TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Peter Fernandez, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
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Additional Information on the Salem River Crossing Project.
Ward(s): All Wards.
Councilor(s): All Councilors.
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods.
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Natural Environment Stewardship; Safe, Reliable, and Efficient Infrastructure; Strong and Diverse Economy; Welcoming and Livable Community.
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ISSUE:
Provide Council with additional information regarding the Salem River Crossing Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Information only.
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SUMMARY:
On January 18, 2019, Councilors received a future report in preparation for the January 30, 2019, Salem River Crossing Project work session. That report included a document titled “Salem River Crossing Project: Questions and Answers,” which contains answers to 134 questions. Immediately prior to the January 30 work session, answers to an additional 11 questions were provided to Councilors.
This report contains answers to four additional questions based on issues raised at the January 30 work session. Three questions are new and the fourth contains a revised answer to a question contained in the original January 18 report. The three new questions:
(1) To what degree does the Record of Decision require that the entire project be constructed?
(2) What agencies will be signatory to the Record of Decision for the Salem River Crossing Project?
(3) What is the process for relocating and compensating homes and businesses that would be impacted by the Preferred Alternative?
In the fourth question, one of the answers provided in the original January 18 report is revised to note that the unit costs used to develop cost estimate for the project take into consideration the known geologic conditions and the requirement that the structures be constructed to current seismic standards.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Council held a work session on January 30, 2019, to discuss options regarding how to proceed with the Salem River Crossing Project. Council is expected to make a decision at its February 11, 2019, meeting.
The material contained in this report and the earlier supplemental report will be incorporated into the original Salem River Crossing Project: Questions and Answers to make a final document.
BACKGROUND:
The immediate issue before Council is the incomplete Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Salem River Crossing Project. Depending on how Council chooses to proceed and the subsequent actions of the Oregon Department of Transportation and FHWA, it is anticipated that FHWA will either issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that will support construction of a future new bridge and related approaches and roadways-currently the “Preferred Alternative”- or issue a ROD stating nothing is to be constructed, the latter being called the “No Build Alternative.”
The FHWA Administrator has advised ODOT and the City that a definitive statement from Council indicating whether or not it intends to proceed toward completing the FEIS must be received mid-February 2019.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Salem River Crossing Project: Questions and Answers (Supplemental Report - 2) dated February 11, 2019)