Public Scoping MeetingsSeptember 26, 2011 and September 29, 2011

Cajalco Road Widening and Safety Enhancement Project

Riverside County Transportation DepartmentJuan C. Perez Scott Staley Mary Zambon

ICF InternationalBrian Calvert

Key Project Team Members

AECOMEdward Ng

IterisViggen Davidian

Arellano AssociatesCheryl Donahue

• Overview of proposed project• Present alternatives to be studied• Explain process and opportunities for public input• Why now? To receive input, answer questions• Meeting format – Presentation/open house

Meeting Purpose, TimingJuan C. Perez, Director of Transportation, RCTD

• Sign-In – 6:30 – 6:45 pm

• Presentation – 6:45 – 7:15 pm

• Open House – 7:15 – 8:00 pm

• Q/A Session – 8:00 – 8:30 pm

Meeting Format

Project OverviewProposed Project: Widen Cajalco Road from two to four lanes between Harvill Avenue and Temescal Canyon Road, and from four to six lanes between the I-215 southbound ramps and Harvill Avenue

Cajalco vs. Mid County Parkway• RCTC proposed the Mid County Parkway as a 6-lane freeway

within a 220-foot right-of-way between SR-79 and I-15• The preferred alignment (Alt. 9) was about a mile south of

Cajalco through Gavilan Hills, very limited access, all new right-of-way, major grading

• Cajalco would have remained in addition to the MCP for local circulation and access – two major corridors

• Due to funding limitations, community concerns and environmental concerns, RCTC refocused the MCP in 2009 to be between I-215 and SR-79 and dropped pursuing the freeway route between I-215 and I-15

• RCTC action was contingent on County approval of a project to improve Cajalco

Collision DataJanuary 2008 – December 2010

• Total collisions along corridor: 337 – about 1 collision every 3 days

• 152 intersection collisions:• Broadside, rear-end, hit object• Primary causes: Unsafe speed, failure to yield, failure to

obey signals and signs• Highest number between Alexander Street and Day Street

• 185 other collisions: • Rear-end, hit object, overturn• Primary causes: improper turning, unsafe speed and DUI• Highest number west of La Sierra Avenue

Traffic Conditions2010 Daily Traffic Volumes:• Generally less than 10,000 vehicles west of El

Sobrante• 14,000 to 19,000 vehicles east of El Sobrante

Traffic will be expected to increase significantly in the future as growth continues in the County. Detailed project studies will be done as part of this project.

Environmental ProcessBrian Calvert, Project Manager, ICF International

Environmental Document:• Informs public and decision-makers of proposed project and

how environment may be affected• Identifies ways to avoid/reduce impacts

Notice of Preparation:• Initiates 45-day period in which to submit comments

regarding the project to the County

A NEPA document will be prepared for the proposed project. However, this effort has not yet started.

Technical Studies• Traffic • Biological resources• Noise • Water quality• Hazardous materials/waste• Geotechnical assessment• Cultural resources• Air quality• Visual/aesthetics • Community impacts• Paleontological resources• Floodplains• Relocation impacts

Proposed AlternativesEdward Ng, Engineering Manager, AECOM

Two design alternatives, Alternative 1 and Alternative 2, and a No-Build alternative, are proposed for environmental analysis  

• Generally follows existing alignment

• Wildlife crossings • Bike lanes and horse trails• Drainage improvements• Some property acquisition

needed

• Safety enhancements:• Construct medians• Pave roadway shoulders• Realign curves• Add left- and right-turn

pockets• Add roadway signs• Provide new/improved

traffic signals

Alternative 1

• Similar to Alternative 1, except for new section south of Cajalco Road between Hollis Lane and Eagle Canyon Road

• Follows current General Plan

• More right-of-way impacts

Alternative 2

No Build Alternative• Would remain two-lane roadway throughout most of

existing alignment• Many segments would continue to operate at unacceptable

traffic levels• Would not address regional growth needs• Would not provide safety enhancements• Additional traffic congestion – worsens air quality

Project Visualization

Project VisualizationWest End Segment – Alternative 1

Video is Available as aseparate downloadable file

Project VisualizationWest End Segment – Alternative 2

Video is Available as aseparate downloadable file

Project VisualizationEast End Segment – Alternatives 1 & 2

Video is Available as aseparate downloadable file

Anticipated Construction Phases16-mile corridor will be constructed in phases:• Phase 1: Between Wood Road and Interstate 215• Future phases:• Wood Road to El Sobrante• El Sobrante to La Sierra• La Sierra to Temescal Canyon Road

Anticipated Schedule• Public Scoping: Currently ongoing• Preliminary Engineering: 2011-2013• Draft Environmental Document: 2011-2013• Public Availability of Draft Environmental Document: 2013• Select Preferred Alternative: Late 2013/Early 2014• Final Environmental Document: 2013-2014• Obtain Funding: 2012-2015• Final Design and Property Acquisition, Phase 1: 2014-2016• Start Construction, Phase 1: 2016-2017

Next StepsConsider input from meetings/written comments in Draft Env Document

Continue technical, engineering, environmental studies

Present Draft Environmental Document for public review and include responses in Final Environmental Document

Identify preferred project alternative, with consideration of public and agency comments

Obtain project approval

Provide project update prior to construction

Public Comments• Submit written comments tonight using comment card• Speak to court reporter at tonight’s meeting• Mail comments to:

Mary ZambonRiverside County Transportation Department3525 14th Street, Riverside, CA 92501

• Email comments via website: rcprojects.org/cajalco• Fax comments: (951) 955-3164

Comments due October 21, 2011

Project Contacts

• Cheryl Donahue, Community Outreach, (909) 528-6453

• Scott Staley, Project Manager, (951) 955-2092

• Mary Zambon, Environmental Project Manager, (951) 955-

6759

• Frances Segovia, Spanish Interpreter, (951) 955-1646

Thank You• We appreciate your attendance• Please visit the exhibits and speak to project planners• Please complete a comment card or speak to the

court reporter about this project