NOTE:  This project has been denied by the Planning Commission and appealed to the Board of Supervisors. It is scheduled for the Board of Supervisors hearing on June 25, 2024.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to replace the bridge rails on the historic Garrapata Creek Bridge with ones that meet their current safety standards. The project is located near Post Mile 63.0 along the Garrapata Creek Bridge, Highway 1, in Big Sur, in the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan planning area. Here is a vicinity map for the project.

The project would require a Combined Development Permit consisting of:

1. A Coastal Development Permit and Design Approval to allow the replacement of the bridge rails on the historic Garrapata Creek Bridge;
2. A Coastal Development Permit to allow development within the Critical Viewshed;
3. A Coastal Development Permit to allow development within 750 feet of known archaeological resources; and
4. A Coastal Development Permit to allow development within 100 feet of environmentally sensitive habitat.

Caltrans web page for the project, which includes additional information on the project and photo-simulations of the drive through experience at Garrapata Creek Bridge, is available at the following URL: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5/district-5-current-projects/05-1h800

Garrapata Creek Bridge Rail Replacement Working Group

On March 26, 2024 the Board of Super moved to create a working group consisting of three Caltrans representatives, three local community representatives, and one Housing and Community Development staff representative to evaluate the project and alternatives. The working group met on April 26, 2024 and May 17, 2024.

• County of Monterey Garrapata Creek Bridge Rail Replacement Project Working Group Meeting Agenda – 5/17/24 
• April 26, 2024 Working Group Meeting Agenda

Board of Supervisors

The Board of Supervisors considered the project on December 6, 2023 and made a motion of intent to deny the project. On January 30, 2024, the project returned to the Board of Supervisors, who continued the item to a date certain of March 26, 2024. On March 26, 2024, the Board of Supervisors moved to create a working group to further evaluate the project and alternatives, and continue the hearing on the appeal to May 7, 2024.

• March 26, 2024 Staff Report
• January 30, 2024 Staff Report
• December 6, 2023 Staff Report

Caltrans Supplemental Materials

• March 8, 2024 Caltrans Supplemental Package
• February 23, 2024 Caltrans Supplemental Package (OUT OF DATE, SEE MARCH 8, 2024 VERSION ABOVE)

Appeal

• Notice of Public Hearing
• March 23, 2023 Caltrans Appeal
• Public Comment Received after Appeal

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission considered the project on February 22, 2023 and March 8, 2023, and denied the project, finding it inconsistent with the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan.

• March 8, 2023 Planning Commission Resolution No. 23-011 denying the project
• March 8, 2023 Staff Report
• February 22, 2023 Staff Report
• Public comment received prior to March 8, 2023 Planning Commission hearing
• Public comment received prior to February 22, 2023 Planning Commission hearing

Historic Resources Review Board (HRRB)

The Historic Resources Review Board (HRRB) considered the project on December 1, 2022 and January 5, 2022, and recommended approval subject to the conditions that the color and material of the new rail match existing rails as much as possible and that a full traffic assessment, including a speed study and evaluation of ways of minimizing speed be included for each of the other historic bridge rail replacement projects when they come forward. As part of Section 106 consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the HRRB also provided comments to Caltrans prior to formal application submittal.

• January 5, 2023 HRRB Resolution No. 23-001 recommending approval of the project with changes
• January 5, 2023 Staff Report
• December 1, 2022 Staff Report
• Public comment received prior to January 5, 2023 HRRB hearing

Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC)

The Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee (LUAC) considered the project on November 8, 2022, and recommended approval with changes, that the new rail adhere to the current (original) design.

• LUAC Meeting Minutes dated December 13, 2022
• LUAC Meeting Minutes dated November 8, 2022
• Staff memo to LUAC dated October 20, 2022

California Environmental Act (CEQA) Materials

• July 7, 2021 Notice of Determination (NOD)
• Caltrans Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Tier 1 Big Sur Bridge Rail Replacement Program (certified on April 28, 2021) and Tier 2 – Garrapta Creek Bridge Rail Replacement Project (certified on May 7, 2021).

Project Plans, application materials, supplemental information, and technical reports prepared for the project:
Plans:

• 86-H Alternative Design Concepts with a 10 inch wide opening and metal element in the opening of the railing.
• "CURRENT PROJECT PLANS" Proposed 86-H Project plans with a chamfered 6-inch wide bridge rail opening

Application and supplemental information:

• December 6 , 2022 Supplemental Package
• August 15, 2022 Supplemental Package
• June 1 , 2022 Application Submittal

Technical Reports:

• LIB220303 – Historic Report Tier I and II (December 1, 2022 corrected version including Finding of Adverse Effect)
• LIB220304 – Biological Resources Report Tier I
• LIB220305 - Biological Resources Report Tier II
• LIB220306 – Visual Analysis Report

Related Information

• March 17, 2017 FHWA MASH Clarification Memo
• August 19, 2019 Caltrans Adoption of AASHTO LRFD Memo
• November 12, 2019 Caltrans MASH Compliance Plan and Policy Memo
• National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 25-25/Task 19, Guidelines for Historic Bridge Rehabilitation (March 2007)
• National Cooperative Highway Research Program Synthesis of Highway Practice 101 Historic Bridges – Criteria for Decision Marking (October 1983)
• National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 25-25/Task 66, Best Practices and Lessons Learned on the Preservation and Rehabilitation of Historic Bridges (July 2012)