REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NICHOLAS D. MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
Interim Director-Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Department of Public Works
BY: Scott p. sehm, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
STEVE DELSID, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Clovis Avenue Adaptive ITS Traffic Signal Synchronization Project from Shields Avenue to American Avenue: (Bid File No. 12500629), (Council Districts 4, 5, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $1,990,683.50 to A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Award a Construction Contract to A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California, in the amount of $1,990,683.50 as the only responsive and responsible bidder for the Clovis Avenue Adaptive ITS Traffic Signal Synchronization Project, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Clovis Avenue Adaptive Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Project will make improvements to 16 intersections along Clovis Avenue, from Shields Avenue to American Avenue, that will provide more efficient traffic signal operation and allows the traffic signal equipment to communicate with the City’s Traffic Operations Center. The project will provide the corridor with the ITS infrastructure improvements necessary for the deployment of an adaptive traffic synchronization system which will reduce idling, reduce emissions, and improve travel time along the corridor. Separate from this contract, but as part of the overall Clovis Avenue Adaptive ITS Project, staff will be bringing to Council a contract for the purchase of the Adaptive Signal Control Technology. The project is funded by the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Measure C Flexible as local match.
BACKGROUND
The Clovis Avenue corridor is one of the most traveled and congested corridors in the City of Fresno, connecting businesses, residences, and Fresno Yosemite International Airport with State Route 180 and State Route 99. This Clovis Avenue Adaptive Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Project will make ITS infrastructure improvements to 16 intersections along Clovis Avenue, from Shields Avenue to American Avenue. It will deploy state-of-the-art adaptive technology for real-time traffic signal synchronization, similar to the recently constructed and adaptively synchronized BRT corridor ITS project, the ITS projects along the Shaw Avenue and Herndon Avenue corridors, and the ITS project currently in construction on Friant Road.
This Clovis Avenue Adaptive ITS Project design phase was initiated in FY2022 when the City of Fresno secured CMAQ grant funding. The preliminary engineering design and project management was completed over approximately two years by City of Fresno staff.
The scope of the project includes ITS infrastructure and technology improvements at the 16 intersections along Clovis Avenue from Shields Avenue to American Avenue. The ITS improvements include vehicle detection upgrades, cameras, accessible pedestrian push buttons, intersection accessibility upgrades at Butler Avenue, and intersection networking equipment for real-time communication with the Traffic Operations Center (TOC) Advance Transportation Management System. Separate from this contract, but as part of the overall Clovis Avenue Adaptive ITS Project, staff will be bringing to Council a contract for the purchase of the Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) modules. No changes to the existing local roadway street widths are proposed and no right-of-way is needed for construction of this project.
Staff prepared a Notice Inviting Bids, which was published in the Fresno Business Journal on December 11, 2024, posted on the City’s website, and faxed to 10 building exchanges. Project plans and specifications were distributed to 47 prospective bidders. One (1) bid proposal was received and opened in a public bid opening on January 14, 2025, from A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California, which was the only responsive and responsible bidder for the Base Bid of $1,535,305.00 with Additive Alternates 1, 5 and 6, for a total construction contract amount of $1,990,683.50.
Based on staff’s assessment of the project scope and associated funding constraints, staff recommends Council award a Construction Contract to A-C Electric Company of Fresno, California, in the amount of $1,990,683.50 for the Base Bid with Additive Alternates 1, 5, and 6, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City of Fresno. The expiration date of the bid is March 19, 2025. If the bid is rejected or expires, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately sixty (60) days.
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.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed Standardized Construction Contract as to form.
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/Class 1 (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 project will install conductor cables in existing conduits, upgrade communication equipment in existing cabinets, wiring in existing signal cabinets, replacing existing sidewalk and asphalt, installing new sidewalk where missing, and signal loop detectors on existing pavement as required. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in Section 15301/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
Local Preference is not applicable due to the Federal funding requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The ITS Clovis Avenue Adaptive Traffic Signal Synchronization project is located in Council Districts 4, 5, and 7. The overall cost of the project is $3,200,252 and is federally funded by Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) grant. The required local match is funded by Measure C Flexible. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,990,683.50 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract