Highway 101 Rocks Road Tree Removal

 

Project Description

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes the Highway 101 Rocks Road Tree Removal project to improve safety for the traveling public on Highway 101 in San Benito County between post miles R1.28 and 2.01 near Aromas, California. The project area is approximately 3 miles west of San Juan Bautista. An arborist has assessed the condition of the grove of blue gum eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus globulus) growing adjacent to Highway 101 on both the northbound and southbound highway roadsides and in the median. The project would remove approximately 228 blue gum eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus globulus) that are in poor health or weakened condition. The trees are within 40 to 60 feet of the pavement edge of the roadway. After the trees are cut, the stumps will be ground out and/or treated with herbicide to prevent re-growth. The trees identified for removal are scattered throughout the grove; the entire grove will not be removed. About 50 to 75 percent of the trees in the grove will be removed. The scope of the project also includes replacement planting with more appropriate trees and shrubs. Replacement planting will consist of native species and native trees throughout the project area and will result in a higher density of planting, restoring the landscape to more native habitat and improving habitat for the California red-legged frog.

 

 

 

Project Benefits

Purpose

• Improve safety to the traveling public by eliminating the potential of trees and debris falling onto the roadway; and
• Reduce Caltrans maintenance worker exposure on the highway associated with maintenance activities.

Need

• The project is needed to address the trees near the roadway that are in declining health or that exhibit structural weakness or imbalance.

 

Estimated Funding Breakdown

• Construction Cost: $2,600,000

 

Proposed Project Schedule

 

Project Contact

Victor Devens, Project Manager
Phone: 805-904-9517
Email: victor.devens@dot.ca.gov

Lisa Lowerison, Project Manager
Phone: 805-393-5792
Email: lisa.lowerison@dot.ca.gov

Sunny McBride, Senior Environmental Scientist
Phone: 805-440-9575
Email: sunny.mcbride@dot.ca.gov

District 5 Public Information Office
Phone: 805-549-3318
Email: info-d5@dot.ca.gov

 

Documents

Accessibility Assistance: Caltrans makes every attempt to ensure our documents are accessible. Due to variances between assistive technologies, there may be portions of this document which are not accessible. Where documents cannot be made accessible, we are committed to providing alternative access to the content. Should you need additional assistance, please contact us at (916) 654-2852 or visit https://dot.ca.gov/request-ada-compliant-documents.

• Initial Study with Mitigated Negative Declaration - FINAL - July 2024 (PDF 6 MB) 
• Public Notice (PDF 73 KB)
• Notice of Completion (PDF 250 KB)
• Notice of Determination (PDF 242 KB)
• Proposed Planting Plan (PDF 4.2 MB)
• Fact Sheet (PDF 461 KB)

 

Title VI Information

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) assures that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations).

Caltrans will make every effort to ensure nondiscrimination in all of its programs and activities, whether they are federally funded or not, and that services and benefits are fairly distributed to all people, regardless of race, color, or national origin. In addition, Caltrans will facilitate meaningful participation in the transportation planning process in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Title VI Brochures

Title VI brochures in various languages