Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBrockway_Attch_2Tawn OF C3�E Date: October 13, 2009 To: Kathy Neus, Technical Programs Administrator From: Becky Bucar, Assistant Engineer Subject: Brockway Road Trail In partnership with the Truckee Trails Foundation, the Town of Truckee Engineering Division is working to develop preliminary engineering designs and environmental studies for the Brockway Road Trail project. When completed, the Brockway Road Trail project would construct '/z mile of Class 1 (paved and separate from the roadway) bikeway and recreation trail. As shown in Exhibit A, the trail would connect two existing Class 1 trail segments, which currently terminate at the Truckee River Regional Park (Brockway Road/Estates Drive intersection) and at The Rock (approximately 250 feet northwest of the Brockway Road roundabout). As shown in Exhibit B, the trail will traverse lands owned by the Tahoe -Truckee Airport District (specifically the Ponderosa Golf Course Property) and the Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD). Environmental Baseline Studies A wetland delineation, biological resource inventory, and a cultural resources inventory has been completed for the project area, as summarized below: Wetland Delineation — A wetland delineation for the project area was completed by JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. in July 2009 and was verified by the Army Corp of Engineers on August 21, 2009. The wetlands are delineated on the attached Exhibit C. As shown, wetlands currently exist on the property that is owned by the Truckee Donner Public Utility District. The existing channel, which travels from the culvert under Estates Drive to the golf course pond, is also considered to be a wetland. Because of the extent of the wetland area, all reasonable trail alignments would have some impact to the wetlands. However, Town staff believes the current design minimizes the impacts and proposes to mitigate them by creating new wetlands on site. Biological Inventory — JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. also completed a "Listed and Sensitive Species Assessment" for the project area in July 2009. This survey identified the following listed and sensitive species that are either on the site or have the potential to occur on the site: • Willow Flycatcher: This State of California Endangered Species was detected on the initial site visit but was not found on subsequent visits. Because it was not found in the later site visits and because the potential willow flycatcher habitat is marginal in the area, the bird that was observed is believed to be a migrant passing through the area. • Yellow Warbler: This State of California Species of Special Concern was recorded in habitats adjacent to the pond. • Sierra Nevada Yellow -Legged Frog: Although there is potential habitat for this candidate for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act, none were found on site. • Plumas Ivesia: Roughly 80 of these plants were found on site. This plant is considered to be a sensitive species by the California Native Plant Society. • Poison Hemlock: This invasive weed was found along the channel that crosses through the TDPUD property. Town staff believes impacts to all of these listed and sensitive species can either be avoided or mitigated through construction management. Cultural Resource Inventory — A cultural resource inventory was completed by Susan Lindstrom, Ph.D. in July 2009. An archaeological site was previously recorded in the project area, although the more recent field survey did not find evidence of a site. Regardless, the trail avoids the site and so there would be no impacts. Proposed Trail Design Exhibit C depicts the preliminary trail design and alignment. In order to minimize the impacts to the existing wetland (by segmenting it), the trail alignment hugs Brockway Road through the TDPUD property. The trail bends slightly away from Brockway Road to stay on the north side of an existing utility pole. The trail would cross the existing channel via a new small bridge crossing. While the proposed trail alignment does impact the existing wetlands, the Town proposes to create new wetlands on TDPUD property to mitigate the impact. This mitigation will be subject to approvals by TDPUD, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Army Corp of Engineers. In addition, as TDPUD has interest in a larger restoration project (one that potentially crosses over to the property on the south side of Brockway Road), the Town has agreed to share the costs associated with the development of a wetland restoration scoping document, to be prepared by the Truckee River Watershed Council. The results of this study will provide some direction on the scope for the larger restoration project, as well as a first phase that would be used to mitigate the trails impacts to the existing wetland. 2 Depending on funding availability and the timing of the environmental review, the Town may request to build the trail in several phases. The first phase (Phase 1) would connect The Rock trail segment to Reynolds Way along the Ponderosa Golf Course frontage. The second phase (Phase 2) would connect Reynolds Way to the Winter Creek Subdivision. The third phase (Phase 3) would connect Winter Creek to Estates Drive. If Phase 2 is pursued in the absence of Phase 3, the Town proposes to do several things to minimize the potential for trial users to cut through the wetland area: The Town would propose to design the trail such that the terminus by Winter Creek would end at the same grade as Brockway Road. This should deter users form entering the sensitive "wetland" site as it would be easier to access the existing trail on the north side of Estates Drive via the road shoulder than it would be to climb down the slope and cross the TDPUD property, which is roughly 6 to 8 feet below the roadway grade. • The Town would also place boulders along the edge of the trail (where it enters the meadow area) to discourage people from leaving the trail. • The Town would place a sign that would identify the environmentally sensitive area and ask users to stay on the trail. Town staff has also reviewed the other comments that you provided on the trail alignment and the Town will incorporate necessary changes in the next iteration on the design, including the following: • The design will maintain an 18' foot vertical clearance from the top of the trail pavement to the first set of utility lines. All construction project contracts and proposals will include the TDPUD standard indemnification/hold harmless language. The Town will place boulders or additional vegetation to deter trail users from accessing the existing culvert that travels under Estates Drive. Conclusion The Town of Truckee and the Truckee Trails Foundation hope to proceed with final design and environmental review over the winter to have a project ready for construction next summer. However, because of the presence of wetlands on site and the time it would take to develop a wetland mitigation site design, we may not have construction permits from Lahontan and the Army Corp of Engineers by next summer. If construction permits are delayed, the Town may pursue the construction of Phase 1 (and possibly Phase 2) only. In order to construct the trail, the Town would eventually request TDPUD to grant a right of entry to construct and easements to maintain the trail. However, this would likely not occur until the design plans are further developed. At this time the Town would respectfully request an opportunity to present the Brockway Road Trail preliminary design to your Board to solicit input and answer questions. By consulting with the TDPUD Board now, we are hoping we can flush out any major concerns before we expend additional funds on design. Thank you for you continued cooperation on this project which, when complete, will be an important community asset. Should you have any questions, please contact me at (530) 582-2932 or bbucar .townoftruckee.com. M Town of Truckee Existing and Planned Class 1 Bike Paths Miles 0 0.5 1 2 Brockway Road Trail Alignment Legend h ' e Brockway Road Trail Alignment T � Parcel Boundaries ill _ � ► IV i• ;,; - , 77', i� IL 41 •.0 '�.. ■ - V 3' • �g r�IONS&vJ !e+I .� f' i72 r1 1 . • rrf :C. :' r • --� '.S .ry f t.� ,, fir i.l' * _ cy s � ► yak ' v� .' .�,. IT a� OF vit N *M W rI 4,1 w. _N% %L !' _.fix :=•lf t { �• T,,S', I F-� 's 7r� t r� V.Gn ��� r =� 1 �� _ { r+ �.1 ► • T"Y f { r^ �r � . %l I:!Yl' I 1` a r I f ► . .I ✓r M i `�_ I I +' � r 4k ++ a �, FIX �. ;.Ale N Feet 0 250 500 1,000 1,500 1 Ow- APN19-450-54 dr "APN 19-450-54 APN 19-450-15 i r ti t APN 19-450-14 rL IVESIA APN 19-450—£1 APN 19-450-61 � f } do 5CALE IN FEET +D a is ea .. UPETLAN D } AL PN 19-4-50-48for } r 11411 Ldfi k _ � A L SASSOCUM ffi o orrr,mwmiii oom ,awAaNW FAZ VMMM-7114 flwmm�mm 1�11e11rIC11� �fYk� �LTOMLYl01� 0 C EXHIBIT C mm MINNIM or am IMM,