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RESOLUTION NO. 2014-253 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS REGARDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR LIGHT RAIL TROLLEY GRADE SEPARATIONS AND STATIONS TO THE BLUE LINE LIGHT RAIL, 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 AGREEMENT
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
On June 19, 2013, Per Council 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 work with SANDAG and their consultants and to transfer funds to SANDAG so that rail improvements and adjacent roadway improvements can be expedited. It is necessary to extend the MOU from December 31, 2014, to June 30, 2016.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed MOU amendment #1 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 purpose of this MOU amendment #1 is to provide additional time for the City of Chula Vista and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to complete studies for planned improvements along the rail corridor within Chula Vista. SANDAG is the lead and is using their on-call consultants and staff since they have expertise with the rail systems and the local rail corridor system. Chula Vista is providing full funding for the MOU related to the Light Rail Grade Separation Environmental Document at Palomar Street (CIP# STM-361 & SANDAG MPO ID # CHV30).
This MOU pertains to the third phase of work related to the Interstate-5 Multi-modal Corridor Study (CIP # STM-361). For the past few years, City staff has worked in collaboration with Caltrans, SANDAG, and SANDAG on-call consultant teams on identifying needed short-term and long-range improvements along the Interstate-5 transportation corridor which also includes the rail corridor and the local street network.
Past Council action included the following resolutions:
· Resolution 2008-253 dated 11/04/2008 approving an MOU with SANDAG for the purpose of conducting a study to examine multi-modal improvements to the Interstate-5 corridor. This study's recommendations were incorporated into the 2050RTP and recognized that improvements along the rail corridor are Chula Vista's highest need in the corridor.
· Resolution 2008-254 dated 11/04/2008 authorizing the transfer of SAFETEA-LU Federal funds and TransNet funds from CIP STM-362 (I-5/H Street Interchange) to CIP STM-361.
· Resolution 2009-220 dated 9/15/2009 accepting Federal TCSP funds for the LRT Improvements Study.
· Resolution 2010-088 dated 4/20/2010 approving an MOU with SANDAG to conduct an LRT Improvement Study. This study is complete and forms the basis for the grade separation environmental document at Palomar Street, which is the subject of this agenda statement.
· Resolution 2012-118 dated 6/19/2012 approving an MOU with SANDAG for the purpose of preparing an environmental document that will consider project alternatives for grade-separating the Blue Line Light Rail Trolley crossing at Palomar Street and commensurate improvements (Attachment # 1).
The initial phase of work provided a study for the area along Interstate-5 and bounded by State Route-54 to Main Street in Chula Vista. That document, the Interstate-5 South Multi-modal Corridor Study by AECOM Engineers dated December 2010, prioritized all transportation improvements needed within the study area and was used as a technical document to the SANDAG 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (2050 RTP). The highest priority projects for Chula Vista were to provide a rail-grade separation for the local streets at E Street, H Street and at Palomar Street. These improvements would provide better near term traffic improvements than any improvements across or within the Interstate-5 corridor. Below is a link to the document:
Based on the AECOM study, city staff then began work on the second phase of this project with SANDAG on a project Study Report (PSR) for each of the three LRT rail crossings. Each of the three locations ranks very high in the region, and they are all in relatively close proximity. Thus, it made sense to evaluate them at the same time. The Chula Vista Light Rail Trolley Improvements Project Study Report (Phase II) was completed by TY-LIN International, SANDAG and the City in August of 2012. The document can be found on the City's website:
The third phase of the project includes the preparation of an environmental document for the grade separation of the Light Rail Trolley (LRT) from the local street at Palomar Street. The 2050 RTP shows that the Blue Line system which runs between San Ysidro and downtown San Diego has the three Chula Vista Trolley Station crossings at E Street, H Street and Palomar Street ranked very high in the competition for funding of grade separation projects in the region. The studies for the at-grade crossings have been updated since the TY-LIN report and the Palomar Street crossing is now the highest in priority for San Diego County (Attachment # 2). The Palomar Street rail crossing across a six-lane roadway, impacts the most vehicles per day, and as such, ranks 1st in regional priority ahead of E Street (6th) and H Street (4th).
Due to the limited remaining funds in STM-361 and the time constraints in preparing an environmental document and securing funding for the estimated $40 million (per grade separation) in construction costs, SANDAG staff felt that only the Palomar Street location should be studied at this time. The environmental document is in preparation and the analysis includes studying grade separation design alternatives such as over-crossing and under-crossing options. Pending future funding availability, the City will pursue design and environmental studies at the E Street and H Street locations.
The executed MOU "Regarding Environmental Document for LRT Grade Separations and Stations" is attached (Attachment # 3). No fund transfer will occur with this MOU. Approved consultant expenses will be paid by SANDAG who in turn will invoice the City for reimbursement of eligible expenses including SANDAG staff costs. The City will pay SANDAG's invoice and then forward an invoice of all expenses to Caltrans for processing and reimbursement of 80% of approved expenses with federal SAFETEA-LU funds. A similar payment/reimbursement methodology was done with the Interstate-5 Multi-modal Corridor Study and the LRT PSR per the MOU entered into with Resolution 2008-253 & 2010-088.
Completion of the environmental document with preferred project alternative recommendation is expected to be completed in Winter 2015. The MOU amendment would revise the termination date of December 31, 2014 to June 30, 2016 in order to allow for the environmental document to be finished and the final project invoicing, accounting and close out with Caltrans and FHWA to be completed (Attachment # 4).
Several more public workshops will be conducted during the environmental review process. One public workshop was recently held on Wednesday, November 12th to discuss three initial alternative design concepts. Public notification will be provided on future workshops as the dates are confirmed. This project will also provide an update at the City Council Transportation Workshop scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2015.
Design and construction funding for the Palomar Street/LRT grade separation project has not yet been identified. The Regional Transportation Plan is being updated, "San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan" and the Blue Line Trolley grade-separations could be under construction within a few years. The Regional Plan update, due in late 2015, shows that for the Blue Line Trolley system, seven locations will be grade-separated. The first phase of work proposes five at-grade crossings to be completed by Year 2035. The second phase would complete two additional locations by Year 2050. The top three locations to be grade-separated are within Chula Vista, so it is expected that these locations are part of the first phase of work.
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.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The MOU amendment does not require any additional on-going expenses.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1. Resolution 2012-118 dated June 19, 2013
Attachment 2. Revised Draft Rail Grade Separations Project Rankings dated June 13, 2014
Attachment 3. Executed MOU for LRT Grade Separations dated June 20, 2013
Attachment 4. Amendment 1 to MOU SANDAG Contract 5004169
Prepared by: Francisco X. Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer, Public Works Dept.
J:\Engineer\TRAFFIC\STM361 I-5 Multimodal Corridor Study\CC agenda and resolutions\December 16 2014\agenda 121614 fxr.doc