REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Remon Habib, City Engineer
Date:June 24, 2025
Subject:Cooperative Agreement with the State of California Department of Transportation for the I-15 Nichols Road Interchange
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Cooperative Agreement with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the I-15 Nichols Road Interchange Improvement Project in such final form as approved by the City Attorney.
Background
The Interstate 15 Nichols Road Interchange Improvement Project initiated in 2023, where the Project Initiation Document – Project Study Report was completed in 2025. The Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase is expected to initiate in June 2025, where an executed Cooperative Agreement is required prior to the start of the next phase.
Discussion
The Cooperative Agreement establishes the project components, which the City will be responsible for as the Implementing Agency. The City will be responsible to deliver the Project Approval & Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase, which is the development of the Final Project Report and Final Environmental Document; study of up to three (3) build alternatives and one (1) no build alternative, completion of the Geometric Approval Drawings and Design Standard Decision Document; preparation of the Traffic Operations Analysis Report, Hydraulic/Hydrology Studies, and Geotechnical Studies; survey and mapping; stakeholder and community outreach; and environmental studies, such as noise, air, water quality, biology. Caltrans will be the lead agency for CEQA and NEPA.
I-15 Nichols Co-op
The City is also responsible for the (1) final Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E), which includes the development of the plans, specifications, and estimate; obtaining resource agency permits; and advertisement/award of the construction contract; and (2) Right of Way, which includes coordination with utility owners, pre-construction of monument preservation, acquisition of right of way, and post construction right of way work.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact to executing this agreement. Project has been budgeted in the CIP program for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Cooperative Agreement
Engineering