REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 15, 2016
FROM: BRIAN R. MARSHALL, Director
Transportation Department
BY: JIM SCHAAD, Assistant Director
Transportation Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to awarding a contract for construction of site improvements and transit shelters at Fresno Area Express’s Courthouse Park:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines,
2. Award a construction contract to Davis Moreno Construction Inc. of Fresno, California in the amount of $1,629,672.65 for the construction of site improvements and transit shelters at Fresno Area Express’s (FAX’s) Courthouse Park Transit Center (Bid File 3500) (District 3).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends Council (1) adopt a finding of categorical exemption under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and (2) award a construction contract to Davis Moreno Construction Inc. of Fresno, California, in the amount of $1,629,672.65 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the construction of site improvements and transit shelters at the FAX Courthouse Park Transit Center in downtown Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation seeks Council approval to award a construction contract to modernize and update passenger amenities, improve accessibility, and increase safety at Courthouse Park Transit Center located at Van Ness Avenue and Fresno Street in downtown Fresno. This facility is a major transit hub for FAX and allows customers to transfer between eight bus lines and partner transit agencies. Staff recognizes these facilities have suffered from deferred maintenance due to economic constraints. Update of this major transfer hub will provide a safer, more welcoming, attractive, and convenient environment for the large population of FAX customers using these facilities. This project will contribute to the overall efforts by FAX to improve service.
BACKGROUND
The FAX bus shelters A, B, and L at Courthouse Park were constructed in two phases in the late 1970s and 1980s. Minimal changes to the facility have been made since completed resulting in repairs deferred over the years due to economic constraints. The condition and aesthetics of the three shelters and the surrounding area do not provide a safe, clean, and convenient atmosphere that would attract ridership. On May 22, 2014, Council authorized the Department of Transportation to enter into an agreement with Provost and Pritchard Consulting Group for design and engineering services to renovate the transit center.
The remodel and revitalization of the Courthouse Park Transit Center will address the following elements:
• New modern transit shelters and associated amenities.
• Improved ADA access to transit shelters.
• Improved transit shelter lighting.
• Concrete sidewalk improvements.
• Redesigned landscaping.
• Infrastructure for future transit technology and security devices.
Upon completion of the construction documents, a Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on October 17, 2016, posted on the City website, and faxed to ten (10) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to sixty-one (61) prospective bidders. Five (5) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on November 15, 2016. Bids ranged from $1,536,570 to $12,368,546.95. Davis Moreno Construction, Inc., of Fresno submitted a base bid in the amount of $1,629,672.65 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire on January 18, 2017. The Engineer’s estimate for the project was $1,776,857; the lowest responsive and responsible bid is 8.3% below the estimate.
Construction will be financed with Federal Transit Administration 5307, 5309, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) grants as adopted in the FY17 budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined this project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines because it involves alteration and replacement of existing public transit shelters, which are not an expansion of use beyond that existing at this time. 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 considered as the project is funded by federal grants, which preclude local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
Construction will be financed with Federal Transit Administration 5307, 5309, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) grants as adopted in the FY2017 budget. No general fund dollars shall be used.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Staff Memorandum to Bypass Low Bidder