The Crescent City council has sent a letter to the California Department of Transportation North Region, Environmental expressing its strong support for the timely resolution of the Last Chance Grade Project, outlined in the recently released Draft Environmental Impact Report.
Jaime Matteoli, Last Chance Grade Project and Corridor Manager addressed and updated councilors on Last Chance Grade status. Matteoli delivered the recently released Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS) and indicated Cal Trans has reduced option choices to the final two: Option F, the Tunnel option and Option X, the Retaining Wall option. The more expensive Tunnel option will take approximately eight years to complete. The Retaining Wall option will complete in about five years. The removal of old growth trees for each option were similar.
The City unanimously expressed its preference for the Tunnel option. The final decision will ultimately be made by Cal Trans, after the public comment period on the DEIR/EIS release. The public comment period closed February 13.
The City sent its support letter for the timely resolution of the Last Chance Grade Project including its tunnel preference.
Cal Trans expects to announce the option selected by the end of Summer with a final report published in the Fall of 2024.