Community Workshop #1 – April 14, 2011 – Rocklin

April 14, 2011, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Rocklin
City Council Chambers, 3970 Rocklin Road, Rocklin

Introduction
The existing I-80/SR 65 Interchange was constructed in 1985/1986.  Because of the region’s growth over the last two decades, the interchange along with the I-80 and SR 65 corridors are experiencing increasing congestion.  The high traffic demands during commute hours and recreational trips congest the project area on a regular basis, causing unacceptable conditions.  The overall interchange improvements project is intended to reduce congestion, improve operations and enhance safety.

Workshop #1 Purpose
This was the first in series of public workshops and hearings being planned by the Placer County Transportation Planning Agency (PCTPA) to encourage public participation.  The purpose of this workshop was to introduce the overall interchange improvement project, the Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) phase, and the proposed schedule, and to gather input from community members.

Publicity & Noticing
Over 120 informational notices were sent via email and U.S. P.S. to local jurisdictions (Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville and Placer County); interested agencies; vicinity organizations/businesses, and interested individuals.  The notice was also posted to PCTPA’s web site (www.pctpa.net) and the project web site (www.8065interchange.org).

Information notices for posting were mailed to:

  • Lincoln City Hall
  • Rocklin City Hall
  • Roseville City Hall
  • Placer County Board of Supervisors
  • Carnegie Library, 590 Fifth St., Lincoln
  • Placer County Library – Rocklin Branch, 4890 Granite Dr., Rocklin
  • Downtown Library, 225 Taylor St., Roseville
  • Placer County Library – Loomis Branch, 6050 Library Dr., Loomis
  • Sierra College Library, 5000 Rocklin Rd., Rocklin

Display ads were published in the following newspapers:

  • Lincoln News-Messenger – April 7, 2011
  • Placer Herald – April 7, 2011
  • Roseville Press-Tribune – April 6, 2011

Press releases were mailed to each of the newspapers (above) and to the following:

  • Sacramento Bee (Tony Bizjak – Our Region – Transportation)
  • KFBK – 1530 AM
  • KXSR (Capitol Public Radio) – 91.7 FM
  • KCRA – NBC – Channel 3
  • KOVR – CBS – Channel 13
  • KXTV – ABC –Channel 10
  • KTXL — Fox  — Channel 40

The newspapers and radio/TV stations were called to remind them of the workshop.  In addition, key stakeholders were also called to confirm the workshop date, time, and location.

Workshop #1 Format
The workshop was organized as an open house with a series of information stations where the public could get information about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback.  Celia McAdam, PCTPA’s Executive Director, opened the workshop with a brief presentation. In it, she introduced local officials and the project team, provided a project overview, outlined the PA&ED phase and its timeline.  She addressed the Taylor Road interchange issue by stating there are no plans to close the eastbound I-80/Taylor Road exit.   She referenced the 2009 Caltrans Project Study Report (PSR) and said a more detailed traffic analysis, to be completed in the project’s PA&ED phase, would determine whether the interchange creates any operational deficiencies to Interstate 80 and whether mitigation of operational impacts is warranted with this project.  If so, options will be identified and considered for possible implementation.  She concluded with ways the community could get involved and stay informed.

Gladys Cornell, AIM Consulting, described the workshop’s information stations and how to provide feedback via workshop comment cards.  She encouraged community members to visit the information stations and discuss the project with project team members.  Comments and/or questions could be made on comment cards supplied at the workshop.  These cards could be turned in at the workshop or returned to PCTPA via mail, email, or fax.

All workshop attendees received an Information Stations Map illustrating the room layout.

The stations included the following:

  • General Information:  This table included a Project Information Brochure and Comment Cards.
  • Station 1 – Project Information:  This station included overall project background information, the previous Caltrans Project Study Report (PSR), and a Project Timeline for the current phase.  The PSR was also posted to PCTPA’s web site (www.pctpa.net) and the project web site (www.8065interchange.org).
  • Stations 2A and 2B – Map Stations:  These stations were identical and included maps of the study area as well as an opportunity to provide input regarding potential site constraints or areas of opportunity.
  • Station 3 – Community Input:  This station provided an opportunity for stakeholders to provide input regarding areas of concerns and potential project goals and objectives.
  • Station 4 – Traffic Patterns:  This station provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review current traffic patterns in 15-minute increments throughout a typical weekday of the entire study area.

Workshop #1 Questions & Comments
Comments received at the information stations included:

  • Station 1 – Project Information.
    • What is in the Caltrans 2009 Project Study Report (PSR) – why was it done and what improvements are proposed?
    • What is the PA&ED phase?  How does it fit within the overall project?
    • How are alternative improvements identified from the Spring 2011 to Fall 2012?
  • Station 2A and 2B – Map Stations.
    • What is planned for the Taylor Road Interchange?  Does not want the Taylor Road interchange closed.
    • What are the limits of the project?
    • What is the project going to do / What problems will be addressed?
  • Station 3 – Community Input
    • Preserve access to Taylor Road businesses.
    • Avoid worse congestion further east on I-80.
    • Create report on accidents in area of I-80/SR-65 interchange.
    • Create access to businesses on I-80/SR-65 corridors.
    • Create safe traffic flows.
  • Station 4 – Traffic Patterns
    • GPS travel time data matched driver experiences in the study area.
    • Recognition that the bottlenecks have system-wide effects (upstream and downstream).
    • General support for addressing congestion.

Future Workshop Considerations
Based on the April 2011 workshop, the project team will:

  1. Add April 2011 workshop attendees to the project distribution list.
  2. Increase public awareness by:
    1. Getting future public workshop or hearing notice to cable channel community bulletin boards for Lincoln, Roseville, and Placer County.
    2. Posting future public workshop or hearing notice to links on web sites at PCTPA, for the I-80/SR 65 Improvement project, Caltrans, Placer County, Lincoln, Rocklin, and Roseville.
    3. Looking for ways to get future public workshop or hearing notice to City of Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville, and Placer County and neighborhood newsletters.
  3. Add workshop comments/questions with replies to the project web site’s (www.8065interchange.org) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
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