REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project (Council District 2):
1. RESOLUTION - Adopting findings pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15096
2. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $48,025,000 to A. Teichert & Son Inc., M.C.M. Construction, Inc. (Joint Venture), of Sacramento, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder
3. Approve a Distribution and Service Extension Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company in the amount of $58,427.40 to install electric service facilities for the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council (1) adopt CEQA findings pursuant to Section 15096, (2) award a construction contract to A. Teichert & Son Inc., M.C.M. Construction, Inc. (Joint Venture), of Sacramento, California in the amount of $48,025,000 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project, (3) approve a Distribution and Service Extension Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in the amount of $58,427.40 to install electric service facilities for the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the contracts on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno seeks to construct the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project, which will include construction of Veterans Boulevard between Barstow Avenue and Wathen Avenue, the extension of Sierra Avenue to Bullard Avenue and the construction of a brand new interchange on State Route 99. This construction contract is Phase 3 of the overall Veterans Boulevard Project and the fourth phase to move into construction. The agreement with PG&E will provide the extension of electrical distribution facilities and establish a new service that is necessary for the traffic signal and street light facilities being constructed with the Project. The construction phase of the Project, including both contracts, is fully funded by a combination of local Measure C and Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee (RTMF), State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), Federal BUILD Grant, and local Developer Impact Fee funding.
BACKGROUND
Veterans Boulevard, originally referred to as the Herndon-Grantland Diagonal, was originally part of the 1984 General Plan and is now a planned six-lane super arterial in the 2035 General Plan. In recent years, staff has completed the Project Study Report (PSR), Project Report and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and progressed the design of the various phases of Veterans Boulevard from Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue. Partnerships with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) and Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) provided funding for completing the final design and right-of-way acquisition. The Project proposes a new partial cloverleaf interchange connecting State Route 99 and Veterans Boulevard. The new roadway will have six travel lanes, a Class I bicycle lane/pedestrian trail on one side and Class II bicycle lanes on both sides. The project will include bridge structures for the overcrossing of State Route 99 and future Golden State Boulevard.
The first phase of the Veterans Boulevard Project, the Bullard Extension package, which was funded by the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), was opened to traffic on September 24, 2019. The Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project, which is also funded by the CHSRA, was the second phase of the overall project and is under construction as of May 21, 2020. The Veterans Boulevard South Extension Project, which is referred to as phase 4a, was the third phase of the overall project and is under construction as of November 23, 2021. The scope of work within this construction contract includes the Veterans Boulevard/State Route 99 interchange; the northerly jug handle connection to future Golden State Boulevard; Veterans Boulevard overcrossing of Golden State Boulevard, and; completing Veterans Boulevard between Wathen Avenue and the Veterans Boulevard/Bryan Avenue/Barstow Avenue intersection. This phase also includes the extension of Sierra Avenue to Bullard Avenue.
City staff has coordinated with PG&E on the necessary utility relocations and new electrical services needed for the Project. The primary location for the electrical needs is in the middle of the Veterans Interchange, where the traffic signal facilities are proposed and where most of the street light runs originate. Due to the distant proximity to the nearest electrical source, PG&E determined that they would need to extend the electrical distribution facilities in order to provide the needed service. The attached agreement was developed following an extensive design that was coordinated between PG&E, Caltrans, and the City.
On April 8, 2021, City Council awarded a professional services agreement to NV5, Inc., in the amount of $6,345,949.36, with a contingency amount of $310,000, for construction management services for this phase of the Project. NV5, Inc., will be assisting the City in managing this construction contract and providing engineering inspection and quality oversight.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on July 5, 2021, posted on the City’s website and was sent via fax to thirteen (13) building exchanges. The plans and specifications were distributed to one hundred and eight (108) prospective bidders. Seven (7) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on September 28, 2021, with the bids ranging from $48,025,000 to $63,983,286.10. A. Teichert & Son Inc., M.C.M. Construction, Inc. (Joint Venture), of Sacramento, CA, with their bid of $48,025,000, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is December 1, 2021. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 120 days.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to A. Teichert & Son Inc., M.C.M. Construction, Inc. (Joint Venture), in the amount of $48,025,000, to construct the Veterans Boulevard Interchange Project and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The California Department of Transportation, as Lead Agency, prepared an EIR for the Veterans Boulevard/State Route Interchange Project/Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project, identified by SCH No. 2010021054 (the “Veterans Boulevard EIR”). The Veterans Boulevard EIR was certified on June 16, 2013, and analyzed several components of the Veterans Boulevard project, including but not limited to a new interchange at State Route 99 and Veterans Boulevard, grade separated crossings to connect Veterans Boulevard and Golden State Boulevard, the construction of Veterans Boulevard as a six-lane super arterials from West Shaw to Herndon Avenues, drainage basins, and landscaping. This approval is to implement the Phase 3 Veterans Interchange Project portion of the overall project.
An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for this project. Based upon this analysis the following findings are made to support the determination that no subsequent environmental review is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects because the project is being implemented as planned.
2. No substantial changes occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project was undertaken which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.
3. There is no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time of the previous EIR showing that:
a. The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
c. Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found to be not feasible are now feasible and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that a subsequent EIR is not required for this approval.
Pursuant to the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(h), the City adopts the findings attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution, as required by CEQA Guidelines 15091 and 15093.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The local preference was not implemented based on funding requirements of the Federal BUILD grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Veterans Boulevard Project, which is located in Council District 2, will have no impact on the General Fund. The overall Veterans Boulevard Project is being funded through CHSRA funding, various types of Measure “C” funding, RTMF, State and Federal grant funds and City of Fresno Development Impact Fees. This phase of the Project is funded by a combination of local Measure C and RTMF, STIP, Federal BUILD Grant, and local Developer Impact Fee funding. The overall cost associated with the construction of this package is $64,996,720, of which $48,025,000 is for the construction contract. All costs necessary for this contract award and the PG&E agreement are included in the current adopted City budget.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Location Map
Resolution Adopting CEQA findings
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standard Construction Contract
Distribution and Service Extension Agreement