Committee forwards second amendment to Caltrans maintenance agreement to full Board

The Land Use Committee voted on Sept. 17 to forward to the full Board a second amendment to the agreement for maintenance of state highways between the City and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Public Works representative Shannon Karnes told the committee the amendment would recognize Caltrans authorization of city‑standard utility trench facilities on corridors including Nineteenth Avenue, Van Ness and Lombard Street (State Route 1 and U.S. 101) and would make the city responsible for maintenance and repair of roadway infrastructure resulting from use of city‑standard trench facilities.

Karnes said execution of the amendment is required for Caltrans to permit the city to continue work on Lombard Street and to issue an encroachment permit for the Nineteenth Avenue project. "The execution of this amendment is a requirement for Caltrans to permit the city to continue work on Lombard Street and Venice Avenue and for Caltrans to issue an encroachment permit for the Nineteenth Avenue project," Karnes said.

Supervisors used the discussion to press for stronger interagency communication. Supervisor Jane Kim, who moved that the committee forward the item as a committee report to the Board, said coordination between city offices and Caltrans had been difficult. Supervisor Asha Safai described long‑standing maintenance and trash problems along I‑280 and asked that the agreement establish a clear responsible point of contact so transferred money and responsibilities result in "real follow through."

The committee forwarded the amendment without objection; the Board will consider the committee report on Sept. 18.