State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways
State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways
State Route 58 Widening Project - Bakersfield Freeways
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Chapter 1.<br />
Introduction<br />
The purpose of this Biological Assessment (BA) is to provide technical information<br />
and to review the proposed project in sufficient detail to determine to what extent the<br />
proposed project may affect threatened, endangered, or proposed species. This BA is<br />
prepared in accordance with (1) legal requirements found in Section 7(a)(2) of the<br />
federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) (16 United <strong>State</strong>s Code [USC] 1536[c]) and<br />
(2) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans regulations, policies, and<br />
guidance. The document presents technical information upon which later decisions<br />
regarding project effects are developed.<br />
1.1. <strong>Project</strong> History<br />
1.1.1. Purpose and Need<br />
1.1.1.1. <strong>Project</strong> Purpose<br />
The purpose of the proposed project is:<br />
• To reduce existing and future traffic congestion on <strong>State</strong> <strong>Route</strong> <strong>58</strong> between Allen<br />
Road and <strong>State</strong> <strong>Route</strong> 99 to improve local and regional east-west traffic flow.<br />
1.1.1.2. <strong>Project</strong> Need<br />
The proposed project is needed to serve existing and projected travel demand along<br />
the SR-<strong>58</strong> corridor. The project extends through the urban core area of metropolitan<br />
<strong>Bakersfield</strong>, where SR-<strong>58</strong> is used to access jobs and commercial uses within the City.<br />
The City of <strong>Bakersfield</strong> General Plan and the Kern County General Plan both assume<br />
SR-<strong>58</strong> as a six lane highway through the project study area. This portion of SR-<strong>58</strong> has<br />
traffic congestion, especially during the busiest times of the day. The project has also<br />
been identified in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity<br />
Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) legislation as part of the National Corridor<br />
Infrastructure Improvement Program (Section 1302 of the SAFETEA-LU).<br />
1.2. <strong>Project</strong> Description<br />
Caltrans, in cooperation with the City of <strong>Bakersfield</strong> and the County of Kern, proposes<br />
to improve an approximate 5.6-mile segment of SR-<strong>58</strong>, locally known as Rosedale<br />
<strong>State</strong> <strong>Route</strong> <strong>58</strong> <strong>Widening</strong> <strong>Project</strong> Biological Assessment 1
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