REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DENIX D. ANBIAH, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
Scott L. Mozier, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Scott p. sehm, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
GARINE KENDOYAN, Project Manager
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Blackstone Smart Mobility Project from State Route 180 to Pine Avenue: (Council Districts 1, 3, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities (Class 1) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines;
2. Award a product purchase contract in the amount of $578,794.87 to AI Construction LLC of Fresno, California - Bid File No. 12600679;
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $5,008,997.00 to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California - Bid File No. 12601094.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities (Class 1) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, (2) award a product purchase contract to AI Construction LLC of Fresno, California in the amount of $578,794.87 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Purchasing Manager of General Services or designee to sign the product purchase contract on behalf of the City of Fresno (3) award a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California in the amount of $5,008,997.00 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Capital Project Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project from State Route 180 Pine Avenue will continue the implementation of the Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy by designing a space that is inviting to pedestrians and bicyclists. The project will integrate features of complete streets and establish protected Class IV bikeways with raised median islands. This will be achieved through the implementation of a road diet, which will reduce Blackstone Avenue and Abby Street from three vehicle lanes in each direction to two. Long material supply lead times are a major contributor to delays in construction project delivery, and Council approval of the product purchase contract will allow streetlight materials to be ordered in advance, reducing schedule impacts, and supporting compliance with funding deadlines. Approval of the construction contract, totaling $5,008,997 and awarded to Avison Construction, will enable the project to move into the construction phase. This project is fully funded by the Measure C Transit Oriented Development program and the Regional Early Action Planning Grant.
BACKGROUND
The Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy is based on a community-driven process that led to the development of design concepts to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and transit mobility throughout the corridor. The Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy was adopted by Fresno City Council on May 2, 2019. This project will transform the segment of Blackstone Avenue from State Route 180 to Pine Avenue from automobile-oriented corridor to a human-scale, multimodal space that is comfortable for non-motorized users.
The strategy incorporates innovative bicycle and pedestrian initiatives, such as a road diet on Blackstone Avenue and Abby Street to incorporate the complete streets elements and construct Class IV protected bikeways. Additionally, the project will build raised median islands, sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, elevated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus platforms, landscaping, and pedestrian scale lighting. This project is funded by the Measure C Transit Oriented Development program and the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant.
The engineering design phase commenced following the City Council’s approval of consultant agreement with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group, Inc. in May 2024.
Long material-supply lead times are a major contributor to delays in construction project delivery. To avoid such delays, staff has advertised this product purchase bid for the streetlight materials prior to construction to align product delivery with the project construction start time. The Notice Inviting Bids was posted on the City’s website on December 15, 2025. Four (4) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in the public bid opening on January 13, 2026, with bids ranging from $578,794.87 to $646,777.99. AI Construction LLC of Fresno, California is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire on April 13, 2026.
The Notice Inviting Bids for the project’s construction contract was posted on the City’s website on December 15, 2025. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in the public bid opening on January 20, 2026, with bids ranging from $5,008,997 to $5,124,834. Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire on March 25, 2026, sixty-four (64) days after the bid opening. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project will be rebid resulting in a delay of approximately three (3) months that would push construction completion beyond the required funding close-out deadline.
The total cost of the project is $7,370,100, including all soft costs, and is funded by the Measure C Transit Oriented Development program and a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant
This contract is covered by the Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021. The contractor shall become signatory to the PLA by executing the Agreement To Be Bound.
Staff recommends City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities (Class 1) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award of product purchase contract to AI Construction LLC of Fresno, California in the amount of $578,794.87 to purchase streetlight materials for the Blackstone Smart Mobility Project, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and to authorize the Purchasing Manager of General Services or designee to sign the product purchase contract on behalf of the City of Fresno, award of a construction contract for the Blackstone Smart Mobility: State Route 180 to Pine Avenue Project to Avison Construction, Inc. of Madera, California in the amount of $5,008,997 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and to authorize the Capital Projects 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 purchase and construction contracts as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff utilized an on call environmental consultant to perform a preliminary environmental assessment of this project. This project was determined to be Categorically Exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 Existing Facilities. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the Environmental Assessment as to form.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference is not applicable due to State of California funding requirements. However, the lowest responsive and responsible bidders for both contracts are local businesses as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project from State Route 180 to Pine Avenue is within Council Districts 1, 3, and 7. The project is fully funded by the Measure C Transit Oriented Development program and a Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) Grant. Adoption of (1) the Categorical Exemption, (2) award of the product purchase contract and (3) award of the construction contract for this project will have no impact on the General Fund. All funds necessary for the product purchase contract and construction contract are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Environmental Assessment PW01023
Standardized Contract for Product Purchase Bid File No. 12600679
Standardized Contract for Construction Contract Bid File No. 12601094
Procurement Evaluation Form for Product Purchase Bid File No. 12600679
Procurement Evaluation Form for Construction Contract Bid File No. 12601094
Vicinity Map