City of Sacramento - File #: 2019-00247

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Title:

Title

Environmental Impact Report and Preliminary Design Approval for the Del Rio Trail Project (K15165100)

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FileID

File ID: 2019-00247

Location

Location: Districts 4, 5, 7, and 8

Recommendation:

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution: 1) certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and adopting the Findings of Fact and Mitigation Monitoring Program; and 2) approving the preliminary plans for the Del Rio Trail Project (K15165100).

Contact: Jesse Gothan, Supervising Engineer (916) 808-6897; Nader Kamal, Interim Engineering Services Manager (916) 808-7035, Department of Public Works

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Presenter: Jesse Gothan, Supervising Engineer (916) 808-6897, Department of Public Works

Attachments:

1-Description/Analysis

2-Resolution

3-Exhibit A: CEQA Findings of Fact for the Del Rio Trail Project

4-Exhibit B: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan

Description/Analysis

Issue Detail: The Del Rio Trail Project is a planned multi-use trail that will run from the Sacramento River Parkway by Riverside Boulevard near William Land Park across the existing rail bridge to the south where it connects to the existing multi-use trail at Freeport Boulevard near the Sacramento Water Tower. Per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City of Sacramento must identify, disclose, and consider the potential environmental impacts of the project before proceeding with a project. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared by the City and must be certified by the City Council prior to initiating design and construction activities on the project.

Policy Considerations: The Del Rio Trail Project is consistent with the City General Plan goals and key policies of promoting safety and enhancing livability, sustainability, and economic vitality. The project promotes the development of a connected network (General Plan ERC 2.1.2), connections to other trails (General Plan ERC 2.4.3), providing multi-modal choices (General Plan M 1.2.1), and providing a continuous bikeway network (General Plan M 5.1.3). The project is consistent with the Mobility Element to create a well-connected transportation network through integration of recreation and community facilities with other public spaces and rights-of-way that includes Regional Transit facilities and service points. The project is a near-term goal for the bikeway implementation plan.

Economic Impacts: None

Environmental Considerations:

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): In accordance with CEQA, the City released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) on June 8, 2018. The purpose of the NOP was to provide notification that an EIR for the project was being prepared and to solicit guidance on the scope and content of the document. Prior to release of the NOP, the city project team held 17 public outreach meetings to hear concerns raised by interested stakeholders. In 2015, the City created a public outreach program to share information and obtain feedback to better define the proposed Project. There were several public meetings and events where the project was discussed with community members, neighborhood associations, and stakeholders including the South Land Park Neighborhood Association, Land Park Community Association, Cabrillo Park Neighborhood Association, Sutterville Elementary Parent Teacher Association, Preservation Sacramento, California State Parks, the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors, and with California State Railroad Museum Foundation representatives. The Draft EIR was circulated for public review and comment for a period of 59 days from November 1, 2018, through January 3, 2019.

The Final Environmental Impact Report contains the public and agency comments received during the public review period for the Del Rio Trail Draft EIR, and responses to each of those comments. All written comments received during the public review period on the Draft EIR are addressed in this Final EIR. The responses in the Final EIR clarify, correct, and/or amplify text in the Draft EIR, as appropriate. These changes do not alter the conclusions of the Draft EIR. This document has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; California Public Resources Code (PRC), Sections 21000-21177).

The EIR may be found online at the City’s webpages at:

<http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Planning/Environmental/Impact-Reports>

<http://www.cityofsacramento.org/delriotrail>

National Environment Policy Act (NEPA): Caltrans is the lead agency for NEPA and is awaiting CEQA approval before issuing NEPA approval.

Sustainability: The Del Rio Trail Project is consistent with the City’s sustainability goals to help improve the health of residents by promoting walking and bicycling, and to create a healthier urban environment by constructing bike paths. The project will also reduce dependence on the private automobile, decrease the use of fossil fuels, and help meet air quality standards by providing an array of transportation choices near jobs for a balanced, healthy city.

Commission/Committee Action: None

Rationale for Recommendation: The Del Rio Trail Project will increase mobility options; the South Land Park, Pocket, and adjacent communities in South Sacramento currently have limited active modes of transportation to schools, retail, jobs, and recreational amenities, thereby increasing automotive dependency while reducing opportunities for those who do not drive or do not have access to a car, including children, the elderly, the disadvantaged, and persons with disabilities. The Del Rio Trail Project will:

• Advance and complete the planned connection between the Sacramento River Parkway and the Freeport Shores Bikeway in accordance with the City of Sacramento Bikeway Master Plan utilizing public right-of-way and public agency parcels;

• Connect logical origins and destinations proximate to the trail alignment by improving pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’berg Park, Land Park, Meadowview, and Pocket communities; and

• Provide an American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant, active transportation connection to adjacent communities throughout the south Sacramento area for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities to access schools, retail, jobs, and recreational amenities.

Financial Considerations: The recommendations in this report do not result in any financial impact to the City. Upon environmental clearance of the project, the City will negotiate a supplemental agreement with the current project consultant for design and construction support services and return to City Council for approval of the agreement.

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.

Background: The Del Rio Trail Project proposes to construct approximately 4.8 miles of Class I multi-use trail along the abandoned railway corridor west of Freeport Boulevard from south of Meadowview Road/Pocket Road to the Sacramento River Parkway north of Sutterville Road. The purpose of the Del Rio Trail Project is to:

• Advance and complete the planned connection between the Sacramento River Parkway and the Freeport Shores Bikeway in accordance with the short-term goals of the City of Sacramento Bikeway Master Plan utilizing public right-of-way and public agency parcels;

• Connect logical origins and destinations proximate to the trail alignment by improving pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the South Land Park, Freeport Manor, Z’berg Park, Land Park, Meadowview, and Pocket communities; and

• Provide an American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant, active transportation connection to adjacent communities throughout the south Sacramento area for pedestrians and bicyclists of all ages and abilities to access schools, retail, jobs, and recreational amenities.

All roadway crossings along the proposed trail alignment would receive safety lighting and cautionary signs on the roadway approaches. Striping/ decorative pavement would designate the path of travel that trail users are to follow and would provide another visual alert for vehicles that pedestrians could be crossing the road. Where the trail approaches roadway intersections, the horizontal alignment of the trail would contain a bulb out to slow down approaching bicyclists. In addition, signing and striping would be provided in advance of roadway intersections to warn users that they will need to stop at the approaching intersection.

This Project is federally funded through the Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant and, therefore, requires compliance with both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Lead Agency for CEQA compliance is the City; the federal Lead Agency for NEPA compliance is the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Both Acts require public agencies to identify, disclose, and consider the potential environmental impacts of proposed discretionary actions that an agency is considering for approval. A Project that may have a significant impact on the environment cannot be approved unless the Lead Agency makes the approval contingent upon the implementation of mitigation measures that would reduce or avoid that impact to the extent feasible. When a Project may have significant environmental impacts, the Lead Agency must prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) before it considers whether to approve the Project.

In accordance with CEQA, the City released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) on June 8, 2018. The purpose of the NOP was to provide notification that an EIR for the project was being prepared and to solicit guidance on the scope and content of the document. Prior to release of the NOP, the City held 14 public outreach meetings to hear concerns raised by interested stakeholders. During the NOP comment period, the public and various government agencies identified potential impacts that pertain to the proposed Project. General topics raised included: biological resources, water quality, recreation, visual resources, noise, traffic, cultural, archeological, and Native American resources, as well as general permitting concerns. Specific topics raised included:

• Impacts to the Historic Walnut Grove Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad;

• Right of Way;

• Tree Removal; and

• Consideration of Project Alternatives.

The impacts were considered by the City and a Draft EIR was circulated for public review and comment for a period of 59 days from November 1, 2018, through January 3, 2019. The comments and responses that make up the Final EIR, in combination with the Draft EIR, as amended by the text changes, constitute the Final EIR. The table below provides a summary of the potential impacts of the proposed Project as included in the Final EIR:

Potential Impact	Build Alternative	No-Build Alternative
Visual/Aesthetics	The Build Alternative would have potential changes in visual quality through the removal of trees but would not significantly impact the visual character of the Project area. Mitigation measures would ensure impacts are less than significant.	No impact.
Air Quality and Climate Change (Construction)	Construction impacts to air quality are short-term in duration and, therefore, would not result in adverse or long-term conditions. Air quality impacts would be less than significant. The Build Alternative would result in minor increases in GHG emissions during construction; however, these impacts are short-term and would not result in a significant increase in regional GHG.	No impact.
Natural Communities	The Build Alternative would result in temporary impacts to riparian habitat; therefore, a Section 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement would also be acquired from the CDFW. Mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce impacts to a less than significant level.	No impact.
Wetlands and other Waters	The Build Alternative would result in temporary impacts to waters of the U.S. and State. The City will coordinate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Regional Water Quality Control Board to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are implemented which would reduce these impacts to a less than significant level.	No impact.
Plant Communities	No special status plant species have been identified within the Build Alternative area. Impacts to plant communities would be less than significant.	No impact.
Animal Communities	No special status animal species have been identified within the Build Alternative area. Impacts to animal communities would be less than significant.	No impact.
Threatened and Endangered Species	The Build Alternative would not result in impacts to State or Federal threatened or endangered species. Minimization and mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce potentially significant impacts to a less than significant level.	No impact.
Historic Resources	The Build Alternative would result in the removal of segments of the historic Walnut Grove Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which is eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The Caltrans Cultural Studies Office, as designated by the State Historic Preservation Office, concurred on October 23, 2018 that the track removal is not considered an adverse effect. Minimization and mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce potentially significant impacts to a less than significant level.	No impact.
Land Use	The Build Alternative would meet the goals of the City of Sacramento General Plan and the City Bikeway Master Plan. No impacts to land use are expected.	The No-Build Alternative would conflict with the 2016 City of Sacramento Bicycle Master Plan. Less than significant impact.
Archaeological Resources	The Build Alternative is not expected to encounter any archaeological resources during Project construction. If resources are discovered, construction will stop until a qualified cultural specialist can determine how to protect the sensitive resources. Impacts to archaeological resources are expected to be less than significant.	No impact.
Population Growth	The Build Alternative would not result in the acquisition of private property or stimulate population growth, other than what was planned for in the 2035 General Plan. No impacts due to population growth are expected.	No impact.
Utilities/Public Services	The Build Alternative would require utility coordination for water, sewer, electric, telephone/cable, and gas prior to construction. These impacts are expected to be less than significant.	No impact.
Hazards & Hazardous Materials	The Build Alternative is not anticipated to impact hazardous waste materials during ground disturbance. Additional testing would be conducted and a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Program would be prepared prior to construction. Mitigation measures would be implemented to reduce impacts to a less than significant level.	No impact.
Hydrology and Water Quality	The Build Alternative will be designed to maintain existing drainage patters in the Project area and ensure that it does not contribute to flooding up or downstream. Construction-related temporary impacts to water quality could occur, but these impacts would be less than significant through the implementation of Best Management Practices during construction.	No Impact.
Noise (Construction)	The Build Alternative would cause temporary construction noise that could impact adjacent residences. Mitigation measures would ensure impacts are less than significant.	No impact.
Recreation	The Build Alternative would not cause or accelerate substantial physical deterioration of existing area parks or recreational facilities nor result in substantial interference to park recreation. A less than significant impact would occur.	No impact.
Transportation and Traffic	Short-term traffic operations at intersections would be temporarily affected during construction of the trail crossings; however, one lane in each direction would remain open for through traffic throughout construction. A traffic management plan will be developed by the City to ensure these impacts are reduced to a less than significant level.	The No-Build is inconsistent with the City’s General Plan and Bicycle Master Plan. Less than significant impact.
Cumulative Impacts	The Build Alternative is not expected to result in any cumulative impacts.	No impact.

The Final EIR contains the public and agency comments received during the public review period for the Del Rio Trail Draft EIR, and responses to each of those comments. The EIR is an informational document intended to disclose to the City Council and the public the environmental consequences of approving and implementing the Del Rio Trail Project (Build Alternative or proposed Project) or one of the alternatives to the project described in the Draft EIR. All written comments received during the public review period on the Draft EIR are addressed in the Final EIR. The responses in the Final EIR clarify, correct, and/or amplify text in the Draft EIR, as appropriate. These changes did not alter the conclusions of the Draft EIR. The Final EIR has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; California Public Resources Code (PRC), Sections 21000-21177).