REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2020
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding for the Phelan Road Intersection Improvements Project in the Phelan Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Phelan Road intersection improvements project in the Phelan area (Project) is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, Class 1, Section 15301(c) (existing facilities) and Class 2, Section 15302 (replacement or reconstruction).
2. Approve Project as defined in the Notice of Exemption and direct the Clerk of the Board to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, 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 Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works (Department) is funded by Gas Tax revenue, fee revenue, and other state and local funding. The Project is funded with Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds and a local match with Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. The requested actions are administrative in nature with minimal financial impact. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Department’s 2020-21 Road Operations budget (6650002000 13H14995).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project consists of widening four intersections on Phelan Road to accommodate left-turn and right-turn lanes to the intersecting streets at Sonora Road, Tumbleweed Road, Sunny Vista Road, and Arrowhead Road. The Project includes mill and overlay of existing pavement, widening with new pavement to accommodate pavement transitions, minor grading on shoulders, construction of approach aprons, new pavement returns at intersecting streets and traffic striping. All work for the Project will be done within existing right-of-way.
Environmental staff of the Department has reviewed this Project and determined that a categorical exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15301(c) and Section 15302 is appropriate. The Class 1 exemption allows for repair and maintenance activities on existing roads, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilities that involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The Class 2 exemption allows for the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structured replaced. When the Board of Supervisors (Board) considers the environmental finding, the filing and posting of a Notice of Exemption is recommended.
The Project aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced and sustainable County and providing for the safety of County residents by improving access and enhancing turning movements at the intersections mentioned above.
Since this Project receives federal funding, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reviewed the Project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Caltrans adopted and issued a Categorical Exclusion for the Project on July 3, 2020.
PROCUREMENT
The Department anticipates bringing the Project’s plans and specifications, as well as a recommendation to advertise for competitive bids to the Board for consideration in January 2021, with the bid opening in February 2021, and the award of contract in March 2021.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott M. Runyan, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 8, 2020; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on October 27, 2020; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on November 1, 2020.