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HomeMy WebLinkAbout93-76 - Circulation Element ImpactsRESOLUTION NO. 93 -76 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF ORANGE TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS TO THE CIRCULATION SYSTEM OF REMOVING THE 19TH STREET/BANNING AVENUE AND GISLER AVENUEIGARFIELD AVENUE BRIDGES ACROSS THE SANTA ANA RIVER FROM THE MASTER PLAN OF ARTERIAL HIGHWAYS (MPAH); AND TO PREPARE A PLAN OF ALTERNATE CIRCULATION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WILL PROVIDE EQUIVALENT TRAFFIC SERVICE. is WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach has participated in a cooperative study with the County of Orange, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach to evaluate the Santa Ana River Crossings (SARX) southerly of State Route 405 (the San Diego Freeway); and WHEREAS, the SARX Study shows that the river crossings at 19th Street/Banning Avenue and Gisler Avenue/Garfield Avenue, if constructed, would carry significant traffic and if not constructed, cause increased traffic on various links in the MPAH; and WHEREAS, the County and the Cities have received significant input from citizens near the previously mentioned crossings objecting to the construction of any new bridge crossings of the Santa Ana River southerly of the San Diego Freeway; and WHEREAS, this public input raises concern for the viability, financial feasibility and constructability of a number of elements of the County's MPAH and the circulation elements of the four cities; and WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is uncertain that an adequate transportation circulation network that is politically and environmentally acceptable can be provided through the construction of the additional intersection, existing bridge, and roadway improvements required if the 19th Street/Banning Avenue and Gisler Avenue/Garfield Avenue bridges over the Santa Ana River are not constructed; and WHEREAS, the environmental impacts and potential mitigation measures to those impacts have not been fully identified for either the bridge deletions or the required added capacity at intersections, existing bridges and on roadway links. The City of Newport Beach believes that there may be significant impacts involved with providing the added intersection, bridge, and roadway link capacity required if the new bridges are not constructed and that there may be significant public input and concern related to these impacts; and WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach is willing to consider a cooperative agreement with Orange County, Caltrans (if appropriate) and the cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, and Huntington Beach, to prepare an acceptable alternate plan of arterial highway improvements which would provide for a balanced land uselcirculation system among the four cities by providing a satisfactory level of alternate highway improvements in lieu of the 19th Street/Banning Avenue and Gisler Avenue/Garfield Avenue bridges over the Santa Ana River. Such a plan for highway improvements would need to identify: 1) necessary right-of -way acquisitions, 2) scope of roadway, existing bridge, and intersection widening improvements, 3) environmental assessment of proposed roadway improvements and an environmental assessment of constructing the bridges, so that a true comparison can be made, 4) methods of construction financing, and 5) time frame for construction. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Newport Beach finds that it is • premature to support the "no bridge scenario' until it can be demonstrated that an acceptable alternate plan of arterial highway improvements, including a funding program, which would provide for a balanced land usetcirculation system among the four cities can be provided, environmentally cleared, and accepted by the four cities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Newport Beach also finds that it is premature to enter into a cooperative agreement with Orange County, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach and Caltrans (if appropriate) to fund and construct an alternative highway system that has not yet been established or proven to be a better alternative to the 19th Street/Banning Avenue and Gisler Avenue/Garfield Avenue bridges over the Santa Ana River. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Newport Beach will participate in a program to prepare and evaluate an alternate plan of arterial highway improvements which would provide for a balanced land usetcirculation system among the four cities and the County by providing a satisfactory level of alternate highway improvements in lieu of the 19th Street/Banning Avenue and Gisler Avenue/Garfield Avenue bridges over the Santa Ana River. Such a plan for highway improvements will need to identify: 1) necessary right -of -way acquisitions, 2) scope of roadway, existing bridge and intersection widening improvements, 3) environmental impacts of both roadway, existing bridge and intersection improvements and the new bridge crossings, so that a true comparison can be made, 4) methods of construction financing, and 5) time frame for construction. • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Newport Beach is willing to cooperate with all concerned agencies in an effort to achieve a mutually satisfactory solution to the issues and problems which exist, and will participate in a cooperative agreement if acceptable terms and funding for the necessary work can be agreed upon. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 8th day of November, 1993 ATTEST-AG 44-C`40 do-re City Clerk • // Mayor Pro Tem City of Newport Beach K