FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM #1
MEETING DATE July 17, 2024
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Loren Umbertis, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT Receive Presentation and Update on Bridges Projects
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and File Report on Status of Fairfax Bridge Projects
DISCUSSION
Town of Fairfax is currently working on multiple bridge projects of varied sizes and complexity. The Projects include:
a. Meadow Way Bridge Replacement
b. Azalea Ave Bridge Replacement
c. Creek Road Seismic Retrofit and Repaving
d. Bridge Preventative Maintenance Program (BPMP) which includes the following bridges:
i. Canyon Road
ii. Marin Road
iii. Spruce Road
Town of Fairfax has worked with California Infrastructure Consultancy, Inc to assist in managing the projects and to coordinate the specific steps required by regulatory agencies and other groups in order to perform the needed maintenance and repair work that has been identified to ensure the on-going stability and functionality of Fairfax’s bridges.
Due to the location of the bridges along waterways, several conditions must be met before subsequent steps may be addressed. These include among many other things, determination of parcel ownership and property acquisition or easements when required, consultation with Federal Agencies and Tribal Communities regarding potential cultural resources that may be present, coordination of work with Utility agencies including PG&E, MMWD, Ross Valley Sanitary District, telecommunications for the removal and relocation of their assets, and addressing National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulations and conditions.
The cost of the projects are being funded predominantly by Caltrans, however, this also requires the Town to meet all of the conditions required by Caltrans and associated agencies, all of which necessitates a systematic, thorough, and time-consuming process.
Attached is a table outlining the various stages of progress for all the projects. Due to changes in requirements placed upon the Town by Caltrans and other agencies, changes in scope and allowable times of construction, unavoidable delays have resulted in extending schedules an additional year or more.
2 FISCAL IMPACT
Caltrans has committed to paying substantial portions of the funds required for the projects: some bridges will be 100% and others up to 88% funded by Caltrans for the total construction, consultancy and design costs, which is described in the attached table. A rough order of magnitude of construction costs for all projects is currently anticipated to be approximately $10M in today’s dollars. Fairfax cannot realistically assume full responsibility for the projects, in an attempt to accelerate the schedule, as regulatory requirements may still be necessary regardless of whether CalTrans or Town of Fairfax funds and manages the projects.
ATTACHMENT
Status of Fairfax Bridges Table
Status of Fairfax Bridges:
Updated June 28, 2024
Fairfax Project Bridge Project
Type
Current Phase
(Design) HBP
Funding Level
HBP Funding Level
ROW & Construction
Phases
Environmental Status &
Tasks
Anticipated Year
of Construction Current & Upcoming Tasks
Date of Initial Request
Submitted to Caltrans for
Additional Dollars
Funds Availability for
Federal FY (Beginning
September 1 ea. Year)
Meadow Way
Bridge Replacement 88.53% 100%
NEPA & CEQA Cleared
already. Need to update
the project's Area of
Potential Effect (APE) Map
during construction
2026
1. Begin negotiations with five Home-owners and approve easement agreements
2. Begin the Eminent Domain process for two
nonresidential properties
3. Prepare Agreements for five Utility Owners
4. Submit updated request for ROW and design dollars to Caltrans
5. Give the last design phase workshop & neighborhood
meeting
August 3, 2022
U/K - Caltrans has not
responded for date of
Funding. Town to send
the latest response to
Caltrans questions /
comments. Additional
requests for Meetings
have been sent to
Caltrans
Azalea Ave Bridge Replacement 100% 100% NEPA & CEQA Studies Proceeding 2027
1. Town & MGE to meet with two Homeowners at project
site.
2. Town and MGE to meet again with two other
homeowners previously met with
3. Submit updated request for design dollars.
4. Town to host first design phase workshop &
neighborhood meeting
June 14, 2021 23/24
Creek Rd Bridge Seismic Retrofit 100% 100%
NEPA certification is
Imminent (in the next 2
months). Draft CEQA
submitted to Fairfax for
review, to be followed by
30-day public review,
leading to Town CEQA
adoption
2026
1. Finalizing most recent site cultural resources
investigations & study to complete NEPA/CEQA
requirements
2. Launch into ROW and utility phase after NEPA & CEQA
certifications
3. ROW negotiations between Town & two Homeowners
4. Submit updated request for design dollars.
September 18, 2019 23/24
Three Bridges (one
project) on:
- Marin Road
- Canyon Road
- Spruce Road
Bridge Preventive
Maintenance
Program (BPMP)
88.53% 88.53%
NEPA certification is
Imminent (in the next 2
months). Draft CEQA
submitted to Fairfax for
review, to be followed by
30-day public review,
leading to Town CEQA
adoption
2025
1. Finalizing most recent site cultural resources
investigations & study to complete NEPA/CEQA
requirements.
2. Launch into ROW and utility phase after NEPA & CEQA
certifications
3. Submit updated request for design dollars.
June 21, 2021 24/25