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Home My WebLink About15 CIP 7130 09-18-00 NO. 15 A G E N DA R E O RT .oo MEETING DATE SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 ~ TO: FRO.M: SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTIENGINEERING DIVISION REQUEST TO USE PUC RULE 20A FUNDING TO UNDERGROUND REGIONAL ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES FOR NEWPORT AVENUE EXTENSION/SR55 RAMP RECONFIGURATION PROJECT (ClP 7130) SUMMARY Rule 20A is a funding program for constructing underground utilities in which Southern California Edison allocates funds annually for projects on a City priority list. It is recommended that'the City's Rule 20A project list priority be amended by adding the undergrounding of a regional electrical transmission line (high voltage) that transverses the proposed Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130) and establish this project as the first priority for expenditure of Rule 20A funds. This high voltage transmission line serves a wide region and does not directly serve the Pacific Center East Development and thus the underground cost can not be allocated to the development. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Amend the City's Public Utility Commission (PUC) Rule 20A project list by adding the undergrounding of the electrical transmission lines (high voltage) for the Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130) and establishing it as the first priority project; and 2. After the completion of any required environmental documentation, direct staff to commence the required proceedings to initiate an underground district that includes the boundaries for the undergrounding of the electrical transmission line within the Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130). FISCAL IMPACT The proposed Newport Avenue Extension/SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130) is largely anticipated to be funded by a combination of tax increment funding from the Tustin Community Redevelopment Agency's South Central Project Capital Fund and developer contributions. The current amount of available Rule 20A funds is approximately $665,000. The adopted CIP 2000/2001 budget anticipated utilization of Rule 20A funds for a portion of the undergrounding cost on the Newport Extension Project. The Rule 20A funding is needed because undergrounding costs are not directly attributable to the development and thus could not be a cost required of the future developers in the Pacific Center East area. Request to Use PUC Rule 20A Funding to Underground Regional Electrical Transmission Lines for Newport Avenue Extension/SR55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130). September 18, 2000 Page 2 BACKGROUND The proposed Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project would reconstruct the existing northbound State Route 55 and Edinger Ave interchange to improve traffic circulation. The proposed project includes removal of loop ramps for northbound SR 55 and replacement by hook ramps. This work would be completed in cooperation with Caltrans and includes a proposed land exchange with Caltrans. The proposed new ramps would provide a connection with a new Newport Avenue and Edinger Avenue intersection. Del Amo Avenue is also proposed to be reconstructed to provide a connection to the ramps. This construction would be completed within the Pacific Center East Specific Plan area and would serve as an important gateway into the City of Tustin. The original concept plan, as originally defined in the Pacific Center East Specific Plan, was to underground existing overhead utilities. The existing overhead utility lines are depicted on the attached exhibit "A." In general, the existing overhead utility lines run from near the west terminus of Valencia Avenue (at SR 55) to Del Amo Avenue and then north along Del Amo Avenue to Edinger Avenue. There are several utility lines on these poles including an electrical high voltage (66kV) line. This high voltage transmission line is the Johanna-Chestnut 66kV and the Johanna-Bryan-lrvine-Steelcase 66kV. This line serves a wide area including Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, Irvine and Tustin. Rule 20A is a funding program for undergrounding utilities in which Southern California Edison allocates funds annually for projects on a City priority list. The City Council has previously established a priority list of projects for undergrounding utilizing PUC Rule 20A funding. Since the initiation of Rule 20A funding programs, four projects have been completed or are in process of completion. The anticipated projects remaining on the potential undergrounding list in order of their priority are as follows: 1. Red Hill Avenue between El Camino and Bryan Avenue. 2. Bryan Avenue/Main Street between Red Hill Avenue and Newport Avenue. 3. Main Street between "C" Street and the SR 55 Freeway. 4. El Camino Real between Newport Avenue and Browning Avenue. 5. Nisson Road between Pasadena Avenue and "B" Street. 6. Walnut Avenue between Red Hill Avenue and Browning Avenue Under the current Rule 20A funding allocation process, Tustin receives approximately $200,057 per year. The amount available for funding of a project can be advanced to the ending year of construction. Southern California Edison estimates that approximately $665,000 in Rule 20A funds would be available for the proposed Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration .Project based on any undergrounding being completed before December 2001. Amendment to the current undergrounding list would defer the construction of the other projects on the current list by 2 to 3 years. Most of these projects would take that period of time to plan, design and coordinate. Request to Use PUC Rule 20A Funding to Underground Regional Electrical Newport Avenue Extension/SR55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130). September 18, 2000 Page 3 Transmission Lines for DISCUSSION The proposed Newport Avenue Extension/SR55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130) is currently in the final phase. The total cost estimate for undergrounding on the Newport Extension/SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project has been prepared by Southern California Edison and is shown below. (Credits for SCE responsibility for relocating from City easements and service connections have been included). Total Underground Relocation Costs Funding Source Underground Utility Distribution Lines (12kV), Newport $665,000 South Central ~,ve from Valencia Ave to Edinger Ave /RDA/Developer Underground Utility Distribution Lines (12kV), within Del 375,000 South Central Amo Avenue & Edinger Avenue RDA/Developer Underground Transmission High Voltage Line (66kY), 1,275,000 Rule 20A / within Project Limits South Central RDA TOTAL UNDERGROUNDING COST $2,315,000 Based on the current estimate for undergrounding the high voltage line, the Rule 20A funding could fund approximately one half of electrical undergrounding cost and the remainder of the cost for undergrounding could be funded by the South Central Redevelopment Agency funds. Rule 20A funds were applied to the transmission line because this portion of the undergrounding project is a regional area benefit and not a direct benefit to the electrical customers in the project area. Developers in the area are expected to fund a fair share of the infrastructure based on the impact of the development. Since the high voltage line is primarily a regional benefit, any required undergrounding cost can not be allocated as a developer cost. There are several justifications for establishing the proposed Newport Avenue Extension / SR 55 Ramp Reconfiguration project as the first priority on the City's Rule 20A priority list. The proposed Newport Extension Project is a critical Capital Improvement Project that provides important traffic capacity and circulation relief to the City. It will also be a gateway to the southwestem portion of the City from the SR 55 Freeway. If utilities remain overhead, this will detract from the potential uses and value of the properties within the Pacific Center East as well as from the aesthetics of the gateway. The current underground projects on the priority list do not include associated roadway improvements nor have such an immediate impact to surrounding property. Each of the remaining projects will include discussions with multiple property owners and design work has not yet begun on these projects. Request to Use PUC Rule 20A Funding to Underground Regional Electrical Transmission Lines for Newport Avenue Extension/SR55 Ramp Reconfiguration Project (CIP 7130). September 18, 2000 Page 4 Subsequent to this proposed amendment to the priority list, an ordinance and a boundary map of the undergrounding district would be prepared as required to form a Rule 20A district. Then, at a future City Council meeting, consideration of the ordinance would be requested for formation of the district.' SCE would begin their design efforts only after the ordinance takes effect. Tim D. Serlet Director of Public Works/City Engineer Ronald L Scl~ultz M "~')r~pag"e Consulting Project Dana R. Kasdan Engineering Service Manager TDS:RLS:DRK:ccg:request to use PUC Rule 20A funding.doc Attachments: Exhibit A-Electrical Facilities Map \'x ! ! I ! ! ! I ! ! ! ! ! W _1 0 -'1- > w o_ -1- -- (2. w 0 --- > -- W ~W~l~ (~WW ZZO0 00~--~ Z ~- I-- I- l~2 (~ W W w w ~.~ ~ ~-~ r-~ Z Z ZZWW