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RESOLUTION NO. 2018-088 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE FOURTH AMENDMENT TO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SAN DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (SANDAG) REGARDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT FOR GRADE SEPARATIONS AND STATIONS TO THE LIGHT RAIL TROLLEY’S BLUE LINE
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
On June 19, 2012, per Resolution 2012-118, the City of Chula Vista entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SANDAG 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 staff 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 the optional tasks for the consultant and increase the budget transfer amount allowed to SANDAG from $1,034,000 to $1,175,000, an increase of $141,000. No additional appropriation is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The Project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines Section 15061(b) (3); Section 15301 (Existing Facilities); and Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures).
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3); Section 15301 (Existing Facilities); and Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures). Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
On June 19, 2012, per Resolution 2012-118, the City of Chula Vista entered Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with SANDAG to prepare an environmental document that will consider project alternatives for grade-separating the Blue Line Light Rail Trolley and freight rail crossing at Palomar Street and Industrial Blvd. This location is the highest ranked grade-separation crossing proposed in the SANDAG Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The MOU allows the City to transfer funds up to $750,000 and use SANDAG and their consultants to complete a Project Report & Environmental Document (PR/ED).
The Palomar Street Grade Separation project is currently included in the 2035 Blue Line improvements identified in the Regional Transportation Plan. However, there may be an opportunity to accelerate the project since SANDAG is currently beginning the process of updating the transportation networks and expect to have a new Regional Transportation Plan approved in late 2019.
On April 20, 2018, the SANDAG Transportation Committee discussed the Capital Program Budget: Environmental and Design Work Set-Aside. The discussion focused on prioritizing a list of highly ranked regional projects and getting the PR/ED phase and design phases completed so that they can compete well for the construction phase funding opportunities. This strategy/process has been used successfully in leveraging Transnet funding to secure additional State and Federal funds for construction.
SANDAG’s discussion report mentioned that Chula Vista’s Palomar Street Rail Grade separation project could be recommended for $5M in design costs for FY20 while the E Street/F Street/H Street rail grade separation project for $2M PR/ED in FY21 & $3M in FY22 (Attachment #1). The Committee expressed concern over the pending November 2018 repeal of SB1 (RMRA - Roadway Maintenance & Rehabilitation Act of 2017) since that would reduce regional funding by an estimated $195M. If SB1 is repealed, there would be a delay implementing the regional transportation program which would include the funding of the grade separation projects.
To complete the PR/ED phase of work, additional analysis of the proposed adjacent private development impacts, the Right-of-Way needs and, the utility relocation requirements is needed. The additional work will also provide a better cost estimate for programming the design and construction phases. To complete these additional tasks, City staff recommends approving the fourth MOU amendment (Attachment #2). The current schedule will complete the PR/ED phase in early 2019.
Descriptions of the additional effort needed to complete the PR/ED phase of this grade separation project are as follows:
• Additional traffic analysis work was needed due to updates on the regional activity based transportation model used to forecast the growth and project impacts over a larger area than the work zone including the pending vacant parcel development.
• Refine the Preliminary Environmental Study (PES) form due to adjustments needed once the preferred alignment and traffic impact areas were defined and impacts identified over a larger area.
• Preliminary Geometric Drawings. With the pending development at the southwest quadrant of Industrial Boulevard and Palomar Street, this area will be fully built-out. This task will be important to predict accurate construction costs for the grade separation and identify the temporary construction easements needed and wet and dry utilities that need to be relocated.
• Public Outreach. Refine the task. The removal of the Industrial Blvd/Palomar Street connection and the importance of public review & comment will require an adjustment to the scope of work. Public information and an outreach campaign needs to be done including presentations to stakeholders and the Safety Commission.
• SANDAG administrative fees. This is a regional project being administered by SANDAG and requires SANDAG staff support for Project Management, Communications/Public Outreach, engineering, environmental review and traffic modeling. As the technical studies are almost completed, the draft environmental document must be prepared by the consultant and reviewed by SANDAG staff. Chula Vista staff is still involved in the document review, but a higher effort of work is needed by SANDAG staff.
The proposed task order change has been negotiated and would increase the budget transfer amount by an additional $141,000 above the existing maximum of $1,034,000 to $1,175,000. Consultant costs are fixed at $80,000, SANDAG staff costs are up to a maximum increase not to exceed $61,000. Chula Vista staff costs are the balance of the CIP budget at approximately $50,000 and are not part of the MOU amendment.
No appropriation of funds is required since there are sufficient funds available in the CIP budget. City staff is coordinating with SANDAG staff to advance design phase funding to coincide with the completion of the PR/ED phase.
Current Schedule Goals:
• Staff will complete the environmental document in early 2019.
• SANDAG staff is in the process of allocating $5M for the design phase in FY20.
• Complete design in FY22.
• Pending construction funding approval, construction could commence in FY23.
• Palomar Street Grade Separation completed in FY25.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100,et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The overall Palomar Grade Separation project supports the Strong and Secure Neighborhoods goal. The project facilitates mixed-use, transit oriented development, which improves traffic circulation and addresses the needs for transit operations as well as all modes of transportation for residents and visitors of the City alike.
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
1 List of Potential Projects to Advance Completion of Environmental and Design Work
2 Amendment 4 to MOU SANDAG Contract 5004169
Staff Contact: Francisco X. Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer, Engineering & Capital Projects Dept.