To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Humboldt Bay Trail South Project Cooperative Agreement and Wetland Mitigation Memorandum of Understanding with the California Department of Transportation
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached cooperative agreement with the California Department of Transportation regarding the provision of funding to support construction of the Humboldt Bay Trail South Project;
2. Authorize the Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached cooperative agreement with the California Department of Transportation, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office;
3. Approve, and authorize the Public Works Director to execute, the attached memorandum of understanding with the California Department of Transportation regarding wetland mitigation needs associated with the Humboldt Bay Trail South Project;
4. Authorize the Public Works Director, or a designee thereof, to execute any and all subsequent amendments to the attached memorandum of understanding with the California Department of Transportation, after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office; and
5. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed copy of the attached cooperative agreement with the California Department of Transportation to the Department of Public Works for further processing.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Transportation
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt is implementing the Humboldt Bay Trail South Project (“Project”) which will construct approximately four and one quarter (4.25) miles of multi-use trail (also known as shared-use path) to provide non-motorized transportation and recreational access along the Eureka-Arcata Highway 101 corridor. The paved trail will accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, strollers, wheelchairs and mobility devices. The Project will connect the City of Eureka’s Waterfront Trail with the southern terminus of the City of Arcata’s Humboldt Bay Trail North to complete a continuous network of trails from central Arcata to the southern end of Eureka for a total length of nearly fourteen (14) miles. Completion of the trail link between the two (2) largest cities in Humboldt County will provide a significant advancement of the Regional Transportation Plan and Climate Action Plan (currently in development) and will create new segments of the California Coastal Trail and Great Redwood Trail.
On July 31, 2018 (Item F-1), the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors adopted the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impacts for the Project in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act. The Humboldt County Department of Public Works is currently working to complete the right-of-way and permitting phases of the Project. The current goal is to initiate construction in 2022.
The Project is a major infrastructure project which includes widening and raising portions of the railroad prism, modifying the Eureka Slough railroad bridge, modifying the levee around the Brainard mill site, constructing three (3) new bridges, repairing shoreline armoring, removing a section of Eucalyptus trees, and installing a cable barrier between the trail and Highway 101. The California Transportation Commission has allocated Thirteen Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($13,300,000.00) for the construction phase of the Project under the Active Transportation Program. The California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”) has committed additional funding in the amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,250,000.00) from the State Highway Operation and Protection Program and the State Coastal Conservancy has committed additional funding of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) for construction. The attached cooperative agreement (Attachment 1) establishes the conditions for the financial contribution from Caltrans. Caltrans has requested approval of the attached cooperative agreement by the Board of Supervisors before it goes to the California Transportation Commission for approval at their June 23-24, 2021 meeting.
One of the Project’s primary design goals is to avoid or minimize wetland impacts to the greatest extent possible. However, some impacts are unavoidable due topographic constraints and the presence of existing facilities within the Project area. The majority of the impacted wetlands are associated with the existing drainage ditch situated between Highway 101 and the railroad prism. Caltrans is leading a large-scale project to mitigate the wetland impacts of the Eureka-Arcata Highway 101 Corridor Improvement Project along with the mitigation needs of the Humboldt Bay Trail South Project and a portion of the City of Arcata’s mitigation needs for Humboldt Bay Trail North. The attached memorandum of understanding (Attachment 2) establishes the conditions for this collaborative effort.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The purpose of the Cooperative Agreement is to formalize the terms and conditions for Caltrans to contribute a total of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,250,000.00) to support construction of the Humboldt Bay Trail South Project. This contribution has been incorporated into the proposed fiscal year 2021-2022 budget at revenue line 1710715-523190. Under the terms of the attached memorandum of understanding, Caltrans will implement wetland creation and enhancement activities at no cost to the County of Humboldt. Accordingly, approval of the attached cooperative agreement and memorandum of understanding with Caltrans will not impact the Humboldt County General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
The recommended actions support the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure and creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Transportation
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to approve the attached cooperative agreement or memorandum of understanding with Caltrans. However, these alternatives are not recommended because they would severely limit the County of Humboldt’s ability to implement the Project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1 Cooperative Agreement (State SHOPP Minor Funds Contribution)
2 Memorandum of Understanding (Project Mitigation and Monitoring)
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: F-1
Meeting of: July 31, 2018
File No.: N/A