Title
Adopt a Resolution accepting an amended portion of State right-of-way at the intersection of State Route 68 and Hitchcock Road:
a. Finding that accepting an amended portion of State right-of-way involves existing highways and streets, and minor alterations to land which qualify respectively as Class 1 and Class 4 categorical exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines California Code of Regulations (CCR) Sections 15301(c) - existing highways and streets; and 15304 - minor public alterations in the condition of the land, and there are no exceptions under CCR Section 15300.2;
b. Waiving the 90-day notice requirement stated in California Streets and Highways Code (SHC) Section 73 which requires the California Department of Transportation to provide 90 days notice in writing of intention to relinquish to the Board of Supervisors of any portion of any state highway;
c. Accepting an amended portion of State right-of-way at the intersection of State Route 68 and Hitchcock Road in the County of Monterey into the County’s road system upon approval by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) of a Resolution of Relinquishment and recordation of said Resolution at the Monterey County Recorder’s Office;
d. Accepting the amended relinquishment in its current environmental condition and setting, including, but not limited to, the presence of hazardous materials as described in the Environmental Disclosure Memo (EDM) dated October 16, 2024
Proposed CEQA Action: Find that the adoption of this ordinance is categorically exempt since it involves existing highways and streets, and minor alterations to land which qualify respectively as Class 1 and Class 4 categorical exemptions under the CEQA Guidelines CCR Sections 15301(c) - existing highways and streets; and 15304 - minor public alterations in the condition of the land, and there are no exceptions under CCR Section 15300.2.
Report
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution:
a. Finding that accepting an amended portion of State right-of-way involves existing highways and streets, and minor alterations to land which qualify respectively as Class 1 and Class 4 categorical exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines California Code of Regulations (CCR) Sections 15301(c) - existing highways and streets; and 15304 - minor public alterations in the condition of the land, and there are no exceptions under CCR Section 15300.2;
b. Waiving the 90-day notice requirement stated in California Streets and Highways Code (SHC) Section 73 which requires the California Department of Transportation to provide 90 days notice in writing of intention to relinquish to the Board of Supervisors of any portion of any state highway;
c. Accepting an amended portion of State right-of-way at the intersection of State Route 68 and Hitchcock Road in the County of Monterey into the County’s road system upon approval by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) of a Resolution of Relinquishment and recordation of said Resolution at the Monterey County Recorder’s Office;
d. Accepting the amended relinquishment in its current environmental condition and setting, including, but not limited to, the presence of hazardous materials as described in the Environmental Disclosure Memo (EDM) dated October 16, 2024.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
In late 2015 and early 2016, the State Department of Transportation (hereafter referred to as “Caltrans”) implemented a safety improvement project at the intersection of State Route 68 and Hitchcock Road (a County road) west of the City of Salinas. The project was implemented to improve the safety of vehicles turning left from Hitchcock Road onto State Route 68 and for vehicles turning from both directions of State Route 68 onto Hitchcock Road. The project included installation of a new traffic signal, new left-turn and right-turn lanes, and realignment of Hitchcock Road at the approach to the intersection with State Route 68.
To accomplish the project, Caltrans acquired additional road right-of-way from an adjacent parcel. The acquired right-of-way was used to realign a portion of Hitchcock Road, and is currently being used as County roadway for Hitchcock Road. Title for the realigned portion of Hitchcock road should have been relinquished from Caltrans to the County at the conclusion of the project. Caltrans desired to formally relinquish a portion of Hitchcock Road to the County to clean up title in this location. On November 28, 2023, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 23-488 (Attachment A) stating the County was willing to accept the proposed relinquishment area as shown on an exhibit attached to the resolution. Subsequently, Caltrans has slightly amended the relinquishment area for the purpose of retaining traffic control equipment within State right-of-way. Therefore, the County needs to adopt a resolution to be willing to accept the Amended Relinquishment Area (Attachment B), which will supersede the portion defined in Resolution No. 23-488.
The County has received and reviewed a copy of the above-referenced Environmental Disclosure Memo (EDM) dated October 16, 2024 (Attachment C). The EDM indicates conditions are substantially the same as what existed when the County agreed to accept the original Relinquishment Area in 2023. Upon recordation of the CTC's Resolution of Relinquishment in the County Recorder's Office, Caltrans will not be responsible for any present or future remediation of said hazardous materials.
Staff in the Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks, including the County Surveyor, have reviewed and concur with the proposed amended relinquishment.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel has reviewed the Proposed Resolution as to form. This item has been coordinated with Caltrans District 5.
FINANCING:
Caltrans will retain operational control of the traffic signal located at this intersection, however, the County’s share of the electrical and maintenance cost of the traffic signal will be about $2000 per year, since the County will now have a 1/3 ownership of the intersection. These County cost will be folded into the electrical expenses of all other traffic signals operated by the County and are proposed to be paid by the Road Fund. The County Road Fund annualy allocates about $271,000 to cover the cost of electrical and maintenance of traffic signals.
Caltrans is responsible for preparing and processing documents to obtain necessary approvals and recording to finalize the proposed relinquishment of State right-of-way to the County as described herein.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This effort is a final action related to a safety improvement project involving State Route 68 and a portion of Hitchcock Road. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic initiatives:
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Michael Goetz, PLS, County Surveyor, , ext. 4940
Reviewed by: Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works
Reviewed by: Lindsay Lerable, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachments:
Attachment A - Resolution No. 23-488
Attachment B - Proposed Resolution with Exhibit B
Attachment C - Environmental Disclosure Memo, October 16, 2024