Governing Board - Regular Meeting

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Christina, can we do a sound check? Can you hear me okay?

I figured if I need to go, you're going to call me.

I unmuted you.

The only time I ever missed is, you know, last minute. There's no time to anybody.

Oh, I'm not. Christina, can we do a sound check with you?

Yes, you can.

You can hear everything okay?

Yes, I can.

Thank you so much.

No problem.

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Recording in progress.

MCIG board of June 18 has come to order. Would somebody like to leave us an invitation?

Our dear and gracious and holy Father in heaven, we humbly bow our heads and give you thanks for this beautiful day. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. Thank you for the opportunity to gather today and go over all these different decisions. Thank you for our leaders. I ask that you would give them wisdom and guidance to do what's right for our community. Thank you for this beautiful country, Lord, that we live in. And just thank you for this day and this cooler weather that we're having. In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen. Thank you. Mr. Porter, would you like to lay down some pledges of allegiance?

May I have a roll call, please?

Director Kahle?

Here.

Director Porter?

Present.

Director Nagy?

Here.

Director Amabile?

Here.

Director Serrato?

Present.

Chair Samara?

Here.

Thank you. We have a quorum.

Thank you. Approval of the agenda. Do I need to have a motion? Does anybody want to make any changes to the agenda or can I get a motion for approval?

I'll move to approve as submitted. Second.

And I have a first and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Okay. Item number three, this is a public comment. Does anybody wish to make a public comment at this time? Seeing nobody come forward, we'll move on to reports and presentations. And for Caltrans with their quarterly project update. And a wag of a finger from a couple of us.

I'm the transportation planning office chief for Caltrans in District 10. I'm going to provide a few updates for the planning office and then hand it over to our project management division with project management updates. There's currently an announcement. The League of American Bicyclists has an application deadline to apply for. There are three different grant options available. One is for bicycle-friendly universities. Then the second option is bicycle-friendly businesses or bicycle-friendly communities. All three come with different deadlines, and I can provide a website if someone is interested. Speaking of bicycle-friendly neighborhoods and areas, Caltrans has bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee. We meet on a quarterly basis, and we're looking for participation from Merced County. We already have one representative, but we usually like to have two per county. So if there's any interest, feel free to pass on the word and have them reach out to us. And then I believe there was a question last time on an encroachment permit on State Route 59 and Snelling Boat for George Reed, the contractor. I have an update on that. So the application was screened and reviewed and encroachment permits did send a letter with comments back to the applicant. Pending on the applicant's response, we will go ahead and review that again. So the timeline on that processing timeline is dependent how quickly we get comments back. And then I have a traffic advisory update. There's a pavement rehabilitation project on State Route 33 from Santa Nella to the city of Christine. The project is going to repair and replace deteriorated pavement and the work already started on Monday, July six crews are working night shifts from 7pm until 6am for approximately 30 working days. And that concludes my update. If anyone has any question, I'll be happy to answer those.

Anybody have a question for the Caltrans?

Real quick. So there's a further update later from other folks, too?

Yes, on project-related projects.

I'll say now, I just want to thank you guys for the work getting the off-ramp from Highway 99. That got done yesterday on 16th Street. That was a really good upgrade.

And then this is where I was going to wag my finger. Yesterday's ramp, they did a nice job. I drove through it this morning. However, there was no information to the public that it was going to be closed.

Okay.

I don't remember. And I think there was one in Livingston, Wind Parkway. This morning. This morning, there was no indication of the previous day that it was going to be closed, so people couldn't plan it.

Yeah. Can you repeat the location again, please?

One was the 16th Street right here in Merced. Well, it was Wooden Parkway in Livingston.

Okay. I'll make sure I let our public information officer. Yeah. Thank you.

It happens, but people are aware of it.

Right. Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

With that, I'll pass it on to Charlie Doe, our program project manager.

Okay, so real quick about the bike universities, is that just for on campus or is it surrounding the campuses as well, if you know?

That's a good question. It says bicycle friendly university. We can look into it and see, I can pass that on the website and see if it's surrounding areas as well or just on campus.

Okay. Okay. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon. My name is Charlie Doe. I'm the Caltrans Project Management Office Chief. I'm here to present projects in Marseille County. I want to say there are 20-plus projects. In my presentation, I'm going to highlight around 18 that is, you know, of local interest or significant impact to the local community. The other project is more in terms of more on the state highway system. Is it like guard rail and ITS element? So I'll skip on those. I'll skip on those and then I'll present the rest of these projects through this presentation. Okay. So first, I divided up into three different categories. The first one is what we call pre-paid or paid project. These are projects that we're working on to get it ready to be programmed. And then the next set of project is in project development, what we call environmental and right away and doing the design work. And then the final set is for construction. So for the first set, we have three projects. Two of those are somewhat related, is the Merced 99 managed lane projects. The first one is, this one is through Merced. So basically we are looking at widening 99 from four lanes to six lanes. YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCHEDULE HERE, I WANT TO SAY THESE ARE MORE OF A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE. AGAIN, WE ARE DEVELOPING THE PIT CURRENTLY. WE'RE LOOKING TO PROGRAM THESE PROJECTS IN 2028. IT WILL SHOW KIND OF A SCHEDULE OF ABOUT THREE YEARS FOR EMBATTLEMENT CLEARANCE, THREE YEARS FOR DUNE DESIGN AND RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND THEN ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE TIME FRAME. THE START AND FINISH DATE IS DEPENDING ON WHAT THESE PROJECTS GET PROGRAMMED. and also kind of the funding, you know, the funding aspect of it as well. The next one is, again, this is related to the previous one. This is the widening project, four lane to six lane, and this is Drew Atwater. This one also include the component of Applegate Interchange. Same thing with the schedule. This is assuming that this project will get programmed in 2028. uh... next we have uh... a project uh... on save out uh... one sixty five uh... the book uh... find your uh... this is the brown about project uh... this is a local project uh... we are going through what we call a idea process meaning is kinda When we do everything in terms of environment clearance and design, and then we as Caltrans do the oversight and have it ready for construction. This is the tentative schedule that we have. We're going to try to get environment completion by summer of this year, and then about a year to do the design work, and then ultimately construction in fall of 2027. The total construction capital on this project, I want to say it's roughly 4 million. I don't have the exact figure yet, but that's kind of a rough number of how much this roundabout is going to be. HERE'S THE NEXT PROJECTS, SET OF PROJECTS. I KIND OF DIVIDED INTO TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. THE FIRST SEVEN IS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE AND DESIGN. AND THEN THE REMAINING FIVE PROJECTS IS THESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND IT'S BEING READY FOR CONSTRUCTION. WE'RE WAITING ON FUND ALLOCATION THIS AUGUST TO GET ALL THESE PROJECTS OUT INTO CONSTRUCTION. SO THERE ARE FIVE OF THEM. FIRST ONE IS A PAYMENT ANCHOR PROJECT ON NSA 5. THIS IS SPANNING THE ENTIRE MUDSET COUNTY FROM COUNTY LINE TO COUNTY LINE. CURRENT SCHEDULE IS WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS BY THIS WINTER. HAVING THEN DESIGNED COMPLETION IN WINTER OF 2028 AND HAVE IT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION IN SUMMER OF 2029. THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT $95 MILLION IN TERM OF CONSTRUCTION CAPITAL. Most of it is going to be in terms of, you know, rehabbing the pavement, but we also have some drainage, ITS element, you know, safety devices along the corridor that we need to upgrade or improve. Just some picture of the culverts in the area that are in bad condition or in degrading condition. So we are going to either replace them or, you know, improve them, you know, whether to replace or to improve it. NEXT PROJECT, THIS IS A 165 PAYMENT ANCHOR PROJECT. THIS IS GOING TO, I GUESS, THE TOWN OF LOS BANOS. SO THIS PROJECT STARTING AT MIDDLE ROAD AND IT'S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY INTO SANTA FE GREAT ROAD. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT, BASICALLY WE ARE UPGRADING OR REHAB IN THE PAYMENT. BUT INCLUDING WITH THAT, WE ARE ADDING BIKE LANES, COMPLETE SHEET ELEMENTS. RIGHT NOW WE JUST FINISHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS. SO WE'RE GOING TO START DOING THE DESIGN THIS FALL. AND THEN HAVE IT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION BY FALL OF 2029. TOTAL PROJECT COST IS AROUND $28 MILLION. This is just an example of kind of the layout that we have currently. As you can see, the green kind of line along the pavement, that's going to be the bike lane. And then as you get to the intersection, we will have ADA curb ramps and also crosswalk. NEXT WE HAVE THE HILMA COMPLETE STREET PROJECT. THIS IS TO IMPROVE OR ADDING SIDEWALK. ALSO WE ARE ADDRESSING SOME OF THE FLOODING ISSUE TO DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS WELL AS A BASIN. THIS PROJECT WE'VE COMPLETED OR WE COMPLETED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS THIS MONTH AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO START DOING THE DESIGN AND THEN SAME THING DESIGN IS GOING TO TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE. And then we will have construction. It will be construction ready by summer of 2029. This project capital cost is around 20, a little bit over 22 million dollars. Again, just, sorry. Is that a...

There we go.

Okay. Same thing. Just showing an example of a layout in terms of having the bike lanes, the crosswalk, the 80-acre ramps, and also the driveway that needs to be improved to tie into the new sidewalk on two example intersections. But this is going to be throughout the entire project limits. Next, we have State Route 152 and Volta Road intersection control improvement. This is going to be a roundabout. Right now, we do have a very aggressive schedule. We're looking to do the design starting now and completing it next summer. So it's about one year to do the design and also right away, and then it will be ready for construction in spring of 2028. Total project cost or construction capital cost is around $18 million. I'M JUST GIVING AN EXAMPLE OF SO THIS IS A 152 IS DIVIDED SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A DETOUR KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED OR SHADED IT'S A LOCAL DETOUR BASICALLY WE'RE JUST GOING TO REDIRECT THE TRAFFIC CREATE A NEW INTERSECTION RIGHT SOUTH JUST OF THE CURRENT INTERSECTION AND THEN WE WOULD CONSTRUCT THE ROUND ABOUT AS A SINGLE STAGE AND THEN KIND OF PUT IT PUT THE TRAFFIC BACK TO THIS ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION and kind of show an example of we do have some utility and also some roadside ditches that we need to upgrade along this location. NEXT IS ANOTHER INTERSECTION CONTROL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. THIS IS AT WEBMONT ROAD. THIS PROJECT, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT COMPLETING THE DESIGN PORTION OF IT IN SPRING OF 2028 AND HAVE IT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION IN SUMMER OF 2028. THIS PROJECT IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, JUST A SINGLE LANE ROUND ABOUT. IT'S GOING TO BE AROUND $6 MILLION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COST. Just kind of giving an example of a preliminary layout. This is just going to be a single lane typical roundabout for the location. Next, I want to highlight the BF system. This one is in Merced County. This is just kind of with the big project at this location. Our involvement with this project is that SL 152 needs to be raised by about 10 feet or so. And so we are going through the process of oversighting this. We're targeting design completion in 2028. This project is fully by the Delta Mendota Water Canal, so they are the sponsor of this project. IN SAYING THAT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, I DO, THEY ARE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT THE LOCATION. SO THIS PROJECT, I KIND OF BREAK IT DOWN INTO TWO COMPONENTS OR TWO PROJECTS. SO THE FIRST ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY IN CONSTRUCTION IS THE SAFETY OF DAM PROJECT. THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT TO THE STATE HIGHWAY. THIS IS ON, YOU KNOW, JUST WITHIN THEIR OWN, WHAT YOU CALL IT, THEIR OWN RIDERWAY. AND ALSO THIS PROJECT IS JUST GOING TO BE ONGOING CONSTRUCTION INTO 2032. SO THE PROJECT THAT ARE REFERRING TO THE BFCS DAM IS KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THAT PROJECT, IMPROVE ON IT, INCREASING THE WATER CAPACITY, AND THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO BE IN DESIGN WITH CALIFORNIA INVOLVEMENT TO RAISE SR 152. AS YOU CAN SEE, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE A LASER, WINTER? So SR 152 is right here. So it's a very small portion of the state route. The rest of these is improvement to the water or to the reservoir and to the dam. So realistically, the involvement of SR 152 is strictly just a small portion up here. THIS IS THE EXACT LOCATION, AS YOU CAN SEE. SO THIS BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THIS BY 10 FEET AND THEN TIE IT BACK TO WHATEVER THE PROFILE IS, HAVING THOSE TIED BACK POINTS. IT WILL BE STILL THE SAME FOUR LANES. ALSO IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC, WE WILL MAINTAIN TRAFFIC WITH TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. THERE'S A MEDIAN WIDE ENOUGH TO HAVE, WE CAN DIVERT TRAFFIC INTO THE MEDIAN AND SO FORTH. So there won't be any detour for this project. Everything will be state construction. And we are going to maintain two lanes in the opposite direction. We understand this is a very heavily used route for Bay Area commuters. Next, we have the Merced 59 four-lane pavement widening project. This is a locally sponsored project, the City of Merced. This project is to widen the existing 59 from 16th Street. uh up until past black rascal creek bridge as well the bridge will be replaced currently it is two section and it's going to be replaced with one longer section bridge this project is around 18 million dollar we're looking at completing the design and right away of spring of next year 2027 and then starting construction uh summer of that same year Next, we have the Merced 49, State Route 49, State Route 165 mobility improvement project. This is a roundabout between State Route 140 and 165. This project, we completed the design portion. We're waiting for fund allocation in this August. and then it will be ready for, or will be going to construction this winter. And then it's have around two years of construction. With the project location, we know the detour is gonna be a challenge. So we are doing state construction. Everything will be localized. So there is no detour. It just, you know, we're gonna construct the roundabout in stages so that we won't be utilizing any sort of detour on the project. CONSTRUCTION CAPITAL ON THIS PROJECT IS AROUND $10 MILLION. SO THIS KIND OF SHOWS THE LAYOUT, THE ROUNDABOUT. SO THIS WILL BE TWO LANE ON 165 AND THEN ONE LANE ON 140. THERE IS A FOOD STALL AT THIS LOCATION. WE ARE, YOU KNOW, MODIFYING THE DRIVEWAY TO GIVE THEM ACCESS. SO TO KIND OF HAVE ACCESS TO THAT FOOD STAND, FRUIT STAND. We'll also have sidewalk and also crosswalk in this area. And then as we get further out, it will be bicyclists will utilize the shoulder as they approach the roundabout. They will utilize the lane as kind of like as a vehicle. And then once they exit the roundabout, it will be back on the shoulder. Next, we have the Los Banos Payment Anchor Project. This is going through Los Banos. So right now, we're targeting to have the design completion by spring of 2027. Currently, we do have some right-of-way. We still have, I think, six parcels that we either need to have TCE or have six parcels either in TCE or in fee-take so that we can complete our right-of-way process we are having another meeting in the city with tentatively scheduled for July 28 to meet with these property owner to kind of discuss what you know what where we are at with the project and also trying to come to a negotiation and complete THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AGREEMENT SO THAT WE CAN FINALIZE OUR RIGHT-OF-WAY SERVICE TO GET THE PROJECT READY FOR CONSTRUCTION. TOTAL PROJECT COST ON THIS IS A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN $35 MILLION FOR THIS. AND THEN IF, YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT KIND OF GETS SETTLED AND WE FINISH OUR DESIGN IN SPRING, WE'RE GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION IN FALL OF 2027. Next, we have the Musette Pavement Anchor Project, OB 690. So this project is on State Route 59 going from the 132 separation to Riley Road. Basically, this project is a pavement rehab project. UNIQUE OR ONE THING THAT THIS PROJECT KIND OF EVERYONE IS AWARE OF IS THE MARIPOSA MARIPOSA CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SO WE ARE REPLACING THAT BRIDGE AND IT WAS READY FOR CONSTRUCTION AS OF LAST YEAR WE DO HAVE SOME SHOP REBALANCING SO WE WILL HAVE THE FUN THIS AUGUST AND THIS PROJECT WILL START CONSTRUCTION THIS WINTER OF 2026 IT IS A TWO-YEAR CONSTRUCTION WINDOW TOTAL PROJECT COST IS AROUND $24 MILLION. AND JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THAT WE ARE REPLACING MARIPOSA CREEK BRIDGE. THIS IS THE REASON WE WILL PRESENT WITH THESE. I WOULD SAY WHEN I STARTED IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT, IT WAS MY PROJECT, SO I KNOW THIS PROJECT WELL. AND I DID RECEIVE THIS PICTURE ASKING THAT IF WE CAN REPLACE THE BRIDGE, AND WE DID ADD IT TO A PAYMENT REHAB PROJECT, AND THIS BRIDGE WILL GET REPLACED. Next we have State Route 59 and Girard Avenue. This is going to be a roundabout project. The bid opening for this project is today at 2.30, so I'm kind of checking my phone, making sure everything is kind of, you know, the bid coming under the engineering estimate, and if that's the case, we should be able to award and start construction on this project this summer. Project cost is roughly $8.5 million. It's just a single lane roundabout for the project. Next we have the Merced CAPM project 1M480. So this project has two sections. The first one is from Chow Avenue to the 99, and then the second portion is from 99, also 16th Street, to Black Rascal Creek Bridge. So as mentioned earlier, this portion is overlapping with the City of Merced project that's doing the widening. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO DO, YOU KNOW, FUND CONTRIBUTION FOR THIS PORTION, AND THEN OUR PROJECT, WELL, CALTRAN WILL BE IMPROVING THIS COMPONENT OR THIS FIRST SEGMENT FROM CHARLES AVENUE TO, SAY, ROUTE 99 HERE. THE PROJECT ITSELF, THE PROJECT JUST RECENTLY WE HAVE IT READY. WE WILL RECEIVE OR WE'RE REQUESTING FOR FUND ALLOCATION IN AUGUST. SO THIS PROJECT WE CAN START THE CONSTRUCTION, I WANT TO SAY WINNER, Typically with when a starting construction on pavement contract they want to start in spring. So I kind of list out kind of the tentative that will be a spring of next year to start construction. Project cost is just a bit less or 11.8 million dollar for the capital cost. These are the three active projects in construction currently. The first one is listed, as I said, at 5. Obviously, there's four locations to it. So here are the four locations. The first one is at State Route 5 and 140. The second one is at 140 and Sullivan, just south of Christine, and then just north of Christine is the THE OTHER LOCATION, 140 AND FIRST STREET. AND THEN THE LAST LOCATION IS ON 165 AND HENRY MILLER. CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2026. CURRENTLY WE ARE WAITING ON QUITE A FEW UTILITIES RELOCATION, PG&E SPECIFICALLY. THE CONTRACTOR WOULD LIKE ALL LOCATION TO BE CLEAR SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO MOBILIZE SEVERAL TIMES. SO OF THESE FOUR LOCATIONS, WE HAVE ONLY CLEARED TWO LOCATIONS IN TERMS OF UTILITY RELOCATION. THE OTHER TWO LOCATIONS HAVE A TENTATIVE COMPLETION BY AUGUST. SO IN AUGUST, WE WILL KIND OF REENGAGE OR START THE CONSTRUCTION. WITH KNOWING THAT WE HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2026 TO COMPLETE THIS IS FOR LOCATION BUT IT IS JUST KIND OF THE TRUCK APRONS TO KIND OF HAVE WIDER PAYMENT FOR TRUCK TURNING SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION BY DECEMBER OF 2026 ON ALL FOUR LOCATION BUT IN TERM OF ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION I WANT TO SAY IT'S GOING TO BE AUGUST IS WHEN WE ACTUALLY GOING TO START ON THE OPERATION. TOTAL PROJECT COSTS OR CONSTRUCTION CAPITAL COSTS ON THIS PROJECT IS AROUND $6.1 MILLION. JUST KIND OF SHOWING THE FULL LOCATION. BASICALLY IT IS PAVEMENT WIDENING ON THE OUTSIDE. THE UTILITY RELOCATION IS WHAT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT COMPLETED PRIOR TO THIS KIND OF STARTED OR THE CONSTRUCTION OPERATION TO START. Next we have Gee Avenue, State Route 165. This one, I think, I want to say 90% complete on this project. Just a couple of punch list items to get it completed. We're targeting August of this year to have it complete. Project cost is $4.3 million. Just kind of have some pictures showing some of the paving operation, also working on the the ADA curb ramp and whatnot, and also repaving this portion here, and kind of highlighting some of the current work. And this picture was taken, you know, like, this one was in May, this one was in July. So I want to say we're 90-95% completed, so looking to have this fully CCA or completed in August. And then last but not least, we do have Panata roundabout at Plainsburg. This project, we awarded the contract in December. As we kind of start staking the project, Survey did find some discrepancy in terms of elevation on the plan and existing elevation YOU KNOW, OUT THERE IN THE VIEW. SO WE DID HAVE DESIGN LOOK AT IT. WE ULTIMATELY HAVE TO MAKE SOME REVISION TO THE PLANS. THOSE WERE COMPLETED LAST WEEK. IT'S WITH CONSTRUCTION TO REVIEW AND KIND OF CONFIRM THAT THESE PLANS ARE ADEQUATE. WITH ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT IS KIND OF WE CLEAR THAT, THEN WE WILL START CONSTRUCTION ON THIS I WANT TO SAY BY THE END OF THIS MONTH OR EARLY AUGUST IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AT THE LOCATION. EVEN WITH ALL THAT, WE'RE STILL ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION BY SEPTEMBER OF 2027. PROJECT COST, CAPITAL COST IS AROUND $5.8 MILLION. I do think that is the last project. I know I went through it quite fast. I'm very open to if we want to go back to any project you have any specific question on and then, you know, kind of open it up for if you guys have any questions for the project, for myself, for Caltrans.

Does anybody have any questions?

The I-5 project, the one that starts at Fresno County and goes forward, is that just a road rehab? Are you putting any new aprons on it, widening the roads or anything like that?

That one is just a payment rehab, but we are also extending that to the ramps as well, so on and off ramp. So those will be rehab as well. So it's not just mainline. We will carry it back to the on and off ramp in that project.

Thank you.

I'm here 99 wide new project If that include the Applegate overpass They they are talking about redoing the whole Applegate overpass we met Probably a year and a half ago discussing Which way we wanted to go or whatever that's still in the works and

We're still evaluating that. The main objective is to have the six lane on main line and the Applegate interchange, the column where the column is in the middle, it doesn't allow for us to add that additional lane to it. So if that is the case, then yes, we have to reconstruct Applegate interchange. So we're still kind of looking at that to make sure that if we can add the sixth lane without touching Applegate Interchange, or we have to improve Applegate Interchange because we cannot add the additional lane. SO THAT IS STILL IN THE WORK. AND WE WILL HAVE THAT IN THE PID DOCUMENT. THOSE TWO PROJECTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT COMPLETING THAT PID DOCUMENT BY NEXT MONTH OR SEPTEMBER AT THE LATEST. SO WE WILL HAVE THAT FOR YOU.

OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE?

THANK YOU, CHAIR.

FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU. IT'S A PHENOMENAL LIST. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATE. a great conference update so thanks to you for the update and thanks to caltrans for all the uh incredible work in our county just wanted to start with that um the two the some of them are said projects could you go back to first the um yeah back a few the last one you did i think back here right one that yeah right there so that's v street a little section of And then, but you'll start first on 59 between Childs and 99.

One on this side, assuming you can see it, I'm sorry. Oh yeah, no, no. No, you're good, either way. You can look at that one, I'll look at that one.

But I just wanted to get the, just wanted to see. And also, could we get an email with all this? Is that possible to get all these slides?

Yes.

Okay, thank you, Joyce.

um so this is chow avenue oh uh it doesn't show up on that side there's child on the bottom yes that's yeah so that's so that's so this is going through this this side of 99. so this will be the the portion that cal trend will do the work on okay and that starts uh how how firm are those construction schedules do you think THEY'RE SOLID. WE HAVE THE FUND ALLOCATION FOR AUGUST. SO WHEN I PUT SPRING, IT COULD BE EARLIER BECAUSE ONCE WE HAVE THE FUND, WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID AND AWARD THE PROJECT. THIS WILL TAKE YOU TO AROUND LIKE NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. TECHNICALLY, CONTRACT CAN START, BUT LIKE I MENTIONED, CONSTRUCTION TYPICALLY DON'T WANT TO START IN THOSE MONTHS. THEY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SPRING, LIKE MARCH OR SO. SO THIS IS A FIRM SCHEDULE.

Okay. You'll start on segment one. Obviously, that's the southern portion. Yes. And then how long do you think that will take?

Right now, we have a whole, like, we have in the contract, you know, you allow up to a year to complete that. I don't have the working day. I may have the exact working day for you, but I can get it to you. But it's going to be less than a year to complete that section. Okay.

Do you know what kind of, ROAD PROJECT IS THAT IS THAT AN OVERLAY IS THAT A WHOLE RECONSTRUCTION WE CALL IT PAYMENT ANCHOR WHICH IS A REHAB LIKE JUST A GRIND AND OVERLAY YEAH OKAY AND THEN THE NORTHERN PART THE SEGMENT TWO YOU MENTIONED THAT AND THEN IF YOU COULD SKIP BACK TO THE BRIDGE PROJECT WHICH YOU REFERENCED OR THIS PROJECT YEAH THAT ONE RIGHT THERE SO YEAH THAT INCLUDES THE BLACK RASCAL CREEK BRIDGE SO THOSE TWO DO YOU THINK THOSE TWO WILL KIND OF BLEND TOGETHER IN CONSTRUCTIONAL START SOMETIME?

SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE TWO PROJECTS, WE KNOW THIS OVERLAPPING LIMIT. WE CARRY BOTH PROJECTS THROUGH WHAT WE CALL ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE SO THAT THEY CAN BE ITS OWN PROJECT. AND THEN ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED, RIGHT NOW, THE PLAN IS FOR CALTRAN TO CONTRIBUTE A PORTION OF THIS PROJECT, THE So instead of Caltrain doing the work here, we will contribute a portion of that to the city, because this is a city project. So that way the city can use that fund and kind of, you don't want to rehab and then widen, right? So it will be part of the widening project is the plan.

Okay. And you anticipate, will both projects be going at the same time? Is that a possibility? OR ONE SEQUENTIALLY ONE AFTER THE OTHER.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT TIMING OF THE CITY PROJECT. IT'S KIND OF IT'S VERY DEPENDING ON THE THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO SAY IS A FIRM SCHEDULE. THIS ONE IS A MORE OF A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE BASED UPON THERE IS RAILROAD INVOLVEMENT AT THIS LOCATION. So that railroad clearance may take longer than what the target for these. So I want to say this is a year after the other project. If you ask for best guess or best of what I have right now, it would be a year after the project in 2028.

GOT IT SO FIRST SEGMENT PRETTY FIRM SPRING AND NEXT YEAR AND THEN THE MONEY THAT YOU HAD SET ASIDE FOR SEGMENT TWO THAT'LL GO TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITIES WE HAVE I THINK PROBABLY 10 12 MILLION I THINK AT THIS POINT I FORGET THE EXACT NUMBER MORE THAN THAT YEAH 16 16 YEAH RIGHT YEAH WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OKAY TOWARDS THIS POTENTIALLY And so yeah, it'll be a good way to combo. Okay, and then I think that was it the roundabout was another good city Merced project and then could you go to the 99 whitening that was way at the beginning.

Yeah Yeah, good, okay So this one and this one so this one is the Merced and then this one is the Applegate, okay

COUNTIES DURING CONSTRUCTION THEY'RE GOING TO HATE YOU AND AFTER THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE YOU GUYS FOR.

YEAH. AND I KIND OF MENTIONED THIS IS ALL VERY DEPENDENT ON WHEN WE WILL START THE PROJECT AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE OF A SCHEDULE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SET RIGHT NOW.

THIS HAS LONG BEEN SO MANY CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU SEE ALL THE HEADS NODDING RIGHT HERE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY THEY'LL BE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS THEY'RE GOING TO HATE YOU DURING CONSTRUCTION BUT BUT JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A LONG BEEN A BIG GOAL OF OF OR BIG DESIRE OF A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR TOWN Two questions on this, I don't see a cost, that's a big, it's gonna have a big price tag.

I purposely left.

You're smart. There's a range. Fair enough.

We're working in a range right now, so it's like we don't wanna give a number, so there's a range that we're working with, because it is a very big project. So yeah, I wanna be honest and say I purposely left it out. Smart.

More than a dollar, less than two billion, I guess.

Less than $2 billion, I can say that.

Less than $2 billion, I heard.

Less than $2 billion. No, less than $2 billion, I can say that.

All right, okay.

But more than billion.

Speaking of billions, this is a little bit of a goofy question, but has there been any talk about potentially aligning high-speed rail with 99 and combining that project in some way, if high-speed rail goes north of the city of Merced? I'm just throwing, has there been any thought, I'm not saying it's a good idea or not, I'm just asking if there's been any consideration of that.

Not to my knowledge and also I know high-speed rail have some portion in Merced and we are involved with that but we haven't really made the connection between these two project and high-speed rail but we I mean that that is a valid question I just that's not something that we have discussed from Cotrams.

To what extent do you think there's a potential or to combine those projects potentially at some point?

We definitely have to reach out to High Street now and have that conversation, yeah.

All right, thank you. Again, very much appreciate it. Thank you for a really good update.

Yeah, on that, from 16 to Rascal Creek, 59? Yes. I know that you said the railroad trucks will be...

Rerouted it will it is not rerouted it is because it is an upgrade Crossing so anytime you have an aggregate crossing and now you're adding lane to it The railroad had to be involved with present preemption and timing and those kind of thing So that's the level of involvement. There is no rerouting of the railroad. I

Okay, that's what I thought. Okay, and then before I open up to the public and we have a question, go ahead.

Sorry, I'm asking more as a member of the public than as counsel of the MCHE. On the 59 project in Merced, the portion that's on Martin Luther King, segment one.

Okay, yes.

You said that was starting in spring of next year. Have you been in contact with the fairgrounds regarding the effect that will have on our fair? The fairgrounds is right on that section of road.

We have not but we certainly will reach out.

Yeah, the fair is the first two weeks of June and that road can't be closed during that time There would be no access from the first two week of June. Yes first two weekends of June That's approximate. We don't have exact date set yet But that would be if those lanes were closed or there was substantial closures on that road. It would be very problematic Right here

Okay, yes.

WE ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE FAIRGROUND BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RIGHT-AWAY, BUT THE TIMING OF THAT WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE, BUT I WILL LET THE PROJECT MANAGER KNOW AND ALSO WORK WITH THE FAIRGROUND TOO. IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE CAN IDENTIFY THAT RESTRICTION IN OUR SPEC TO LIMIT NOT WORKING DURING THIS TIME OR THIS TIME WINDOW.

OK, thank you. I will also let our fair CEO know, I apologize, I'm the president of the fair board right now.

Thank you. That's a good point. And Chair, if I could, that's a really good point. There's a ton of activity around that time on that street. It's incredibly busy around that time. But if it's a grind and overlay project, then I think there's probably quite a bit of flexibility.

One, we can restrict that time window. And also, once we have a contractor on board, they normally work with us in terms of these kind of events. If there's any special event, they can work around that. So we can do it in both ways, both in terms of enforcing the spec and also work with the contractor to kind of, during these two weeks, maybe do operation that is not payment related or any sort of road closure.

That road's always busy too, so you guys are going to be, yeah, you guys are going to know what you're doing. Thank you. Thanks.

Any other questions? Okay. Does the public, it is a report for public. Does anybody in the public have any questions? Anybody online or anybody asked a question? Okay. You do?

Okay.

Hello. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment. My name is Emma De La Rosa. I work with Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability. I have two questions to clarify, please, if possible. The first one being related to SR 140 roundabout on Plainsburg Road. There are two... low-income housing developments that are on Plainsburg Road. The two housing developments are Bear Creek Apartments and Felix Torres Migrant Housing. I was just curious to know if the project details accounts for residents walking on plainsburg road across 140 to get to planada and to get to the school if there's an opportunity to speak on that issue like how the uh during construction how residents pedestrians would be impacted um and then the second question is related to the two um uh lane expansion projects i i wanted to make a clarification because um in the one of the rtp documents the transportation network document there is a a paragraph that states that the the eight lane scenario was no longer being included in the project. And that instead the project was going to include two managed, sorry, two general purpose lanes and one managed truck only lane in each direction. So that it's only six lanes. And if I heard correctly, it sounds like Caltrans is planning for an eight lane So I just wanted to make that clarification. I'm not sure if maybe the RTP document is incorrect or if I'm misreading it, but if there could be clarification, that would be great. Thank you so much.

Also with the two project on 99, it is going to be six lane, so it's going to be in line with the RTP. So it's not an eight lane as mentioned, so. Does that answer your question for the 99 project? Is it too long?

Okay, thank you. Anybody else online? Okay, all right, thank you very much.

Thank you. And also, just wanna give the opportunity to ask for feedback. I know I went through it quite fast. There are a lot of projects, so just anything that you've, going forward, if I'm making this presentation again, in term of wanted to highlight more projects, more pictures, showing it, what's kinda the general sense of the presentation? Board any comments?

I think it was a fantastic presentation. I liked it like it was.

Thank you. All right. Thank you very much.

Going to information items. These items are included for information purposes only and no presentation will be made by staff unless a board member has any questions. Does anybody have any questions on the information items? If not, then we'll go on to the consent calendar. All consent calendars listed may be acted upon with one vote unless specifically removed by a separate consideration by the member of the board, member of the staff, or the member of the public. Does any board members wish to pull any item for discussion?

Negative.

Does staff have any items to pull? Does the public request to pull any item for discussion? Seeing no one come forward, then at this time I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent.

Move to approve the consent calendar.

Do I have a motion, do I have a second?

Second.

All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? See no one, we'll go on to number seven, action items. Okay, this is to authorize the executive director to enter into a contract with Cambridge Systems, semantics, and we have, what do we have? Ray. We have Ray, go ahead please.

This item is a request to authorize the Executive Director to enter into our contract with Cambridge Systematics for the SB1 Merced County Travel Demand Model Update in the amount of $9,247,273. So this project is funded through Caltrans Sustainable Community Competitive Technical Grant. So the purpose of this project is to modernize MCAG's travel demand model so that it can better support our upcoming 2030 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Community Strategies, or RTPSAS. So our current model have been very helpful for our current RTP-SS round. But for the next round, we require a stronger tool. So this update will incorporate some new travel data and add a mode choice component, expand the model to include the time of day period, and also improve the feedback mechanism between the congestion, travel time, and the travel behavior. So in plain language, so what we're going to use is Travel Demand Model. It helps us to better answer questions like where will people live and work, and how will they travel, what happens if we invest in transit or roadway improvements, and how do those travelers' choices affect the congestion, affect the emissions, and affect all the traveling behavior across the county. MCEG released the RFP for the consultant services on March 26, 2026, and we received eight responsive proposals. We have a four-member evaluation committee. We reviewed the proposals based on criteria published in RFP. That includes the approach and the methodology, technical understanding and ability, similar experience, and of course cost. So eventually we select the Cambridge Systematics, which received the highest committee average score, and their proposal is strong because it directly addresses our key technical needs, and also we can leverage basically a similar level of cost to improve our travel demand model into a newer platform. SO THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT AMOUNT IS BELOW THE INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATES. AND THE CONTRACT WILL BE STARTING, WE PROPOSED A CONTRACT TO START FROM THIS AUGUST AND END IN FEBRUARY 2028. with possible month-to-month extension if the funding and performance allows. So I also want to note that this grant was one of the two projects in travel demand model update for the Caltrans award list. So this is a strong example that MCG continue to bring in competitive state planning funds into Masai County to build up the technical tools to help the member agencies, to help the regional decision making and also the public. OUR STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT WITH COMPUTER SYSTEMATICS. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS? DOES ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO COMMENT? ANYBODY ONLINE? OKAY. IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

I'll move to approve what's been submitted and go ahead with Cambridge Systematics.

I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Second.

Okay. We'll take it. Okay. All in favor? We have a motion and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed? Motion carried. Thank you, Roy. All righty, let me get to the next item. Sorry about that. Paper's kind of stuck together there. Okay, this is item number eight. This is a public hearing for the draft of the 2026 Regional Transportation Plan. Meg? Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and good afternoon. Okay, so for the past 18 months or so, we've been developing our 2026 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Community Strategy, and there's a few companion documents that go along with that plan. Four documents are currently out for public review. You can go to the next slide, please. Oh, this is the, So it might be.

You have the clicker?

Yeah, sorry, let me see.

There you go.

Oh, it looks like an older version was accidentally on there. OK. Regardless, so there are four documents that are out for public review. The purpose of today's public hearing is to identify the documents available for review, explain the review schedule, next steps, and receive public comments on the draft documents. And the public hearing comments will become part of the record. THE FOUR DOCUMENTS THAT ARE OUT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ARE THE 2026 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY, THE DRAFT PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE 2026 RTP SCS, THE 2027 FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THE AIR QUALITY CONFORMITY ANALYSIS FOR THE 2026 RTP AND THE 2027 FTIP. We have a little bit of a staggered release date for these documents. They're all currently out for review right now. And the comment deadline is July 31st. The documents are available on our website. And we're holding two public hearings, one of which is today. And then we also had one on Monday evening in Los Banos. So just a quick overview of the documents that are out for review. The 2026 Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Community Strategy, also called the RTP-SCS. The Regional Transportation Plan is a federally required document. It's a long range, 20 plus year horizon. We update it every four years. It covers all travel modes. So roads, transit, walking, biking, rail, freight, and aviation. It includes a list of transportation projects expected to be constructed through that 20 plus year horizon. And it must meet air quality standards. And then part of the RTP, the Sustainable Community Strategy, is a California requirement. That document is also updated every four years. It's mandated by the state under Senate Bill 375 to integrate land use and transportation planning in order to demonstrate how the region can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles. We have a greenhouse gas emission reduction target that's set by the California Air Resources Board. Our 2035 target is 14% below 2005 levels. The Program Environmental Impact Report is prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA. It's a program level document that evaluates the potential environmental impacts of implementing the RTP SCS. It provides a broad program level environmental analysis, and it does not replace project specific environmental review for individual transportation projects. The Federal Transportation Improvement Program is updated every two years. The FTIP is a fiscally constrained program that identifies transportation projects over a four-year period. Projects that receive federal funding or require federal approval must be included in an approved FTIP before they can move forward. And then the fourth and final document is the air quality conformity analysis. The Federal Clean Air Act requires that metropolitan planning organizations or MPOs such as MCAG that are in air quality non-attainment and maintenance areas to demonstrate that their transportation plans conform to federal air quality standards. So the air quality conformity analysis shows that the 2026 RTP and the 2027 FTIP will not worsen or delay attainment of the federal air quality standards. And a positive conformity determination is required for the RTP, SES, and FTIP to remain eligible for federal transportation funding and approvals. So that's just an overview of those four documents. We have hard copies here. Next steps in the process. So I mentioned July 31st is the public comment at the end of the public comment period. So at the close of that, staff will review and respond to comments and make any necessary revisions to the draft documents. In August or September, we will present the final documents, all four of them, to the governing board for adoption. Then we will submit the adopted documents to state and federal agencies for review and approval. And then upon federal approval, the 2027 F-TIP becomes effective and federally, transportation projects may proceed. So just some high-level procedures for the public hearing when called upon. We request that you please state your name and organization, if applicable. Speak clearly so your comments can be accurately captured under the record. We ask that you please limit comments to three minutes. And then comments will become part of the official public record and will be considered before the documents are finalized. So with that, I'll hand it back over to the chair to open the public hearing.

Thank you, Meg. Board, any questions before I open to the public? I don't see the board coming. Does anybody in the public wish to come forward? Please come forward as directed. Please state your name. And speak clearly, and then you have three minutes.

You have to formally open the public hearing.

OK. Good evening. Hold on, please.

OK. For the record, the public hearing is officially open at 4.02 PM.

Go ahead, please. Sorry, first aid.

Good evening, everybody. My name is Heidi Sanchez, and I live in Doha for 33 years. I'm a resident, also a MAC board member. And I have some concern for a question for the bus. And the 4th Street, we don't have a stop sign. So some of the people have tried to raise their hand, but the bus passed by. So I believe because they don't have a bus stop. So that would be something that we need a bus stop in 4th Street in Delhaize.

Thank you. We are noting all comments in the public record. Yeah, all comments are being recorded. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you so much. And also, we have a community, which is the Hawaiian community that called the Hawaiian Action. And so this is what the feedback the community wanted. They needed a bus stop. But thank you so much.

Could you state the street again?

Thank you.

Good afternoon. My name is Blanca Lozano from Del High. I am leader from Del High. And today I want to tell you, afternoon all Board of Governors, sorry. My name is Blanca Lozano from Del High. I am Member Mack, Municipal Advisor-Consul. Come today to tell you Del High needs one-stop sign bus on the Shanks Street near the gasoline station Valero. The people they live in Litu need walking all Shanks to take the bus going to Turlock. On Chandler Street behind on my house, get bus. She wants, she wants, um, ALL THE PEOPLE NEED WORKING VERY FAR. AND THIS IS NOW HOW MUCH HOT. SO PLEASE NEED THE BUS STATION STOP. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WE'LL NOTE THAT THIS WAS SORT OF A CITIZEN COMMENT, BUT WE'LL PUT THAT INTO CITIZEN COMMENT. AND DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING? I don't see anybody in the audience. Anybody online?

Yes, Mr. Chair. We have Emma de la Rosa.

ahead please yes hello again this is sama de la rosa with leadership council and um i just wanted to start off by um sharing gratitude and support for the merced for the canal and child sidewalks and street improvement complete streets project that is a particular interest for the community But we do want to also recommend another project in South Merced, which is to add a Safe Routes to School project to Tenaya Middle School to improve pedestrian safety for students walking to and from the school and to the Golden Valley Health Center. and then i do want to raise a few concerns that um even though the scenario c aims to create walkable and bikeable environments the rtpses project list does not reflect the adequate active transportation planning for rural communities for example in planada um there there isn't an active transportation project or a safe process school project that could connect the um Felix Torres Migrant Housing and the Bear Creek Apartments Housing towards the Planada community, particularly to the Chavez Middle School or Planada Elementary. So we highly recommend there be an additional project added to the list to support the goal that Scenario C aims to achieve. And again, after hearing the Caltrans presentation, it's even more important to ensure that there is the proper pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to protect community members from incoming traffic. In addition to that, there are a number of sidewalk gaps throughout the community of Planada and residents request that there be investment allocated to address these sidewalk gaps. Lastly, I do recommend the addition of a Safe Routes to School for El Capitan Elementary School in Dalheim. And I want to finish off my comments just by reminding MCAG, Caltrans, and local jurisdictions to please refer to the Climate Action Plan for Transportation Improvements, otherwise known as CAPTI, to obtain guidance on how projects should be designed and planned for in order to ensure that there aren't any impacts, any disproportionate impacts to communities. and avoid any public health issues and also ensure that the projects are not undermining climate goals. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Is anybody else online? Board, any other, any questions, comments? Okay, the public hearing is now closed and we'll move on to the next item, Executive Director's Report.

What an honor today. Just to let everybody know, MCIG is hosting the City County Dinner, so I would like to see everybody out there tonight. And that's about it. Well, I do want to give one more shout-out. I want to give a shout-out to the planning department, Elizabeth, their department, on the RTP SES item. It's not a small document. It's a very strenuous and a hard document, and I want to give kudos to their department. They did a great job. Elizabeth, Meg, Ray, also Shunee and Janelle. They did a great job, so kudos.

Stacey goes about 20 minutes to the executive director of the department.

well when you have two rookies on things go fast okay uh any other anything else that's it uh anybody from any directors have anything sorry elizabeth has elizabeth come on please well since since i do have some time uh let you guys know uh we do have free fairs for the month of july so please ride the bus um throughout the community and elizabeth

one thing about the RTP timeline. So we had our public hearings and we have posted that the RTP will be presented to the board for adoption in August. However, EPA is holding us up with some technical budget issues. So it may need to move to September. So we will you know be working on how to notice that and also just kind of letting you all know that we might Very likely need to have a meeting in September, so it'll probably get moved back Thank you Any other staff member Okay directors any comments What's for dinner

Food, not chicken, Mary Michael?

Chicken, beef, potatoes, salad, bread, all delicious things, and dessert, of course. Any cheese? Cheesecake.

There you go. Okay, if there's no other comments from anybody, we aren't in German, thank you very much.