DATE: February 28, 2024
TO: Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project Discussion
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee (CI&AC) recommends Council authorize the Director of Public Works to sign the final Project Initiation Document (PID) for the SR-92/Whitesell Interchange Project on behalf of the City.
SUMMARY
The State Route-92 (SR-92)/Clawiter Road interchange is the last interchange on SR-92 just east of the San Mateo-Hayward 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 bike and pedestrian connectivity across the interchange and operations of the interchange to further relieve congestion on SR-92, I-880 and major arterials in the area.
BACKGROUND
The Project is located just east of the San Mateo - Hayward Bridge crossing at the San Francisco Bay in the western portion of the City. This area 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, Hesperian Boulevard, Clawiter Road, Depot Road and the regional routes, such as I-880 and SR- 92, which is limiting economic development. 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, no provisions for bikes on the overcrossing, and the approaches on each side of the bridge provide no sidewalk or bike facilities.
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.
The Project has been on the City’s Identified Needs list for many years. It 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. The project would include improving the connectivity of bicycle and pedestrian facilities across SR-92. The upgraded interchange 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.
On July 26, 2018, the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) approved $440,000 in 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. As per Caltrans, the planning and scoping phase is known as the Project Initiation Document (PID) phase.
As part of the PID work, the City’s consultants developed a preliminary set of reasonable alternatives based on the project goals, existing deficiencies, and constraints of the project site. These alternatives were presented to the Council Infrastructure Committee (CIC) on June 28, 2023, to garner feedback and CIC comments have been incorporated into the development of the project.
DISCUSSION
The City, in cooperation with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC), 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 planning and scoping phase, or as per Caltrans terminology, Project Initiation Document (PID) phase, is funded by a combination of Alameda CTC Measure BB and local funds and was initiated in February 2023.
The 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 the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the next phase of development, Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED). The preliminary alternatives developed in the PID will be further refined during the PA&ED phase through consultation with stakeholders and the public as required by CEQA and NEPA.
The City’s consultants have been working in collaboration with Caltrans to prepare the PID according to Caltrans guidelines. The Draft PID document, which has been reviewed by Caltrans, includes conceptual alternatives, preliminary project costs, and the project schedule (included as Attachment II). The City’s consultants will present key information from the PID document to the CIC during this meeting. It is anticipated that the final PID document will be ready for signatures by the City and Caltrans in April 2024. Successful completion of the PID document will allow the City to move forward with seeking funding for the next phase of project development.
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
Alameda CTC 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 of Invest in Infrastructure. This item is not specifically related to a named project identified in the Strategic Roadmap but is closely related to the Invest in Multi-Modal Transportation category of projects because this project, when constructed, will include bicycle and pedestrian improvements to facilitate the local use of active transportation.
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
There are no sustainability features associated with this item. The project, when constructed, will include bicycle and pedestrian improvements to facilitate the local use of active transportation.
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
If the CI&AC approves, staff will present this item for Council consideration.
Prepared by: Kathy Garcia, Deputy Director of Public Works Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
________________________________________
Kelly McAdoo, City Manager
https://hayward.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5996148&GUID=B0EE2898-A889-46D6-8D29-6AE5B7ACF865&Options=&Search= Page PAGE 2 of NUMPAGES 2