TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P. E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Resolution approving a Cooperation Agreement with Caltrans to review document required to construct the Napa Valley Vine Trail - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project, RDS 23-19
RECOMMENDATION
title
Adopt a Resolution to approve and authorize Cooperation Agreement No. 240371B with Caltrans to review the Project Approval & Environmental Document (PA&ED), Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E), and Right-of-way (ROW) phases of the Napa Valley Vine Trail (NVVT) - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project for a maximum amount of $170,000 and a term that shall terminate 180 days after Caltrans approves the encroachment permit for construction or as mutually agreed by Caltrans and the County in writing. (Fiscal Impact: $170,000; Accumulated Capital Outlay Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary).
body
BACKGROUND
Congressman Thompson included $4 million of Community Project Funding (CPF) in the federal fiscal year 2023-2024 budget to complete the planning, engineering, and environmental work of over 10 miles of Class I and Class III multiuse path between the existing path in Yountville and the path under construction between St. Helena and Calistoga. This funding could help the County to be closer to “shovel ready” and submit a more competitive Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 7 grant application in mid-June 2024.
Approximately 40% of the path alignment is within the Caltrans Highway 29 right-of-way. The County needs to enter into a cooperation agreement for Caltrans to review documents required to construct the Project. On November 7, 2023, the Board approved a Budget Amendment of $2.5 million to complete the Project Initiation Document (PID), Project Approval, and Environmental Document Phases of the Project. The funding for the creation of these documents and for Caltrans to review them is reimbursable from the CPF grant funding.
On November 28, 2023, the Board adopted a Resolution for approval of a Cooperation Agreement with Caltrans to review the Project Initiation Document (PID) for the NVVT from Yountville through St. Helena. The PID documents the scope, cost, and schedule of a project, and includes environmental analysis, traffic engineering assessments, right-of-way estimates, and a construction cost estimate. The project description in the Cooperation Agreement includes relocating the “Welcome to Napa Valley” sign; however, Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition and County staff are studying alternatives to relocating the sign to the Caltrans right-of-way on the southwest side of Highway 29 that is across from the north end of Washington Street. If a relocation is not required, then County staff will ask Caltrans staff to amend the Cooperation Agreement to remove the relocation. This action will not authorize relocating the Visit Napa Valley sign.
For the County to request reimbursements from the CPF, Caltrans requires the County to enter into another Cooperation Agreement for the Project Approval & Environmental Document (PA&ED), Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E), and Right-of-way (ROW) Phases of the Project. Caltrans also requires agencies to pay for up to 10 percent of the cost of these phases, which are included in the Funding and Spending table in the Cooperation Agreement. After the County completes these phases, Caltrans will issue an encroachment permit to construct the Project. County staff have reviewed, and County Counsel approved as to form the Cooperation Agreement for the County to pay Caltrans to review the PA&ED, PS&E, and ROW documents.
The Napa Valley Vine Trail (NVVT) will be a 47-mile walking and biking trail system to physically, artistically and culturally connect the entire Napa Valley from Calistoga to the Vallejo Ferry and the greater Bay Area. A 12.5-mile segment of the Vine Trail is complete between Kennedy Park in Napa and Yountville. Between 2018 and 2020, annual Vine Trail usage increased by 50% from 348,000 to 523,000, and 70% of the users live in Napa County. Many sections of the trail have been completed in the cities of Calistoga, Napa, American Canyon, Vallejo, and the Town of Yountville. It is anticipated that the Vallejo and St. Helena to Calistoga Segments will open in 2024.
The proposed project is to construct the NVVT adjacent to Highway 29 between Madison Street at the north end of Yountville and Pratt Avenue at the north end of St. Helena. The Project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance accessibility and connectivity by promoting the use of transit, biking, and walking.
Approximately eight of the ten miles of the proposed NVVT are in the unincorporated County, with the remaining sections within the City of St. Helena and Town of Yountville. There is an alternative to continue the NVVT for three quarters of a mile on the west side of Highway 29 between Madison Street and California Drive.
In 2022, Congressman Thompson included $4 million of CPF in the federal fiscal year 2023-2024 Budget for the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition (NVVTC) to complete the planning, engineering, and environmental work of over 10 miles of Class I and Class III multiuse path between the paths in Yountville and St. Helena.
On September 12, 2023, the Board authorized the Director to submit an application for an ATP grant and approved a commitment of $5 million of future County funding no sooner than Fiscal Year 2025-26 for the construction of the Project.
On November 7, 2023, the Board approved a $2.5 million agreement with Kimley-Horn to complete only the Project Initiation Document (PID) and Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) Phases of the Project. These funds are reimbursable from the CPF grant funding.
In January 2024, the NVVTC, Kimley Horn, and County staff held five stakeholder meetings to present the Project and answer questions. As of mid-March, NVVTC staff met with over 95% of the owners of property where easements are required for the multiuse path. Kimley-Horn completed the 35% design plans and other documents required for the PID Phase.
If the County is successful in obtaining grant funding, it is anticipated that Caltrans could complete the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document in October, the Board could adopt the California Environmental Quality Act document in October, the Board could approve easement agreements in late 2025, and the Board could award a construction contract in early 2026.
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution and approve the Cooperation Agreement for the PA&ED, PS&E, and ROW Phases.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
|
Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
|
Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
|
Where is it budgeted? |
On November 7, the Board approved a budget amendment to transfer $2.5 million from the Accumulated Capital Outlay (ACO) budget (Fund3000, Sub-Division 3000000) to Project 24012 (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500, Account 52310). |
|
Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
|
Discretionary Justification: |
The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a public amenity that reduces vehicle trips and promotes health and wellness. If the County does not enter into the agreement, then the County will not have a competitive Active Transportation Program grant application and construction will begin later at a higher cost. |
|
Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
|
Future fiscal impact: |
If the County obtains grant funding for the construction, then the County would be responsible for maintaining the portion of the trail between the Town of Yountville and the City of St. Helena. In the Maintenance Agreement for the St. Helena to Calistoga Segment, the County and the NVVTC share the cost. It is anticipated that the County and NVVTC will enter a similar agreement for the Yountville to St. Helena Segment. |
|
Consequences if not approved: |
There is a risk that the $4 million grant funding would not be expended on the Project and the NVVTC and County would need to find some other source of funding for this section of the Vine Tail. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable. The County would be responsible for preparing and adopting a CEQA document, such as a Mitigated Negative Declaration, for this segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Project.