REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 22, 2018
FROM: JIM SCHAAD, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: KRISTOPHER GREY, Capital Development Specialist
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the professional consultant agreement with Siegfried Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $116,660 for design and engineering services to incorporate new bus stop locations, bus pads, and recommendations from an Americans with Disabilities Act evaluation (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve the First Amendment to the professional consultant agreement with Siegfried Engineering, Inc., for design and engineering services to incorporate new bus stop locations, bus pads, and recommendations from an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) evaluation of major bus stops along Shaw and Cedar Avenues in the amount of $116,660, and authorize the Director of Transportation or designee to execute the first amendment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation/FAX (FAX) seeks an amendment to an existing professional consulting agreement for design and engineering services to support upgrades at 67 bus stops located along and intersecting Shaw and Cedar Avenues. FAX currently operates high frequency service along these corridors and 11 bus routes will receive benefits from this project. The First Amendment will include alterations to the construction documents, adding bus stops to the project, revising the locations of several bus stops, and incorporating the recommendations of an ADA evaluation identifying deficiencies at the bus stops. Award of this First Amendment will allow FAX to improve service, address ADA deficiencies, increase passenger safety, and apply additional grant funding that was not previously available.
BACKGROUND
FAX is planning to enhance bus service by upgrading passenger amenities, updating bus stops to comply with ADA recommendations, and improving stop infrastructure to meet current and future needs at 67 locations along and intersecting Shaw and Cedar Avenues. Following the award of the initial agreement, FAX received data from an ADA survey of its bus stop facilities. This study identified the most critical deficiencies in terms of ADA compliance at all FAX bus stops.
Initially, the project scope was aimed at improving passenger amenities and replacing the sidewalks. Upon completion of the ADA survey of existing bus stop facilities, it was discovered the pedestrian right-of-way could not support the required ADA clearances between amenities, curbs, and the back edge of the sidewalk. In order to meet the required clearances, additional right-of-way easements are required at many of the bus stop locations. As a result, the consultant will be required to identify the right-of-way needed and evaluate if minor bulbouts into the street can be utilized as a secondary solution to the use of pedestrian right-of-way easements.
Additional funding has been secured from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), which allows FAX to revise the original scope of work in order to include these improvements and added locations into the project. The additional improvements will include bus layover pads at five locations, reinforced curbing where required, and incorporation of the recommendations from the ADA study. This project is part of FAX efforts to improve service and will provide passengers with new shelters, benches, trash receptacles, and added security lighting.
The services of an architectural and engineering consultant were necessary to design the upgrades to these bus stops. The department solicited qualifications from the professional engineering industry on May 11, 2016. The department received two statements of qualifications. A review panel determined Siegfried Engineering, Inc., was the most qualified to perform the work based upon overall firm experience, resource capacity, and completion of similar work.
The First Amendment is required because the desired changes to the scope require Siegfried Engineering, Inc., to perform additional services in the design, bid, and construction phases of the project.
The City Attorney has reviewed the amendment and approved it as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
This is not a “project” for the purpose of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered as this is an amendment to an existing agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact to the General Fund. This amendment will be funded from FTA 5307 grants. Construction is expected to be funded by grants awarded to the City through the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP).
Attachment:
First Amendment to Agreement