December Updates to California Highways – Observations Along the Road

Another year has passed, and it is time for the last update of 2008. Just last year at this time I was deep in the bowels of the state codes, updating the chronology to be more accurate as to when each highway and highway segement was added to the state code. That was a massive task. Now we’re in the midst of a recession, and who knows what will win: the cutting of state budgets and the postponing of road projects, or a massive stimulus plan that will get infrastructure construction going. I can’t predict what will happen on the state or federal level, but I can reliabily predict that I’ll be monitoring what is happening and attempting to capture it on these pages. No fancy animated graphics, no photo travellogues, but lots of information about numbered highways in California.

So, as usual, the update cycle starts by processing backed up email changes, notes from my reading of the papers, as well as updates from misc.transport.road. This resulted in changes on the following routes, with credit as indicated [my research⁽¹⁾, contributions of information or leads (via direct mail or Usenet) from aaroads_blog⁽²⁾, ixixlix⁽³⁾, Carl Rogers⁽⁴⁾, Joe Rouse⁽⁵⁾]:Route 4⁽⁴⁾, Route 30⁽⁵⁾, Route 99⁽³⁾, Route 210⁽⁵⁾, Route 241⁽¹⁾, US-101⁽¹⁾, I-15⁽²⁾.

Looked for updates for the legislative information page. The new legislative session (2009-2010) has started, and so the page was reworked to reflect what few bills have been introduced during the lame-duck period by the 2008 legislators.

Reviewed the December CTC Summary and Web Books (there was no November meeting). I noted the following items for inclusion:

2.1a. Program Amendments/Project Approvals – STIP Amendments for Action

(3) The Department proposes to amend TCRP Project #18 (Route 101; widen eight miles of freeway to six lanes, Novato to Petaluma [Novato Narrows] in Marin and Sonoma Counties) to be consistent with approved CMIA baseline agreement. Removed from Consent Calendar. Subsequently approved without discussion.

2.1c. Traffic Congestion Relief (TCR)Program Application Approvals/Amendments, Proposition 1B CMIA Program/Project Amendments

(1a) The Department, in conjunction with Placer County Transportation Planning Agency, proposes to amend the CMIA project baseline agreement for the Route 80 Capacity/Operational Improvement Project – Phase 2 (PPNO 0146C) to reduce the CMIA funds to reflect award savings and transfer savings to Phase 3A (PPNO 0146F) to fund an increase in scope and cost. Approved. Any cost increase will be funded by Placer County.

(1b) The Department, in conjunction with Placer County Transportation Planning Agency, proposes to amend the CMIA project baseline agreement for the Route 80 Capacity/Operational Improvement Project – Phase 3A (PPNO 0146F) to increase the scope and cost of Phase 3A, and shift award savings from Phase 2 (PPNO 0146C) to help fund the cost increase. Approved.
2.2a. Environmental Matters – Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

(1) 11-SD-76 PM 12.4/17.6, PM 46.1/47.1 Route 76 in San Diego County. Roadway improvements, including the addition of one lane in each direction along a 5.2 mile portion of Route 76. (NOP) No comments to be sent in response to the NOP.
2.2b. Environmental Matters – Comments on Documents in Circulation (Draft EIR)

(1) 05-SLO-1, PM 64.0/R67.2 Route 1 in San Luis Obispo County. Realign a 3.2 mile portion of Route 1 from just north of Piedras Blancas Lighthouse to the Arroyo de la Cruz Bridge near San Simeon. (DEIR) Commission had no comments on the alternatives. However, the Department and partners should identify and secure the funding sources needed to complete the alternative selected.

(2) 05-SB-101, PM 83.1/83.9 Route 101 in Santa Barbara County. Construct a new interchange in the city of Santa Maria and the community of Orcutt. (PPNO 4638) (DEIR) Commission had no comments on the alternatives. However, the Department and partners should identify and secure the funding sources needed to complete the alternative selected.

(3) 11-SD-15, PM 15.1/16.4 Route 15 in San Diego County. Construct a 1.3 mile Direct Access Ramp (DAR) to connect Route 15 to the communities of Mira Mesa and Scripps Miramar Ranch. (DEIR) Withdrawn prior to CTC meeting.
2.2c. Environmental Matters – Approval of Projects for Future Consideration of Funding, Route Adoption or New Public Road

(1) 01-Men-1, PM 82.0/82.3 Route 1 in Mendocino County. Construct roadway improvements including retaining walls, replace metal beam guardrail, improve drainage and new road paving near Westport. (MND) Approved.

(2) 03-ED-50, PM 14.3/15.8 Route 50 in El Dorado County. Construct a new interchange at Missouri Flat Road north of Cameron Park. (FEIR) Approved, as modified.

(3) 03-Sut-99, PM 0.0/2.6 Route 99 in Sutter County. Construct a new interchange to connect Riego Road to Route 99 at the Sacramento/Sutter County line. (PPNO 3L44) (MND) Approved.

(4) 04-Son-101, PM 21.7/29.3 Route 101 in Sonoma County. Widen Route 101 from four to six lanes between Steele Lane interchange to Windsor River Road interchange near Santa Rosa. (FEIR) Approved.

(5) 05-SBt-156, PM 3.0/R8.2 Route 156 in San Benito County. Widen the existing Route 156 from two to four lanes from The Alameda to the Hollister Bypass in San Juan Bautista. (PPNO 4060) (FEIR) Approved, as modified.

(6) 05-SCr-17, PM 6.1/6.5 Route 17 in Santa Cruz County. Construct safety enhancements, including outside shoulders, concrete guardrail, retaining wall, and drainage improvements, near the city of Scotts Valley. (PPNO 4001) (MND) Added to Consent Calendar and approved.

(7) 08-Riv-215, PM R9.0/15.5 Route 215 in Riverside County. Construct a third mixed flow lane in each direction and widen Route 215 to a minimum of three lanes in each direction. (PPNO 9991A) (ND) Approved.

(8) Park Boulevard at Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge Project in San Diego County – Construct a pedestrian bridge near PETCO Park in downtown San Diego. (MND) Approved.

(9) Future Consideration of a New Public Road Connection: Block at Orange Expansion Project in Orange County. New public road connection at State Route 22 westbound The City Drive on/off ramps at Metropolitan Drive in the City of Orange. (FEIR) Approved.
2.3a. Route Adoptions

One Route Adoption as a freeway on Route 101 at 01-Men-101 PM R99.3/R100.3 in the county of Mendocino near Confusion Hill. Approved.
2.3b. New Public Road Connection

One New Public Road Connection to Route 22 at 12-Ora-22 PM L9.7 (The Block Way) in the city of Orange near the Santa Ana River. Approved.
2.3c. Relinquishment Resolutions

2-Teh-5-PM R27.5; 2-Teh-36-PM L40.3 Right of way in the city of Red Bluff on Adobe Road between Route 5 and Route 36, consisting of a reconstructed and relocated city street. Approved.
2.3d. Vacation Resolutions

2-Teh-36-PM 29.0/T29.0 Right of way in the county of Tehama along Route 36 east of Cannon Road near Red Bluff, consisting of highway right of way no longer needed for State highway purposes. Approved.

2-Teh-36-PM 37.7/38.1 Right of way in the county of Tehama along Route 36 west of Kinney Avenue near Red Bluff, consisting of highway right of way no longer needed for State highway purposes. Approved.

2-Plu-89-PM 0.8/2.3 Right of way in the county of Plumas along Route 89 near Whitehawk, consisting of highway right of way no longer needed for State highway purposes. Approved.
2.5c. State-administered STIP Transportation Enhancement Projects –– Financial Allocation

(1) $2,290,000 for three State administered STIP projects on the State Highway System, as follows:
· $540,000 for one project on Route 89 in Plumas County near Indian Falls, from north of Route 70 to north of Dixie Canyon Road.
· $1,750,000 for two Transportation Enhancement projects. Approved.
2.5g. State-administered STIP Transportation Enhancement Projects — Financial Allocation

(1a) $35,607,000 for two State administered CMIA projects on the State Highway System, as follows:
· $32,207,000 for one project on east and westbound Route 80 in Placer County to add HOV Lanes and Auxiliary Lanes from Miners Ravine to Route 65. Contributions from local sources: $7,793,000.
· $3,400,000 for one project on Route 80 in Fairfield in Solano County, west of the Route 80/12 interchange.
Approved.

(3a) $23,500,000 for two Stateadministered STIP projects on the State Highway System, as follows:
· $7,500,000 for one project on Route 5 in Tehama County near Corning, north of the South Avenue overcrossing.
· $16,000,000 for one project on Route 70 in Butte County near Oroville from north of the Ophir Road intersection to west of Route 162. Contributions from local sources: $5,864,000.70
Approved, as modified.

(3b) $3,548,000 for one locally-administered STIP project on Route 215 in Riverside County in Murietta, from the Route 15/Route 215 interchange to Scott Road, programmed in the CMIA. Approved.

(3c) Reduce original allocation of $23,404,000 to $18,055,000, per AB 608, for the Route 99/Whitmore Avenue Interchange project in Ceres in Stanislaus County.72 Financial Allocation Adjustment 2.5g.(3e): Reduce original allocation of $21,600,000 to $17,180,000, per AB 608, for the Route 101/36 project in Humboldt County. Approved. After AB 608 approval, any increase will require CTC approval. Department not to use G-12 authority for increases.

(3d) Reduce original allocation of $21,600,000 to $17,180,000, per AB 608, for the Route 101/Route 36 project in Humboldt County. Approved. After AB 608 approval, any increase will require CTC approval. Department not to use G-12 authority for increases.