REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 28, 2017
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
MICHAEL W. HOLLY, PE, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Project Management Section
SUBJECT
Title
Award a construction contract in the amount of $575,520 to American Paving Company, of Fresno, California for the Shields eastbound widening, 650 feet west from Fowler Avenue - Bid File No. 3482-12050 (Council District 4).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract with American Paving Company, of Fresno, California in the amount of $575,520 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno proposes to widen eastbound Shields Avenue from Fowler Avenue to 650 feet west, and southbound Fowler Avenue from Shields Avenue to 550 feet south (Shields and Fowler Avenues). The project will add a through lane, bike lane and right-turn lane on eastbound Shields Avenue, and a through lane, bike lane and bus bay on southbound Fowler Avenue. The project will eliminate a bottleneck at this location and reduce traffic congestion. The project is primarily being funded by local New Growth Area Major Street and Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation impact fees.
BACKGROUND
In Fiscal Year 2012, the City allocated local funds to improve Shields and Fowler Avenues. Existing eastbound Shields Avenue has a left-turn lane and one travel lane. Because of growing traffic congestion, this lane configuration creates delays. The widening project will eliminate the bottleneck, relieve congestion and reduce delays. The project will add an additional eastbound travel lane, a bike lane and a right-turn lane along Shields Avenue for a distance of 650 feet heading west from Fowler Avenue, and an additional southbound travel lane and bike lane along Fowler Avenue for a distance of 525 feet heading south from Shields Avenue. The project includes asphalt roadway paving, asphalt pavement grind and overlay, striping and pavement markings, traffic signal modifications, replacement of traffic loop detectors, curb and gutter improvements and a new curb ramp at the southwest corner of Shields and Fowler Avenues meeting ADA compliance.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on June 19, 2017, and posted on the City’s website and faxed to twelve (12) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to nine (9) prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on July 18, 2017, with the bids ranging from $575,520 to $648,097. American Paving Company is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The apparent low bid price was 17% below the Engineer’s Estimate. The project will be completed 80 working days after the issuance of the notice to proceed. The bidders have agreed to extend the bids from the original 64 days from the bid opening, for an additional 30 days, and they will expire on October 20, 2017.
If the bids are rejected, the project will be rebid resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to American Paving Company in the amount of $575,520 to construct improvements to Shields and Fowler Avenues and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
On December 4, 2014, the Fresno City Council held a public hearing to consider the acquisition of a street easement for the construction of intersection improvements at Shields Avenue and Fowler Avenue.
Following a full and complete hearing, the Council adopted Resolution 2014-223, approving the proposed acquisition for the construction of intersection improvements. Furthermore, through the approval of this resolution, the Council approved Environmental Assessment EA-12-019, finding that the entire project, which included the items listed below, was in conformity with Master Environmental Impact Report No. 10130 and the Mitigated Negative Declaration for Plan Amendment A-09-02.
• Construction of an additional eastbound travel lane and bike lane along East Shields Avenue for a distance of 650-feet heading west from North Fowler Avenue and an additional southbound travel lane and bike lane along North Fowler Avenue for a distance of 525-feet heading south from Shields Avenue.
• Construction of curb and gutter on the south side of East Shields Avenue and the west side of North Fowler Avenue within the limits of the project area defined above.
• Installation of a curb ramp at the southwest corner of East Shields and North Fowler Avenues
• Modification and relocation of the existing traffic signal on this corner
• Installation of a bus bay along North Fowler Avenue, just south of this corner.
• Land acquisition by the City of Fresno
• Relocation of power poles by PG&E.
Given that the proposed project being awarded was previously analyzed and the corresponding environmental finding was approved by Council, no additional environmental assessment is required.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in City of Fresno Council District 4. The overall cost of the project is $983,100 and is fully funded by New Growth Area Major Street Impact Fee, Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact Fee funds, and Proposition 111 Gas Tax funds. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the total project cost, $575,520 will be used for the construction contract award.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation/Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map - Shields Eastbound Widening
Standard Contract - Shields - Fowler Improvement