Project Overview
The City of Elk Grove (City), in coordination with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is currently planning a new interchange at Whitelock Parkway and State Route 99 (SR99) as included in the City’s General Plan. The new interchange project (Project) will alleviate congestion on Elk Grove Boulevard and will help to address the expected increased traffic demand due to existing residential growth and planned future developments near Whitelock Parkway. A bike and pedestrian overcrossing of SR99 is included in the project and auxiliary lanes connecting to the new interchange are being considered. Also included is the realignment or modifications to East Stockton Boulevard and widening of Whitelock Pkwy. The Project also includes environmental clearance of high occupancy vehicle lanes on SR99.
Project Background
As the Project directly connects to an existing Caltrans managed facility, collaboration and approval by Caltrans will be required throughout all phases of the project. The first phase for this type of project is the Project Initiation Phase, which resulted in the project of a Project Study Report - Project Development Support document (PSR-PDS). The purpose of the PSR-PDS is to identify and estimate project scope, schedule and support costs necessary to complete future studies and work needed during the environmental phase. The PSR-PDS for this Project was approved on August 9, 2020.
Current Phase
With the PSR-PDS completed, the Project has entered into the next phase which is the Project Approval and Environmental Document Phase (PA&ED). The purpose of the PA&ED phase is to analyze and refine alternatives and perform the necessary environmental studies, with the end result being an approved Project Report, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental document, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental document. The lead agency for both CEQA and NEPA compliance is Caltrans. In launching the environmental efforts, a Notice Of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (NOP) will be issued on September 6, 2022. Please see below for additional details regarding the NOP.
Notice Of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report
Caltrans, in coordination with the City, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), compliant with Section 15161 of the State CEQA Guidelines (Division 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, hereinafter the “CEQA Guidelines”), for the State Route 99 and Whitelock Parkway Interchange Improvements Project (also known as “the Project”). In accordance with Section 15082 of the State CEQA Guidelines, Caltrans has prepared this Notice of Preparation (NOP) to provide the Office of Planning and Research, responsible and trustee agencies, and other interested parties with sufficient information describing the Project and its potential environmental effects.
The NOP will be circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period that begins on September 6, 2022, and ends on October 7, 2022, at 5:00 pm. Caltrans welcomes public input during the review period. If Caltrans has not received either a response or a well-justified request for additional time by a responsible agency by the end of the review period, Caltrans may presume the responsible agency has no response (CEQA Guidelines Section 15082(b)(2)).
Please provide any written comments that you would like Caltrans to consider, along with the name of the appropriate contact person in your agency, to either of the contacts shown below by October 7, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Tom Metcalf
Senior Project Manager
City of Elk Grove, Department of Public Works
8401 Laguna Palms Way
Elk Grove, CA 95758
Caitlin Greenwood
Environmental Planner
Caltrans, District 3
703 B Street
Marysville, CA 95901
Comments may also be submitted via email at tmetcalf@elkgrovecity.org or caitlin.greenwood@dot.ca.gov. All comments must be received no later than October 7, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Schedule
