REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: BRIAN E. RUSSELL, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Street Maintenance Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a relinquishment agreement with the California Department of Transportation for a portion of the old State Route 41 Bridge at the San Joaquin River. (Council District 6)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve a relinquishment agreement with the California Department of Transportation for a portion of the old State Route 41 Bridge at the San Joaquin River and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the relinquishment agreement on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 7, 2005, Council approved an agreement for the relinquishment of former State Route 41 roadway from Friant Road to the San Joaquin River but excluded the bridge because of concerns raised by Public Works Department engineers. The bridge straddles the river with the southerly portion lying within City limits, and the northerly portion lying in an unincorporated area of Madera County.
On July 24, 2007, Council approved Relinquishment Agreement No. 06-1367 and Resolution No. 2007-254 that required Caltrans to conduct a study of the seismic adequacy of the structure as well as the integrity of the bridge’s footings within the riverbed to resist scouring during high river flows. In addition to the relinquishment agreement, Caltrans also agreed to bring the bridge railings up to present day standards and to construct all required improvements. All studies and remedial repair work have been completed by Caltrans and have been approved by the City Public Works Department engineers.
Approval of this relinquishment agreement by the Council will enable Caltrans to complete the transfer process, through final action to relinquish the bridge by the California Transportation Commission (CTC). Maintenance responsibilities will be shared between the City of Fresno and County of Madera.
BACKGROUND
On June 7, 2005, the City Council approved a relinquishment agreement with the State Department of Transportation for old State Route 41 (SR41) roadway from Friant Road to the Fresno-Madera County Line at the San Joaquin River. A new segment of SR 41 was constructed just west of the old SR41, and the old roadway and bridge were no longer serving SR41 traffic. The roadway lies immediately south of the old San Joaquin River bridge and provides the only vehicle access route to the Woodward Bluffs Mobile Home Park.
The subject bridge, bridge #42-0112, which straddles the San Joaquin River, and the Fresno-Madera County line was excluded from the relinquishment agreement at that time because of concerns voiced by the City Engineer. The two main concerns were whether the bridge met current seismic standards of adequacy, and whether the bridge footing could resist scouring under the high river flows. Additionally, staff insisted that the bridge railings be brought up to current Caltrans standards. Staff continued to meet with Caltrans to negotiate the relinquishment agreement. Caltrans ultimately agreed to conduct the previously noted studies as well as to construct all required improvements prior to presenting the relinquishment matter to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for adoption.
All terms, conditions, and repairs requested by the City have been completed by Caltrans at Caltrans’ expense. City engineers have inspected the work and have concluded that the terms and conditions have been satisfied.
This is a continuation of Relinquishment Agreement 06-1367. This relinquishment is based on superseded highway. The City is willing to accept the relinquished facilities upon approval by the California Transportation Commission records of said resolution with the County Recorder’s Office.
Following CTC action, the City of Fresno will take over ownership and maintenance of the portion of the bridge that is within the City’s jurisdiction.
Once the bridge is relinquished, the portion of the bridge within City limits will become a City owned and maintained asset. This relinquishment is similar to how the City took over numerous roadway facilities in decades past, such as Blackstone, Ventura, Kings Canyon, Shaw, Elm, Jensen, Tuolumne, Stanislaus, Whitesbridge, and Golden State. This bridge will be added to the City bridge inventory and will be maintained as part of the Bridge Maintenance program using Gas Tax and Measure C funding. This bridge will be inspected by City staff annually and inspected by Caltrans bridge inspectors every 2 years. Caltrans currently provides bridge inspection to all City roadway bridges with spans over 20’, and this bridge will be included in that inspection program.
The City Attorney’s Office has approved the attached State Highway Relinquishment Agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15378, the signature of a relinquishment agreement does not qualify as a project.
Environmental memorandum titled FRE 41 SEISIC Retrofit - Initial Site Assessment for HMDD (Relinquishment) file number 06-0N9903 related to this relinquishment was issued by Caltrans on November 29, 2021. This assessment is included in the attached State Highway Relinquishment Agreement No. 06-1711.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item does not include an award of contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no direct impact on the City’s General Fund through approval of the relinquishment agreement. However, there will be a future maintenance costs to the City at such time as bridge maintenance becomes necessary. This bridge will be added to the City bridge inventory and will be maintained as part of the Bridge Maintenance program using Gas Tax and Measure C funding.
Attachments:
State Highway Relinquishment Agreement 06-1711
Relinquishment Agreement 06-1367 and Resolution No. 2007-254