By ERICA BROOKS, Staff writer

The Shingle Springs Miwok tribe may get a boost for their plans to build onramps and offramps on Highway 50, thanks to a new bill approved by the state Senate Wednesday.

The bill, which would allow the tribe to contract with Caltrans to build the new access, was scheduled to come before the Assembly yesterday, but the results were not available as of press time.

"It definitely speeds up the process," said Jedd Medefind, press secretary for Sen. Tim Leslie, R-Tahoe City.

The Rancheria has been landlocked since the 1950s, a serious impediment to the tribe's plans to build a casino on the site.

Currently, the site is only accessible to non-commercial traffic through a single road that runs through the Grassy Run subdivision off of Greenstone Road.

After meeting serious opposition to plans to build the casino on a different site, south of Highway 50, the tribe switched its focus back to the Rancheria for the proposed building, making commercial access to the Rancheria essential for the plans to go through.

Tribal spokesmen have mentioned a new plan for a lower casino that couldn't be seen from the highway, but residents are still concerned about potential environmental impacts.

The bill would require compliance with environmental regulations, and places responsibility for cost on the tribe.

The bill, written by Democrat Assemblyman Tony Cardenas from Los Angeles County, drew opposition from Leslie, an opponent of the proposed casino.

"If this proposed road was simply for residential access, then (Leslie) would have no problem with it," said Medefind. "His opposition is focused on the issue of the casino."

It is unclear whether the tribe needed the bill to continue with their plans for the freeway access, especially since they have already been working with Caltrans on the proposed additions.

"It's very preliminary," said Caltrans spokesperson Laura Featherstone of the access plans. "We just provide oversight."

The bill, said Medefind, clarifies the ability of Indian tribes to contract with Caltrans.

Featherstone, though, said Caltrans is already helping the tribe with the project.

"We are working with them already," she said. "We will continue to work with them."