REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Scott L. MOzier, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: HARMANJIT DHALIWAL, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Special Projects and Capital Management Division
FABIOLA LOPEZ, Projects Administrator
Public Works Department, Special Projects and Capital Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Amendment No.1 to the Measure C Cooperative Project Agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority for the improvement of California Avenue from Fruit Avenue to Ventura Avenue in the amount of $16,067,000 for the construction phase of the project (Urban Project H-2) (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Amendment No.1 to the Measure C Cooperative Project Agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) for the improvement of California Avenue from Fruit Avenue to Ventura Avenue in the amount of $16,067,000 for the construction phase of the project (Urban Project H-2); and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The California Avenue project was specifically identified in the Measure C Regional Tier 1 projects list for the urban program, as approved by the voters in November 2006. The California Avenue Fruit to Ventura Project (Measure C Urban Tier 1 Project H-2) had funding approved in the Short-Term Regional Transportation Program in 2016 and as a part of the latest update by the FCTA Board on February 14, 2024. The Council approved the original funding agreement for the preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition phases on February 1, 2024. The project will soon be entering the construction phase and approval of the amendment will allow the project to proceed with the construction phase of the project and provides the construction funding amount of $16,067,000.
BACKGROUND
In November 2006, the voters approved a 20-year extension of Measure C, the Countywide half-cent sales tax for transportation. The 2006 Measure C Expenditure Plan included several Tier 1 Urban Regional projects, one of those being California Avenue.
The H-2 Urban project, for California Avenue Fruit to Ventura had funding approved by the FCTA in the Short-Term Regional Transportation Program. On February 1, 2024, the Council approved the original funding agreement to begin the Preliminary Engineering and Right of Way phases of work. The project is now ready to proceed with the Construction phase, which in turn requires the cooperative agreements be amended.
The City of Fresno seeks to enhance California Avenue as a 3-lane collector, from Fruit Avenue to Ventura Avenue, by improving the roadway and providing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Improvements include the installation of a new traffic signal at Fruit Avenue, modifications to the existing traffic signal at Thorne Avenue, and intersection improvements at Fresno Street, Plumas Avenue, and Tulare Street. Paving improvements along California Avenue will also be made. A HAWK pedestrian signal will be installed near Maud Avenue, and a Class I trail will be constructed along the south side of California Avenue, connecting to the Rashad Al-Hakim Jr. Trail (Fanning Ditch) near S. Thorne Avenue and extending the Class I facility easterly to Walnut Avenue.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the Cooperative Project Amendment as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This amendment approval for the cooperative project agreements is not subject to CEQA at this time.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT
This request will have no impact to the General Fund. The project is located in Council District 3. All project costs will be paid using Measure C Regional Tier 1 funding with a 20 percent local match contribution from a combination of SB1 gas tax and Measure P Category 5 revenues (trails, Class IV bicycle facilities).
Attachments:
Amendment No.1 and exhibits A1, B1, and C1 for H-2 California Avenue Fruit to Ventura
Measure C Cooperative Project Agreement for California Avenue Fruit to Ventura