To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Resolution of Necessity Hearing for the I-80 San Pablo Dam Road Interchange Improvement - Phase 2 project, San Pablo area
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
OPEN the public hearing and ask if any notified property owners wish to be heard as to the four items specified in Section B below, CLOSE Public Hearing.
Upon completion and closing of the hearing, MAKE the findings and determinations listed under Section B below and ADOPT the Resolution of Necessity to acquire the required property by eminent domain. Project No.: 0660-6X4173/EA 0413000404
FISCAL IMPACT:
In eminent domain actions the judgment will be the price paid for the property and may include court costs which are regarded as a roughly calculable expense of property acquisition. Costs of acquisition in this case are 100% reimbursable from Contra Costa Transportation Authority (“CCTA”). (SCH NO.: 2009082009)
BACKGROUND:
A. Proposed Project:
The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), proposes to reconstruct the Interstate 80 (I-80)/San Pablo Dam Road (SPDR) Interchange - Phase 2, which is in the City of San Pablo and borders the City of Richmond. The purpose of the Project is to improve overall safety, traffic operations, and bicycle/pedestrian access at the interchange. The Project will reduce traffic congestion, optimize traffic flows at interchange ramps, improve pedestrian and bicycle access and safety, and standardize the vertical clearance of the overcrossing.
The existing I-80/SPDR Interchange has several nonstandard features that contribute to traffic congestion and the inefficiency of the interchange operations, including short weaving sections between the ramps within the Project limits. The Phase 2 project scope of work includes Realignment of SPDR and replacement of the overcrossing. The new single span bridge will consist of a 4-foot striped median, three (3) lanes and a Class IV bikeway in each direction of travel, and 7-foot-wide sidewalks on each side of the structure. Reconstruction of the I-80 westbound on- and off-ramps at SPDR. Construction of a new connector road on the west side of I-80 to connect SPDR to McBryde Avenue. By consolidating the off-ramps at McBryde Avenue and SPDR in the westbound direction (while maintaining direct access to McBryde Avenue), the short weaving distance between the successive on- and off-ramps will be eliminated, and safety and traffic operations will be improved along westbound I-80. This connector includes a new bridge over Wildcat Creek. Reconstruction of the I-80 eastbound on- and off-ramps at SPDR. Realignment of Amador Street.
Under an Agreement between Contra Costa County (County), Caltrans, CCTA and the City for the Exercise of the Power of Eminent Domain for the I-80/San Pablo Dam Road Interchange Project-Phase 1 (dated July 16, 2013), the Parties agreed and reaffirmed that the County is designated as the party to administer the portion of the Cooperative Agreement relating to the acquisition of real property, through eminent domain or otherwise, by and through its Board of Supervisors, County Officials and departments, and County attorneys.
On June 25, 2013, this Board ADOPTED the Mitigation Negative Declaration and pertaining to the entire project including Phase 2, as the responsible agency for the project.
Construction of the Phase 2 project is scheduled to begin Spring of 2028. In order to proceed with the project, it is necessary for the County to exercise its power of eminent domain to acquire the property rights described herein.
Pursuant to Section 1245.235 of the Code of Civil Procedure, notice was given to all persons listed on the attached Exhibit “A” whose names and addresses appear on the last equalized County Assessment Roll. This notice consisted of sending by first-class and certified mail on May 7, 2026, a Notice of Intention which notified these owners that a hearing is scheduled for June 23, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in the Board's Chambers, at which time they may appear to be heard on the matters referred to in the notice.
B. Scope of Hearing Per C.C.P. Section 1245.235
1. Public Interest and Necessity require the proposed project.
The proposed I-80 San Pablo Dam Road interchange improvements includes constructing the proposed McBryde Connector Road between San Pablo Dam Road and McBryde Avenue to provide continuous access from I-80 westbound mainline. This connector road provides shorter access and eliminates vehicles using other local roads, such as San Pablo Dam Road and San Pablo Avenue, which can create more travel time and traffic congestion, and optimizes traffic flow. By removing the existing McBryde Avenue off ramp in the westbound direction, the existing weaving conflicts and congestion between successive WB San Pablo Dam Road On-Ramp and McBryde Avenue Off Ramp are eliminated, which significantly improves the I-80 WB mainline operations. A new Wildcat Creek Bridge will be constructed along connector road over Wildcat Creek; to construct this bridge, a temporary construction easement is required from Parcel 700026.
As part of the interchange improvement project the existing SPDR overcrossing bridge will be replaced with a wider bridge, including three lanes on each direction with Class IV bike lanes to meet the future traffic demand volume, reduce traffic congestion and improve traffic operation. In order to accommodate the interchange improvements, San Pablo Dam Road will be widened to match the proposed geometric design, which requires relocation of existing sidewalk, that requires a permanent right of way take and a temporary construction easement from parcel 700034.
2. The project is planned and located in the manner that will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury.
During the Project approval and environmental determination phase, the project team has studied several interchange design alternatives. After detailed study and discussion with the project development team, along with taking input from public meeting, a preferred interchange design alternative was selected. The preferred interchange design achieves the required traffic operational improvement, provide safes pedestrian and bicycle access thru the new widened SPDR bridge structure, widens the on and off ramp from I-80 mainline, constructs a connector road that provide one way access between San Pablo Dam Road and McBryde Avenue with least of right of way impacts from both residential and commercial properties. The alternative designs that were not selected would have resulted in more right of way impacts, including both residential and commercial properties. The proposed preferred interchange design alternative and other local street improvements, including bridge structures, retaining wall and sound wall, are more specifically discussed in the approved Final Initial Study / Environmental Assessment (IS/EA)
3. The property(ies) sought to be acquired is/are necessary for the project.
The proposed properties right of way take sought for SPDR Phase 2 Project are necessary for the reconstruction of I-80 San Pablo Dam Road Interchange improvement design, which includes realignment and widening of on-ramp and off-ramp, widening of a San Pablo Dam Road, realignment of Amador Street, a new McBryde Avenue connector road, and the construction of SPDR Overcrossing bridge and Wildcat Creek bridge. The project team have all the avoidance measures to reduce right of way impacts to the properties within the project limit, both during and after construction. The proposed project improvements cannot be construction as planned without the right of way take and temporary construction easement (TCE) acquisition of these property interests.
4. The offer of compensation required by Section 7267.2 of the Government Code has been made to the owner or owners of record.
The County, through the Real Estate Division of the Public Works Department, has made an offer of just compensation to the owners of record for the rights required for this project. The offer was based on an appraisal of the fair market value of the property rights being acquired. In this case, efforts were made to acquire each required property or property right through negotiated purchase and sale instead of condemnation. Attempts to negotiate a settlement involved an offer being mailed and emailed to the owners of records, phone discussions, and offers to meet virtually or at the project site with owners and/or their representative. However, the negotiations were not successful requiring the County to proceed with the adoption of this Resolution of Necessity.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will be unable to acquire the property rights necessary for the project.