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
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// Mayor Pro Tem City of Newport Beach
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