CITY OF FRESNO
CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO. PW0 1065
T
HE PROJECT DESCRIBED HEREIN IS DETERMINED TO BE CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 19 OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
AP
PLICANT: Jason Miller, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
City of Fresno, Capital Projects Department (on behalf of Public Works Department)
2600 Fresno Street, Room 4016
Fresno, CA 93721
P
ROJECT LOCATION: Intersection of N. Cedar Avenue and E. Shields Avenue and N.
Cedar Avenue and E. Fountain Way.
(
City of Fresno Council District 4)
(County of Fresno Supervisorial District 3)
P
ROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Fresno, Public Works Department, is proposing a project to install improvements to include installation of retroreflective back plates, advanced stop bars, and leading pedestrian intervals at the N. Cedar Avenue/E. Shields Avenue intersection and installation of lighting, high visibility crosswalks, pedestrian hybrid active crosswalk (HAWK), and reconstruction of curb returns at the N. Cedar Avenue/E. Fountain Way intersection.
T
he project will benefit the community by improving crossing safety at each proposed location.
T
his project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines . None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
E
XPLANATION:
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting 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 use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. 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. An example of this exemption includes existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety).
Sec
tion 15302/Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
The
proposed project is consistent with Class 1 and Class 2 exemptions because the project is proposing to make improvements to existing pedestrian facilities to improve safety. Additionally, installation of retroreflective back plates, advance stop bars, leading pedestrian intervals, intersection lighting, high visibility crosswalks, HAWK and reconstruction of curb returns to meet ADA requirements does not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right-of- way without increasing road capacity. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
Bas
ed on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
Dat
e: December 1, 2025
Pr
epared By: Jason Miller, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
Subm
itted by:
Jason Miller, PE
Licensed Professional Engineer
City of Fresno
Capital Projects Department
(559) 621-8653