State Route 99 and Whitelock Parkway Interchange Improvements Project

State Route 99 and Whitelock Parkway Interchange Improvements Project

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with the City of Elk Grove (City), proposes to construct improvements at State Route 99 (SR-99) and Whitelock Parkway (Whitelock) including a new interchange in the City of Elk Grove, California. Caltrans is the lead agency under CEQA. The SR-99 and Whitelock Parkway Interchange Improvements Project limits on SR-99 begin approximately 0.5 mile south of the Grant Line Road Interchange and extend approximately 3.3 miles north to the Elk Grove Boulevard Interchange. The proposed Project consists of a new interchange, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) carpool lanes, and a pedestrian overcrossing of SR-99 from just south of the Grant Line Road Interchange to the Elk Grove Boulevard Interchange. The Project also includes improvements to various local roads, specifically portions of Whitelock Parkway, Lotz Parkway, East Stockton Boulevard, and West Stockton Boulevard, with intersection modifications to accommodate traffic circulation. Auxiliary lanes connecting to the new interchange are also being considered. The Project alternatives are constrained due to the adjacent Elk Grove Regional Park, Elk Grove Historical Society Museum, and existing SR-99. Multiple potential alternatives were identified in the Project Study Report-Project Development Support (PSR-PDS) approved by Caltrans in February 2020. There are six build alternatives proposed for the SR-99 and Whitelock Parkway Interchange Improvements Project. Three main build alternatives exist, and each contains an option to realign SR-99, which leads to the following six build alternatives: Alternative 1A: Realign SR-99 with Tight Diamond; Alternative 1B: Tight Diamond (no realignment); Alternative 2A: Realign SR-99 with Diverging Diamond; Alternative 2B: Diverging Diamond (no realignment); Alternative 3A: Realign SR-99 with Tight Diamond with Roundabouts; and Alternative 3B: Tight Diamond with Roundabouts (no realignment). Each of these alternatives will be further evaluated and any viable alternatives which meet the Project’s purpose and need will be presented to the public for comment during the CEQA environmental process. Additional alternatives may also be identified and evaluated in the environmental documentation. Currently, Elk Grove Boulevard experiences traffic congestion that is projected to increase due to planned development in the City. In addition, Caltrans plans to widen SR-99 in the future to provide HOV lanes. The proposed Project is needed since Whitelock Parkway does not provide direct vehicle access to the west side of SR 99, there is a gap in access for pedestrians or bicyclists to connect the areas west of SR 99 to the Elk Grove Regional Park on the east side of SR 99, effective bus transit services require direct freeway access, and the existing roadway network system has inadequate capacity to accommodate existing traffic patterns, future traffic volumes, and planned and approved economic development and the resulting increase in traffic. The purpose of the Project is to improve system linkage, improve access for pedestrians and bicyclists, promote ride sharing and use of high occupancy vehicles, such as carpool, vanpool, bus services, and provide congestion relief in order to improve traffic flow and mobility. Permanent right-of-way acquisitions, drainage improvements, temporary construction easements, and utility relocations will be required to accommodate the proposed Project. Partial acquisition and minor modifications to Elk Grove Regional Park may also be considered to accommodate the proposed improvements. The Project will utilize local, state, and federal funds, as such it requires compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The lead agency for both CEQA and NEPA compliance is Caltrans.

Elk Grove

Sacramento

Northern California

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Central Region 2 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 3 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), California Transportation Commission (CATC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Delta Protection Commission, Delta Stewardship Council, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB)

Transportation:Highway/Freeway (State Route 99 improvements and interchange with Whitelock Pkwy.)

None

Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Public Services, Recreation, Transportation, Utilities/Service Systems, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian