Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: James C. Porter, Department of Public Works
Subject: Certification of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Bank Stabilization Project - Miramar Area
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution:
A) Certifying the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, dated December 2020 for the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Bank Stabilization Project; and
B) Authorizing the Director of Public Works to proceed with finalizing the plans and specifications for the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Bank Stabilization Project; and
C) Authorizing the Director of Public Works to proceed with advertising for bids on the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Bank Stabilization Project and reporting back to this Board with recommendations on awarding a contract.
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BACKGROUND:
The Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge is on a popular and well used portion of the Coastal Trail and a previous evaluation of the bridge’s condition determined that it is in need replacement.
On November 13, 2018, this Board adopted Resolution No. 76281, which authorized an agreement with Parisi CSW Design Group to perform design and construction support services for the Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Bank Stabilization Project (Project).
The existing Mirada Road Pedestrian Bridge was closed on July 27, 2020 per the recommendation of the Department’s structural consultant based on their assessment that identified significant corrosion of bridge’s structural members affecting the bridge’s integrity.
The Department subsequently obtained approval from Caltrans for an interim temporary detour route on Highway 1 within the Caltrans right-of-way for pedestrians and bicyclists due to the bridge’s closure. The temporary detour route was opened for use on September 21, 2020 and is planned to be in place until the existing bridge is replaced in its current location.
DISCUSSION:
The Project will replace an existing deteriorating steel pedestrian bridge along Mirada Road that crosses Arroyo de en Medio Creek and is part of the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. The Project proposes to retain the current alignment of the existing bridge. The work includes: removing the existing pedestrian bridge and a partially collapsed concrete arch bridge below the pedestrian bridge, reusing the existing bridge abutments/foundation for a replacement bridge, installation of a new bridge, and reinforcing the bluffs adjacent to the ends of bridge using a combination of shotcrete with soil nail walls and rock slope protection (RSP).
The Department authorized Denise Duffy & Associates, Inc., under an existing on-call agreement to prepare the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Project. The IS/MND for the Project has been completed and identified potential adverse effects during construction. Those effects will be reduced to less than significant levels through the implementation of specific mitigation measures as identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, pursuant to Section 21081.6 of the California Public Resources Code. A 30-day public review period was completed in compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), comments were received, and responses to all comments have been prepared and are attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution.
The certification of the IS/MND and the adoption of the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program as conditions of project approval will ensure compliance with all CEQA requirements. The IS/MND is available for review at: <https://publicworks.smcgov.org/projects/mirada-road-pedestrian-bridge-replacement>
The Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program is attached as Exhibit B to the Resolution.
The Department has presented information relative to the Project and the detour in the Caltrans right-of-way to the MidCoast Community Council (MCC) at two separate meetings. The MCC has expressed their interest in an alternate alignment to the east, which would require modifying the route of the Coastal Trail and creating a new Creek crossing. The Department evaluated an alternate alignment; however, replacing the bridge in its current location is less impactful and considered to be the replacement of an existing structure. An alternate alignment could be evaluated and possibly implemented as a future project, but would require a robust public process, obtaining property, property rights or access easements, additional environmental study and permitting, and routing trail users along roadways and adjacent to properties that do not currently experience this use. The Department expects the design and permitting process to install a bridge in a new location east of the current bridge location could take between three to five years or longer depending upon the route chosen.
Additionally, the Department has received significant input from residents and property owners in the area that have indicated they would be adversely affected by an alternate bridge and trail alignment and support the current Project. Although these property owners are included in the MCC’s area of representation, their opinions are not in alignment with the MCC’s input.
The Department anticipates receiving all the regulatory permits during Spring 2021. In order to expedite the project schedule, we are requesting that this Board authorize the Director of Public Works to proceed with finalizing the plans and specifications and call for bids for the Project to help ensure construction of the Project during the 2021 summer construction season. In a subsequent Board action, we will present plans and specifications for this Board’s adoption and recommend awarding the Project to the lowest responsible bidder. This Board has previously approved the use of this “streamlined” process to shorten the time required to award a contract in order to ensure compliance with specific funding or construction deadlines. Construction of the Project is anticipated to take four months. The Department will evaluate the Project timeline once the regulatory permits are received to ensure that construction during 2021 is feasible.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A portion of the estimated construction cost of $1,500,000 is in the County’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget for FY 2020-21 with the balance to be included in the County’s CIP Budget for FY 2021-22. There is no fiscal impact associated with certifying the IS/MND.
There is no impact to the General Fund.