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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 17-79RESOLUTION NO. '17-79' A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKERSFIELD APPROVING NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHESTER AVENUE AND SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD SEPARATION OF GRADE PROJECT, AND APPROVING SAID PROJECT. WHEREAS, the Development Services Department of the City of Bakersfield prepared a Negative Declaration for the Chester Avenue and Southern Pacific Railroad Separation of Grade Project, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 4332 (2)(c), 23 U.S.C. 128(a) and the California Environmental Quality Act and Paragraph VI and VII of City of Bakersfield Resolution No. 24-77; and WHEREAS, said Negative Declaration was based on an Environmental Study, dated November 16, 1978, prepared by the Development Services Department; and WHEREAS, before and after completion of the Negative Declaration, City representatives consulted with all responsible agencies and various public agencies having jurisdiction by law and agencies and persons having special expertise; and WHEREAS, notice of the preparation of said Negative Declaration wa's given by posting, mailing and publication as required by law, and submitted to the State Clearinghouse and to the Kern COG for review; and WHEREAS, a public hearing on said Negative Declaration was duly held and conducted by the Bakersfield Planning Commission at a regular meeting thereof on February 7, 1979; and WHEREAS, all comments which have been received during the consultation and review period on said Negative Declaration and the responses thereto, together with the proposed Negative Declaration and Environmental Study documenting reasonS_to support the finding that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment, has been forwarded to the City Council and this Council has evaluated and considered the contents thereof. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Bakersfield hereby resolves, finds and determines as follows: 1. That the above recitals are true and correct. 2. That the City Council has read, evaluated and con- sidered the Negative Declaration together with all supporting documents. 3. That the project designated as the Construction of the Chester Avenue and Southern Pacific Railroad Separation of Grade Project will not have a significant detrimental effect on the environment. 4. That the Negative Declaration on the said project is hereby approved and adopted. 5. That the proiect is approved. 6. That the Development Services Department shall file with the Kern County Clerk a Notice of Determination as required by the State EIR Guidelines and Paragraph VIII of City of Bakersfield Resolution No. 24-77. 7. That certified copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to such agencies as may be designated by the Develop- ment Services Department or the Public Works Department of the City of Bakersfield. o0o I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on the 7th day of February, 1979, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEN BARTON, CHRISTENSEN, MEDDERS, RATTY, NoEs: COUNC,LMEN: ....... ASSENT: cou~cF,'7~: ABSTAINING COUNCILMEN: ~ ~ SCEALES, STRONG IT~ERK~and E Officio '~lerk of ~ou~C'il of t~f Bakersfield ~' ..j-'~ ~ ~- ' f Bakersfield A P~OVEF~ as ~t~ form: ~ity of Bakersfield the PROJECT SUMkAARY CHESTER AVENUE UNDERPASS ,. Nov. 16,' 1978 DESCRIPTION - CHESTER AVENUE AND SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD GRAD E S EPARA'TION The proposed pr, oject involves the construct[on of a four-lane underpass structure, with approximately 1,000 linear feet of depressed approach in order to pass under the main line tracks of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company at Chester Avenue in the City of BakersField. Sidewalks wilt be constructed along the right-of-way. The existing grade crossing has been listed by the CaliFor'n[a Public Utilities Commission as one of the seven most urgently needed grade separations in the State of California. In addit[on, the proposed project has been endorsed by the Greater BakersField Separation of Grade District (which has sponsored prelim- inary engineering studies) and the Kern County Board of Supervisors. The proposed underpass will carry Chester Avenue under the railroad right-of- way double track main line by means of a reinforced concrete structure. The tOtal length of the structure along the railroad will be 185 feet, measured back-to-back of abutments. Four-12-Foot vehicular lanes will carry the traffic thr'ough the proposed underpass. Right-of-way requirements will cons[st of acquisition of'the Fronting portions of commerc[al lots on the east side of Chester Avenue from Garces Circle to 34th Street. DETERMINATION An environmental study has been prepared by the C.[by of BakersField, and it has been found that the proposed action will not have a significant effect upon the environment. Therefore, a Negative Declaration will be 'issued. The project will not: -1- S~ubstalaI : contfiibute to growth in by inducing =residential or commercial expansion or alter the o;¢eral~ appearance of the surrounding commercial and industrial area, even though the propos_ed underpass itself and its approach 'roadway may become a prominent landmark in the existing urban landscape; b. Change the character or volume of vehicular travel, as [t will not significantly change origins, destinations, travel J t[rfies or travel routes for existing traffic; Be inconsistent with adopted plans or goals; d. Expose the public to additional hazards; e. Adversely affect reliability of fi~e, police, or other emergency services; f. Adversely affect water quality or quantity in the area; or g. Consume large quantities o~ energy. No historical area will be affected by the project. 3. No park or recreational areas will be adversely affected by the project ."' . FiSh and wildlife habitats will not be affected by the project. 6. No school facilities will be adversely affected. There are no known unique geologic occurrences on commercially exploitable resources that would be made unavailable by construction or the project. .- '. Existing underground water, sanitary sewer and gas utilities within the paved area of Chester Avenue wlll be relocated outside the toes fill oP tops of cuts. Existing overhead electric&t power and telephone also be shifted to paraO. edges of slopes. The~e utility changes will have no advePse environmental effbcts. ThePe will be no significant community impacts involving Pesidential and neighborhood stability. There will be no significant long range change in alp quality oP noise levels as a Pesult of the project, as no significant permanent change in traffic patterns is anticipated. In fact, this pPoject will -- ser've to mitigate in some small degree pPesent concerns of the AlP Quality Maintenance Plan fop KePn County, On a short range basis, it is anticipated that ther-e may be some diver-sion of north-south traffic from Union Avenue to ChesteP Avenue, but the community~s plans fOP Union Avenue call for a sepaPation at these same Southern Pacific tPacks to be constructed within the next five years. Consequently, on a long Pange basis the r'elative volumes of north-soL Jib traffic caPtied by ChesteP Avenue 'and Union Avenue are not expected to be materially changed. ThePe will be no long term oP cumulative deterimental effects as a r-eSult of this action. Although Five business establishments wlil be displaced~ the natuPe of these businesses makes it probable that they will Pelocate elsewhere in the Bakersfield metr-opolitan tir-ea and maintain their- pr-esent levels of employment. -8- ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY Job No. 2897 BACKGROUND 1. Applicant: City of Bakersfield. 2. Name of Project: Chester Avenue Underpass at the Southern Pacific track. Location of Project: 34th Street, in the City of Bakersfield, under of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. .Project follows existing street right-of-way, plus developed parcels of right-of-way to be acquired by the City. On Chester Avenue between Garces Circle and the main line tracks Alignment'of the 4. Purpose of the Project: To eliminate delays andshazards resulting from an existing railroad grade crossing at Chester Avenue with two main line tracks and one auxiliary track of the SouthernPacific Transportation Company. .. Chester Avenue is a major north/south arterial' through the urbanized area of Bakersfield. The northerly and southerly sections of the City are divided bl the east-west line of the Southern Pacific. Chester Avenue i~ the back- bone of the traffic circulation system for the northwesterly quarter of the City, and is the primary access route to the Civic Center, several churches and schools, the County Museum, and Oildale. Over the past three decades, Chester Avenue has been developed to four-lane and six-lane standards,~and major structures h'ave been buil't to carry it under or over principal natural or artificial barriers. These structures include a new bridge across the Kern ~iver~completed in 1978, a structure across the Route 58 Freew~y, and an underpass beneath the main line tracks of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in downtown Bakersfield. The grade separation across the Southern Pacific proposed by this project will remove the last major barrier to public travel on this long-established thoroughfare. The General Plan prepared by the City of Bakersfield and the County o~ Kern' Planning Departments calls for a grade separation on Chester Avenue at the Southern Pacific tracks. The proposed project has been endorsed by the Greater Bakersfield Separation of Grade District, which has sponsored preliminary engineering studies, and by the Kern County Board of Supervisors. II~ DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT The City of Bakersfield, applicant, proposes to construct a crossing at separated grade on Chester Avenue to replace the existing grade crossing of Chester Avenue and the separate right-of-way and tracks of the Southern Pacific Transportation Company (from Fresno to Bakersfield) at approximate mile post 31.1.2. '- The n~xt crossing to the west of the proposed crossing is the, underpass at Airport Drive, a distance of about 1 mile. The next grade crossing to the east of the proposed crossing is 30th Street, PUC No. B-311.5, a distance of 0.3 mile. The proposed under'pass will carry Chester Avenue under the Southern Pacific's double track main line by means of a reinforced concrete structure. The total length ~f structure along the railroad will be 185 feet, measured -5- b~ack-to-back 'of abutments. crete. Abutments and bents .will be of reinforced con- One auxiliary track in the crossing will be retired by the railroad. The project consists of approximately 1,000 linean feet of excavated cuts, retaining walls, grading, paving, roadway lighting, drainage and pumping facilities, traffic signal reconstruction, and landscaping. .. Four 12-foot vehicular lanes and two sidewalk-bike paths will be carried through the proposed underpass. Plan, elevation, typical section, location and vicinity maps are shown on the attached exhibits. Right-of-way requirements will consist of acquisition of the front!ng por- tions of commercial lots on the east side of Chester Avenue from Garces Circle 'to 34th Street, including parcels occupied by James Petroleum, an automo- bile painting shop, a welding sho~, a used automobile sales lot, and a retail' liquor store. -6- Ill, EN O ENTAL SETTING, IMPACT M TIGATION A. LAND USE AND EMPLOYMENT Significant Alteration of the Existing Character of the Area -- None. At Chester Avenue, four retail and service business establishments and one bulk petroleum distribution plant will be displaced and will requfre relocation. Existing land uses and types of properties requiring relocation are described in Reference l, pages 20 and 21.. Since the existing businesses (automobile paint shop, liquor store, bulk petroleum distribution plant, etc.) are expected to relocate within the Bakersfield metropolitan area, the total number of employees supported by these establishments should not be affected. SOILS CONDITIONS From visual observation of the adjacent drainage sump, existing soils are noted. to be relatively compact-'and very sandy. .j -7- 'Fxcav~tlon from the cut wi 1 be placed in a disposal sit~, the' location of which is unknown at the present time. 3. Imported Borrow -- Not applicable. · C. GROUND WATER Water Quality. The proposed underpass will not affect existi.ng. ground or potable water supplies, either duri.ng construction or during use. Cut slopes will be protected during construction and planted with ground cover as soon as practicable to minimize erosion. 'Storm'Drains. Storm drains to collect runoff from paved areas of the project will be constructed. The'drainage design will not signifi- Cantly change the quantity of runoff, the upstream tributary areas, or the downstream channels into which the runoff is discharged. Run- off from the Chester Avenue Underpass may be discharged into a nearby drainage sump. Water retained in the sump percolates into and helps recharge the underground water table. Overflow from the sump will be carried by a new storm drain southerly to Garces Circle, and thence westerly along 30th Street to F Street, where it will Connect to existing storm drains of adequate capacity. -8- E~fect on Water Supplies, Subsurface Wate. r Resources, Potentia,l for PollutiOn. There will be no effect of surface, subsurface or ,, domestic Water supplies. Existing domestic water mains wi 11 be relocated around the toes of fill embankments. NATURAL HAZARDS I. Flooding The Chester AvenueUnderpass is located in an area subject to occasional flooding following heavy rains, as there are no storm' drains in this area. However, the depressed approaches to the underpass will have no effect, either beneficial or deterimental, on these flooding problems. A triangular-shaped drainage sump adjacent to Chester Avenue, on the north side of the Southern Pacific, is used as the detention basin for local storm drainage. Berms around the periphery of the depressed basin will prevent inflow into the Underpas Seismic Seismic hazards, recent seismic events and location of major earthquake faults are described in Reference 2, pages 20'through 25. It is clear that the proposed grade separation structure ~ltl be located in a seismic active area and seismic forces will need to be considered in the"structural design, Also accepted special -9- details, such as restrainers to hold portions of the structure to- gether during ground shaking, will be included in the structural plans. However, the Chester Avenue grade separation site is not located within a special earthquake hazard studies zone. The lateral loads to be used to resist earthquake force will consider such fact- ors as the period of structure, nature of the underlyi.ng soils, de~th of rock, distance to the nearest active faults and the maximum credible rock acceleration. NATURAL ECOLOGY (Fauna & Flora) Effect on the Pattern of Behavior-of Wild Life Species and Breedi.ng or Nesting Grounds. The project site is located wholly within an urbanized area and will in no way affect any wildlife refuge or any significant plant communities. There are no known wild llfe species within the construction site. No unique physical features, open space., or endangered plant species or animal life will be adversely affected Slopes of the proposed excavated approaches to the underpass will be planted with a suitable ground cover, such as ice plant, supple- mended by a moderat~ quantity of shrub's and treeS. Irhigatlon will be provided. The existing site is bare of Vegetation. -10- F. .TRAFF. IC AND CIRCULATION Vehicular Traffic Present traffic volumes on Chester Avenue crossing the railroad tracks total 25,500 vehicles per day, based on counts made by the City traffic engineer. Projections of future traffic, made by _ Caltrans District 06, indicate a moderate increase in traffic to' 26,600 vehicles per day in 1990. The total volume of traffic using Chester Avenue is regarded as relatively insensitive to the presence or absence of the overpass. Instead, the volume of traffic depends on the traffic growth expected to result from urban area expansion and other factors. Therefore, the project itself is not expected to generate any new traffic. During the approximate two-year construction per. iod, existing traffic will be diverted about 3 or more blocks to the next adjacent grade crossings to the east -- primarily "Q'~ Street and 30th Street. Some traffic is also expected to be diverted to Union Avenue. .'Public Transit Chester Avenue is a major route utilized by the Golden Empire Transit (GET) bus system. Elimination of potential delays on this route will improve the dependability of public bu's service. Traffic Accidents Elimination of a dangerous railroad grade crossing and the substitution .O~ a ma~or vehicular separation will eliminate train-vehi!cle and pedestrian accidents, and the fatalities, personal injuries and property damage which result from these accidents. Records maintained by the California Public Util~ities Commission show that 4 persons have been injured and that, in addition, 3 property damage-only accidents have occurred since 1969- The grade crossing has been protected by automatic gates for this entire period. For children who walk,_ ride bicycles, or are transported to school by buses, the proposed -underpass structure will completely eliminate the present hazard to human life from railroad trains in the crossing. Traffic Delays It is estimated that the existing grade crossing i~ blocked by trains in the crossing or by the gates in the lowered position for a total of 124 minutes per day. Approximately 8 percent or the 'total vehicular traffic on Chester Avenue, or around 2,000 vehicles per day, is delayed by railFoad train movements. Transportation Quality It may be concluded that this project will improve the traffic circulation network in the northerly section of the City. -12- NO I SE - Noise Generated by Railroad Operations One of the loudest noise sources in the community, other than from jet aircraft, is the blowing of railroad locomotive warning horns. These air horns, sounded as trains approach the existigg gr9de crossings, have sound characteristics far louder than any other railroad noise source-in the range of lO0 to 115 dBA at 100 feet from the source, depending on the location of the horn in the locomotive, the number of horn trumpets, and other factors. (xSee footnote next page) . The elimination of the Southern Pacific grade crossing at Chester Avenue will obviate the need for blowing of horns by locomotives at the approach to this grade crossing. However. horns will still be heard because of the. need to sound warninqs for other remaining arade crossings in Bakersfield. Nevertheless, since. trains no longer will blow their air warni.ng horns-at this grade crossina. there should be a significant decrease in noise generated bv lOComotives. Noise from Motor V~hl¢l~ At Chester Avenue the new roadway will be in cut. A nearby motel will be benefited to a minor degree by the decrease in vehicular noise on Chester Avenue resulting from the change in elevation. This area iS already impacted by vehicular noise from the nearby elevated State Route 204 Expressway (Golden State Avenue') and by ra i 1 road no i se. 3. Noise Impacts During Construction (Short Term) Construction activity on the underpass structure', once initiated, will continue for approximately.two years. Duri.ng this time properties surroundi.ng the construction site will experience con- struction-generated noise levels during the daytime only. H. AIR QUALITY Since this project maintains vehicular traffic in an established traffic corrid6r, and for the reasons described in the previous discussion of "Traffic" (Para. F.4), there should be no Significant increase in vehicular traffic and no significant change in the quantity of air pollutants. A minor decrease in the quantity of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles, about 30'.kg. or 0~027 tons per day, is expected because long lines of automobiles will not be queued at the grade crossi.ng waiti.ng for trains to pass. Sometimes these automobiles must wait for ten minutes or more for each railroad train to clear the crossing. (xPrev. page) Ref: Electromotive Division, General Motors Corp. -14- I.. AESTHETICS Aesthetic qualities will either remain essentially the same or will be improved by design considerations and landscaping. The typical roadway section on the underpass' may continue the landscaping treatment of the Garces Circle area. The new divided and landscaped roadway wil-1 re~lace the present unattractive and unlandscaped asphalt roadway crossing the railroad. The cut slopes will be landscaped with ground cover, such as ice plant, shrubs and trees, supported by an irrigation system. ARCHEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC SITES Based on the studies summarized in Reference 2, there are no known archeological, historical, or paleontological sites within the proposed construction area. RAILROAD OPERATIONS The proposed project ls the first step which eventually will enable the Southern Pacific's second main line track in north Bakersfield to be used for ~ passing movements, or to hold eastbound trains waiting to enter the SP Bakersfleld yard.' The eventual closure of several grade crossings will -15- enable t~e second main line to be used. for holding trains, t~us significantly improving the efficiency Of railroad operations on the Fresno-Bakersfield main line and lessening railroad congestion. Detailed descriptions of existing Southern Pacific operations in Bakersfield and the potential beneficial effects to be obtained by closing grade crossings are presented in Reference 1, pages 5 through 8. " ' SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS Social and Economic Opportunities for the Area Residents -- During construction, the proposed Project should generate approximately 550 man-months of employment for workers in the local construction and construction materials industries. Effect on Work, School, Recreational and Religious Opportunities -- This project will improve pedestrian access to local schools, parks, and churches. Public Emergency Services -- By eliminating the delays or obstruction caused by moving or standing trains, fire, police, and ambulance equipment will be'able to respond more quickly to emergency calls in the northerly section of the community without danger of being delayed by trains. -16- P~dest~ian Safety -- An.appreciable numbe~ of school children ~alk to ~chool across the railroad tracks. Following completion of the project, these school children would use the sidewalks on the underpass, without danger of being hit by a train. Public Services -- The project in itself does not impose any additional demands on public services. The proposed Project will help mitigate the adverse effects created by a major railroad barrier, which now divides the urbanized area of Bakersfield, contributes to co. ng~stion, and creates safety hazards. IV BASIS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION FOR NEGATIVE DECLARATION A Negative Declaration would be Barranted by the fact that the proposed Project will not result in a significant environmental impact. !n fact, the Project should have an overall beneficial impact on the community by improving the efficiency of the City's traffic arteri'al system, public services and railroad operations. There are no alternatives to the Project that offer equivalent benefits with so little environmental impact. .Conclusion The proposed Chester Avenue Underpass railroad grade separation will not ,17- have a significant adverse affect upon'the natural resources or socio- economic structure of the community. In fact, the overall environmental impact of the proposed project must be considered beneficial, with the positive socio-economic impacts outweighi.~g the necessary acquisition of small portions of developed commercial parcels and the commitment of .natural resources and energy to the construction of the underpass structure and approach roadways. Respectfully submitted, DE LEUW, CATHEI~ & COMPANY Robert M. Barton, P.E., Chief Civil Engineer Attachment ReferenCes Preliminary Engineering Studies on Proposed Railroad and Vehicular Grade Separations, Chester Avenue at SPTCo ............. Prepared for the Greater Bakersfield Separation Grade District, Baker~fi"~ld, California by De 'Leuw, Cather & Company and BP&W '~Engineers, July 1978. Fo u Envi ronmen c sed tal Impact Study for the proposed Truxtun' Avenue Extension, City of Bakersfleld, California." Prepared by the City of Bakersfield Advance Pianning Department, Development Servi ces~ November 1977. Decision No. 88956, California Public Utilities Commission, O'rder Instituting Investigation No. 6, June i3, 1978. 7/~6/78 O! ,,,' 38TH ST. ~ t,.JU ~ ~ h- · ,~, '~. U.J 36TH ST. /-P.U.C. NO. B-3'!1-5 -I ' 30TH ST: - BAKER SF I EL_D 0 I/4 I/2 3/'4 I MILE PUBLIC UTILITIES-COMMISSION SHEET "EXHIBIT B;".'SHEET'i VICINITY MAP GREATER ]BAKER SF I ELD SEPARAT I ON OF GRADE D I STR I CT DE LEUW, CATHER & COMPANY BFLAUNi PASILLAS & WAGNER 30TH ST'. 0 p.