Art3_Highland_FY15_BikePed_Connector_ATP_ExtRqst_210127 City of
HIGHLAND
Inc. 1987
To: Mr. Sean Yeung Date: January 26, 2021
District 8 Local Assistance Engineer PPNO: 1181A & 1181 B
Caltrans, Office of Local Assistance PROJECT#:ATPL-5449 (035)
464 W. 4th Street, 6th Floor, MS760 Project ID: 0817000047
San Bernardino, CA 92401 Project Description: Highland/Redlands
Regional Connector
Location: Eight different routes in the
cities of Highland & Redlands
County: San Bernardino
Assembly District: 40
Senate District: 23
Dear Sean:
We request that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) approve a request for a time
extension for this project.
A. Project description:
Highland/Redlands Regional Connector
This is a multi-jurisdictional project located along 8 different routes in the cities of Highland and
Redlands.
This project will construct Class I, ll, and IV Bicycle/Pedestrian paths, bicycle/pedestrian bridge, bike
signals & detection, pedestrian heads, sharrows, safety beacons, waytinding signs, lighting, speed
feedback signs, and SRTS Implementation.
Proposed Total Project Cost Program
(with time extension)
$1 0008
Component 2016/2017 2017/2018 2019/2020 2022/2023 Total
PAED 200 200
PS&E 335 335
R/W 100 100
CON 3,900 3,900
TOTAL 200 0 445 3,900 4, 545
Mayor Mayor Pro Tem City Council City Council City Council City Manager
Penny Lilburn Larry McCallon Jesse Chavez Anaeli Solano John P.Timmer Joseph A. Hughes
27215 Base Line • Highland,CA 92346
Tel:909.864.6861 • Fax: 909.962.3180• www.cityofhiShland.org 15
B. Project element for which extension requested: (check appropriate box)
Completion
Allocation* Expenditure Award (contract
�X
acceptance)
C. Phase (component)of oroiect:
Environmental a Plans, Specs. Right of Construction
Studies & & Estimate we X
Permits
• Per CTC ATP Guidelines, all ATP projects must adhere to the Timely Use of Funds in Section 66 of
the CTC STIP Guidelines.
D. Allocation and deadline summary
Allocation Date Allocated Number of Months
By Phase Amount Original of Extension Extended
(if applicable) By Phase .Deadline Requested Deadline
if a livable
CON $3,596,000 2/28/2021 20 10/31/22
CON NI $40,000 2/28/2021 20 10/31/22
E. Reason for project delay
A 20-month time extension request was approved by the CTC for allocation of Construction and
Construction Non-Infrastructure Phases. The original deadline of 6/30/2019 to obligate construct
funds was extended to 2/28/2021. The extension was given due to delayed approval of the Habitat
Conversation Conservation Plan. Following project milestones were also revised:
• NEPA: CE with Technical Studies 2128/20
• Right of Way Certification: 9/30/20
Although NEPA compliance was done on 1/16/2020, slightly ahead of the revised schedule, we ran
into a three major issues during the permitting process:
1) Covid-19 related interruptions as noted below.
2) California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is Imposing costly mitigation requirements. The
City received a Draft California Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2019-029-
06, which includes $6.4 million in mitigation per Section 9. It should be noted that the estimated
construction project cost is $4.45 million. The City sent a formal response to the Draft ITP on
1211112020.
This response was delayed due to COVID 19, staffing changes and a cyberattack on the City's
network. Covid-19 directly affected productivity at the City. During the pandemic, City staff alternated
working between home and City Hall. The City does not have a VPN set up. Not having a VPN
made it difficult for staff working at home to be fully productive. The City recently used Cares Act
funding to purchase a VPN. The VPN however has been delayed due to high demand and long lead
to procure all necessary material. The City also had to shut down City facilities a couple times due to
positive Covid-19 cases to disinfect facilities and wait for adequate quarantine period during these
occurrences before allowing employees to return and open back up to the public. The most recent
shut down at City Hall occurred during the week of Thanksgiving. In regards to staffing changes, we
had two consultants leave the City. The consultant project manager on this project retired. The other
consultant left to work for another agency. The City's Public Works Director/City Engineer also retired
in March of 2020. The City had to fill these three positions during the pandemic. As if the pandemic
wasn't enough, there was a cyberattack on the City's network in late September of 2020. All
computers had to be replaced and with new hardware and software. The City purchased new
networks but it was difficult to get them due to Covid-19. City computer systems were down for
approximately 2 months. The computer system at City Hall is finally back up and running.
The City recently received a response CDFW to discuss reasonable mitigation for this project.
3)This project includes two permanent easements as listed below:
• APN 1201-491-75, Lot "Y" owned by Village Lakes Homeowners Association (Village) in
Highland
• 2. APN 0291-171-10, west side of Orange Street owned by Bear Valley Mutual Water
Company(BVMWC) in Redlands
Both cities have diligently pursued these two easements, but we unfortunately have not been
successful. We have been in close contact with the property manager of the Village and attended a
couple Board meetings. At the Board meeting on 9/16/20, we presented the offer to acquire a 15'-
wide easement needed for construction and maintenance of the proposed bikeway/walkway within
the strip of land owned by the Village. The Board appeared to be receptive to the City's request but
also informed us that over two-thirds of the Village property owners support was required via a written
ballot process. In the spirit of cooperation, the City prepared a letter to send to property owners with
the ballots. On 11/2012020, the City received an email from Shelley Skaggs, Property Manager for the
Village stating that the Board was directing the City to go through the court's process of
condemnation. The City however is not interested in pursuing this option due to the excessive cost
and time involved in such a process. The City is reviewing the design to look at other options within
this segment of the project.
The City of Redlands has also been challenged in acquiring the easement from BVMWC. In
consultation with Epic Land Solutions, Inc., we are exploring the option of Possession and Use
Agreement. This agreement is typically used when an owner is in agreement with the project, but not
with the compensation. This would allow us to get possession and certify without having finalized the
cost. However, if an agreement is not reached, condemnation would be the next step. Redlands
prefers not to take this step but be given more time to acquire the easement.
Therefore, the City hereby requests a second 20-month time extension to resolve the environmental
mitigation requirements with CDFW and right of way needs which are both beyond the City's control
for delivery of this important project. The extended deadline to obligate construction would then be
10/31/2022.
F. Status of project milestones/revised project milestones
1) Completion of Environmental Document:
CEQA- Document type: IS/MND. Original milestone date: 5/30/17. Revised date: 2/20120
NEPA - Document type: CE. Original milestone date: 6/15/18. Revised date: 1/16/20.
2) Right of Way Certification: Original milestone date: 5/30119. Revised date: 5/31/22.
3) Construction: Original milestone date: 6/30/19. Revised date: 10/31/22
G. Timely Use of Funds
We request that the CTC approve this request at the 3/24-25/21 meeting.
H. Local Agency Certification:
This Request for Time Extension has been prepared in accordance with the Procedures for
Administering Local Projects in the Active Transportation Program (ATP). I certify that the information
provided in the document is accurate and correct. I understand that if the required information has not
been provided this form will be returned and the request may be delayed. Please advise us as soon
as the time extension has been approved. You may direct any questions to Carlos Zamano at(909)
864-6861, ext.254.
Signature: Date: I/ z6/ Zo2.l
Carlos Zamano, Pu li Works Director/City Engineer
Agency: City of Highland
I. Regional Transportation Planning Agency/County Transportation Commission Concurrence:
Concurred
Signature: G Date: 46 -�1/
Name: LO. ;rk •..pw Title: ��"•fe "��s�
Agency: S4n .&dnatW+o G.� r/G.ytkA, */�I"
J. Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineer Acceptance:
I have reviewed the information submitted on the Request for Time Extension and agree it is
complete and has been prepared in accordance with the Procedures for Administering Local Projects
in the Active Transportation Program (ATP).
Signature: Date:
Name: , Title:
Phone Number:
Attachments:
Distribution:
(1)Original-DLAE
(2)Copy-Division of Local Assistance,TP 6 STIP Reporting Lead
(3)Copy—MPO/RTPA/County Transportation Commission