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HomeMy WebLinkAboutI-10 and Cook St Interchange Project 658, 660-94 INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM CITY OF PALM DESERT TO: City Council and City Manager FROM: Richard J. Folkers , Assistant City Manager-Public Works Director SUBJECT: Informational Item; I-10 & Cook Street Interchange Project Project No. 658/660-94 DATE: 28 April 1994 The Project Report was signed off by CalTrans on 21 December 1993 . The Public Hearing was held in conjunction with the City Council Meeting on 27 January 1994 . The Environmental Document has been approved and signed by CalTrans, and is with Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for approval signature, pending results of the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWL) , Section 7 Consultation and Conference. 1 . ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT APPROVAL SCHEDULE DELAY On 16 Feb 1994 a meeting was held with USFWL, CVAG, and the other members of the Project Development Team, including CalTrans District 11, San Diego. At this meeting a compromise was presented and tentatively accepted by USFWL. But, in accordance with the Endangered Species Act, the FHWA technically was still required to officially hold the Consultation. At the meeting, CT District 11 was authorized by Palm Desert, as Lead Agent, to request FHWA to officially call for the Consultation. The official letter request- ing this Consultation was sent by FHWA on 18 March 1994 . Word was received by the City' s consultant, Moffatt & Nichol Engineers, that the working level off USFWL was requesting "additional data" , but, " . . . wanted the request to go through the proper channels to avoid confusing the consultant" . No confirmation can be obtained through CalTrans that the FHWA has a written request from USFWL for addit- ional data in their hands . This problem has cost the project two months on the critical path so far. The law requires USFWL to request data and prepare their report within 90 days from this official start date. Then there are provisions for an additional 35 days for resolution. The first 90 day clock did not start until 18 March. In the February meeting it was emphasized that, with the "agreed" compromise, the local agencies would expect that the total Consultation should not take more than about one month. This remains to be seen. The design, which is no longer on the Critical Path, is continuing and is in the 70% completion review stage. The critical path is : o Environmental Approval o ROW Purchase, (Can' t begin prior to ED Approval ) o Utility Relocations, (Can ' t begin prior to ROW purchase) o Construction, (Can' t Bid prior to utility relocations) City of Palm Desert I-10 & Cook Street Interchange Project Status Report 2 . LOCAL SHARE FUNDING The City has this project approved in Cycle 5 of the SB-300 State & Local Partnership Program, earning the additional 25% of project reimbursement guarantee from CVAG. The revised CVAG reimbursement agreement for 100% front end financing was approved by both CVAG, and City Council on 14 April 1994 . Reimbursements are being made from CVAG on the design effort. With the revised agreement, the City can change to a CVAG draw down financing account, in lieu of reimbursements . For the final 25% local share, a proposed Riverside County Road & Bridges District is still in development . County representatives have been holding meetings with the affected local governments on a one on one basis . As a result of the proposed Roads & Bridges District approach for funding of the Local Agency' s 25% share, no further work is currently in progress for the formation of AD-91-1 . This 25% is to be shared between the City and Riverside County. A draft of the proposed cost sharing agreement was sent to Riverside County in the spring of 1992 . No action on the County' s part has been received. At this time no schedule is available yet from Riverside County for the Roads & Bridges District formation. The staff is looking into the possibility of the City forming its own District for the City only, as CVAG will advance the funding if we have a payback program for our portion. 3 . COOK STREET EXTENSION The extension of Cook Street from Frank Sinatra north is in design with first submittal of drawings and specifications in house for Design Review. Discussions are underway with the property owner on the west side of Cook above Frank Sinatra concerning the ROW requirements of their project. Construction scheduled to begin prior to 30 June 1994 . Richar. J. Folk , s, P.E. RJF:GAS/ds CITY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED DENIED cc : Carlos Ortega RECEIVED OTHER Q- Joe Gaugush ` Q/tiv Gregg Holtz MEETING DTE Lila6Aq L1 G.A. Smith AYE : 60 rfz \ U�� > SjvwJct 8atara.iomId:\wp\Pa\cPd) 2 ABSTAIN: VERIFIED BY: Original on File with City Clerk' s Office