Cross, Walk & Roll! Safe Routes To School HAWK Pedestrian Signal Improvements and Traffic Signal Improvements at First Street and Home Avenue, and Chestnut Aven
Summary
SCH Number
2026030063
Public Agency
City of Fresno
Document Title
Cross, Walk & Roll! Safe Routes To School HAWK Pedestrian Signal Improvements and Traffic Signal Improvements at First Street and Home Avenue, and Chestnut Aven
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/3/2026
Document Description
The City of Fresno, Public Works and Capital Projects Departments, is proposing to perform improvements to the intersections of Chestnut Avenue and Weldon Avenue, and First Street and Home Avenue. The improvements at Chestnut Avenue and Weldon Avenue will provide a new traffic signal, curb, gutter, and accessible ramps to
navigate through the intersection. This improvement will require one acquisition of rights-of-way from property 447-020-16T to make the intersection fully accessible. The improvements at First Street and Home Avenue will provide a High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk (HAWK), curb, gutter, and accessible ramps to navigate through the intersection and will not require any acquisitions of right-of-way to make the intersection fully accessible.
Contact Information
Name
Victor Valdez
Agency Name
City of Fresno
Job Title
Licensed Professional Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Cities
Fresno
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
First Street and Home Avenue
Other Information
Intersections of Chestnut Avenue and Weldon Avenue, and First Street and Home
Avenue within the jurisdiction of the City of Fresno.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
§15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from
the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use. Specifically included in this class of exemption are:
(c) Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety), and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes; and
d) Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety, unless it is determined that the damage was substantial and resulted from an environmental hazard such as earthquake, landslide, or flood;
(f) Addition of safety or health protection devices for use during construction of or in conjunction with existing structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment, or topographical features including navigational devices.
Section 15302/Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 and Class 2 exemptions because the project is proposing to make improvements to existing infrastructure by installing and repairing existing curb ramps, reinstalling signage and striping, adjusting water valves and manhole covers to grade, and installing traffic signals to improve public safety (vehicular and pedestrian). The proposed improvements are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right-of way without increasing capacity because the only changes to the roadway will be repairs to the
existing facilities. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use, will have substantially the same purpose and capacity and will be located on the same site as the facilities being replaced.
The proposed project complies with all conditions described in Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California CEQA Guidelines. Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exemptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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