MEMORANDUM
D
ate: May 21, 2024
To: Angela Obeso, PE, Principal Transportation Engineer, Department of Public Works, City of Sunnyvale
From: Demetri Loukas, Principal Project Manager, David J. Powers & Associates, Inc.
Subject: CEQA Exemption Justification – Bernardo Avenue Undercrossing Project Background and Location
B
ernardo Avenue is a two-lane collector roadway located along the border between the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale. The roadway serves as a major north-south bicycle route; however, there is a break in the roadway at Evelyn Avenue due to the Caltrain railroad tracks and Central Expressway. Therefore, the project proposes to construct a bicycle and pedestrian underpass to connect North and South Bernardo Avenue under the Caltrain railroad tracks and Central Expressway. The proposed site plan is shown on Exhibit A. As shown on Exhibit A, the proposed project would be located entirely within existing public right-of-way.
D
escription of Work
P
roposed Project
A
s shown on Exhibit A, pedestrian/bicycle ramps located in the northeast quadrants of the Bernardo Avenue intersections would provide access to the proposed undercrossing, which would be located approximately 300 feet east of Bernardo Avenue. The ramps leading to the undercrossing would be 16 feet wide. The undercrossing would be 20 feet wide and 11-12 feet tall and comprised of two segments joined by an open landscape area. In total, the undercrossing would span approximately 235 feet from the north side of Evelyn Avenue to the north side of Central Expressway.
I
n addition to the undercrossing, the project also proposes bicycle and pedestrian improvements to the Bernardo Avenue intersections (e.g., installing high visibility pedestrian crossings and eliminating slip lanes) and the minor realignment of Central Expressway and Evelyn Avenue to accommodate the project (refer to Exhibit A).
C
onstruction Activities
T
o have the least impact on the Caltrain commuter rail operations, the construction method for the undercrossing segment within Caltrain right-of-way is proposed to be box jacking. The Attachment 3
Angela Obeso
Bernardo Undercrossing
jacking and receiving pits would be constructed temporarily on either side of the segment beneath the Caltrain railroad tracks. These pits would be located within existing City (Evelyn Avenue) and County (landscaped area) right-of-way. The undercrossing segment beneath the County expressway could be installed either by box jacking or cut and cover. If box jacking is used, the operations would be similar to that described above. If cut and cover is to be used, portions of Central Expressway would be closed for excavation to install the undercrossing.
Equipment, such as cranes, may be used to lower preformed undercrossing segments into the excavation and the area would be backfilled and repaved. Traffic on the expressway would likely need to be shifted with both directions of travel on one side of the roadway, which may require crossovers constructed through the landscaped median.
During the construction of the ramps on either side of the undercrossing, sheet pile driving may be required.
Environmental Review
The City of Sunnyvale is carrying out this project and is the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As discussed in further detail below, the project is Statutorily Exempt under Section 21080.25 (refer to Exhibit B) of the California Public Resources Code.
Statutory Exemption
The Project, as described above, is “Pedestrian and bicycle facilities that improve safety, access, or mobility, including new facilities, within the public right-of-way” as defined under Public Resources Code 21080.25(b)(1).
Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.25(c), in order to be found statutorily exempt, the Project must meet the following three requirements:
(1) A local agency is carrying out the project and is the lead agency for the project.
• The City of Sunnyvale is carrying out the project and is the Lead Agency for the project.
(2) The project does not induce single-occupancy vehicle trips, add additional highway lanes, widen highways, or add physical infrastructure or striping to highways except for minor modifications needed for the efficient and safe movement of transit vehicles, bicycles, or high- occupancy vehicles, such as extended merging lanes, shoulder improvements, or improvements to the roadway within the existing right of way. The project shall not include the addition of any auxiliary lanes.
• The main project component is the pedestrian and bicycle undercrossing. In addition to the undercrossing, the project also proposes bicycle and pedestrian improvements to the Bernardo Avenue intersections (e.g., installing high visibility pedestrian crossings and eliminating slip lanes) and the minor realignment of Central Expressway and Evelyn Avenue to accommodate the project (refer to Exhibit A). The project would not increase automobile capacity and does not include the addition of auxiliary lanes.
Attachment 3
Angela Obeso
Bernardo Undercrossing
(3) The construction of the project shall not require the demolition of affordable housing units.
• The project does not require the demolition of affordable housing units.
In addition to the requirements of subsection (c), pursuant to Public Resources Code 21080.25(f) (1) (A), following the granting of an exemption under this section, the Lead Agency shall take an action at a public meeting of its governing board to certify that the project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce.
• Following the granting of the exemption, the City of Sunnyvale City Council shall take an action at a public meeting to certify that the project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce.
The total project cost may exceed $50,000,000 but would not exceed $100,000,000. Therefore, in addition to the above and pursuant to Public Resources Code 21080.25(e), the project shall
also comply with clauses (i), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (D) of, and with subparagraph (E) of, paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), as provided below:
(D) The lead agency shall hold noticed public meetings as follows:
(i) Before determining that a project is exempt pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall hold at least three noticed public meetings in the project area to hear and respond to public comments.
(iii) The lead agency shall conduct at least two noticed public meetings annually during project construction for the public to provide comments. (iv) The public meetings held pursuant to clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, shall be in the form of either a public community planning meeting held in the project area or in the form of a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body of the lead agency.
(E) The lead agency shall give public notice of the meetings in subparagraph (D) to the last known name and address of all the organizations and individuals that have previously requested notice and shall also give the general public notice using at least one of the following procedures:
(i) Publication of the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the project. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas.
(ii) Posting of the notice onsite and offsite in the area where the project is located. (iii) Posting of the notice on the lead agency’s internet website and social media accounts.
• The City of Sunnyvale held seven noticed public meetings in the project area to hear and respond to public comments. The meetings were held as follows:
o December 2, 2020, Joint Sunnyvale-Mountain View BPAC
o February 2, 2023, Community Meeting
o February 23, 2023, Mountain View Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee o March 16, 2023, Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission o April 10, 2023, Mountain View Council Transportation Committee Attachment 3
Angela Obeso
Bernardo Undercrossing
o April 25, 2023, Mountain View City Council
o May 23, 2023, Sunnyvale City Council
• Notice of the meetings was given to the last known name and address of all the organizations and individuals that have previously requested notice and the meetings were noticed on the lead agency’s internet website and social media accounts.
Conclusion
The project proposes to construct a bicycle and pedestrian underpass to connect North and South Bernardo Avenue under the Caltrain railroad tracks and Central Expressway. As documented above, the project meets all the requirements for a Statutory Exemption under Public Resources Code section 21080.25. Therefore, the project is statutorily exempt from environmental review under CEQA.
Attachment 3
Exhibit A – Site Plan
Attachment 3
UNDERCROSSING
BERNARDO
sdwyerUSERNAME =>
DGN FILE =>
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TIME PLOTTED =>
DATE PLOTTED =>
1" = 50'
SCALESCALE IN FEET
0 1005025
PEN TABLE => C:\Users\sdwyer\Desktop\Desktop Random\PlotDrivers and PenTables\wmh-dts-2008_SMD.tbl C:\Users\sdwyer\Desktop\Desktop Bernardo UC\Eastern Alternative Exhibit.dgn
SCALE IN FEET
0 1005025 Alternative
EASTERN
May 8, 2023
Evely n Ave
W/ TEXTURED PAVING
RAMP ENTRANCE
6'
12'
12'
6'
N
.
B
e
rn
a
rdo
A
v
e
16' WIDE RAMP
Caltrain
Central Exp y
12'
Central Exp y
Caltrain
6'
12'
12'
12'
6'
Evely n Ave
UNDERCROSSING
105'x20'x10'
OF EVELYN
RE-ALIGNMENT
MINOR
UNDERCROSSING
80'x20'x10'
(BOTH CORNERS OF N. BERNARDO)
ELIMINATION OF SLIP LANES
LANDSCAPING & ART (Typ)
W/ DESIGN FEATURES,
SITTABLE RETAINING WALL
6 '
12 '
12 '
1 2
'
6 '
16' WIDE RAMP
CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
RE-ALIGNMENT OF
CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
RE-ALIGNMENT OF
12'
12'
2'
8'
8'
1 2'
1 2'
1 2'
1 2'
12'
12'
2'
8'
12 '
12 '
2'
8'
6' 11'
11.5'
ISLAND
OF RAISED
ELIMINATION
OF SLIP LANE
ELIMINATION
W/ TEXTURED PAVING
RAMP ENTRANCE
Typ
OCS POLE,
CALTRAIN R/W
CALTRAIN R/W
COUNTY R/W
CALTRAIN R/W
CALTRAIN R/W
CALTRAIN R/W
RETAINING WALL, Typ
PROTECTION ABOVE
TRANSPARENT SOUND
PUMP STATION LOCATION
COUNTY F/O
THIRD PARTY F/O
M
V R/W
M
V R/W
M
V R/W
SV R/W
M
V R/W
SV R/W
S
.
B
e
rn
a
rdo
A
v
e
SV R/W
M
V R/W
SV R/W
SV R/W
CO U N
TY R/W
CO U
NTY R/W
COUNTY R/W
COUNTY R/W
MV R/W
MV R/W
CO U N
TY R/W
COUNTY R/W
MV R/W
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
HIGH VISIBILITY
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
HIGH VISIBILITY
Attachment 3
Exhibit B – Public Resources Code 21080.25
Attachment 3
California Public Resources
Division 13. Environmental Quality
Chapter 2.6. General
Section 21080.25
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Affordable housing” means any of the following:
(A) Housing that is subject to a recorded covenant, ordinance, or law that restricts rents or sales prices to levels affordable, as defined in Section 50052.5 or 50053 of the Health and Safety Code, to persons and families of moderate, lower, or very low income, as defined in Section 50079.5, 50093, or 50105 of the Health and Safety Code, respectively.
(B) Housing that is subject to any form of rent or price control through a public entity’s valid exercise of its police power.
(C) Housing that had been occupied by tenants within five years from the date of approval of the development agreement by a primary tenant who was low income and did not leave voluntarily.
(2) “Bicycle facilities” includes, but is not limited to, bicycle parking, bicycle sharing facilities, and bikeways as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(3) “High-occupancy vehicle” means a vehicle with three or more occupants. (4) “Highway” means a way or place of whatever nature, publicly maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. “Highway” includes a street.
(5) “Local agency” means a public transit operator, city, county, city and county, special district, joint powers authority, local or regional transportation agency, or congestion management agency.
(6) “Part-time transit lanes” means designated highway shoulders that support the operation of transit vehicles during specified times and are not open to nonpublic transit vehicles at any time.
(7) “Project labor agreement” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 2500 of the Public Contract Code. (8) “Public transit operator” has the same meaning as in Section 99210 of the Public Utilities Code.
Attachment 3
(9) “Skilled and trained workforce” has the same meaning as provided in Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 2600) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. (10) “Transit lanes” means street design elements that delineate space within the roadbed as exclusive to transit use, either full or part time. (11) “Transit prioritization projects” means any of the following transit project types on highways or in the public right-of-way:
(A) Signal and sign changes, such as signal coordination, signal timing modifications, signal modifications, or the installation of traffic signs or new signals.
(B) The installation of wayside technology and onboard technology. (C) The installation of ramp meters.
(D) The conversion to dedicated transit lanes, including transit queue jump or bypass lanes, shared turning lanes and turn restrictions, the narrowing of lanes to allow for dedicated transit lanes or transit reliability improvements, or the widening of existing transit travel lanes by removing or restricting street parking. (E) Transit stop access and safety improvements, including, but not limited to, the installation of transit bulbs and the installation of transit boarding islands. (12) “Transportation demand management program” means a specific program of strategies, incentives, and tools to be implemented, including, with specified annual status reporting obligations, to reduce vehicle trips by providing opportunities for the public to choose sustainable travel options, such as transit, bicycle riding, or walking.
A specific program of strategies, incentives, and tools includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A) Provision of onsite electric vehicle charging stations in excess of applicable requirements.
(B) Provision of dedicated parking for car share or zero-emission vehicles, or both types of vehicles, in excess of applicable requirements. (C) Provision of bicycle parking in excess of applicable requirements. (b) This division does not apply to any of the following projects:
(1) Pedestrian and bicycle facilities that improve safety, access, or mobility, including new facilities, within the public right-of-way.
(2) Projects that improve customer information and wayfinding for transit riders, bicyclists, or pedestrians within the public right-of-way. (3) Transit prioritization projects.
Attachment 3
(4) A project for the designation and conversion of general purpose lanes to high- occupancy vehicle lanes or bus-only lanes, or highway shoulders to part-time transit lanes, for use either during peak congestion hours or all day on highways with existing public transit service or where a public transit agency will be implementing public transit service as identified in a short range transit plan. (5) A public project for the institution or increase of bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service, including the construction or rehabilitation of stations, terminals, or existing operations facilities, which will be exclusively used by zero-emission, near-zero- emission, low oxide of nitrogen engine, compressed natural gas fuel, fuel cell, or hybrid powertrain buses or light rail vehicles, on existing public rights-of-way or existing highway rights-of-way, whether or not the right-of-way is in use for public mass transit. The project shall be located on a site that is wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau.
(6) (A) A public project to construct or maintain infrastructure or facilities to charge, refuel, or maintain zero-emission public transit buses, trains, or ferries, provided the project is carried out by a public transit agency in compliance with, the State Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit regulations (Article 4.3 (commencing with Section 2023) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations) or any regulations identified by the State Air Resources Board’s 2020 Mobile Source Strategy, adopted on October 28, 2021, and the project is located on property owned by the local agency or within an existing public right-of-way or on property owned by a public or private utility.
(B) A lead agency applying an exemption pursuant to this paragraph for hydrogen refueling infrastructure or facilities necessary to refuel or maintain zero-emission public transit buses, trains, or ferries shall comply with clauses (i), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (D) of, and with subparagraph (E) of, paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).
(7) The maintenance, repair, relocation, replacement, or removal of any utility infrastructure associated with a project identified in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive. (8) A project that consists exclusively of a combination of any of the components of a project identified in paragraphs (1) to (7), inclusive. (9) A planning decision carried out by a local agency to reduce or eliminate minimum parking requirements or institute parking maximums, remove or restrict parking, or implement transportation demand management requirements or programs. (c) Except as provided in subdivision (g), a project exempt from this division under this section shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) A local agency is carrying out the project and is the lead agency for the project. (2) The project does not induce single-occupancy vehicle trips, add additional highway lanes, widen highways, or add physical infrastructure or striping to highways Attachment 3
except for minor modifications needed for the efficient and safe movement of transit vehicles, bicycles, or high-occupancy vehicles, such as extended merging lanes, shoulder improvements, or improvements to the roadway within the existing right of way. The project shall not include the addition of any auxiliary lanes. (3) The construction of the project shall not require the demolition of affordable housing units.
(d) (1) For a project exceeding one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000), a project exempt from this division under this section shall also meet all of the following:
(A) The project is incorporated in a regional transportation plan, sustainable communities strategy, general plan, or other plan that has undergone a programmatic-level environmental review pursuant to this division within 10 years of the approval of the project.
(B) The project’s construction impacts are fully mitigated consistent with applicable law.
(C) (i) The lead agency shall complete and consider the results of a project business case and a racial equity analysis. The Office of Planning and Research may set guidelines for the project business case and the racial equity analysis or delegate that authority to metropolitan planning organizations. (ii) The project business case required under this subparagraph shall set forth the rationale for why the project should be implemented to solve a problem or address an opportunity, outline strategic goals and objectives of the project, evaluate other options to achieve the project’s objectives, describe the economic costs and benefits of the project, describe the financial implications of the project, and establish what is required to deliver and operate the project. (iii) The racial equity analysis required under this subparagraph shall identify the racial equity impacts of the project, identify who will benefit from and be burdened by the project, and, where significant or disproportionate impacts exist, suggest strategies, designs, or actions to mitigate those impacts. (D) The lead agency shall hold noticed public meetings as follows:
(i) Before determining that a project is exempt pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall hold at least three noticed public meetings in the project area to hear and respond to public comments.
(ii) At least one of the three public meetings shall review the project business case and the racial equity analysis. The review of these documents does not inhibit or preclude application of this section.
(iii) The lead agency shall conduct at least two noticed public meetings annually during project construction for the public to provide comments.
Attachment 3
(iv) The public meetings held pursuant to clauses (i) to (iii), inclusive, shall be in the form of either a public community planning meeting held in the project area or in the form of a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing body of the lead agency.
(E) The lead agency shall give public notice of the meetings in subparagraph (D) to the last known name and address of all the organizations and individuals that have previously requested notice and shall also give the general public notice using at least one of the following procedures:
(i) Publication of the notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the project. If more than one area will be affected, the notice shall be published in the newspaper of largest circulation from among the newspapers of general circulation in those areas.
(ii) Posting of the notice onsite and offsite in the area where the project is located.
(iii) Posting of the notice on the lead agency’s internet website and social media accounts.
(2) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (1), for a project described in that paragraph for which at least 50 percent of the project or project’s stops and stations are located in an area that is at risk of residential displacement and that will have a maximum of 15-minute peak headways, the local agency shall complete an analysis of residential displacement and suggest antidisplacement strategies, designs, or actions. For a project subject to this paragraph, the lead agency shall define or identify areas at risk of residential displacement.
(e) For a project exceeding fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), a project exempt from this division under this section shall also comply with clauses (i), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (D) of, and with subparagraph (E) of, paragraph (1) of subdivision (d). (f) (1) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (g), in addition to the requirements of subdivision (c), following the granting of an exemption under this section, the lead agency shall take an action at a public meeting of its governing board to certify that the project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply if the lead agency has an existing policy or certification approved by its governing board that requires the use of a skilled and trained workforce to complete the project if the lead agency is a signatory to a project labor agreement that will require the use of a skilled and trained workforce on the project.
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for a project that is exempted under this section, the lead agency shall not enter into a construction contract with any entity unless the entity provides to the lead agency an enforceable commitment that the entity and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the project or a contract that falls within an apprenticeship Attachment 3
occupation in the building and construction trades in accordance with Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 2600) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. (B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply if any of the following requirements are met:
(i) The lead agency has entered into a project labor agreement that will bind all contractors and subcontractors performing work on the project to use a skilled and trained workforce and the entity has agreed to be bound by that project labor agreement.
(ii) The project or contract is being performed under the extension or renewal of a project labor agreement that was entered into by the lead agency before January 1, 2021.
(iii) The entity contracted to perform the project entered into a project labor agreement that will bind the entity and all its subcontractors at every tier performing the project to use a skilled and trained workforce. (g) Subdivisions (c) and (f) do not apply to a project described in paragraph (9) of subdivision (b).
(h) If the lead agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section, and the lead agency determines to carry out that project, the lead agency shall file a notice of exemption with the Office of Planning and Research and the county clerk of the county in which the project is located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.
(i) (1) The amendments made to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) by the measure adding this paragraph may apply to projects for which a lead agency has filed a notice of exemption under this section before January 1, 2023.
(2) For projects for which a lead agency has filed a notice of exemption under this section before January 1, 2023, notwithstanding subdivision (d), as it read on December 31, 2022, the lead agency may certify that the project will be completed by a skilled and trained workforce after the granting of the exemption under this section or the lead agency may demonstrate compliance with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f).
(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 987, Sec. 3. (SB 922) Effective January 1, 2023.
Repealed as of January 1, 2030, by its own provisions.)
Attachment 3