Amador County – Amador County Transportation Commission’s Highway 88 Pine Grove Corridor Improvement Project Manager last week reported positive reaction by Caltrans in recent discussion, and he recommended the Commission move toward selecting a firm to refine a preferred project alternative, as well as potentially starting environmental analysis.

ACTC Program Manager Neil Peacock said recent discussion with Caltrans had a positive outcome “in realizing the ACTC’s strategic objective to developing and delivering its priority improvement as effectively and efficiently as possible in light of significant funding and community acceptance constraints.”

After Caltrans eliminated the five-lane through town alternate Peacock said a stop-order was issued to contractors. In a letter last week to Commissioners, he recommended authorizing staff to release a Request for Qualifications on the three-lane through-town improvement of Highway 88 through Pine Grove. He also recommended ACTC authorize the Consultant Selection Committee “to evaluate proposals, conduct interviews, identify the highest ranked firm, and negotiate a draft Scope of Work for the Commission’s.” The Committee is made up of Commissioner Keith Sweet, ACTC staff and a representative of Caltrans.

ACTC will consider the recommendations today (6 p.m. Jan. 18). Peacock in the report said if authorized to go for RFQs, “it is proposed that the selected consultant would continue refining the project alternative by utilizing all previous analysis, performing additional traffic and civil engineering, consulting with Caltrans specialists, and integrating community input from ACTC’s continuing public participation activities.” He said the goal would be to “ensure the concept facility will meet all aspects of the project’s Purpose & Need, avoid” or “mitigate any anticipated adverse impacts, complete the project design to 35 percent or better, and help all stakeholders reach consensus on very detailed aspects of the ‘Preferred Solution,’ such as safety and operation design components.”

He recommended the project be planned to have either Caltrans or the consultant conduct environmental analysis, giving ACTC the chance to select the most cost-efficient approach. Peacock said qualifications desired in a consultant should include the ability to “finalize refinement of the project alternative” and also “complete all required engineering and environmental analysis needed to complete the” Project Approval and Environmental Document phase.

Remaining funding for the project includes $180,000 in unused Public Lands Highways Discretionary grant funding; $1.7 million in State Transportation Improvement Program funding; and $80,000 in High Priority Project grant funding.

ACTC has spent $450,000 on the project and has $2 million in combined funds for refining the alternative and environmental analysis.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.