REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 26, 2015
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
LAL GOONAWARDENA, PE, Design Services Manager
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
BY: ERIC JOHNSON, Engineer II
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Tulare Street Wireless Intelligent Transportation System ("ITS")Traffic Signals Synchronization Project from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue - Bid File 3367 (Council Districts 3, 5, 7 and Fresno County)
1. Adopt a finding of a Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines for the Tulare Street Wireless ITS Project from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue
2. Award a Construction Contract with A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California in the amount of $682,860 for the base bid and add alternates 1 and 2 for the Tulare Street Wireless ITS Project from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines, and award a construction contract with A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California in the amount of $682,860 for the base bid and add alternates 1 and 2 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Tulare Street Wireless ITS Project from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a the contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Tulare Street traffic signals synchronization project will install a wireless communication system to interconnect the traffic signal controllers along Tulare Street and synchronize the corridor. This project will result in an efficient responsive coordinated system, improving safety, operations, energy conservation and effective capacity of the Tulare Street corridor, while reducing emissions and improving overall quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Tulare Street is a major east-west corridor through downtown and southeast Fresno that intersects all north-south arterial streets including State Route 41. This corridor funnels traffic onto major arterials from State Route 41 as well as provides access to local businesses within the City of Fresno. The signalized intersections along Tulare Street operate independently, reducing the efficiency of the corridor and contributing to congestion and higher emissions during the peak hours. The proposed ITS Project will install wireless communication and interconnect the traffic signal controllers for an efficient traffic responsive coordination system, improving safety, operations, energy conservation and effective capacity of the corridor while reducing emissions and improving overall quality of life.
Staff prepared bid documents with a scope that included a wireless communication system, state-of-the-art traffic signal controllers, cabinets, and advanced technologies to synchronize Tulare Street corridor from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on January 16, 2015, and posted on the City's website and faxed to ten (10) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to eight (8) prospective bidders. Four (4) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on February 17, 2015. Bids ranged from $682,860 to $794,425 for base bid and add alternates 1 and 2. A-C Electric Company submitted the bid in the amount of $682,860 for the base bid and the add alternates 1 and 2 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire in 64 days from the bid opening date on April 22, 2015.
Staff is recommending that the Council award a construction contract to A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California in the amount of $682,860 for the base bid and add alternate 1 and 2 for the Tulare Street Wireless ITS Project from "C" Street to Clovis Avenue as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder 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
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) (existing facilities) which exempts projects involving a negligible or no expansion of an existing facility. This exemption applies because this project involves improving efficiency of an existing roadway through coordinating the operation of existing traffic signals to reduce congestion without expansion of the roadway. The relatively small transmitters will be mounted on existing signal mast arms; wiring is run in existing conduit and signal cabinets; and existing cabinets will be replaced without expanding the current space. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in Section15301(c) Class 1, as Categorically Exempt from further CEQA review. Furthermore, Staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The local preference was not implemented based on conditions of the Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality ("CMAQ") grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in Council Districts 3, 5, 7 and Fresno County. The overall cost of the project is $896,260 and is funded by $811,396 CMAQ Regional Bid funds and $84,904 Proposition 111 Gas Tax funds. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the overall budget of the project, $682,860 will be used for the construction contract award.
Attachments: Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map