Amador County – The Amador County Transportation Commission discussed how Caltrans will respond to costs of two Pine Grove Corridor improvement alternates they identified Wednesday, with costs of between $16 million and $70 million.
Top ideas were a southern bypass with two lanes, on a new road “that provides ultimate capacity improvements, but exceeds funding initially available,” said Neil Peacock, ACTC planner and program manager. He said additional funding from Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission will be required.
The other option to be recommended is to “stick with what we’ve got,” Peacock said. That would be a “three-lane configuration with streetscape design, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, access control, safety enhancements, and operational improvements such as beneficial side-streets.” He said it improves existing roads but does not give high capacity improvements Caltrans wants in a highway project, and Caltrans acceptance will be important.
The Southern Bypass, from Climax Road to Mount Zion Road, was estimated to cost $43.3 million in 2010, up to $71 million by 2024. The through-town three-lane improvement was estimated to cost $16.7 million in 2010 dollars, up to $27.4 million in 2024.
Peacock was given flexibility in scheduling meetings with Caltrans and the public, and said the next decision will determine which project will need environmental study, and Caltrans could make them study both.
Caltrans representative John Gedney said Caltrans would probably say “no” to the first project, and “probably not” to the second option. He said once you get into the Project Development Team work, there is “quite a bit of rigid thinking.” But he said “the evaluation criteria developed in the outreach will be used” by the Project Development Team, “may carry it through.” He said ACTC consultant CH2M Hill said it “is money well spent,” and warned that state budget issues would affect project budgets.
Peacock said ACTC Stakeholder Work Group “made 12 jobs,” because its members were so dedicated. Andy Byrne, urged extending the consultant’s contract, saying “we need to take it to the people,” and get public consensus before they try to get business owners’ support.
Supervisor Chairman John Plasse said “with this authorization we now have spent more than $400,000 to decide what we think we want to do.” He said: “I have no doubt why we as a county are so broke. We are far more interested in the process than in the products.”
Peacock gave a budget update, saying the contract adjustment would bring the total of money spent on the project over $400,000. It leaves a balance of $2 million for environmental review, once Caltrans identified the preferred alternate.
Commissioner Michael Vasquez said “let’s put it to bed with these funds” and finalize what project to bring forward.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
