Highway 74 and Mountain Avenue Signal Project

2025110708

Riverside County

NOE - Notice of Exemption

11/18/2025

11/18/2025

Jan Bulinski

County of Riverside TMLA - Transportation Department

Environmental Project Manager

Lead/Public Agency

4080 Lemon Street 8th Floor
Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-6740

jbulinski@rivco.org

Intersection of Highway 74 and Mountain Avenue in the Community of Good Hope in Riverside County

Categorical Exemption

15301(c)

The Project is outside of MSHCP Criteria Cells, but is still subject to compliance with the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP). Under Section 7.1 Covered Activities Outside Criteria Area and PQP lands of the WRMSHCP, necessary operation and maintenance projects, as this project is considered, are Covered Activities and are not subject to survey or mitigation requirements outside criteria area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. If tree and/or vegetation removal takes place during the migratory bird breeding season (February 1 – September 1), a preconstruction nesting bird survey will be conducted pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Hazardous Waste A review of the published lists of known hazardous substance sites provided by GeoTracker and EnviroStor did not identify any RECs within 1 mile of the property location. Cultural Resources Based on the results of the cultural record search performed on January 10, 2023 the project is anticipated to result in no effects to cultural resources. Due to the extensive amount of ground disturbance present and based on the historic past usage of the APE, it is unlikely that the APE contains buried unique archaeological resources or resources eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources. The County of Riverside Transportation Department has found that the above-described project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), based on the following: California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines: Section 15301 (c) – Existing Facilities – The project proposes to install a traffic signal and safety lighting as well as widen Mountain Ave. to add a southbound left turn lane and widen Highway 74 to add a westbound right turn lane. Project improvements provide for limited widening at the approach to the intersection which will enhance safety for the traveling public at the intersection. The minor alteration of existing streets involving negligible or no expansion of use are exempt from CEQA under Section 15301 (c). The improvements are consistent with Section 15301(c) because there is negligible or no expansion of the existing use. Section 15301(f) – Addition of safety protection devices for use in conjunction with existing facilities–Traffic signal and lighting will be installed at the intersection which will enhance the safety for the traveling public at the intersection. The addition of safety lighting is consistent with Section 15301(f).

Categorical Exemption

15301(f)

The Project is outside of MSHCP Criteria Cells, but is still subject to compliance with the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (WRMSHCP). Under Section 7.1 Covered Activities Outside Criteria Area and PQP lands of the WRMSHCP, necessary operation and maintenance projects, as this project is considered, are Covered Activities and are not subject to survey or mitigation requirements outside criteria area and Public/Quasi-Public Lands. If tree and/or vegetation removal takes place during the migratory bird breeding season (February 1 – September 1), a preconstruction nesting bird survey will be conducted pursuant to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Hazardous Waste A review of the published lists of known hazardous substance sites provided by GeoTracker and EnviroStor did not identify any RECs within 1 mile of the property location. Cultural Resources Based on the results of the cultural record search performed on January 10, 2023 the project is anticipated to result in no effects to cultural resources. Due to the extensive amount of ground disturbance present and based on the historic past usage of the APE, it is unlikely that the APE contains buried unique archaeological resources or resources eligible for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources. The County of Riverside Transportation Department has found that the above-described project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), based on the following: California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines: Section 15301 (c) – Existing Facilities – The project proposes to install a traffic signal and safety lighting as well as widen Mountain Ave. to add a southbound left turn lane and widen Highway 74 to add a westbound right turn lane. Project improvements provide for limited widening at the approach to the intersection which will enhance safety for the traveling public at the intersection. The minor alteration of existing streets involving negligible or no expansion of use are exempt from CEQA under Section 15301 (c). The improvements are consistent with Section 15301(c) because there is negligible or no expansion of the existing use. Section 15301(f) – Addition of safety protection devices for use in conjunction with existing facilities–Traffic signal and lighting will be installed at the intersection which will enhance the safety for the traveling public at the intersection. The addition of safety lighting is consistent with Section 15301(f).