To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Relinquishment from Caltrans to County of Humboldt Portions of State Hwy 101 Improvements to Sandy Prairie Road (County Road No. 3G160) and Drake Hill Road (3G165) Associated with the Alton Interchange US 101 / SR 36 Project
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the Resolution to accept the Relinquishment (Attachment 1); and
2. Approve an exception to allow the newly constructed frontage road to be brought into the County Maintained Road System without forming an assessment district to fund road maintenance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to deliver a certified copy of the Resolution to Public Works Land Use Division for further processing.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 1007 - Improve the transportation network to be multi-model, safe, sustainable and equitable
DISCUSSION:
Caltrans constructed a new freeway interchange of US 101 and SR 36 in Alton. As part of this project, Caltrans constructed new frontage improvements to Sandy Prairie Road (County Road No. 3G160). Caltrans is now requesting that these frontage improvements be relinquished from the State of California to Humboldt County. The facilities proposed for relinquishment are a newly constructed alignment of Sandy Prairie Road to SR 36 and for the newly constructed cul-de-sac at the termination of westerly segment of Drake Hill Road (County Road No. 3G165) at its intersection with US 101 where the at-grade intersection was eliminated. These improvements are shown highlighted in yellow on Exhibit A in Attachment 1.
Accepting this relinquishment will increase the mileage of Sandy Prairie Road by approximately 0.382 mile. There is no increase in the length of Drake Hill Road as the improvement is the construction of a cul-de-sac adjacent to the freeway right of way. After the relinquishment is completed, the new roadway segments will be brought into the County Maintained Road System during a future annual update to County Maintained Road System agenda item. The Board of Supervisors adopted a policy to not accept roads into the County maintained road system unless road maintenance is funded through an assessment district in the form of a Permanent Road Division. Due to the unique nature of how this segment of Sandy Prairie Road was created, and the unlikelihood of a successful Proposition 218 vote to establish an assessment district to fund road maintenance just for this portion, staff recommends approving an exception to the policy of requiring an assessment district. A Proposition 218 vote would include all of the properties that are served by Sandy Prairie Road and Drake Hill Road, approximately 26 properties.
As part of this request, Caltrans provided the county with an Environmental Disclosure Memorandum (EDM) dated Jan. 2, 2024, that addresses the presence of hazardous materials (Exhibit B of Attachment 1). The Public Works Environmental Services Division has reviewed the EDM and did not see any environmental issues that would raise concern for the proposed relinquishment. Staff has received and reviewed a copy of the EDM and understands that within one year prior of the California Transportation Commission (CTC) date of approval of the Resolution of Relinquishment, Caltrans will conduct a review of the above-referenced EDM and if it determines that there is substantive or potentially substantive adverse change to the environment that did not exist at the time of the EDM, Caltrans will immediately notify the county of said changes. If no substantive or potentially substantive adverse change to the environment is found to exist, acceptance of the relinquishment in its current environmental condition is to remain in effect. Upon recordation of the CTC’s Resolution of Relinquishment in the County Recorder’s Office, Caltrans will not be responsible for any present or future remediation of said hazardous materials.
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the above recommendations.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Roads Fund (1200325)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1200,325) |
FY24-25 |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$2,407.00 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$2,407.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1200,325) |
FY24-25 |
|
General Fund |
|
|
State/Federal Funds |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$2,407.00 |
|
Contingencies |
|
|
Total Funding Sources |
$2,407.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Acceptance of the relinquishment will increase the number of miles in the County Maintained Road System by 0.382 mile. The state does not provide a separate funding source for relinquished roads. It is not practical to form a Permanent Road Division to maintain this additional mileage. Striping will need to be done at an estimated cost of $2,407. The cost will be covered by the Public Works Road Maintenance budget, 1200325.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
No additional staff is proposed.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Caltrans
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to adopt the recommended actions protest the relinquishment. However, the State of California Department of Transportation maintains the state freeway system; not local roads. Therefore, not approving the recommended action is contrary to the mission of the state's Department of Transportation. The California Streets and Highways Code, Section 73 provides for CTC relinquishment over a protest only if the protesting local agency is given an opportunity to express concerns at a public hearing before the CTC. Caltrans’ procedure is to submit a relinquishment to the CTC when the local agency objects for any reason. Local agency objection to a relinquishment is usually based on Caltrans’ denial of requested improvements. California Streets and Highways Code, Section 73 requires a state of good repair as defined in statute. When the local agency is not satisfied with the district’s proposals and continues to protest the relinquishment, the district should obtain the objection in writing from the local agency.
It is Caltrans’ policy to resolve conflicts at the lowest possible level. The conflict resolution process for relinquishments is lengthy. Ultimately, if Caltrans’ Chief Engineer determines it is in the best interest of the State to proceed with the relinquishment, then a public hearing at a CTC meeting will take place. The local agency will be given an opportunity to protest the terms of the relinquishment at the CTC meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution to ACCEPT STATE HIGHWAY RELINQUISHMENT OF 01-HUM-101-PM 57.0/59.1 FOR RELINQUISHMENT NO. 1245 (SANDY PRAIRIE ROAD AND DRAKE HILL ROAD)
1A. Exhibit A - Relinquishment maps
1B. Exhibit B - Environmental Disclosure Memorandum
2. Caltrans Relinquishment Acceptance Letter dated May 3, 2024
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A