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
ISAAC CAMPOS, Project Manager
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue (Council District 7):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., of Clovis, California in the amount of $15,572.00, for a total not to exceed contract amount of $188,220.00, with a not to exceed contingency of $10,000.00 remaining.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1; (2) approve the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement (Agreement) dated May 24, 2022, with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group Inc. (Provost & Pritchard) in the amount of $15,572.00, for a total not to exceed contract amount to $188,220.00, with a not to exceed contingency of $10,000.00 remaining for the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue; and (3) authorize the Capital Projects Department Director or designee to execute the Second Amendment to Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue will implement the Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy with a complete street design including the construction of protected Class IV bicycle facilities in each direction of Blackstone Avenue. On May 24, 2022, the City approved a Consultant Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard to provide professional engineering services for the preparation of the plans, specifications, cost estimates, bidding support services and construction support services for the Blackstone Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue. On June 29, 2023, the Agreement was amended in the amount of $22,748 (First Amendment) to provide additional design services to meet current standards for the Class IV bicycle facility layout and required detection zones and additional services for legal descriptions and exhibits for right-of-way.
As the design progressed, the City decided to implement a revised layout for the proposed elevated bus platforms to better mitigate pedestrian and cyclist conflict zones at these facilities. To implement the proposed changes, it has been determined that an amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement is necessary. This amendment includes updates to the configuration, grading, and detailing of four elevated bus platforms. Staff recommends approval of the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard in the amount of $15,572 for a total increased contract amount of $188,220. The project is federally funded with the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) program administered through Caltrans, on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and local Measure C Bike Lanes.
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 the corridor. The Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy was adopted by Fresno City Council on May 2, 2019. The transformative bicycle and pedestrian concepts in the strategy includes a road diet on Blackstone Avenue to implement the complete streets concept and install protected bicycle facilities between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue. The facilities will connect at University Avenue to the future Class IV bicycle facilities proposed as part of the Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation.
Grant funding was applied for in November 2019, and the total project cost of $2,055,200 is fully funded by CMAQ. The CMAQ funding will be administered by Caltrans on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration. This funding will allow the City to install one mile of Class IV protected bike lanes in each direction to activate a critical section of the corridor. Additional improvements associated with the project include installing new curb ramps, traffic calming features, sidewalks, green conflict zone markings, reconstructing median noses and installing elevated bus platforms for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) riders. The project will improve accessibility and support multimodal travel options with the addition of the Class IV buffered bike lanes.
The City entered into a consultant services agreement in the amount of $149,990 with Provost & Pritchard, of Clovis, on May 2022, to perform professional engineering services for the preparation of the plans, specifications, cost estimates, bidding support services and construction support services for the Blackstone Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue. On June 29, 2023, the Agreement was amended in the amount of $22,748 (First Amendment) to provide additional design services to meet current standards for the Class IV bicycle facility layout and required detection zones at three intersections and to provide additional legal descriptions and exhibits for right-of-way.
The City now desires to amend the Agreement with Provost & Pritchard in the amount of $15,572, bringing the total contract amount to $188,220, to complete the redesign of the elevated BRT platforms. The revised design was coordinated with FAX staff and aims to improve the areas where BRT busses, riders, and pedestrians could conflict with cyclists using the Smart Mobility facilities.
Staff is recommending the approval of the Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc., of Clovis, California in the amount of $15,572, for a total increased contract amount of $188,220, for professional engineering services for the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between McKinley Avenue and Shields Avenue, and to authorized the Capital Projects Director or designee to execute the Second Amendment to Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement 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 the CEQA guidelines, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 because it would be limited to acquisition of ROW and construction of a multimodal roadway improvement along an existing roadway and would not increase the number of vehicle travel lanes or the capacity of the roadway. The proposed project involves negligible construction of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur because of the proposed project and none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented; this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project, which is located in Council District 7, will not have any impact to the General Fund. The amendment amount of $15,572 will be funded by the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) grant. Require local match funding provided by Measure C Bike Lane Allocation. All funds necessary for the contract amendment are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by City Council.
Attachments:
Environmental Assessment Application No. PW00956
Second Amendment to Agreement
First Amendment to Agreement
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Map
Location Map