Title
Adopt a Resolution agreeing to maintain a pedestrian crossing with a rapid rectangular flashing beacon, marked crosswalk, and required signage at the intersection of Merritt Street and Crane Street in Castroville until Caltrans alters, removes, or assumes maintenance responsibility for the crossing.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution agreeing to maintain a pedestrian crossing with a rapid rectangular flashing beacon, marked crosswalk, and required signage at the intersection of Merritt Street and Crane Street in Castroville until Caltrans alters, removes, or assumes maintenance responsibility for the crossing.
SUMMARY:
Resource Management Agency (RMA) staff is requesting the Board adopt a resolution expressing intent to maintain a pedestrian crossing at Merritt Street and Crane Street in Castroville. This resolution is required to obtain a Caltrans encroachment permit for installation of the pedestrian crossing.
DISCUSSION:
RMA staff has received multiple requests to install a pedestrian crosswalk on Merritt Street (State Route 183) at the intersection of Crane Street, in the community of Castroville. Given Merritt Street is a main street of the community, installing a pedestrian crosswalk will enhance safety at this location. The project will consist of installing a crosswalk with rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFB). The Board appropriated funds for this project on April 18, 2017. Subsequently RMA Public Works & Facilities prepared design plans and submitted a request for an encroachment permit to Caltrans. Caltrans has twice rejected the application and returned to RMA with requested changes. In the second round, Caltrans has requested a resolution from the Board that stipulates that the County will maintain the pedestrian crossing improvements until Caltrans alters, removes, or assumes maintenance responsibility for the crossing. Caltrans also determined that new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps would not be required but some other items such as additional signage and grinding of pavement edges would be needed.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Since Merritt Street, also known as State Highway 183, is a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) facility, the RMA-Public Works and Facilities is seeking an encroachment permit to begin construction.
FINANCING:
On April 18, 2017, The Board approved $150,000 in appropriations and revenue in Fund 002, Appropriation Unit RMA012, financed by Castroville Area Regional Traffic Impact Fees (Fund 002-2652). As a result, the Castroville Area Regional Traffic Impact Fees were recognized as revenue in FY 2016-17. However, since the project did not incur any cost the revenue fell to ending fund balance. The Road Fund’s FY 2017-18 appropriations are sufficient to cover the cost of this project in the amount of $150,000 and the related financing is in Fund Balance; therefore, no additional appropriations are being requested. The amount appropriated should be adequate to construct the crossings especially since ADA ramps will not be required. Castroville Area Regional Traffic Impact Fee may not be used for maintenance of the crossing so staff anticipates that any potential maintenance will be incorporated into the routine maintenance activities within the Road Fund in future fiscal years.
Staff anticipates future maintenance could include re-painting of crosswalk (most likely would not be needed for 3-5 years after project completion), replacing damaged or vandalized signs, and replacing the RRFB if it should malfunction or fail. The annualized cost is expected to be on the order of $2,000.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This item supports the Board’s efforts to enhance public safety by providing a marked crosswalk with a rapid rectangular flashing beacon.
Check the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives:
__ Economic Development
__ Administration
__ Health & Human Services
__ Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Mohammad Qureshi, Ph.D., P.E., T.E., Traffic Engineer, (831) 796-3009
Approved by: Donald D. Searle, RMA Deputy Director of Public Works & Facilities
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
The following attachment is on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Resolution