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$50.4 million TCEP reservation for Penn Grade separation; council told tight Caltrans deadlines could force extra consultants
Summary
Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission reserved $50.4 million for the Pennsylvania Grade Avenue grade‑separation project, but staff warned NEPA/CEQA work and right‑of‑way needs create tight six‑ and 12‑month milestones to obligate funds and begin construction.
The California Transportation Commission on June 26 reserved $50,400,000 from the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) for the Pennsylvania Grade Avenue grade‑separation project in Beaumont — an award staff described as significant but accompanied by strict milestones that will require accelerated environmental and design work.
City project manager Robert Vestal told the council that, because the 2018 design contract lacked early coordination with Union Pacific Railroad and Caltrans, much of the work had to restart: “the project went from a presumed 35% to really a 0% starting over,” Vestal said. He reported NEPA work is roughly 70% complete and several design submittals are at varying completion stages; Caltrans currently requests further studies that the city believes may not be required under a CEQA statutory exemption.
Key deadlines and risks: under the TCEP reservation the city must obtain environmental clearance within six months of the award and be ready to obligate construction funds within 12 months. Vestal said staff is confident but called meeting the deadlines a “Herculean effort” that may require repackaging the project or bringing additional consultants onboard. He also said right‑of‑way acquisition cannot begin until the environmental document is approved.
Potential partners: Vestal said the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has been asked to participate and could become the lead agency on the project, which would allow the city to rely on RCTC’s project delivery capacity. Council members encouraged staff to involve state and regional elected officials if escalation is needed.
Why it matters: a grade separation would remove at‑grade conflicts between vehicles and trains on a corridor that city leaders have prioritized; however, missing TCEP milestones could jeopardize the reservation and delay a major capital project for years.
Next steps: staff will continue coordination with Caltrans, UPRR and RCTC, evaluate the need for supplemental consultants and report back to council. Vestal said staff expects to return with a baseline agreement like the one used on the Potrero Avenue project.
