HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 4.A 05/16/2011.. ,.. i. . •. ., i V ✓CI V #4.A'' �..
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DATE: May 16
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT
Honorable Mayor and Members of 'the City Council
John C., Brown, City Manager
Resolution Approving Letter to California Department of Transportation on
Design. Improvements for Petaluma Boulevard South Interchange.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that. the City °Council adopt the attached Resolution Approving Letter to
California Department of Tran on Design Im rovernOnts for Petaluma Boulevard South
p P g P
Interchange.
1. BACKGROUND
The Highway 101 widening'project currently underway north of Petaluma includes a redesign of
the Petaluma Boulevard South highway:interchange: The project, which is on county land'
and just
outside Petaluma city limits, was designed by consultantshired by Caltrans and planned by the
Sonoma County Transportation�Authority (SCTA). It will add frontage roads and eliminate
driveways and other unsafe roads that lead directly, onto the highway. Construction is scheduled
to begin in the summer of 2012 and be completed by 2014.
DISCUSSION
Community concerns have been raised on , the impacts to traffic circulation. The redesign of the
intercharige.includes additional stoplights and intersections, with northbound ,drivers ,leaving
'Petaluma 'ssingmthrough three traffic lights. and southbound drivers passing through four
stoplights,: Council is aware of
the complex funding mechanisms and project timelines, and is
requestin .Caltrans to
requesting consider whether -a; nonsta "ridard, design that is less disruptive to local
traffic would be feasible (see, attached' le tter). In addition, Council is also requesting that
Cal'trans soften the visual impact of the planned retaining wall with ivy or other vegetation.
FINANCIAL; IMPACTS
The total cost of the project- is $62.7 million, paid by state and regional funds. Of that, about
$5.6 million paid for,the design and $35.5 million will`pay for construction, environmental and
Agenda Review:
City Attorney Finance 'Director City Manag
right -of -way issues. Redesigning the interchange would jeopardize state funds which are set to
expire in December of-2012 and would delay the project indefinitely.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Draft letter
Is
RESOLUTION APPROVING LETTER O
„ CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT' OF
T.
TRANSPORTATION ON'DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS` FOR PETALUMA BOULEVARD
SOUTH INTERCHANGE
WHEREAS, Caltrans and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority have redesigned.
the Petaluma Boulevard South.highway`interchange in conjunction with the Highway 10:1
widening: project currentlyund_e'rway; and
WHEREAS, the project, which is scheduled to begin'construction in the summer of 2012,
is located on county land. and adds :frontage roads, eliminates driveways and other unsafe roads
that lead directly onto the highway; and
WHEREAS, community concerns have been raised on'th_e impacts the design_ has on
traffic circulation with the, additional stoplights and a ramp metering tight; and
WHEREAS, delaying the prof ect would; jeopardize $35 million ' competitive state funds
that will expire in'December 20:12 if they are not dedicated 'to the project; and
WHEREAS', Council has agreed to :send;a letter, to Caltrans; asking them to consider if a
nonstandard design that is less disruptive to local traffic would be feasible, and also asking them
to consider softening the visual impact of the planned retaining wall with ivy or other vegetation.
NOW; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Petaluma City Council hereby
approves, and,authori -zes the Mayor to sign the letter to Caltrans.
3
ATTACHMENT 2
FINT WI
May 17, 2011
Mr. Bijan Sartipi, District Director
Department of Transportation
111 Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 23660
Oakland, CA 94623 -0660
RE: Petaluma Blvd. South Interchange
Mann Sonoma Narrows ProjectB -2
Dear Mr. Sartipi:
The Petaluma City Council has directed me to write, to you with respect to the design of the
Petaluma Blvd. South interchange project, which as you know isl fully funded and scheduled for
contract award in July 2012. We are also, aware that this project has environmental clearance
because it was included in the E-WS for the Marin- Sonoma Narrows HOV Widening Project,
which was certified in 2009.
Members of our community 'have only recently focused on the implications of this project for
local traffic circulation. Petaluma residents have grown accustomed' to the convenient access
from town to southbound 101 afforded by the existing, non - standard interchange configuration.
Thus, southbound drivers now encounter no stop signs or traffic signals as they leave town and
merge onto the highway.
In contrast, with the approved interchange design, southbound drivers, will encounter three traffic
signals getting, through'the interchange, plus, , a fourth new signal at Landing Way not associated
with the interchange, ,plus the required ramp metering light. Many of our citizens are quite upset
at the dramatic: increase in difficulty to get onto the highway.
We recognize that; your agency made all efforts to 'reach out to the publie.during'the many
the MSN project was .being ,planned. Nevertheless, this important aspect of the project has
largely escaped notice until now.
We are very mindful of the complex funding package that has been assembled for this project, as
well as the tight timeftames7 associated with that funding, ,and we do not wish to do anything that
jeopardizes the, timely delivery of:thi&important project. With that caveat, however, we do
request that Caltrans consider expeditiously whether a nonstandard design that is less disruptive
of local traffic would meet the needs of Caltrans.
We also request "consideration, of one design issue not connected with local traffic circulation.
The, Marge retaining wall planned along the eastern edge of the project, while directly adjoining
industrial properties, is: highly`' visible from.a city park directly across the Petaluma River. We
would ask if ivy or other vegetation could be considered :to soften the visual impact of this wall.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of these matters.
Sincerely,
David Glass
Mayor of Petaluma
cc: Suzanne Smith, SCTA