sr-081109-3a (3)City Council Meeting: August 11, 2009
Agenda Item: ~J"'~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lee E. Swain, Director of Public Works
Subject: State of California, Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Projects
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council review and provide comments on:
1. -the proposed revisions to the project scope of work and schedule for the
California Incline Project;
2. the status of the Palisades Bluffs Project; and
3. the proposed relinquishment of Lincoln Boulevard from the Santa Monica
Freeway to the southerly City limits.
Executive Summary
The City has initiated quarterly meetings with Caltrans District 7 management to resolve
a number of project and operational issues of mutual interest to each agency. This
report is intended to provide an update and status of two projects involving Caltrans
adjacent to Pacific .Coast Highway: the California Incline Replacement Project, and the
Palisades Bluffs Improvement Project. Additionally, this report discusses the proposed
relinquishment of Lincoln Boulevard from the State of California to the City.
Discussion
California Incline Replacement Project
The California Incline is a roadway with a series of bridge structures on the westerly
edge spanning eroded sections of the Palisades Bluffs. The structures were built in the
early 1930's and are in need of replacement. This project was originally contemplated
in the mid-1990's but was delayed due to workload issues associated with recovery
from the Northridge Earthquake and other priority projects. The Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works inspects all local bridges every two years as required by
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the Federal Highway Administration and issues a report detailing the condition of
structures. The California Incline was inspected on April 14, 2008, and the inspection
report was issued to the City on August 25, 2008. The report indicates the structure is
in poor condition.
A draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (EIR/EA) for the
California Incline Replacement Project was circulated for public comment in June 2007.
Simultaneously, staff contacted Caltrans and requested additional federal funding for
the project due to escalation in costs. -The request for additional funding triggered a
review of the scope of work by Caltrans Division of Structures. As a condition of
receiving federal funds for this project, Caltrans Division of Structures requires the slope
above the Incline to be improved to current safety standards to protect the new bridge
and the travelling public from potential slope failures.
The California Incline Bridge Replacement Project is in the design development phase..
The design development phase includes City staff working with Caltrans staff in their
Environmental, Structures, and. Geotechnical divisions to finalize the project scope of
work and complete the environmental document. Recently, City and Caltrans staff
reached an agreement regarding the scope of work for stabilizing the slopes above the
Incline. In order to achieve the Caltrans required factor of safety against slope failure of
the bluff above the Incline, the installation of permanent soil nails in the slope above the
Ihcline is necessary. A soil nail is a steel rod grouted into a small diameter drilled hole
approximately thirty feet deep. The soil nails are anticipated to be spaced at six to ten
feet on center both horizontally and vertically in the face of the slope adjacent to the
Incline. Since slope stability improvements were not initially contemplated, the draft
EtR/EA did not include the analysis of these improvements; therefore, the
environmental document must be revised and re-circulated. Staff is working with the
design consultants to revise the draft EIR/EA to include analysis of the potential
environmental impacts associated with the slope stability improvements.
City staff is working closely with Caltrans to ensure that the California Incline Bridge.
Replacement Project proceeds expeditiously. Caltrans and the City have set a goal for
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the project to be construction ready by fall 2010. In order to meet this goal, the City
must work closely with Caltrans to complete the environmental document, develop
construction bid documents and obligate federal funding for the project through the
Federal Highway Bridge Program. The revised draft EIR/EA is scheduled to be
circulated in late summer/fall of 2009. Once the environmental review is complete, final
design can commence. Final design is anticipated to take approximately six months.
Upon completion of design and prior to advertising for construction, a request for
authorization of federal funding must be processed by Caltrans and the Federal
Highway Administration. Upon authorization, the project can be advertised for
construction bids. Caltrans has committed to help the City in any way possible to
advance this project through the design and construction process.
Palisades Bluffs Stabilization Proiect
The Palisades Bluffs Stabilization Project is a federally funded project involving the
installation of horizontal drains to remove groundwater that accumulates behind the bluff
face to minimize future landslides. The horizontal drains are to be installed near the
base of the bluffs adjacent to Pacific Coast Highway north of the California Incline. The
project also involves debris removal at several locations, and a limited demonstration of
surface grouting and soil nailing methods within a section of the bluffs that is visually
hidden from Pacific Coast Highway.
In 1998, Congress passed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. One of
the demonstration projects funded by that legislation was the Santa Monica Palisades
Bluff Stabilization Project. A geotechnical study was commissioned for the project. The
geotechnical study evaluated the current conditions of the soils within the existing bluff
area and provided recommendations to mitigate existing damage and potential future
deterioration. The geotechnical study for the project was presented to City Council in
2004. Subsequently, staff began the environmental review and design development
process for the project. A Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring
and Reporting Program for the project were approved by City Council on August 14,
2007, satisfying the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Caltrans issued a
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Categorical Exclusion determination for the project on October 9, 2008, satisfying the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The City received approval by Caltrans to advertise the project for construction on May
14, 2009. The project is currently being advertised; bids are due July 30th; and the
award of a construction contract is anticipated to be considered at the September 8,
2009, Council meeting. During construction, the north-bound outside lane (adjacent to
the curb) of Pacific Coast Highway will be closed between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1
p.m., Monday through Thursday. The City anticipates construction commencing after
the Labor Day weekend and the estimated completion date is May 31, 2010.
Lincoln Boulevard Relinauishment
Lincoln Boulevard (State Route 1) from the Santa Monica Freeway to the southerly City
limits (approximately 1.2 miles) is currently owned by Caltrans. Relinquishment, a
legislative process which transfers the street's ownership from the State to the City, is
required in order for the City to obtain legal ownership. Since 1990, Caltrans has been
relinquishing control and ownership of state routes going through various cities in
Southern California. The City has participated in the relinquishment process with
Caltrans for portions of Santa Monica and Lincoln Boulevards. On June 25. 1996, City
Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Cooperative
Agreement to accept the Caltrans relinquishment of Santa Monica Boulevard and a
portion of Lincoln Boulevard from the easterly City limit to the Santa Monica Freeway.
This area was approximately 2.4 miles. Under this agreement, the City received $4.7
million.
Similar to the Santa Monica Boulevard Relinquishment, the City has renewed
discussions with Caltrans to relinquish Lincoln Boulevard. The City initiated the
relinquishment process for Lincoln Boulevard in 2003, but negotiations were suspended
in 2006. The City and Caltrans have now committed to renew discussions as acquiring
the jurisdiction over Lincoln Boulevard will give the City better control of the roadway
and allow the City to make operational and urban design improvements if desired. Staff
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is now working with the City's state lobbyist and Caltrans staff to expedite this process.
To achieve the legislative approvals, staff will be working with our State Representatives
to attach our request to a bill moving through the legislature to relinquish three other
highway segments in other areas of the State. Legislative approval must be obtained
by the end of a calendar year in order for the relinquishment process to occur in the
following calendar year. If successful in receiving legislative approval in 2009, staff
anticipates completing negotiations with Caltrans and concluding the relinquishment
process in 2010.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate fiscal impact. Information regarding the fiscal impact of the
relinquishment of Lincoln Boulevard will be presented in a subsequent staff report when
authorization for the City Manager to negotiate the Cooperative Agreement is needed.
Prepared by: Mark Cuneo, P.E., Principal Civil Engineer
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
~ ~w ,
Lee E. Swain, Director L--'~'. a onf Ewell
Department of Public Works Ci anager
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