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BACKGROUND <br />Caltrans, in cooperation with the ACCMA, proposes to construct an eastbound high <br />occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane along the I-580 corridor. The I-580 project limits are from <br />Hacienda Drive in Pleasanton to Greenville Road in Livermore. The construction of the <br />HOV lane will result in currently landscaped median and shoulder areas being replaced <br />with asphalt to accommodate the additional travel lane. As mitigation for the project, the <br />landscaped areas that will be removed are required to be offset with other landscaping. <br />To accomplish this replacement, the Alameda County Congestion Management <br />Authority, has proposed a MOU with the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin, <br />setting the terms, conditions, and funding for replacement of the landscaping that will be <br />removed by the HOV project. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The MOU provides for funding that will be funneled to those local agencies impacted by <br />lost landscaping because of the construction of the HOV lanes along the I-580 corridor. <br />In return for receiving the funding, the City of Pleasanton agrees to be responsible for <br />the design and construction of replacement landscaping within the City. Replacement <br />landscaping can be planted up to 50 feet from the Caltrans right-of-way. <br />The City has two interchanges planned for improvements, which are the Hopyard and EI <br />Charro interchanges along the I-580 corridor. Preliminary design plans are currently <br />being drafted for both interchanges, and it is expected that these areas will be improved <br />within the next several years. The uncertainty of the timing of when each project will be <br />constructed is related to funding and availability of water for irrigation. <br />Before landscaping improvements can be constructed, the EI Charro interchange will <br />require water extension to this area by the Zone 7 Water Agency. Although it is <br />anticipated that this will occur within the next few years, the timing of the landscape <br />installation will be dependent upon having water in this area extended by development. <br />The Hopyard interchange encompasses approximately 5 acres, and preliminary <br />estimates for landscaping this area are currently estimated at $1M. The current CIP <br />program has $325,000 set aside for design and construction of this project. It is yet to <br />be determined whether this project will be constructed in phases, or at one time, in <br />which case additional funding will be needed. <br />Because the timing of the two interchange projects is uncertain at this point, the MOU <br />language has been structured to give the Ciry the option to designate the area for <br />implementation of the landscape replacement project. This will allow the City the option <br />of applying the funding from the ACCMA to either the EI Charro Interchange project or <br />the Hopyard Interchange project, depending on the timing of each project moving <br />forward. The MOU also requires that this funding be used within iwo years of the HOV <br />lane being completed. Staff expects the HOV lane to be completed by the summer of <br />2011. When the completion of the I-580 HOV project approaches, the City will have a <br />better perspective as to which of the two interchange projects is more viable given the <br />timing constraints associated with the landscaping funding reimbursements limited to <br />two years after the completion of the HOV project. <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />