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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-248 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGARDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR GRADE SEPARATIONS AND STATIONS TO THE LIGHT RAIL TROLLEY’S (LRT) BLUE LINE, AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO MAKE SUCH NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY, AND AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SECOND AMENDMENT
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
On June 19, 2013, Per Resolution # 2012-118, the City of Chula Vista entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for planned improvements through Chula Vista’s light rail trolley and freight rail corridor. The MOU allows the City to transfer funds and use SANDAG and their consultants to complete a Project Report and Environmental Document (PR/ED) for the grade separation project at the Palomar Street crossing. It is necessary to amend the MOU to add additional tasks for the consultant; increase the budget transfer amount allowed to SANDAG by $232,000 for the purpose of accomplishing these tasks; and extend the termination date of services. No additional appropriation is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed MOU amendment #2 for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that there is no possibility that the activity may have significant effect on the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule) of the state CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Although environmental review is not necessary for this specific activity, additional environmental review will be required as applicable prior to the approval of any future project specific design alternatives and development entitlement permits.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The 2050 Regional Transportation Plan shows the Palomar Street/Blue Line trolley separation as the highest priority in the San Diego region. The Palomar Street rail crossing impacts over 44,000 vehicles per day due to the 206 train crossings per day.
Since SANDAG and their consultants have expertise with the rail systems and the local rail corridor system, they have been managing and overseeing the development of the PR/ED. Completing the PR/ED would allow SANDAG to accelerate the design and construction phases.
After initial analyses, three project alternatives were being considered for the grade separation at Palomar Street:
• P2 - Raise Trolley over Palomar Street with freight rail at roadway grade.
• P4 - Lower Trolley under Palomar Street with freight rail at roadway grade.
• P5 - Lower Palomar Street under all rails (Trolley & freight rail on new bridge).
The environmental analysis included studying grade separation design alternatives such as over-crossing and under-crossing options. Alternatives P2 & P4 have recently been eliminated from further consideration due to negative impacts with freight train operations
The purpose of this MOU Amendment #2 is to allocate additional funds to SANDAG for the work necessary to complete a PR/ED related to the Light Rail Grade Separation Environmental Document at Palomar Street (CIP# STM 361 & SANDAG MPO ID # CHV30). SANDAG’s consultants have determined that additional technical analysis will be needed for alternative P5 prior to accepting it as the preferred alternative. A budget analysis for the additional services is attached (Attachment #1). The additional work is primarily due to expanding the scope and study area of impacts for the traffic analysis due to new iterations of the intersection geometrics at Industrial Boulevard. This amendment will provide an additional $232,000 for the additional services (Attachment #2) necessary to complete the PR/ED. There are no additional funds required since there are sufficient funds in the CIP budget.
This MOU amendment will also extend the termination date to June 30, 2020, for the purpose of coinciding with the updated reversion date of federal funds and allow more than sufficient time for the project close-out and final approval of all related Caltrans and FHWA documents. The PR/ED with preferred project alternative is expected to be completed in mid-2016 with the project close occurring in FY16/17.
The original executed MOU “Regarding Environmental Document for LRT Grade Separations and Stations” is attached (Attachment # 4).
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council on the site specific portions of this action and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the properties which are the subject of this action.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
CIP STM-361 is funded with Federal funds and a 20% minimum match requirement provided by local TransNet funds. Sufficient funding is available in STM-361 to cover project costs; therefore, no additional appropriation is required.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The MOU amendment does not require any additional on-going expenses.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1. Budget Analysis & Additional Services dated June 5, 2015
Attachment 2. Amendment 2 to MOU SANDAG Contract 5004169
Attachment 3. Table M.12 2015 RTP Rail Grade Separations Project Rankings
Attachment 4 Executed MOU for LRT Grade Separations dated June 20, 2013
Prepared by: Francisco X. Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer, Public Works Dept.
J:\Engineer\TRAFFIC\STM361 I-5 Multimodal Corridor Study\SANDAG Palomar LRT MOU Amendment 2 Feb 2015\agenda 100115 fxr.doc