Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1979/11/06 Item 11 CITY OF CHULA VISTA COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item' No. 11 I,~- -- For meeting of 11/6/79 ITEM TITLE Resolution 91.3J Acknowledging Deletion of Tidelands Avenue from 1-5/54 Interchange Construction Ram ps to SUBMITTED BY City Engineer ~yv' ITEM EXPLANATION (4/5TH'S VOTE REQUIRED YES____ NO~) City staff members met recently with representatives from National City and Caltrans to discuss the feasibility of pressing for construction of Tidelands Avenue and related ramp connections to the 1-5/54 interchange. The recent State Coastal Commission action significantly reduces the probability that those portions of Tidelands Avenue and related ramps across the Sweetwater marsh will be constructed in the foreseeable future. Federal authorities have advised Caltrans representatives that the Federal Highway Administration will NOT fund construction of the interconnecting ramps with interstate funds unless Tidelands Avenue is constructed (or assured to be constructed) across the Sweetwater marsh~ Chula Vista and National City are now therefore faced with the problem of achieving an acceptable alternative to construction of the originally planned freeway interchange/Tidelands Avenue complex. .. The ramps to Tidelands Avenue within the marshland area are one of the major environmental factors which has delayed construction of the overall freeway/flood control project. Elimination of those ramps would probably enhance the likelihood of approval of the remainder of the project. That "remainder" would still represent a major benefit to Chula Vista. Abandonment of the ramps AS A PART OF THE CORPS/CALTRANS PROJECT will not preclude further attempts by the City to gain approval of Tidelands Avenue and the ramps through the marshland. WEH:nr GO-OOl Resolution2 EXHIBITS continued on su Ordinance lemental Ag reement_ Other Plat --- Notification List___ ENVIRONMENTAl DOCUMENT: Attached___ Submitted on FINANCIAL IMPACT No immediate impact. possible ultimate reduction in cost because of deleted ramps and reduced right-of-way requirement. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Approve resolution. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COUNCIL ACTION q~31 "f C h d ; :.~'~' ; ~ ' Da!.~~:~~2!:~~~;~ 1 Agenda Item No. 11 For Meeting of 11/6/79 Supplemental Page Two Caltrans expects to commence the first phase of the I-S/54 interchange construction (detours and fills for future interchange ramps) not sooner than late 1980. The second phase should commence about one year later (fall 1981) and will include the permanent lanes on 1-5, most of the interchange bridges, railroad bridges, grading of Route 54 and construction of the flood control channel. This second phase will take approximately two years to complete. The final phase, Route 54 paving between 1-5 and I-80S, will probably occur in 1984. We understand that the Caltrans portions of phases 1 and 2 are funded. We further understand that the Corps of Engineers has obtained Congressional approval for funding of channel construction, but has yet to obtain funding for acquisition and/or protection of the Sweetwater marsh. The environmental status of the overall project is somewhat clouded. The Corps of Engineers' E.LS. is designed to cover the total flood control/freeway complex. Required "consultation" and further processing of the E.I.S. will likely require 9 to 12 months, once commenced. In addition, the Coastal Commission is still concerned over several environmental impacts as related to the Sweetwater marsh. Caltrans has requested that the Coastal Commission provide a man to work with Caltrans in redesign of the interchange so as to achieve a design acceptable to the Coastal Commission. The Corps is apparently satisfied that California Fish and Game's concerns have been met, but the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take no action until "consultation" has been completed. Caltrans has not made plans as to what action should be taken in the event that the total flood control project is not funded. Prior conversations with Caltrans representatives indicated that it would be possible to build the freeway independent of the Corps' project but that such a move would increase Caltrans' expense and greatly delay the project. Both Chula Vista's and National City's representatives indicated that a simple abandonment of the interconnecting ramps would not be acceptable. Chula Vista expressed its interest in an interchange redesign which would allow direct access to "E" Street. National City is interested in a redesign/reconstruction of the 1-5/24th Street interchange so as to provide a more adequate means of access to their tidelands industries. q~?? Agenda Item No. 11 For Meeting of 11/6/79 Supplemental Page Three State representatives at the meeting recognized that a Tidelands Avenue crossing of the marsh could conceivably be built in the future even though its current prospects are dim. Preliminary redesign of the 1-5/54 interchange indicates that it will be possible to provide for the design features desired by the two local agencies and still provide a potential for the interconnecting ramps to be added at a later date. .' The City Council has stated that it is in Chula Vista's interest that the flood control channel and the Route 54 freeway facilities be constructed. The construction of Tidelands Avenue and ramps connecting that road to the 1- 5/54 interchange would likewise be in this Agency's interest. However, construction of Tidelands Avenue and the ramps does not appear to be feasible at this time. So long as the Tidelands Avenue issue is tied to the basic freeway/flood control project no individual part will be able to proceed until the whole is approved. It appears logical to disassociate Tidelands Avenue and the ramps from the freeway/flood control project so as to permit the latter to proceed. \ The City's agreement with Caltrans calls for construction of the ramps interconnecting Tidelands Avenue and the 1-5/54 interchange. It is therefore our recommendation that the City acknowledge that such ramps will not be constructed as part of the proposed project. Caltrans requests that the acknowledgement be in writing. Staff supports such an action and suggests that it include the following conditions: a) that the 1-5/54 in te rchang e be red es ig ned to pr ov id e direct access to "E" Street, from State Route 54 and b) that Caltransdesign the 1-5/54 interchange in such manner that ramps to Tidelands Avenue could be added in the future. qg~;;