REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 9, 2015
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
LAL GOONAWARDENA, PE, Design Services Manager
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
BY: JOVI TORIO, PE, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Friant-Nees-Palm Intelligent Transportation System ("ITS") Traffic Signals Synchronization Project from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue - Bid File 3370 (Council Districts 2 and 6)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines for the Friant-Nees-Palm ITS Project from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue
2. Award a Construction Contract with Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, California in the amount of $928,798 for the base bid and add alternates 1 and 2 for the Friant-Nees-Palm ITS Project from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines, and award a construction contract with Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, California in the amount of $928,798 for the base bid and add alternates 1 and 2 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Friant-Nees-Palm ITS Project from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a the contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Friant-Nees-Palm traffic signals synchronization project will install a fiber communication system to interconnect the traffic signal controllers along Friant Road, Nees Avenue and Palm Avenue to synchronize the corridor. This project will result in a responsive, efficient and coordinated system, improving safety, operations, energy conservation, air quality and effective capacity of the Friant-Nees-Palm corridor, while reducing emissions and improving overall quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Friant-Nees-Palm is a major arterial corridor that connects Herndon Avenue, Blackstone Avenue and State Route 41 to Friant Road. This corridor funnels traffic onto major arterials from State Route 41 as well as provides access to local businesses within the City of Fresno. The signalized intersections along Friant Road, Nees Avenue and Palm Avenue operate independently, reducing the efficiency of the corridor and contributing to congestion and higher emissions during the peak hours. The proposed ITS Project will install fiber communication and interconnect the traffic signal controllers for an efficient traffic responsive coordination system, improving safety, operations, energy conservation and effective capacity of the corridor while reducing emissions and improving overall quality of life.
Staff prepared bid documents with a scope that included a fiber communication system, state-of-the-art traffic signal controllers, cabinets, and advanced technologies to synchronize Friant-Nees-Palm corridor from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue.
The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on January 28, 2015, and posted on the City's website and faxed to ten (10) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to ten (10) prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on February 24, 2015. Bids ranged from $928,798 to $1,063,000 for base bid and add alternates 1 and 2. Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian which submitted the bid in the amount of $928,798 for the base bid and the add alternates 1 and 2 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire in 64 days from the bid opening date on April 29, 2015.
Staff is recommending that the Council award a construction contract to Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, California in the amount of $928,798 for the base bid and add alternate 1 and 2 for the Friant-Nees-Palm ITS Project from Fresno Street to south of Herndon Avenue as lowest responsive and responsible bidder and to authorize the Public Works 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(c) (existing facilities) which exempts projects involving a negligible or no expansion of an existing facility. This exemption applies because this project involves improving efficiency of an existing roadway through coordinating the operation of existing traffic signals to reduce congestion without expansion of the roadway. The project will install fiber cable in existing conduits; will install traffic signal controllers in existing cabinets; will install wiring in existing signal conduits and cabinets, and existing cabinets will be replaced without expanding the current space. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in Section15301(c) Class 1, as Categorically Exempt from further CEQA review. 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
The local preference was not implemented based on conditions of the Federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality ("CMAQ") grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in Council Districts 2 and 6. The overall cost of the project is $1,395,400 and is funded by $1,282,765 in CMAQ Regional Bid funds and $112,635 in Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact fees. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,020,000 will be used for the construction contract award including contingency. Remaining costs of $375,400 are indirect costs (Preliminary Engineering and Construction Engineering costs) associated with this project.
Attachments: Bid Evaluation/Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map