DATE: June 28, 2023
TO: Council Infrastructure Committee
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project Discussion
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council Infrastructure Committee (CIC) reviews and comments on this report on the SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project.
SUMMARY
The State Route-92 (SR-92)/Clawiter Road interchange is the last interchange on SR-92 just east of the San Mateo Bridge crossing at the San Francisco Bay and approximately two miles west of the SR-92/Interstate-880 (I-880) interchange. The Project is located in the western portion of the City in an area that is generally built out and characterized primarily by industrial land uses.
The proposed SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project would further enhance the local reliever route between SR-92 and I-880, and significantly improve access to and from the City’s industrial complexes, manufacturing sites, and office parks north and south of SR-92 and west of I-880. It would also improve interchange operations to further relieve congestion on SR-92, I-880 and major arterials in the area.
BACKGROUND
On July 26, 2018, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) approved $440,000 in ACTC Measure BB funding to advance the Planning and Scoping Phase of the SR-92 Clawiter-Whitesell Interchange Project. On January 17, 2023, Council authorized a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., for the Planning and Scoping Phase of the Project.
The SR-92/Clawiter Road interchange is the last interchange on SR-92 just east of the San Mateo Bridge crossing at the San Francisco Bay, and approximately two miles west of the SR-92/I-880 interchange (Attachment II). The Project is located in the western portion of the City in an area that is generally built out and characterized primarily by industrial land uses.
Hayward's industrial zones, manufacturing sites and office parks west of I-880 can use better truck access due to prolonged congestion periods on several major arterials, such as Winton Avenue, Clawiter Road, Depot Road and the regional routes, such as I-880 and SR- 92, which is limiting to economic development. Whitesell Street Improvements (Phase 1), and the SR-92/Clawiter Reliver Route project was completed by the City, but it mostly benefits local circulation. The existing SR-92/Clawiter interchange is deficient for existing traffic conditions because the existing overcrossing only provides for one lane in each direction and Clawiter/off-ramp intersections do not accommodate for left-turn storage at peak times. Also, there is a sidewalk only on one side and no provisions for bikes on the overcrossing and the approaches on each side of the bridge provides no sidewalk or bike facilities.
The proposed SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project would further enhance the local reliever route between SR-92 and I-880, and significantly improve access to and from the City’s industrial complexes, manufacturing sites, and office parks north and south of SR-92 and west of I-880. It would also improve interchange operations to further relieve congestion on SR-92, I-880 and major arterials in the area.
The project has been on the City’s Identified Needs list for many years.
DISCUSSION
The City, in cooperation with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) propose to upgrade the interchange under the SR-92/ Clawiter-Whitesell Interchange Upgrade Project. The interchange is on the State Highway System and will follow Caltrans procedures, policies, and standards. The Project Feasibility Study, or as per Caltrans terminology, Project Initiation Document (PID), funded by a combination of Alameda CTC Measure BB and local funds, has recently been initiated.
The Project is the second phase of the “SR-92/Clawiter-Whitesell Interchange and Reliever Route Project” which would provide a local reliever route between SR-92 and I-880 to improve access to and from the industrial area north of SR-92 and west of I-880 and improve circulation and relieve congestion on SR-92, I-880 and major arterials in the area. Phase 1, completed by the City in 2017, was comprised of local street modifications which included widening of West Winton Avenue at the Hesperian Boulevard intersection, signal phasing modifications, widening and extension of Whitesell Street between Depot Road and SR-92. This Project represents the second phase of improvements and involves reconstruction of the SR-92/Clawiter Road interchange to create the SR-92/Whitesell Street interchange and provide consolidated access to Clawiter Road and the reliever route along Whitesell Street.
This Project involves reconstruction of the SR-92/Clawiter Road interchange to create the SR-92/Whitesell Street interchange and provide consolidated access to Clawiter Road and the reliever route along Whitesell Street. This Project will improve access to and from SR-92 for the industrial areas and office parks just west of I-880. This new overcrossing structure will provide up to four-through lanes, two in each direction, Class II bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides. This project will also relieve congestion on I-880 with these new connections on SR-92. Breakwater Avenue, the frontage road along the north side of SR-92, will need to be realigned or modified to accommodate the new westbound on and off ramps.
The purpose of the PID phase is to define the general scope of the environmental studies and engineering reports that will be necessary to comply with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the next phase of delivery, Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED).
As part of the PID work, the City’s consultants have developed a preliminary set of reasonable alternatives (Attachments III, IV and V) based on the project goals, existing deficiencies, and constraints of the project site. These alternatives will be presented to the CIC to garner feedback.
The preliminary alternatives presented will be further refined during the PA&ED phase through consultation with stakeholders and the public as required by CEQA and NEPA.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
This item has no direct economic impact. However, the Project will provide interchange improvements and new local road connections. These improvements will significantly improve access to the City’s industrial area and make the overall transportation system more efficient.
FISCAL IMPACT
ACTC provided $440,000 in Measure BB funding to advance the Planning and Scoping Phase of the SR-92 Clawiter-Whitesell Interchange Upgrade Project.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item supports the Strategic Priority to Invest in Infrastructure, though not specifically to a project.
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
There are no sustainability features associated with this item.
PUBLIC CONTACT
This phase of the project will include initial stakeholder outreach to help inform the development of a reasonable range of conceptual alternatives. The subsequent PA&ED phase of the project will include broader public outreach effort required for CEQA environmental review.
NEXT STEPS
Staff will incorporate CIC recommendations in future phases of the project.
Prepared by: Kathy Garcia, Deputy Director of Public Works Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
________________________________________
Kelly McAdoo, City Manager
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