Staff recommends that City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the Regional Transportation Funding and Financing Plan for the design of the Riego Road/Baseline Traffic Signals.

In January of 2020, staff from Placer County, Sutter County, the City of Roseville, and PCTPA formed a Project Development Team (PDT) to initiate a Project Study Report (PSR) to identify needed transportation improvements to Riego Road/Baseline Road from SR 99 to Foothills Boulevard. In conjunction with the PDT, a Strategy Team was formed, consisting of corridor development interests. The PSR, approved in October of 2020, indicated that Riego Road/Baseline Road needs to be widened and improved to support future planned and approved development and provide a reliable and safe east-west connection to meet anticipated traffic demands in the South Placer and South Sutter region. The PSR process also established a high-level project cost estimate and timeline for the project’s environmental review process, the subsequent engineering and design phase, and a construction start date.

Phase 1 of the improvements, two lanes in each direction from Foothills Blvd. to SR 99, has an estimated cost of close to $200 million.  The PDT is currently studying ways to fund those improvements, but it could be years before sufficient resources are identified.  In the meantime, the attached MOU was developed to establish a multi-jurisdictional funding plan for the design of traffic signal improvements along Riego Road/Baseline Road to allow for the removal of the existing stop signs and thereby provide much quicker, albeit a lesser amount of traffic relief.   

Design will begin in January and be managed by Placer County with $400,000 each being contributed by Placer County, Sutter County, and the City of Roseville.  Construction is planned for 2024.

A $2 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget for the design and construction of these three signals was approved in the City's FY2022-23 budget. The project was set up with Strategic Improvement Fund (SIF) funds that will be reimbursed with developer paid city-county fee funds as they become available.  A loan agreement will be brought before Council separately. The CIP has adequate budget to fund Roseville's $400,000 portion this design work. 

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, or is otherwise not considered a project as defined by CEQA Statute §21065 and CEQA State Guidelines §15060(c)(3) and §15378.  Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding and a budget adjustment meet the above criteria and are not subject to CEQA. No additional environmental review is required at this time.

Goal D - Enhance economic vitality

Goal F - Invest in well-planned infrastructure and growth

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Dominick Casey, City Manager