California Department of Transportation
Caltrans > District 6 > Centennial Corridor > Frequently Asked Questions
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Thomas Roads Improvement Program (TRIP)?
  2. What is the Centennial Corridor Project?
  3. Why is this project being looked at?
  4. Why are you doing this now?
  5. Why aren’t we building “Alternative 15”?
  6. Why are we looking at a Westpark alignment when it was previously opposed?
  7. What happens next?
  8. Haven’t we already performed these studies?
  9. Won’t this project induce growth?
  10. Who picked these alternatives?
  11. How will you determine which conceptual alignments will be studied in-depth?
  12. When will you make a decision on what alternative will be built?
  13. Who will decide on which alternative will be built?
  14. Is a shorter alternative always the best option?
  15. When will the project be built?
  16. Will this project increase traffic?
  17. How will this project be funded?
  18. What if I want to sell property while you’re still in the environmental process?
  19. When will you start acquiring property for Right-of-Way?
  20. What can I expect if my home lies in the path of the selected alignment?
  21. How much is Caltrans going to give me for my house and/or business?
  22. Will I be able to transfer my property base value?
  23. I am renting property that appears to be affected by this project. What happens if Caltrans buys the property?
  24. Will you need to go onto my property as a part of these studies?
  25. Who/What is the project development team?
  26. How do I voice my opinion on the subject?
  27. What happens to my comments? Do they really count?
  28. Will there be additional public meetings for this project?
  29. How will I know when future meetings or workshops are held or when the comment period begins and ends?
  30. I would like to be put on the mailing list. How do I do this?

1.   What is the Thomas Roads Improvement Program (TRIP)?

The Thomas Roads Improvement Program was named in honor of former Congressman William M. Thomas who led the effort to secure federal earmarks for major road improvement projects in greater Bakersfield. TRIP is a cooperative effort between the City of Bakersfield, County of Kern, Caltrans and the Kern Council of Governments. These agencies are committed to finding and implementing solutions that meet the region’s long-term transportation needs.

2.    What is the Centennial Corridor Project?

The Centennial Corridor Project is an integral component in the overall goal of improving east-west connectivity in the Bakersfield area. The project will consist of developing a connection of State Route 58 with the Westside Parkway and, ultimately, Interstate 5. (The Westside Parkway, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2008/09, will extend west from Truxtun Avenue to Stockdale Highway). Several corridor alignments will be evaluated. Multiple build alternatives will advance to have detailed studies conducted.

3.   Why is this project being looked at?

There is a need to complete this segment of the local freeway system. Completing this segment will reduce congestion on existing facilities, improve the flow of national and regional goods movement, and support the continued economic development of the Southern San Joaquin Valley.

4.   Why are you doing this now?

The City’s population growth over the past decade has created a need to complete an east-west freeway and the federal earmark must be expended on projects that improve the flow of national and regional goods movement, as well as reduce congestion on existing facilities. The availability of the federal funding secured by Congressman Thomas presents an opportunity to achieve regional connectivity that has not existed until now.

5.   Why aren’t we building “Alternative 15”?

TRIP is building elements of Alternative 15, including the Hageman Flyover, the 24th Street at Oak Street Interchange, 24th Street widening and the Westside Parkway. The two eastern alternatives contain portions of the “Centennial Corridor” alignment shown in Alternative 15.

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6.   Why are we looking at a Westpark alignment when it was previously opposed?

Multiple conceptual alignments are under consideration. Federal regulations require that an environmental document “rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives” and to “devote substantial treatment to each alternative considered in detail … so that reviewers may evaluate their comparative merits”. The regulations also provide that “for alternatives which were eliminated from detailed study, the environmental document should briefly discuss the reasons for their having been eliminated.” Opposition to an alternative is an important consideration, but cannot be the sole basis for not studying an alternative, and this alternative has never been carried beyond the conceptual level. Federal and State environmental laws require evaluation of reasonable alternatives, of which the Westpark alternative is one. 

7.   What happens next?

We are in the initial environmental analysis phase. All the conceptual alternative alignments, as well as any new alignments identified, will be studied and evaluated by the project development team. Feasible alternatives will be addressed and further analyzed in the environmental technical studies. A draft environmental document will summarize the results of the technical studies, any public and agency coordination, and will be circulated for public review and comment. Caltrans will consider and respond to comments received from the public and other agencies. A recommended alternative will be presented to the project development team for consideration and adoption as the recommended alternative, and the Final Environmental Document will be prepared.

8.   Haven’t we already performed these studies?

None of the alignments proposed in previous studies were looked at beyond the conceptual level. The availability of federal funds and a heightened demand to solve local and regional transportation issues have provided the opportunity to move this project forward, but to do so we must now perform studies that have never before been done for these (or any) alignments.

As part of the environmental review and approval process, many technical studies will be completed analyzing a wide variety of environmental issues. These technical studies include: Air Quality, Noise, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Hazardous Waste, Community Impacts, Visual Impacts, Right-of-Way Impacts, and Water Quality. The results of those technical studies will be summarized in the draft environmental impact report and will be available for public review and comment.

9.   Won’t this project induce growth?

Studies done nationally to evaluate this issue indicate that most projects are not growth inducing, but would accommodate planned growth. Growth areas are based on community planning documents, and this project would help facilitate the planned growth in designated areas. A growth inducement study will be done for the Environmental Document.

10.   Who picked these alternatives?

These are conceptual alternatives proposed by the Project Development Team. They are not set in stone, and additions or changes can be made during the environmental process.

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11.   How will you determine which conceptual alignments will be studied in-depth?

Initial work includes preliminary design to determine whether the conceptual alignments could be feasibly engineered, what the total estimated costs would be, and the probable environment impacts associated with each conceptual alignment. This process weeds out non-viable alternatives. All remaining alternatives are studied.

12.   When will you make a decision on what alternative will be built?

The recommended alternative will be chosen after the Draft Environmental Document has been circulated and comments from the public and other agencies have been received. We expect this to be mid-2010.

13.   Who will decide on which alternative will be built?

Caltrans will make the final decision on the environmental document. Considerable input from many people and agencies, including members of the public and the Project Development Team will be considered in the final decision making process. The Project Development Team will make a recommendation to the Caltrans District Director, who will make the final decision.

14.   Is a shorter alternative always the best option?

Not necessarily. There are many factors that contribute to cost (right-of-way, mitigation, type of construction…). A shorter alternative my have cheaper right of way costs, but require costly structures or a lot of fill, which would drive the cost up. When all factors are considered, a longer alternative may end up being cheaper. 

15.   When will the project be built?

The project is in the initial stages and is currently in the conceptual engineering and environmental analysis phase. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in spring 2014 with completion anticipated in early summer 2016.

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16.   Will this project increase traffic?

Over the next twenty years an increase in traffic is predicted with or without the project, but this project will help relieve congestion and improve east-west connectivity in the Bakersfield area, and it will decrease congestion on Bakersfield city streets.

17.   How will this project be funded?

The Centennial Corridor project was earmarked for federal funds in Section 1302, National Corridor Infrastructure Improvement Program of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). Other funding sources include City and County matches and the State Transportation Improvement Program. For more info on SAFETEA-LU, see http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/safetealu/ and Progress Report, see http://www.bakersfieldfreeways.us/documents/2009TRIPProgressReport.pdf

18.   What if I want to sell property while you’re still in the environmental process?

All property owners can buy and sell properties as usual.

19.   When will you start acquiring property for Right-of-Way?

In general, right of way acquisition begins after a final environmental document has been approved, a final alignment has been adopted and design has been completed. We expect the environmental document to be completed and approved in about four years.

20.   What can I expect if my home lies in the path of the selected alignment?

Caltrans must follow specific state and federal procedures in order to acquire the property.

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21.   How much is Caltrans going to give me for my house and/or business?

Caltrans will pay fair market value for your property.

22.   Will I be able to transfer my property base value?

California law allows a person to transfer the base year value of his or her property to a comparable replacement property under certain conditions, including property acquisitions by public agencies.

23.   I am renting property that appears to be affected by this project.  What happens if Caltrans buys the property?

Caltrans offers relocation assistance to most renters.

24.   Will you need to go onto my property as a part of these studies?

In some instances, we will need access to your property to perform our studies. In such a case, we will notify you and obtain your permission before going onto your property. 

25.   Who/What is the project development team?

The Project Development Team consists of representatives and highway planners from Caltrans, the City of Bakersfield, and the County of Kern and the Kern Council of Governments. These agencies are supported by engineers, transportation planners, and environmental analysts from various consultant firms. The Project Development Team meets on a regular basis to discuss the progress of the project, and review technical planning and engineering concepts throughout the design phase of the project.

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26.   How do I voice my opinion on the subject?

Send your comments to:

Kirsten Helton
Caltrans Environmental Manager
900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 326-3424
2015 E. Shields Avenue, Suite 100, Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 243-8224
Email: Kirsten_Helton@dot.ca.gov

27.   What happens to my comments? Do they really count?

Your comments are important to us. All comments are compiled and will be reviewed by the project development team and the various agencies involved in the Centennial Corridor project. Formal responses to comments received during the public scoping process will be prepared and later distributed to the public. Your comments help us to gauge the severity of the impacts we are studying, and are an integral part of the environmental process.

28.   Will there be additional public meetings for this project?

There will be more public meetings and workshops as work on the environmental document progresses. Let us know if you are interested in having a community workshop in your area.

29.   How will I know when future meetings or workshops are held or when the comment period begins and ends?

Notices will be sent to local media outlets, published in newspapers, posted on the City of Bakersfield and Bakersfield Freeways websites, and mailed or emailed to those who have requested to be added to the mailing list.

30.   I would like to be put on the mailing list.  How do I do this?

Send your name and complete address to:

Kirsten Helton
Caltrans Environmental Manager
900 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 326-3424
2015 E. Shields Avenue, Suite 100, Fresno, CA 93726
(559) 243-8224
Email: Kirsten_Helton@dot.ca.gov

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