REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 28, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Design Services Manager
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Herndon Avenue Westbound Widening Project, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue - Bid File 3606 (Council District 2):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per City of Fresno Environmental Assessment EA-15-028, pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2 and Section 15332/Class 32 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines for the Herndon Avenue Widening Project, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue.
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $845,722.30 to Dave Christian Construction Company, of Fresno, California as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Herndon Avenue Westbound Widening Project, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per Environmental Assessment EA-15-028, pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1, 15302/Class 2 and 15332/Class 32 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award a construction contract to Dave Christian Construction Company, of Fresno, California in the amount of $845,722.30 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Herndon Avenue Westbound Widening Project, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed project serves to construct the third westbound lane on Herndon Avenue that exists east and west of the project limits, remove an unused left-turn pocket and replace it with landscaped median, construct a section of Class I multipurpose trail and update existing curb ramps to comply with current ADA and City of Fresno standards. The project is fully funded with regional Measure “C”
Tier 1 and Federal grant funds.
BACKGROUND
In Fiscal Year 2014, the Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP), allocated funds for the widening of westbound Herndon Avenue, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue, to alleviate congestion caused by the reduction in travel lanes in the segment. This project is the last phase of the ultimate build out for this portion of Herndon, as the City widened the eastbound direction of this segment in 2014. The project is also completing a section of missing Class I Trail on the north side of the street. Additional funding for the project is through the regional Measure “C” Tier 1 program which was approved in FY14 as well. The Council previously approved a cooperative agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority to cover the Measure “C” Tier 1 funds.
The scope of work for the project includes modifying the westbound travel lanes of Herndon Avenue, from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue by relocating median island curbs and re-striping to accommodate three travel lanes (providing for continuity of the established striping pattern east and west of the project site), and by replacing an abandoned turn pocket between North Blythe and North Milburn Avenues with a landscaped median island. These project components will not widen the existing Herndon Avenue street right-of-way or increase its planned expressway traffic capacity rating. The project will include replacing existing traffic signal loops, rehabilitation of pavement using asphalt grinding and overlay to a 0.2 foot depth, repairing ramps to meet current standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and replacing some median island landscaping with drought-tolerant smaller shrubs and trees more compatible with the nearby Sierra Sky Park.
Through coordination with development in the area, portions of the multipurpose trail work and relocation of the FID pipeline will be performed by private third parties. The project involved acquiring small strips of land and vacating a portion of North Doolittle Drive necessary to infill a missing segment of multipurpose trail on the north side of Herndon Avenue. Work in the trail area includes expansion of the FID easement by 15 feet on its north side to facilitate any future maintenance needs. The existing FID line will be partially relocated to outside the street right-of-way. The work will also include new plantings and replacement of some landscaping to enhance drought-tolerance and to provide shrubs and trees more compatible with the irrigation pipeline easement and the nearby Sierra Sky Park airport.
Plans and Specifications for the project were prepared by Peters Engineering Group, under contract with the City of Fresno. A Notice Inviting Bids was published and posted on the City’s website on April 23, 2018. Eleven (11) building exchanges were sent the Notice Inviting Bids and the plans and specifications were distributed to nine (9) prospective bidders. Four (4) sealed bids were received and opened in a public bid opening held at City Hall on May 23, 2018 with bid amounts ranging from $845,772.30 to $1,171,125.60. Dave Christian Construction Company of Fresno, California, submitted a bid in the amount of $845,772.30 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The apparent low bid price was less than 1.0% above the Engineer’s Estimate; all bids will expire on July 25, 2018, 64 days after the bid opening. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project will be rebid, resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days.
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract in the amount of $845,722.30 to Dave Christian Construction Company of Fresno, California as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Herndon Avenue Westbound Widening Project and authorize the Public Works Director, or designee, to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
City of Fresno Development and Resource Management Department (DARM) staff had previously performed an Environmental Assessment to determine potential impacts this project may have on the environment and surrounding community. As fully explained in EA-15-028 the finding was made that this project’s various components are categorically exempt under three sections of the CEQA guidelines, as follows:
1. Section 15301/Class 1 exempts the repair, maintenance…or minor alteration of existing public structures and facilities, involving negligible or no expansion beyond that existing at the time a CEQA determination is made on the project. Subsection 15301(c) specifically notes that this exemption applies to existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities. The right-of-way width of Herndon Avenue, as adopted in the City of Fresno Official Plan Line for this street, and its General Plan Circulation Element classification as an expressway will not be changed by the project. The planned traffic capacity of Herndon Avenue will not be changed by the project, and it will not result in increased traffic volumes. Replacement of the turn pocket which had served a former segment of North Blythe Avenue whose alignment was relocated, and replacing that turn pocket with landscaped median island, will not change roadway capacity and will result in a reduced risk of accidents. Modification of the median island, removal of the abandoned turn pocket, and rehabilitation of landscaping some portions of the median and along the multipurpose trail segment east of Sierra Sky Park will not change the planned use and planned capacity of the roadway or the trail.
2. Section 15302/Class 2 exempts replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the existing structure replaced and will have the same purpose and capacity as the structure being replaced. Reconstruction of median islands will not change the height or functionality of the median island between eastbound and westbound lanes of West Herndon Avenue. The modified median island will continue to serve as a traffic safety barrier dividing directions of expressway traffic and preventing mid-segment turning movements.
3. Section 15301/Class 32 exempts in-fill development projects. Vacating the 100-foot segment of North Doolittle Drive, acquiring the strips of property on the north side of Herndon Avenue east and west of Doolittle Drive, and developing a landscaped multi-purpose trail will fill in a missing segment of the planned multi-purpose trail on the north side of West Herndon Avenue. Trails may be developed in any zone district, and this project is necessary to develop the facility as required for a planned Class I trail facility. The project is located entirely within City limits and can be served by all required public services and utilities. This component of the project encompasses less than five acres with no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. It will not result in any significant adverse effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
Furthermore, Staff has determined that none of the exceptions as set forth in Section 15300.2 of the CEQA Guidelines apply to the project: The subject property is not a designated Scenic Highway and is not visible from a Scenic Highway. No sensitive environments or habitats are on, or adjacent to, the subject property. The involved street right-of-way, existing trail segment, and planned trail segments are not on lists of hazardous waste sites. The project will not create any adverse cumulative impact, due to Public Works Department compliance with regulations of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (for fugitive dust control, construction equipment, asphalt paving, and indirect source review) and with regulations of the California Water Board and Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District for construction storm water management. The project will not cause any substantial adverse changes to an historic or cultural resource. Therefore, no adverse environmental impacts will occur as a result of the proposed project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the low bidder qualifies as a local business pursuant to the Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-108(d).
FISCAL IMPACT
The Herndon Avenue westbound widening from Brawley Avenue to Blythe Avenue is located in Council District 2. The overall cost of the project is $1,132,289 and is primarily funded by Federal RSTP grant, and local Measure “C” Regional Tier 1 as the grant match. The project will have no impact to the General Fund. Of the overall budget of the project, $845,722.30 will be used for the construction contract award.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Standard Contract