Looking Ahead to 90% Road Design
The project engineer, Albert A. Webb and Associates (Webb), has been working diligently in the last few weeks to incorporate design comments received from District staff, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, and other County departments. The District expects to receive the 90% plan set and bid specifications early next week. A review of the current design drawings will be circulated for another round of approval by both internal and external parties to ensure proper design elements are implemented and value engineered. If the designs are determined to be thoroughly complete, the District can move forward with an advertisement for bid. If there are additional revisions needed, the bid advertisement will be delayed in an effort to reduce costs during the construction phase from overlooked elements in the plan.
In the next couple weeks, the District also expects to receive an updated easement impact document. Receipt of this document will allow staff the ability to secure all proper grading permissions or updated easements at that time.
Environmental Compliance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The public review period for the project closed on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. During the review period, two comments were received, though neither presented a change in the project impacts that was not already addressed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration. Adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration and a Mitigation Monitoring Program is slotted as a consent item on the March 19, 2019 meeting of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. A Notice of Determination will be then filed with the Clerk of the Board.
Following approval of the document, the District will be able to initiate consultation with the jurisdictional agencies impacted within the project footprint. Due to the flood control structures and erosion protection measures being built, the District will need to submit applications with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to obtain permits for the project and discuss any required mitigation measures.
Utility Coordination
Since receiving the 80% plan set, Webb and the District have re-initiated the utility coordination effort with those affected agencies in the project area. Staff have been working closely with these entities to ensure minimal impacts are incurred to existing utilities and any relocations can be conducted in a timely manner. A majority of the affected utility agencies are current in a review process with the 80% design plans.