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CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PW01013
THE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
APPLICANT: Capital Projects Department
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
PROJECT LOCATION: The Intersection of North Granville Avenue and East Behymer Avenue in Fresno, California
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The City of Fresno Capital Projects Department proposes constructing chicanes, including new striping, and raised median islands to reduce the speed and flow of traffic along North Granville Avenue from East Emeral d Avenue to the intersection of North Granville Avenue and East Behymer Avenue. The chicanes will be implemented within the existing paved road all within the right-of-way and there would be no reduction or expansion of the existing number of travel lanes.
This project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 which exempts reconstruction of existing facilities under certain conditions. Staff found that the conditions are met:
Section 15301/Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all -inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use.
Examples include but are not limited to:
(c) Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety, and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limit ed to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees, and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes).
The proposed project will make improvements along the intersection of North Granville Avenue
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and East Behymer Avenue, resulting in alterations to the existing street through restriping and constructing chicanes and median islands to improve safety by reducing the speed of traffic without reducing or increasing roadway capacity. No additional traffic or associated traffic impacts is anticipated to occur as a result from the proposed improvements. The project is consistent with the Fresno General Plan and qualifies for a Categorical Exemption under Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines because it consists of minor alterations to existing public streets to improve safety with no expansion of existing use.
None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Furthermore, the proposed project is not expected to have a significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Date: January 6, 2026
Prepared by:
Gustavo Rangel
Project Manager
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8634