of some or all phases, and that are anticipated to be constructed during the period of 2021-22 through 2025-26. The project list is required to be updated annually and submitted to the SBCTA to support its decisions to appropriate and allocate Measure “I” funding to local jurisdictions. Submission of the CPNA project list to the SBCTA also provides a means for the County to assure availability of its allocation of Measure “I” programs funds for County projects through 2025-26.
The CPNA project list for 2021-22 through 2025-26 updates the previous year’s CPNA project list by: a) including projects that are incorporated in both the SBCTA’s Nexus Study and the County’s Regional Transportation Development Mitigation Plan that are scheduled to be underway by 2025-26; b) updating project costs and allocations; and c) removing projects that are complete and fully reimbursed. The current CPNA project list updates are as follows:
Valley Major Streets Program:
• San Bernardino Avenue Widening project, from Cherry Avenue east to Fontana Avenue, Fontana area (Second District). The project limits are revised to add the south side of the road to the project, with this change additional design and construction work is necessary for the project. The project scope has been revised to include widening on the south side, and the project cost increases from $5.0 million to $15.0 million. The project construction is anticipated to commence in 2023-24.
• Cherry Avenue, from Merrill Avenue to Whittram Avenue, Fontana Area (Second District) Grade Separation over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line project is on hold status. There is insufficient funding in the County’s Development Mitigation Program - Fontana Sphere of Influence account to proceed with the project. The current project cost estimate is $11.0 million.
Valley Freeway Interchange Program:
• Cedar Avenue at Interstate 10 Interchange, Bloomington area (Fifth District) the project cost increases by $1,252,000 ($112,067,000 to $113,319,000) due to additional design work required for the project. The project is currently in the design and right-of-way phases.
Victor Valley Major Local Highways Program:
• Ranchero Road, from 0.15 mile east of Mariposa Road to Seventh Avenue, Hesperia area (First District) Widening project. The Public’s Share contribution reimbursement from SBCTA for this project is only for the right-of-way phase. The right-of-way phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in 2020-21.
• Green Tree Boulevard, from Hesperia Road east 1.1 miles to Yates Road, Victorville area (First District) new road extension project connecting to the cities of Apple Valley and Victorville; right-of-way activities within the County’s jurisdictional boundary are complete. This project is removed from the CPNA project list for 201-22 through 2025-26 because SBCTA has fully reimbursed the Public’s Share contribution for the right-of-way phase of the project.
• Rock Springs Road, at the Mojave River Bridge No. 54C-670, Apple Valley area (First District), Bridge Replacement project. The project scope is revised from a 2-lane project to a 4-lane project. The project cost increases from $20.0 million to $36.0 million. The design phase is anticipated to be completed in 2022-23 and construction is anticipated to commence in 2023-24.
• Phelan Road, from State Route 138 to Los Banos Avenue (12.1 miles), Phelan area (First District) Widening project is added to the CPNA project list 2021-22 through 2025-26. The project widens Phelan Road from 2-lanes to 5-lanes, including 1-continuous left turn lane. The project is currently in the development phase. Adding a new project to the Nexus Study requires action by the Board of Supervisors and approval by the SBCTA Board of Directors. Phelan Road is not a Nexus Study project. It is a Major Local Highways Project, which can be added at any time subject to our total allocation of Major Local Highway Program (MLHP) funds.
The Measure “I” 1990-2010 originally approved by County voters on November 7, 1989, (Measure “I” Ordinance No. 89-1), provided a one-half of one percent retail transactions and use tax (sales tax) to fund a 20-year road improvement program. On November 2, 2004, County voters approved the extension of Measure “I” for an additional 30 years (Measure “I” 2010-2040, Ordinance No. 04-01). Ordinance No. 04-01 authorizes the SBCTA to collect, administer, and disburse the sales tax revenues.
Revenue collected from the sales tax must be used for transportation purposes, and may include, but not limited to, administration, construction, maintenance, improvements, and operations of local streets, roads, and highways, state highways, and freeways. These purposes include expenditures for planning, environmental, engineering, design, and related right-of-way acquisition.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 4, 2020; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on September 16, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on September 19, 2020.