COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: May 6, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving a US 101/Betteravia Road Interchange Project Study Report Caltrans Cooperative Agreement
Description:
The City Council will consider approving a Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans for the US 101/Betteravia Road Interchange Project Study Report.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Adopt a Resolution approving a Cooperative Agreement (#05-0324) with Caltrans for the Project Study Report phase of the US 101/Betteravia Road Interchange and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement; and
2. Authorize Director of Finance to appropriate $175,000 from the Growth Mitigation Traffic Account to fund the necessary oversight of the project.
BACKGROUND:
This project is identified in the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Measure A Program of Projects for the City of Santa Maria. Over $2 million in Measure A funding has been earmarked for the project. The purpose of the project is to improve operations at the US 101/Betteravia Road Interchange by making improvements to the northbound ramps in the southeast quadrant of the interchange. The Project Study Report (PSR) is the first phase of development of the interchange project.
DISCUSSION:
Interchange projects follow three phases of development:
1. Project Initiation / Project Study Report (PID/PSR),
2. Project Approval & Environmental Documents (PA&ED),
3. Project Plans, Specifications, & Estimate (PS&E).
Processing of each phase of project development is guided by a cooperative agreement between the Local Agency and Caltrans. The Betteravia Road Interchange PSR is the first phase of the project. Per Cal trans guidelines, as identified in the Cooperative 2 Agreement, the City shall commit funding for Caltrans oversight of the PSR (Phase 1), approximately $175,000. It should be noted that future phases of the interchange development will not require funding for Caltrans oversight.
Staff is recommending the City enter into a Cooperative Agreement (Attachment B) with Caltrans in order to continue project development.
Alternative(s)
The recommended action is to approve the Cooperative Agreement. The City Council could choose to defer the approval and suspend the work on the interchange; however, delaying the project could potentially result in the City losing $2 million of Measure A funds earmarked for the interchange project and may create potential issues with further development east of US 101.
Fiscal Considerations
The Betteravia Interchange is identified as a Measure A North County Project and is proposed to be funded through a combination of Measure A, Growth Mitigation, Regional State Transportation Improvement Program, and Gas Tax funding. An appropriation of $175,000 is requested to support Caltrans oversight of the PSR. Sufficient funding is available in the Growth Mitigation Traffic Account to support this request.
Impact to the Community
The scope of work for the PSR will result in no immediate impact to the community.
Other Agency Review
Caltrans staff have reviewed and approved the Cooperative Agreement for the City’ s approval.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
B. Caltrans Cooperative Agreement