REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: AUSTIN M. BAIN, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Transportation Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve First Amendment to Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,185,261.00 bringing the total contract amount to $7,669,047.23, with $325,000.00 of remaining contingency, for additional professional engineering services required for the design of plans and general construction documents for the Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project. (Council Districts 1 and 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the First Amendment to Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,185,261.00 bringing the total contract amount to $7,669,047.23, with $325,000.00 of remaining contingency, for additional professional engineering services required for the design of plans and general construction documents for the Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the First Amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City and AECOM Technical Services, Inc. have been progressing with the design of Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project. As part of design coordination efforts with AECOM Technical Services, Inc., it has been identified that additional professional engineering services are required beyond the original scope of the project. Therefore, the City desires to amend the original Consultant Services Agreement to include additional professional engineering services. Staff recommends approval of the First Amendment to Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $1,185,261.00 bringing the total contract amount to $7,669,047.23, with $325,000.00 of remaining contingency. The project is funded with Measure C Grade Separation Program funds, Local Partnership Program Formulaic grant funds, and by Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant funds. All project costs for the preliminary engineering phase will be paid by Measure C Grade Separation Program funds.
BACKGROUND
The City has long-planned for future grade separations at locations with high traffic volumes, such as the BNSF crossing at Shaw Avenue, which was grade-separated nearly 20 years ago. In the early 1970s, the City prepared a grade separation study, including many citywide locations, such as Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue. In fiscal year 2020, staff completed an update of the Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue Grade Separation Feasibility Study.
The Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue corridors serve as primary routes for the community, as well as the City’s Bus Rapid Transit system and emergency vehicles. They are also part of the Blackstone Smart Mobility Plan, which provides Class IV protected bicycle facilities along Blackstone Avenue through the project area. The project location has experienced the highest traffic volumes and number of accidents at any at-grade crossing on the BNSF corridor. The project will eliminate two existing at-grade crossings by grade separating North Blackstone Avenue and East McKinley Avenue under the BNSF Mainline Track. The City is progressing through the preliminary engineering and right of way phases of the project. All project costs for the preliminary engineering phase will be paid by Measure C Grade Separation Program funds.
The 2006 Measure C Expenditure Plan included a percentage of the transportation sales tax revenue to be dedicated to Rail Consolidation, which was then converted by the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) Board to the Measure C Grade Separation Program in April 2020. At their April 22, 2020, meeting, the FCTA Board also selected the Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project as the highest priority project and approved a Cooperative Project Agreement. The Cooperative Project Agreement was later approved by City Council on June 25, 2020. On April 8, 2021 City Council authorized the Department of Public Works to sign Amendment No. 1 to the Cooperative Project Agreement with FCTA to begin preliminary right of way efforts. On May 26, 2022 City Council authorized the Department of Public Works to sign Amendment No. 2 to the Cooperative Project Agreement with FCTA to continue right of way efforts. On September 12, 2024 City Council authorized the Department of Public Works to sign Amendment No. 3 to the Cooperative Project Agreement with FCTA to continue preliminary engineering and right of way efforts.
On April 12, 2021, the City entered into a Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for a total fee of $6,483,786.23., with a $325,000.00 contingency, for the design of plans and general construction documents for the Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project.
The City now desires to amend the Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. to provide additional professional engineering services required in design and preparation of construction documents and to authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed First Amendment as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
In 2020, the City determined that the Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to California CEQA Guidelines section 15282(g). This contract amendment does not create an exception to the exemption. Therefore, no further CEQA compliance action is necessary.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this item does not include a bid for or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Blackstone Avenue & McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project is within Council Districts 1 and 7. This request will have no impact to the General Fund. All project costs for the preliminary engineering phase will be paid by Measure C Grade Separation Program funds. All funds necessary for the First Amendment are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by City Council.
Attachments:
First Amendment to Agreement
Original Consultant Services Agreement
Vicinity Map