REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NICHOLAS D. MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
Interim Director - Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ISAAC CAMPOS, Project Manager
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Cesar Chavez Boulevard (formerly California Avenue) Improvements Projects from Fruit Avenue to Mayor Avenue (Council District 3):
1. Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Peters Engineering Group, of Clovis, California, in the amount of $320,000 with a $32,000 contingency, for the design and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Complete Streets Project from Fruit Avenue to Mayor Avenue (Council District 3) (Bid File 12500464)
2. Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Peters Engineering Group, of Clovis, California, in the amount of $910,335 with a $91,034 contingency, for the design and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Enhancements Project from Fruit Avenue to Pottle Avenue (Council District 3) (Bid File 12500464)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve two (2) agreements for Professional Engineering Services with Peters Engineering Group, of Clovis, California, the first (Project One) in the amount of $320,000 with a $32,000 contingency, for design and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Complete Streets Project from Fruit Avenue to Mayor Avenue related to Public Works project number PW01006, the second (Project Two), in the amount of $910,335 with a $91,034 contingency, for design and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Enhancements Project from Fruit Avenue to Pottle Avenue related to Public Works project number PW01074, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the agreements on the City’s behalf.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Cesar Chavez Boulevard Improvements Projects from Fruit Avenue to Mayor Avenue will create a complete streets corridor, providing enhanced bicycle and pedestrian amenities and related improvements that reduce barriers to walking and bicycling along the newly renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard, between Fruit Avenue and Mayor Avenue. Although the construction phasing will be determined in the design phase, Project One is expected to be constructed first and proposes to install Class II and IV bicycle facilities, a high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK), redesign of the intersection of Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Pottle Avenue, sidewalk gap infills, supplemental street lighting, installation of new striping and signage, all of which will and promote multimodal connectivity and enhance safety for all forms of traffic throughout the corridor. Project One includes a right-of-way phase to acquire the land needed to construct some of the proposed improvements and is funded through the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant program. The total consultant contract agreement amount for Project One is $320,000, with a $32,000 contingency, which will facilitate the design and construction support services necessary to complete the project.
Project Two is the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Calnhancements project which will likely begin construction after the completion of Project One and will further enhance the street, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructures along the newly renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard between Fruit Avenue and Pottle Avenue. Project Two will improve several intersections with geometric alterations that improve visibility and safety, install an additional HAWK pedestrian signal, rehabilitate paving, and construct a Class I trail. This project will include a right-of-way phase to accommodate many of the proposed improvements. These enhancements will improve safety, increase accessibility, and promote multimodal connectivity for all forms of traffic throughout the corridor. The project is fully funded through Measure C Tier 1 funds. The total consultant contract agreement amount for Project Two is $910,335 with a $91,034 contingency, which will facilitate the design and construction support services necessary to complete the project.
Although Projects One and Two will both improve nearly the same segment of Cesar Chavez Boulevard, Federal funds are being utilized by Project One so it is imperative the improvements proposed and constructed with Project Two do not alter or conflict with those completed by Project One, otherwise the funding would be put at risk. To ensure the project’s design and construction phasing accommodates this funding requirement, the design phase scope of work for both projects was solicited under one Request For Qualifications (RFQ) and the selected consultant is being contracted with to perform the design and construction support phases of both projects, under two separate contracts. This will eliminate potential design oversights, miscommunication, and eliminate the likelihood for construction-phase conflicts between the two projects. The approach will also ensure compliance with the Federal CMAQ grant requirements. These improvements align with the City of Fresno's Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan.
BACKGROUND
Project One was initiated in 2021 when the Department of Public Works prepared and submitted a grant application for the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant program to provide improved pedestrian and bicycling facilities and amenities along Cesar Cavez Boulevard, within the vicinity of Edison High School. After being awarded the grant funding, the project was programmed in the Department’s FY23 capital budget.
The Cesar Chavez Boulevard Complete Streets Project (Project One) is located in Southwest Fresno along the newly renamed Cesar Chavez Boulevard, with project limits of Fruit Avenue at the west end and Mayor Avenue at the east. The purpose of this project is to transform this portion of Cesar Chavez Boulevard into a more complete streets corridor, providing enhanced amenities and improved options that reduce barriers for walking and bicycling. These improvements align with City of Fresno’s Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan. This project includes the installation of approximately 1.17 miles of Class II and IV bicycle facilities along both directions of travel on Cesar Chavez Boulevard, reconfiguration of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Pottle Avenue intersection that will better control vehicular traffic, providing traffic calming amenities and dedicated bicycle and pedestrian improvements to enhance safety, construction of a new HAWK signal at the existing mid-block crosswalk in front of Edison High School between Tulare Street and Kern Street, installation of street lighting where gaps exist along the corridor, sidewalk gap infills, and new striping and signage, including green conflict-zone paint within the bike lanes where needed. Project Two, which will make further enhancements along the corridor, will be designed concurrently with Project One to ensure the proposed improvements do not necessitate the removal of any work completed with the CMAQ grant-funded Project One. However, the design will take longer to complete, and construction of Project Two is planned for a later fiscal year based upon availability of the Measure C Regional Tier 1 funding.
Project Two is part of the Measure C Extension (2007-27) Expenditure Plan approved by the voters of Fresno County in 2006. This particular phase was approved by the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) and the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) as part of the Short-Term Regional Transportation Program, and funds became available for the project in 2024. On January 25, 2024, the COG Policy Board approved the updated Regional Transportation Program through 2027, coinciding with the expiration of the current measure, which solidified the amount of funding available for this phase of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard regional program improvement project. In February 2024 the City of Fresno entered into a Cooperative Project Agreement with the FCTA.
Planned improvements related to Project Two includes the installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Fruit Avenue, modification of the traffic signal at the Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Thorne Avenue intersection, and intersection geometric modifications and improvements at Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Tulare Avenue, Fresno Avenue, and Plumas Avenue, that will realign the intersections and bring their northerly legs into the intersections at a 90-degree angle to improve driver line of sight, shorten crosswalk distances, improve pedestrian facilities, and enhance street lighting, all of which will provide significant improvements to safety for the most vulnerable users of the roadway. Supplemental supportive work along the corridor includes pavement improvements, the installation of a new HAWK pedestrian signal near Maud Avenue, and construction of a Class 1 trail that will connect to the future Fanning Ditch trail, extending from Thorne Avenue to Walnut Avenue. The proposed scope of improvements for Project Two will complement those proposed with Project One and facilitate the completion of all planned improvements between Fruit Avenue and Pottle Avenue, making this corridor a true “complete street” that will serve the residents of the local area, as well as those travelling through this part of Fresno.
Although both projects will improve nearly the same segment of Cesar Chavez Boulevard, federal funds are being utilized by Project One so it is imperative the improvements proposed and constructed with Project Two do not alter or conflict with those completed by Project One, otherwise the funding would be put at risk. To ensure the project’s design and construction phasing accommodates this funding requirement, the design phase scope of work for both projects was solicited under one Request For Qualifications (RFQ) and the selected consultant is being contracted with to perform the design and construction support phases of both projects, under two separate contracts. This will eliminate potential design oversights, miscommunication, and eliminate the likelihood for construction-phase conflicts between the two projects.
In accordance with Administrative Order (A.O.) 6-19, staff sent out requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) on August 28, 2024, via Planet Bids, email, and published in the Business Journal. This Request For Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised for four (4) weeks, resulting in the receipt of two Statements Of Qualifications (SOQ). During the week of October 7, 2024, staff interviewed both consultants who submitted SOQs and Peters Engineering Group was determined to be the most qualified. Staff negotiated a fee of $320,000, with a $32,000 contingency, for the preparation of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates, and to provide bidding and construction support services for Project One and a fee of $910,335 with a $91,034 contingency, for the preparation of the plans, specifications, and cost estimates, and to provide bidding and construction support services related to Project Two.
Staff requests the City Council approve the agreement with Peters Engineering Group for $320,000, with a $32,000 contingency, for preparation of the construction documents and to provide bidding and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Complete Streets from Fruit Avenue and Mayor Avenue for Project One, approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Peters Engineering Group, of Clovis, California, in the amount of $910,335 with a $91,034 contingency, for the design and construction support services for the Cesar Chavez Boulevard Enhancements Project from Fruit Avenue to Pottle Avenue for Project Two, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute the contracts on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the consultant agreements as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
NEPA
Project One only: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidelines, a Preliminary Environmental Study (PES) form was prepared in August 2024. This study resulted in a determination of a Categorical Exclusion (CE) under 23 CFR 771.117(c), specifically activity (c)(3). The NEPA determination was completed by Caltrans, serving as the lead agency.
CEQA
Projects One and Two: In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, the CEQA determination will be finalized prior to the approval of the project’s final designs.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for Project One because this project is federally funded, which precludes local preference. Local Preference did not apply to Project Two as there were only two respondents to the RFQ and the most qualified consulting firm is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Cesar Chavez Complete Streets Project from Fruit Avenue to Mayor Avenue (Project One) is located in Council District 3. This project will not impact the General Fund as it is fully funded by a combination of federal CMAQ funds and Measure P Sales Tax funds. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
The Cesar Chavez Boulevard Enhancements project from Fruit Avenue to Pottle Avenue (Project Two) is located in Council District 3. This project will not impact the General Fund as it is fully funded with Measure C Tier 1 funds. All funds necessary for the contract award are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement Project One (PW01006)
Vicinity Map Project One (PW01006)
Consultant Agreement Project Two (PW01074)
Vicinity Map Project Two (PW01074)