California Highways (www.cahighways.org): Route 219

Stanislaus County Widening (STA 0.1 to STA 4.9)

PPN 9940 There are currently plans to widen this route in Stanislaus county. [May 2002 CTC Agenda, item 2.1b.(2); July 2002 CTC Agenda item 2.2c.(8)] According to the July and September 2006 agendas, the project, as currently scoped, will widen Route 219 to four lanes from PM STA 0.1 to STA 4.9. In March 2005, an updated cost estimate placed R/W capital at $42 million and Construction capital at $33 million. The increase in R/W was due to the rise in property values, including the right of way needed to accommodate estimated traffic capacity based on an updated traffic analysis. Due to funding constraints, and the result of a Value Analysis Study, the Department of Transportation, StanCOG, and local officials reduced the scope of the project by splitting it into two phases. Phase 1 will extend from PM 0.1 to 2.9 and be fully programmed through construction. The scope of the work for Phase 1 includes acquiring right of way for an ultimate six- lane facility, widening the highway from two to four- lanes, and upgrading intersections with local roads. As part of the intersection improvements, an additional receiving lane and a right-turn lane will be added at the intersection of Route 219 and Sisk Road. Phase 1 will be ready for construction during the Summer of 2007. Phase 2 will extend through the remainder of the original scope, from PM 2.9 to 4.9, and be funded at a later date. In 2007, the Corridor Mobility Improvement Account (CMIA) was recommended to fund $14,760K to widen this route to 4-lanes from Route 99 to Marrow Rd, and $18,813K to widen the route to four lanes from Marrow Rd to Route 108. In June 2008, the CTC approved reducing Regional Improvement Program (RIP) Right of Way Capital funds from $17,000,000 to $14,760,000 ($2,240,000 decrease) and increasing federal Demonstration (Demo) Right of Way Capital funds from $0 to $2,240,000 ($2,240,000 increase). The RIP funds would be programmed and allocated to the Route 219 Expressway, Phase 1A project so that the construction phase can commence. Federal Demo funds, which are programmed for construction of the Route 219 Expressway Phase 1A project but are temporarily unavailable, will be reprogrammed to the Route 219 Expressway Phase 2 project so that it remains fully funded.

In December 2011, the CTC updated the project schedule, as the End Right of Way milestone was delayed by nine months in order to provide additional time for two property owners to relocate. Although Orders for Possession were secured several months ago, the right of way demolition and clearing process stalled because two property owners were building new houses behind their existing homes, which extended the relocation process. The Begin Construction milestone is being delayed by 18 months, nine months of which is a direct result of the right of way delay described above. The other nine months of delay is due to a mistake in the original schedule, which proposed starting construction two months before the End Right of Way milestone. It is more realistic for construction to begin seven months after the End Right of Way milestone. The End Construction milestone is being delayed by 30 months, 18 months of which is a direct result of the begin construction delay described above. The other 12 months of delay is from a thorough analysis of the construction working days. A construction duration of 12 months was unrealistic. A construction duration of 24 months is more realistic based on the final plans and stage construction requirements. The Begin Closeout milestone is being delayed by 30 months because it is directly related to the End Construction milestone, which is being delayed by 30 months as described above. The End Closeout milestone is being delayed by 41 months, 30 months of which is a direct result of the Begin Closeout delay described above. The other 11 months of delay is caused by a mistake in the original schedule, which showed a duration of one month for Closeout. Closeout requires a duration of 12 months. The net result is that the proposed end of construction is 5/31/2014, with project closeout proposed for 7/31/2015.

In December 2011, the CTC authorized $23.76 million for phase 2 of the Route 219 Widening near Salida, from Morrow Road to Route 108. Widen to 4 lanes.

In December 2011, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the county of Stanislaus along Route 219 from Kiernan Court to Dale Road (~ STA 0.28 to STA 1.854), consisting of collateral facilities.

In January 2017, the CTC authorized relinquishment of right of way in the county of Stanislaus along Route 219 on American Avenue, Morton Road, Carver Road, Tully Road, Tunsen Road, and Claribel Road to Route 108 (10-Sta-219 PM 2.35/4.86, roughly between Soddard and American), consisting of collateral facilities. The County, by Board of Supervisors Action No. 2016-535 dated October 25, 2016 agreed to waive the 90-day notice requirement and accept title upon relinquishment by the State.

North County Corridor (~ 10-STA-219 PM 3.7/4.8)

The SAFETEA-LU act, enacted in August 2005 as the reauthorization of TEA-21, provided the following expenditures on or near this route (although these expenditures seem to be more for Route 108):

High Priority Project #1230: Improve Route 219 to four-lanes in Modesto, Riverbank and Oakdale. $1,600,000.
High Priority Project #3801: Improve Route 219 to four-lanes in Modesto, Riverbank and Oakdale. This seems to be supplemental funding for HPP #1230. $4,000,000.

[108 Oakdale] In May 2010, the CTC approved for future consideration of funding a project in Stanislaus County that would study corridor options for a future alignment of Route 108 near the city of Oakdale. There is no construction for this project because it is for route adoption only. Once the route adoption is approved by the Commission, and funding becomes available, the Stanislaus Council of Governments and the Department will conduct further environmental studies to identify a roadway alignment within the selected corridor. The construction of the new roadway is anticipated to occur in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. Conceptual level cost estimates to build a new roadway range from $600 to $800 million (FY 2009 costs), and $1.3 to $1.5 billion (FY 2030 costs). It is expected that the future project, however, will have potential impacts to land use, farmlands, cultural resources, biological resources, relocations, hazardous waste, water quality, paleontology, and air quality.

Specifically, the proposal is to modify the adopted route for Route 108 in Stanislaus County, in the vicinity of the cities of Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale. The ultimate facility is planned as a multi-lane freeway/expressway corridor, approximately 18 miles long. A Project Report was approved on April 13, 2010. An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for California Environmental Quality Act and the document was approved on April 13, 2010. This 18 mile long project, referred to as the North County Corridor (NCC) Route 108 East Route Adoption, will bypass the cities of Riverbank and Oakdale, improve interregional system connectivity, and improve regional traffic operations.

Route 108 is generally classified as a minor arterial through most of the project limits except for sections through the cities of Riverbank and Oakdale that are classified as principal arterial. Existing Route 108 functions as a “main street” and is predominantly a two-lane undivided conventional facility. Between the intersection of Route 108 (McHenry Avenue)/SR 219 (Kiernan Avenue) and the intersection of Route 108/Route 120 with Lancaster Road, Route 108 is encumbered by 83 public street intersections and many private driveways with direct access onto Route 108. It is highly congested during peak travel times and these conditions are expected to worsen as traffic volumes on Route 108 increase in the foreseeable future. Increasing levels of traffic on both Route 120 and Route 108 into and through the City of Oakdale have led to a growing traffic congestion problem that the Department and the local community have been addressing for over five decades. Traffic on Route 108 includes a combination of commuter, local commerce, goods movement, agricultural and farm operations, and a large component of interregional recreational traffic. This elevated interregional traffic demand often conflicts with local traffic demand resulting in congestion, increased noise and air pollution. Route 108 provides direct access to local residences, farms, and other community facilities along its route but also travels through the busy downtown areas of Oakdale and Riverbank. Congestion is most severe during weekends due to recreational traffic traveling to Yosemite National Park, and to the Jamestown and Sonora areas. Weekdays can also be very congested due to the heavy commute traffic. The area most severely affected by congestion is at the junction of Route 108 and Route 120 (Yosemite Avenue) in downtown Oakdale where the level of service (LOS) in 2001 was classified as “F”, representing heavily congested traffic with long delays. These conditions are expected to worsen over time as development continues and traffic volumes increase. The LOS is projected to degrade to “very high delays” by the year 2020 in the absence of any system improvement.

North County Connector The ultimate facility is planned as a multi-lane freeway, approximately ten miles long, from Route 219 and McHenry Avenue to just east of Albers Road and as a multi-lane controlled access highway for the remaining eight miles until it connects with Route 120, approximately six miles east of the City of Oakdale. The freeway segment will serve the urban areas of Modesto, Riverbank, and Oakdale. The controlled access highway segment is planned for the rural area of Stanislaus County south-east of Oakdale. The route adoptions will be executed as two concurrent CTC actions on this month’s agenda (see also Resolution HRA 10-03). Although the North County Corridor encompasses a roadway facility between Route 99 and Route 120, the proposed State route adoption is only for the segment between Route 108 (McHenry Avenue) and Route 120. These limits are a result of discussions occurring June 2008 to February 2009 between State and local entities. A freeway adoption connecting to Route 99 was interfering with the development of a modification proposal at the Hammett Road/Route 99 interchange. The Project Study Report for that project has assumed Hammett would remain a local road and proposes a local type interchange at Route 99. The Department concurred to pursue evaluating the new NCC Route 108 East Route Adoption. This request is for the Freeway Route Adoption, and a separate request is being submitted for the Controlled Access Highway Route Adoption (Resolution HRA 10-03). These two route adoptions will allow for the execution of a freeway agreement and a controlled access highway agreement with Stanislaus County.

Relinquishment of the existing Route 108 will occur after construction of the new bypass. Relinquishment will transfer the State’s right of way, title, and interest of the superseded section of Route 108 to the City of Oakdale, City of Riverbank, and Stanislaus County as depicted in the attached Route Adoption Map.

Atlas vs Lancaster In September 2016, it was reported that one of the last remaining battles over potential paths for the future North County Corridor may be nearing an end, with momentum building for a tie-in with existing Route 108 east of Oakdale at Lancaster Road. Dozens of families in neighborhoods four miles to the west for months have protested the concept of a roundabout at Atlas Road, with the North County Corridor shooting south from that point and paralleling Stearns Road before skirting Oakdale and running between Riverbank and Modesto. Oakdale officials previously preferred the Atlas tie-in, thinking it might funnel cars near a future shopping center; however, the city has changed its mind and has adopted a resolution supporting the neighbor-preferred Lancaster option. The EIR should be released in January 2017. Controversy over the road’s western stretch, between Modesto and Riverbank, died down a few years ago as engineers focused on redoing Kiernan Avenue, with legitimate freeway interchanges at McHenry Avenue, Coffee and Oakdale roads, and Roselle Avenue. If Caltrans picks the Lancaster tie-in on the east end, the only unresolved choice would be south of Oakdale, with one option close to the south edge of the city and the other further south, largely focused on Claribel Road. Leaders of the county and three cities would review the draft environmental study around March, accepting input from the public and seeking consensus among each other. Caltrans’ final route selection could follow in early 2018.
(Source: Modesto Bee, 9/22/2016)

The August 2017 Draft EIR noted: The proposed project will connect Route 219 near Modesto to Route 120 near Oakdale. This environmental document analyzes the four Build Alternatives (1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B) and the NoBuild Alternative. The western end of all alternatives is at the Route 219 (Kiernan Avenue)/Tully Road intersection. The project is analyzed as three distinct segments for environmental evaluation purposes and explaining the proposed improvements. Segment 1 represents the more urbanized area; Segment 2 represents a transition from urbanized to rural area; and Segment 3 represents the rural foothill area.
(Source: NCC DEIR August 2017)

Rte 180 NCC Alternatives Segment 1 begins at the Route 219 Kiernan Avenue/Tully Road intersection, which is the western end of the project for all four alternatives. All of the Build Alternatives proceed along the same alignment, extending to the existing Claus Road/Claribel Road intersection near the southeast portion of the City of Riverbank and northeast portion of the City of Modesto’s future sphere of influence, including future areas projected to be incorporated into the City boundaries. The following interchange/intersection designs are common to all Build Alternatives for Segment 1: (◆) Tully Road/Route 219 (Kiernan Avenue) intersection will consist of a modified signalized at-grade intersection; (◆) Route 108 (McHenry Avenue)/Route 219, (Kiernan Avenue)/new Route 108, Coffee Road/new Route 108, Oakdale Road/new Route 108, and Roselle Avenue/new Route 108 will all consist of a proposed single-point urban interchange and separate-grade undercrossing structures; (◆) The Claus Road/new Route 108 signalized at-grade intersection will provide access from the new Route 108 facility east of Claus Road as well as the local road access to the City of Riverbank and future northeastern areas of the City of Modesto.

Segment 2 is where the four similar alternatives separate into two different alignments (1A/1B and 2A/2B). In Segment 2, Alternatives 1A and 1B veer northeast from near the existing Claus Road/Claribel Road intersection and pass through the southern boundary of the City of Oakdale to just east of Albers Road, and Alternatives 2A and 2B continue to extend easterly along Claribel Road and veer northeastward past the intersection of Claribel Road/Bentley Road to just east of Albers Road. In Segment 2:

Alternative 1A veers northeast from the Claus Road intersection and crosses Langworth Road and Patterson Road while extending 3.2 miles northeast at an approximately 45-degree angle. Past the Lexington Road and Crane Road intersection, Alternative 1A overlies the existing Lexington Road and extends easterly to Albers Road. Within Segment 2, no private driveway access is proposed. From Albers Road, Alternative 1A splits into the other possible alignments to intersect Route 108/Route 120.
Improvements for Alternative 1B in Segment 2 are identical to those listed in Alternative 1A.
Alternative 2A continues east mostly along the existing Claribel Road alignment. Just east of the Bentley Road/Claribel Road intersection, Alternative 2A veers northeast and crosses Oakdale-Waterford Highway.
Improvements for Alternative 2B in Segment 2 are identical to those listed in Alternative 2A.

In Segment 3, Alternatives 1A and 2A merge as similar alignments at the southern end of the City of Oakdale and continue on the same alignment to the proposed eastern end (A) at the new Route 108/Route 120 intersection just east of the City of Oakdale boundary. In Segment 3, Alternatives 1B and 2B merge as similar alignments north of the existing Warnerville Road/Emery Road intersection and continue on a northeasterly direction to the proposed other eastern end (B) at the new Route 108/Route 120 intersection west of the existing Route 120/Lancaster Road intersection. In Segment 3:

Alternative 1A begins near Warnerville Road west of South Stearns Road and the Sierra Railroad. Alternative 1A runs northward, parallel to South Stearns Road, before crossing over the Sierra Railroad west of the South Stearns Road and Sierra Road intersection. It curves eastward until it ultimately ends at the intersection with Route 120.
Alternative 1B begins near Warnerville Road, similar to Alternative 1A. But instead of turning north toward South Stearns Road, Alternative 1B continues northeast for 3.3 miles, and then crosses the Sierra Railroad with a grade-separated structure before turning northward toward Fogarty Road and its Route 108/Route 120 end, 1.5 miles east of the Route 108/Route 120 and Wamble Road intersection. The South Stearns Road intersection (east of Bendler Road and northeast of Oakdale Irrigation District South Main Canal) with the proposed North County Corridor alignment will consist of an at-grade intersection with two 12-foot-wide through lanes in each direction along the North County Corridor alignment. Fogarty Road will be elevated over the North County Corridor alignment with an overcrossing structure along its current alignment. A new local road intersection will cross the proposed North County Corridor alignment at approximately 5,000 feet south of the Route 108/Route 120 eastern end with an at-grade four-way roundabout. The roundabout will consist of one combination through/exit lane and one exit lane. The intersection of Route 108/Route 120 with the proposed North County Corridor alignment will consist of an at-grade three-way roundabout with one 12-foot-wide combination through/exit lane and one exit lane for all directions except along westbound Route 108/Route 120.
After crossing the Oakdale/Waterford Highway, Alternative 2 curves northeast as it crosses the Claribel Lateral Canal, then continues northward toward the direction of South Stearns Road and the Sierra Railroad. It ends at the intersection with Route 108/Route 120, approximately two-thirds of a mile east of the Route 108/Route 120 and South Stearns Road intersection.
Segment 3 of Alternative 2B shares the same design with Segment 3 of Alternative 1B intersections at North County Corridor/Fogarty Road, North County Corridor/New Local Access Road, and North County Corridor/Route 120. These three intersections are discussed under Alternative 1B Intersections. Other intersection designs unique to this alternative are the Smith Road intersection with the proposed North County Corridor alignment, which will consist of an at-grade intersection. The North County Corridor will be elevated over Warnerville Road with an undercrossing structure along the current alignment of Warnerville Road.

In November 2018, the Stanislaus County Public Works Department noted that, on October 3, 2016, the Oakdale City Council passed a resolution of preliminary support for NCC Alternatives 1B and 2B. With the official release of the Draft EIR/EIS on August 9, 2017, City staff has had the opportunity to review the Draft EIR/EIS and believes that Alternative 1B should be the preferred alternative. At their September 18, 2017 meeting, the Oakdale City Council unanimously passed a resolution to send Caltrans an official comment letter stating the City’s preference for Alternative 1B. On October 24, 2017 City of Riverbank City Council took the same action for similar reasons. The Riverbank City Council unanimously passed a resolution adopting Alternative 1B as the City’s preferred North County Corridor route Alignment.
(Source: Stanislaus County Public Works Presentation, 11/2018)

In December 2018, it was reported that Federal highway officials approved a $20 million grant for the North County Corridor, a future expressway skirting Modesto, Riverbank and Oakdale in north Stanislaus County. The road is expected to cost $688 million and will require additional funding. State transportation officials are expected to pinpoint the exact route in early 2019, and construction could be a few years away. The project was one of only four in California drawing BUILD money, formerly known as TIGER grants; BUILD stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development. The corridor will be a west-east facility from Route 108 (McHenry Avenue) north of the City of Modesto to Route 120 approximately six miles east of the City of Oakdale. This new roadway would be approximately 18 miles in length from a location on Route 219 (Kiernan Avenue) to a location on Route 120 approximately six miles east of the City of Oakdale. The project may be an entirely new roadway or incorporated into the existing roadway network and would serve as a bypass for the cities of Riverbank, Oakdale and Modesto. The North County Corridor Transportation Expressway Authority anticipates that the ultimate facility would be planned as a multi-lane, access-controlled expressway/freeway, with interchanges, at-grade intersections, grade-separated railroad crossings, irrigation district crossings, frontage roads, and local street alignments. Various roadway alignment alternatives will be considered. The proposed roadway would be built in existing unincorporated Stanislaus County. Funding for this phase of the project is being provided by regional transportation impact fees and the state funding that was once part of the cancelled state Oakdale Bypass project.
(Source: Modesto Bee, 12/10/2018; NorthCounty Corridor Webpage)

In June 2020, it was reported that the EIS for the Route 108 Modesto bypass expressway, the first phase of which extends from the Route 108/Route 219 junction north of Modesto to a terminus at present Route 108/Route 120 east of Oakdale, has been approved. Stanislaus County has a corridor design simulator that follows the facility, which is being designed as a combination freeway/expressway, from west to east. The routing has three roundabouts on the main expressway lanes (3+3 on the west end; 2+2 east of Riverbank), along with several interchanges at major arterials. Two of these are multi-lane; the last one is at the eastern terminus as the connector to Route 120. The expressway is designed to be upgradeable to full freeway (likely with bridges over the circles); also, in a future phase this corridor will follow Route 219 west to Route 99 near Salida.
(Source: Scott Parker on AARoads, "Re: California", 6/11/2020)

In December 2020, the CTC approved a route adoption and future consideration of funding for the following project for which a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) has been completed: Route 108, Route 219, and Route 120 in Stanislaus County (10-Sta-108, PM 27.5/44.5 • 10-Sta-219, PM 3.7/4.8 • 10-Sta-120, PM 6.9/11.6). Construct a new freeway east of the City of Oakdale in Stanislaus County. (PPNO 0228) This project is located on Route 108, Route 219, and Route 120 in Stanislaus County, in the City of Modesto, City of Riverbank, and City of Oakdale, from 0.1 mile west of the Route 219 (Kiernan Avenue)/Tully Road Intersection in Stanislaus County to the new Route 108/Route 120 Junction east of the City of Oakdale. The purpose of this project is to reduce average daily traffic volumes and traffic congestion as well as accommodate anticipated future traffic on SR 108 and the surrounding regional transportation network. This project is not fully funded and the total project cost is $915,000,000. Construction is estimated to begin in 2023.
(Source: December 2020 CTC Agenda, Agenda Item 2.2c.(1))