REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Third Amendment to Reimbursement Agreement No. HSR 16-57 with the California High Speed Rail Authority for the Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation (Council District 2)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Third Amendment to Reimbursement Agreement No. HSR 16-57 with the California High Speed Rail Authority, to extend the term of the agreement by six months to June 30, 2023, update the rates of service, require compliance with Executive Order N-6-22, and revise other terms therein, and authorize the Public Works Director or his designee to execute the amendment on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project is under construction and nearly complete. This phase, as well as the completed Bullard Extension Phase, is funded by the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) in connection with the Veterans Boulevard grade separation over UPRR and future HSR tracks. The proposed Third Amendment to Reimbursement Agreement No. HSR 16-57 extends the term of the agreement by six months to June 30, 2023.
BACKGROUND
Veterans Boulevard, originally referred to as the Herndon-Grantland Diagonal, was originally part of the 1984 General Plan and is now a planned six-lane super arterial in the 2035 General Plan. In recent years, staff has completed the Project Study Report (PSR), Project Report and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and moved through design and in to construction on the various phases of Veterans Boulevard from Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue. Partnerships with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) and Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) provided funding for completing the final design and right-of-way acquisition. The ultimate Veterans Boulevard Project, from Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue, proposes a new partial cloverleaf interchange connecting State Route 99 and Veterans Boulevard, as well as three bridge structures for the overcrossing of State Route 99, Golden State Boulevard, and the Union Pacific Railroad and High Speed Rail (HSR) corridors. The new roadway will have six travel lanes, a Class I bicycle lane/pedestrian trail on one side and Class II bicycle lanes on both sides. All phases of the Veterans Boulevard program are now either under construction or completed. The Veterans Boulevard Project from Shaw Avenue to Herndon Avenue is on track to be open to traffic by the end of 2023.
The EIR for the California HSR Project's Merced to Fresno segment included the selection of an at-grade alignment just west of the UPRR tracks through much of northwest Fresno including the area near Shaw Avenue, Carnegie Avenue and the Veterans Boulevard alignment. At locations such as Shaw Avenue, the HSR project proposes to construct a grade separation to carry Shaw Avenue over the UPRR and HSR tracks. This is also the case at other locations along the HSR corridor such as Herndon Avenue (underpass) to the north and further south at McKinley Avenue (overpass), Olive Avenue (overpass), Tulare Street (underpass), Ventura Avenue (underpass) and Church Avenue (overpass). Carnegie Avenue is a short street segment between Golden State Boulevard and Bullard Avenue which was deemed to be infeasible for a grade separation at that location, due to the close proximity of Golden State and Bullard Avenues. The high volume of traffic utilizing Carnegie Avenue made it also infeasible to close the crossing and re-route as far as Herndon and Shaw Avenues. The City Administration, City staff and CHSRA representatives developed a solution which is set forth in the EIR for the Merced to Fresno segment, of mitigating the Carnegie Avenue at-grade railroad crossing closure through constructing Veterans Boulevard between Golden State Boulevard and Bullard Avenue, including the Bullard Avenue extension from Carnegie Avenue to Veterans Boulevard.
City staff and CHSRA representatives agreed it made more sense for the City to construct the Veterans Boulevard grade separation and Bullard Avenue extension given that it is part of the larger City project and ensures compatibility with subsequent phases of Veterans Boulevard. The City Council approved the cooperative funding agreement for the Veterans Boulevard Project with CHSRA on November 17, 2016 and the First Amendment on March 5, 2020. The First Amendment increased the total contract amount to $29,845,500. The Second Amendment was executed by the Public Works Director, since the amendment only extended the term by 1 year and did not change the total contract amount. The agreement, as amended, allows for the City to construct the facility with the CHSRA to pay 100% of all construction costs including City bidding costs, construction management, inspection and testing. The proposed amendment adds six months to the contract term, extending the contract completion to June 30, 2023. The Bullard Extension was opened to traffic on September 24, 2019 and the Veterans Boulevard grade separation was opened to traffic on September 21, 2022, both of which were funded by the CHSRA under this agreement.
Staff is recommending approval of the Third Amendment to Reimbursement Agreement No. HSR 16-57 with the California High Speed Rail Authority, to extend the term of the agreement by six months to June 30, 2023, update the rates of service, require compliance with Executive Order N-6-22, and revise other terms therein, and authorize the Public Works Director or his designee to execute the amendment on behalf of the City. The amendment has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item does not qualify as a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. Council adopted the CEQA findings for the Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project on March 5, 2020.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference is not applicable to this item because it is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Veterans Boulevard Project, which is located in Council District 2, will have no impact on the General Fund. The overall Veterans Boulevard Project is being funded through CHSRA funding, various types of Measure C funding, Regional Transportation Mitigation Impact Fees (RTMF), State and Federal grant funds and City of Fresno Development Impact Fees. All remaining costs associated with this contract are included in the City’s current fiscal year budget.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Third Amendment to HSR 16-57 Agreement