TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Dumbarton Corridor Transit Travel Time Reduction Project
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider adoption of Resolution No. 20-050 authorizing the filing of a Notice of Exemption for the Dumbarton Corridor Transit Travel Time Reduction Project.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
The proposed project is intended to improve service reliability and reduce travel time by upgrading the transit signal priority system, improving signal coordination and bus stop optimization.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Filing the three Notices of Exemption will require the payment of a filing fee, estimated to be $50 each for a total of $150.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The District is completing designs and preparing to enter the construction phase of the Dumbarton Corridor Transit Travel Time Reduction Project. The Project concerns improvements on AC Transit Line U and Dumbarton Express routes. The Project is being funded by various federal, state and local funding sources, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) and Caltrans.
Public and private California construction projects are subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if they meet certain criteria. As part of the initial CEQA process, the District must determine whether the Project is exempt from CEQA requirements. If it is exempt, it can avoid the considerable costs and schedule associated with an alternative CEQA compliance process. Based on an analysis performed by District’s project consultant, Iteris, the Project will not have a significant impact on the environment.
The Project falls under the exemption for existing facilities under Title 14, California Code of Regulations, section 15301, which provides: “[The Existing Facilities Exemption] … consists of operation, repair, maintenace, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alternation of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination.” Subpart (c) of section 15301 provides for a categorical exemption for “existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trains, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety).” As the work in question involves changes to existing curbs and roadways, but no new construction, this categorical exemption for existing facilites applies to the Project.
The Dumbarton Corridor is approximately 15 miles long and is the major Transbay travel corridor between the East Bay cities of Fremont and Union City and the Peninsula cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park. The Project will extend AC Transit's Transit Signal Priority (TSP) network across the corridor, install bus queue-jump lanes and include other bus stop enhancements to decrease travel time and improve the reliability of transit service between the East Bay and the Peninsula. The proposed improvements do not include service frequency improvements. Specific improvements include removal/relocation of existing bus stops, implementation of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) systems, and coordination of traffic signal timing. All of these improvements are to be constructed within the existing right-of-way.
If the Board of Directors approves the issuance of Notices of Exemption, they will be filed with the Alameda County, San Mateo and Santa County Clerk/Recorder’s offices. Proper filing of the Notice of Exemption will create a 35-day window of time to challege the exemption determination, after which time such challenges are barred.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Approving and filing Notices of Exemption for the Project will preclude the District from having to undergo a lengthy, complex and expensive CEQA compliance process. There is no disadvantage in filing the Notices of Exemption.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
None.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 18-327b - Dumbarton Corridor Project Design and Construction Management Services
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 20-050 with Related Exhibit
Prepared by:
Mika Miyasato, Senior Transportation Planner
In Collaboration with:
James Arcellana, Attorney III
Jim Cunradi, Transportation Planning Manager
Approved/Reviewed by:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning