REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JOE VARGAS, Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
BY: JOSEPH PORTALE, Capital Development Specialist
Department of Transportation/Capital Projects
SUBJECT
Title
Award a construction contract to Clean Cut Landscape Incorporated, of Clovis, California, in the amount of $3,278,014.60 for the Department of Transportation Fresno Area Express’ High-Frequency Network Bus Stop Improvement project along Shaw and Cedar Avenues and authorize the Director of Transportation or designee, to execute all related documents. Bids will expire on January 26, 2022 (Bid File #3812) (Council Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract in the amount of $3,278,014.60 to Clean Cut Landscape Incorporated, of Clovis, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the construction of the Department of Transportation Fresno Area Express’ (FAX) High-Frequency Network Bus Stop Improvement project and authorize the Director of Transportation or designee, to execute all related documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FAX seeks to improve 63 bus stops at major intersections along Shaw and Cedar Avenues serving routes 9 and 38. The stops will receive a variety of sidewalk improvements, general repairs, and changes to the stop layouts to make them more accessible, safer and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. This project will also provide new bus shelters, benches, and trash receptacles at many of the renovated stops. Completion of the project will bring highly anticipated improvements to two of FAX’s busiest corridors. Ultimately, this project benefits 12 bus routes which intersect routes 9 and 38; routes 1, 20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 41, and 45.
Sealed bids were opened on November 26, 2021 and expire on January 26, 2022. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Purchasing Division sent bids to the Department on November 29, 2021. In accordance with Resolution 2003-129, the Purchasing Division is required to post notice of formal award a minimum of five working days in advance of council action. Prior to this notice, FAX is required to complete Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) compliance documentation, verify responsiveness and responsibility, cross reference federal contractor debarment lists, and then complete the bid evaluation indicating staff determination of award. Consequently, this is first scheduled Council Meeting the item could be heard.
BACKGROUND
FAX is planning to enhance bus service by upgrading passenger amenities, updating bus stops to comply with ADA recommendations, and improving infrastructure to meet current and future needs at 63 locations along intersecting Shaw (route 9) and Cedar (route 38) Avenues. These are high frequency routes operating with 15-minute frequencies during regular service hours. They also account for 20 percent of the total ridership within the FAX fixed route system, with an average pre-pandemic monthly ridership of about 970,000. Twenty-eight of these stops are on Shaw Avenue between Valentine and Cedar Avenues, and thirty-five of them are on Cedar Avenue between Shaw and Jensen Avenues.
The allocation of bus stops by district are as follows:
• District 1: 6 locations
• District 2: 7 locations
• District 4: 28 locations
• District 5: 11 locations
• District 7: 6 locations
The improvements will include bus layover pads at five locations, reinforced curbing where required, and incorporation of the recommendations from the recently approved FAX ADA Bus Stop Facilities Transition Plan. This project is part of FAX’s efforts to improve service and will provide passengers with new shelters, benches, trash receptacles and added security lighting. This project benefits 12 bus routes which intersect routes 9 and 38: routes 1, 20, 22, 26, 28, 32, 34, 35, 38, 39, 41, and 45.
To comply with ADA requirements, a minor expansion of the concrete sidewalk width (6 inches to 26 inches) is necessary at select bus stops. Therefore, FAX pursued right-of-way easements with several property owners adjacent to our existing bus stops. Between September 2018 and December 2021, FAX performed outreach, negotiated, and met with adjacent property owners for these easements. Additional general public outreach was performed in conjunction with the FAX ADA Bus Stop Facilities Transition Plan in 2020 and 2021. A presentation was also provided to the Disability Advisory Commission Transportation Subcommittee highlighting the accessibility enhancements and FAX’s commitment to the Bus Stop Facilities Transition Plan approved by Council. As construction approaches, FAX will continue outreach along the corridor in coordination with support from the Economic Development Department in coordination with FAX’s Community Coordinator and other city staff as needed to ensure businesses are apprised of the project and construction schedule similar to the Buffer Median Island project completed in early 2020.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on October 11, 2021, posted on the City’s website, advertised in local community groups and construction organizations, and in Mass Transit Magazine as well as the Central California Builders Exchange. Six bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on November 23, 2021. Clean Cut Landscape Incorporated was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Bids are valid for 64 days and will expire on January 26, 2022. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the Purchasing Division sent bids to the Department on November 29, 2021. In accordance with Resolution 2003-129, the Purchasing Division is required to post notice of formal award a minimum of five working days in advance of council action. Prior to this notice, FAX is required to complete Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) compliance documentation, verify responsiveness and responsibility, cross reference federal contractor debarment lists, and then complete the bid evaluation indicating staff determination of award. Consequently, this is first scheduled Council Meeting the item could be heard.
The City Attorney has approved the contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
On April 9, 2020, Council adopted a finding of Categorical Exemption for this project. Staff determined this project is exempt under Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines for Existing Facilities, as the improvements to the FAX Division facilities involve the restoration or rehabilitation of existing facilities with negligible or no expansion of capacity. This project is also exempt under Section 15303/Class 3 of the CEQA Guidelines for New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, as the improvements are in an urbanized area, are less than 10,000 square feet of floor space, located at site zoned for the proposed use, does not involve significant amounts of hazardous substances and is not in an environmentally sensitive area. Furthermore, none of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as the use of federal funding precludes the use of local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The contract will be 100 percent funded by State of California’s Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) administered by CalTrans.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Map of Improvements
Shelter Rendering