Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: November 8, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Camarillo Train Station Undercrossing (Project No. ST-14-05) – Environmental Review Determination
BACKGROUND
The Camarillo Train Station Undercrossing – Project No. ST-14-05 (Project) will construct a new pedestrian tunnel at the Camarillo Train Station owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) located as shown on the location map (Attachment 1). The Project will improve accessibility by creating a shorter and more direct route for rail passengers crossing between the west and east rail platforms. The undercrossing will also improve accessibility for the general public, making it easier for all pedestrians to cross the train tracks that separate the Pleasant Valley Fields and Village at the Park/Mission Oaks neighborhoods from Old Town Camarillo. The Project is currently in the Conceptual Design and Environmental Review phase.
On May 26, 2020, the City was awarded a grant for Proposition 1B and Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds in the amount of $6.89 million through Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) for the construction phase of the Project. At that time, the City agreed to commit to a minimum of $910,000 in matching City funds in order to receive the grant.
On March 10, 2021, the City Council approved a Professional Service Agreement with RailPros, Inc. (RailPros) for preliminary engineering design services in the not-to-exceed amount of $302,026.90.
Consistent with the City Council’s direction, staff worked with VCTC to pursue additional state and federal grant funding for the Project. On May 17, 2023, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved an additional $1.3 million of LOSSAN grant funding for a total of $8.19 million of LOSSAN grant funding for the project. These grant funds are sufficient to complete final design of the Project.
On May 24, 2023, the Project was presented to City Council to recommend approval of agreements to accelerate the Project’s design to meet required grant milestones. The
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City Council expressed concerns over Project ownership, maintenance, safety, decreased train ridership, and the total cost of the Project. The agenda item was continued to the next meeting, and on June 14, 2023, VCTC presented the Project to the City Council to address the need and benefits of the proposed pedestrian undercrossing.
At that meeting the City Council approved a professional service agreement with RailPros for conceptual design and environmental review services in the not-to-exceed amount of $750,807.00 and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreements with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink).
The City Council also expressed several expectations including: 1) the Project design process include review and input from the Camarillo Police Department to ensure quick access to and overall safety of the undercrossing; 2) the City execute an agreement with VCTC including liability, indemnification and maintenance responsibilities for the undercrossing and train station property; 3) no additional City funds are spent on the Project; and 4) updating City Council as the project proceeds.
On June 28, 2023, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) awarded a Senate Bill 1 Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SB1 SCCP) grant in the amount of $7.92 million to fund the construction of the Project and the remainder of the estimated total Project cost. As a condition of the SB1 SCCP grant, the environmental review phase of the Project is required to be completed by December 28, 2023.
DISCUSSION
The proposed pedestrian undercrossing project includes demolition of existing hardscape, relocation of existing utilities and drainage infrastructure, a tunnel under the two existing railroad tracks, access stairs, ramps and sidewalks, lighting, and security gates and cameras. The Project will also reconstruct ten accessible parking stalls and install new landscaping on both sides of the tracks.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination The City’s design and environmental consultant reviewed the Project, performed an environmental analysis, and the City prepared a Notice of Exemption (Attachment 2) for the Project in accordance with the 2023 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Statutes & Guidelines and the City’s CEQA Environmental Guidelines.
Based on the analysis by the environmental consultant, Rincon Consultants, Inc., as detailed in the Statutory Exemption Memorandum (Attachment 3), the Project meets the provisions of both CEQA Guidelines Section 15275(a) and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(10) statutorily exempt mass transit projects involving “the institution or increase of passenger or commuter service on rail lines or high-occupancy vehicle lanes already in use, including the modernization of existing stations and parking facilities.” Therefore, the Project has been determined to meet all criteria for a Statutory Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15275(a) and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(10).
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Baseline Agreement
The SB1 SCCP grant requires that VCTC and the City execute a Baseline Agreement with Caltrans outlining the grant requirements and deadlines for completion. The Baseline Agreement is tentatively scheduled to be presented at the March 2024 CTC meeting for approval. As part of the Baseline Agreement, the City will need to provide a Project Report with the conceptual design, Project Vicinity Map, proposed schedule with milestones for completion, cost estimate, and the completed Environmental Document prior to the CTC meeting. Staff plans to return to City Council in December 2023 to request authorization for the City Manager to execute the Baseline Agreement and again in late 2024 or early 2025 to provide an update on the preliminary project design and maintenance responsibilities pending development of conceptual designs based on coordination and concurrence from VCTC, UPRR, LOSSAN, Metrolink, and Caltrans/State funding agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of this action.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
The Project is not subject to CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15275(a) and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(10), which exempts from CEQA review certain mass transit projects. This agenda item meets the criteria for this exemption because the Project is a mass transit project involving the institution or increase of passenger or commuter service on rail lines or high-occupancy vehicle lanes already in use, including the modernization of existing stations and parking facilities.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find that the Project qualifies for a Statutory Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15275(a) and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(10) since the project constitutes a modernization of an existing station and parking facility; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to file a Notice of Exemption with the County
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Notice of Exemption
3. Exemption Memorandum
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None