Bay Bridge

Memo 10-11-00

TO: MTC Bay Bridge Design Task Force
DATE: October 11, 2000
FR: Steve Heminger, Deputy Executive Director
RE: U.S. DOT Land Transfer

Attached is a press statement from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater announcing that he will use special authority granted him under federal law to acquire from the U.S. Navy the property on Yerba Buena Island that Caltrans needs to construct the new east span on the northern alignment recommended by MTC. The process may take some weeks, but should result in Caltrans holding title to the property needed for construction and operation of the new bridge.

The next key milestone is release of the final Army Corps of Engineers report expressing their opinion on the seismic safety of the new east span design. That report is now due for release on October 27.

Caltrans expects to release the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the project in December 2000, receive a federal record of decision on the FEIS in January 2001, and thereafter begin acquiring permits for construction. Contrary to an erroneous report in the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday, actual construction of the new east span could begin in 2001 and be completed by 2006.

US Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.

News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 10, 2000
Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 64-00

US DOT Announces Land Transfer Agreement for
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in California

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced that the Department of Transportation will use authority available under federal law to transfer to California land needed for building a new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. A new span is needed to withstand earthquakes and provide a "lifeline" facility between Oakland and San Francisco in the event of a major earthquake.

"This is an important step forward for this vital project," Secretary Slater said. "Given the seismic vulnerability of the existing bridge, it is time to advance this project to protect the economy and safety ofthe entire San Francisco area."

The U.S. Navy owns land on Yerba Buena Island that will be needed for the proposed construction. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), an agency of USDOT, will notify the Navy this week that it is transferring the land from the Navy to the state of California based on a longstanding provision in federal law that permits federal land transfers for the Interstate Highway System. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is on the Interstate system.

The land is needed under various design and location alternatives for the new span. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is scheduled to complete a study later in October on the design selected by the California Department of Transportation for a northern alignment location of the new span. On September 22, 2000, in an "Interim Final Report," the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded, " ... a replacement alternative is the path that most quickly resolves the exposure of the public to the seismic vulnerabilities of the existing structure."

"We are pleased that the we have been able to reach an agreement on this land transfer," FHWA Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said. "The agreement will advance this project to improve safety, which is the highest transportation priority of the Clinton-Gore administration."

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