REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Randall W. Morrison, 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
STEVE DELSID, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension at Audubon Drive (Bid File 12303030) (Council District 6):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $697,625 to Avison Construction, Inc., Madera, California.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA guidelines, award a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc., Madera, in the amount of $697,625 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension Project at Audubon Drive, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension Project at Audubon Drive will enhance safety of the Audubon Drive and Friant Road intersection for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists by installing “no right-turn on red” signage for southbound Friant Road to westbound Audubon Drive, extending the right turn pocket to create the needed vehicle storage capacity as well as class II bicycle lanes and advance stop bars on Friant Road, between Shepherd Avenue and Audubon Drive. Right-of-way acquisition was not needed for these improvements and the project is completely funded with Citywide Regional Street Impact Fee revenue.
BACKGROUND
During February 2022, a press conference was held at Woodward Park to outline a multi-pronged action plan to address pedestrian and cyclist safety concerns along Friant Road. Public Works staff identified several immediate, medium- and long-term improvements that could be made to enhance safety along the Friant Road corridor. Implementing traffic signal modifications at the intersection of Friant Road and Audubon Drive, including a “no-right turn on red” traffic signal operation at the intersection for the southbound right-turn movement was identified as a medium/long term improvement. The design phase of the Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension Project was initiated in FY22 after the project was budgeted using Citywide Regional Street Impact Fee revenue; the engineering design, project management, and right-of-way acquisition took approximately one year and was performed in-house by City staff.
The project scope includes modifications to the Friant Road and Audubon Drive traffic signal to replace the vehicle indication head for the southbound Friant Road to westbound Audubon Drive right turn movement. This change will include a red arrow that prohibits right turns, thereby promoting pedestrian safety by no longer allowing vehicles to make right turn movements on red. The project will also lengthen the southbound Friant Road right-turn lane from 380 feet to 730 feet to provide the necessary capacity improvements during the peak hour. Other improvements proposed to enhance cyclist and pedestrian safety include the construction of a Class II bicycle lane along Friant Road, from Shepherd Avenue to Audubon Drive, incorporation of advance stop bars on southbound Friant Road at both Shepherd Avenue and Audubon Drive, and construction of a bicycle exit ramp where the Class II lane ends, south of Audubon Drive, so cyclists continuing along Friant Road have the option to exit the roadway and access the existing trail if they prefer to ride off-street versus the Class II on-street experience.
Access to Woodward Park will not be impacted during construction and all improvements are accommodated within the existing right-of-way. Capital Projects staff performed all survey and engineering tasks, including preparation of the construction documents and project management duties.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on July 31, 2023, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to 37 building exchange. The specifications were distributed to three (3) prospective bidders. Two (2) bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on September 5, 2023, with bids ranging from $697,625 to $782,531. Avison Construction, Inc. submitted the apparent low bid of $697,625 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire on November 8, 2023; if the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the engineer’s estimate for this project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA.
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc. in the amount of $697,625 for the Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension Project as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
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 CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), which exempts the repair and maintenance of existing facilities that involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. This exemption applies because this project involves partial reconstruction of traffic signals, slurry and restriping of roadway and crosswalks, and construction of sidewalks and accessible ramps that does not involve the expansion of the roadway. Furthermore, staff has determined that 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 applied as both bidders were determined to be local.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Friant Road Southbound Right Turn Lane Extension Project is located in Council District 6. The overall cost of the project is $937,190 and is locally funded by Citywide Regional Street Impact Fees. Of the overall project budget, $697,625 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachment(s):
Vicinity Map
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract