REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 13, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Program Supplement Agreement to Master Agreement for Highway Bridge Program Funds for the Rock Springs Road Bridge Replacement Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Program Supplement Agreement No. F137 to Master Agreement No. 08-5954F15 with the State of California Department of Transportation, which allocates $442,650 of federal Highway Bridge Program funds as reimbursement for the right-of-way phase of the Rock Springs Road Bridge Replacement Project over the Mojave River, in the Apple Valley area.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Rock Springs Road Bridge Replacement Project over the Mojave River, in the Apple Valley area (Project) is funded with Highway Bridge Program (HBP) funds administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Southeast Apple Valley Local Area Transportation Facilities Fee Plan funds (Local Fee Plan), Gas Tax, the public share from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) from sources under its control, which may include funds from the Measure I Local Highway Program (MLHP), State, and/or federal funds. Local Fee Plan and Gas Tax revenue have financed the Project’s design phase. The Project’s current estimated right-of-way cost is $976,000 and will be funded with $442,650 of HBP funds and $533,350 in Gas Tax revenues and MLHP funds. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Public Works (Department) 2022-23 Road Operations budget (6650002000 12H15087).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Rock Springs Road is a major circulation link in the high desert between the Town of Apple Valley and the City of Hesperia with approximately 13,033 vehicles using the roadway per day. Many residents of the Town of Apple Valley and the County unincorporated areas to the east of the Mojave River use Rock Springs Road to commute to work in the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Los Angeles County. This section of Rock Springs Road has a notable history of being overtopped during heavy rains. Replacement of the existing bridge will eliminate significant delays resulting from road closures caused by storm events.
The Project originally proposed replacing the current two-lane low water crossing on Rock Springs Road over the Mojave River with a four-lane bridge. In December 2015, Caltrans denied the Department’s request for right-of-way and construction phase funding for the proposed four-lane bridge based on their assessment of the bridge replacement eligibility criteria under the HBP program. In August 2016, the Department appealed the decision, making a presentation to the HBP Advisory Committee in Sacramento. The Committee granted limited eligibility for funding a two-lane bridge with two shoulders and one sidewalk. The four-lane bridge design was revised accordingly, and on September 19, 2019, Caltrans provided the Department an Authorization to Proceed (E-76) with the right-of-way phase of the Project. The E-76 indicated that federal funds were not currently available but would be available in the future. On June 16, 2022, the Department requested additional federal funds for right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation costs. On July 14, 2022, the Department received an E-76 indicating that federal funds, $442,650, were now available for right-of-way costs. The remaining right-of-way costs, $533,350, will be funded with a combination of Gas Tax and MLHP funds.
On July 9, 2019 (Item No. 32), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a project funding agreement with SBCTA for MLHP funds in an amount not to exceed $1,456,938 for the Project’s design, right-of-way and construction phase costs. The Project is currently in the final design and right-of-way phase. Right-of-way clearance for the Project is anticipated to be completed in Winter 2025.
In accordance with Master Agreement No. 08-5954F15, approval of a Program Supplement Agreement is required for each specific Project prior to County invoicing for reimbursement of project-associated costs. The Program Supplement Agreement sets out special covenants as a condition for the local agency to receive federal aid through the State for a designated project. The Program Supplement Agreement also identifies the type of funds available for reimbursement.
The item meets the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives by working with Caltrans to ensure that the necessary agreements are processed in accordance with Caltrans guidelines to receive federal funds as reimbursement for Project costs.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 18, 2022; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on August 26, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 29, 2022.