Public invited to offer input, help decide on roundabout or traffic signals
Read about project details
By Allen D. Payton
LOS BANOS, CA – The City of Los Banos Community and Economic Development Department’s Public Works division and Mark Thomas & Company will conduct a workshop on the proposed roundabout at State Route 165 and Vineyard Drive intersection on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. The public is invited to provide input and ask questions.
According to the description, the project is located in the northeast portion of the city, north of Overland Avenue. Vineyard Drive is a two-lane divided collector that currently terminates at the west side of Caltrans right-of-way for Highway 165, also known as Mercy Springs Road, and does not connect to the highway.
The east side of Hwy 165 is Dove Street that provides side street stop-controlled connection to the highway. The proposed project will extend Vineyard Drive to Hwy 165, signalize the intersection, and provide utility coordination/relocations (undergrounding of overhead line), and enclose the ditch into a pipeline.
Project Cost & Funding
On July 19, 2023, the Los Banos City Council by a vote of 3-0-1, with District 4 Councilwoman Deborah Lewis abstaining and District 2 Councilman Doug Begonia absent, Mayor Paul Llanez, District 1 Councilman Ken Lambert and District 3 Councilman Brett Jones approved a list of three Proposed Regional Projects for funding from Merced County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation. Passed by voters in 2016, the 30-year Measure V is projected to generate $15 million per year for a total of $450 million. The three projects requested by the council last year includes the Hwy 165 at Vineyard Drive intersection project with a total estimated cost of $4.45 million.
However, Councilman Jones said the final cost won’t be determined until it’s decided whether the intersection will include the proposed roundabout or traffic signals, instead, which could cost more.
The City’s submission documents to the Merced County Association of Governments for funding the three road projects show a request for $3.65 million in Measure V 2023 Implementation Plan funds for the Hwy 165/Mercey Springs Road and Vineyard Drive intersection project.
Although a separate projects list by MCAG shows $1.07 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program funds, according to Addendum 1 of the engineering design services request for proposal (RFP) bid documents, the project is not federally funded. Yet, as of July 3, 2024, the MCAG 2022 Regional Transportation Plan Amendment 2 Summary of Changes shows sources funds for the project include CMAQ, Measure V and 2024 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) funds.
As Bergson said he was new to the position and wasn’t yet familiar with the details on funding, City Engineering Technician Sarah Orozco was asked if the request for CMAQ funds was denied, if the Measure V request was granted and if so, what is the source for the remaining $800,000 in costs for the project. But she did not respond prior to publication time.
While Jones is glad to see the extension of Vineyard Drive is moving forward, he said, “Vineyard should have been completed when the first home was built.”
According to the various funding documents, the project is estimated to be completed by Spring 2027.
Engineering Design Services Company
Mark Thomas & Company won the RFP bid to oversee the engineering design services for the project. According to the bid documents, “The selected consultant may provide services to the City for the State Route 165 and Vineyard Drive Intersection Project including, but not limited to, the following:
•Prepare Plans Specifications and Estimates
•Lead Caltrans coordination and approvals
•Design level survey and right of way mapping
•Prepare right of way appraisals and acquisition documents (if needed)
•Lead utility coordination and undergrounding/relocation
According to the company’s website, established in 1927, “Mark Thomas is a team of civil and structures engineers, construction managers, land surveyors, landscape architects, planners, and grant writers that is dedicated to improving mobility in our communities.” Headquartered in Oakland, CA, the company has 10 other offices throughout the state including in Fresno.
Public Works Director and City Engineer Chuck Bergson said CalTrans requires the workshop as part of the process to make improvements to the state highway. It will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Los Banos Community Center located at 645 Seventh Street.
Efforts to reach District 1 Councilman Ken Lambert, who represents the are in which the project is located, were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
