REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 14, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
JOHN STANBOULIAN, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations Center
ERIC W. JOHNSON, Engineer II
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Herndon Avenue Adaptive Intelligent Transportation System (I.T.S.) (Golden State Blvd to Willow Ave) Traffic Signals Synchronization Project - Bid File 3593 (Council Districts 2 and 6)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA)
2. Award a Construction Contract to Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, CA in the amount of $1,039,477
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines, and award a construction contract with Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, CA, in the amount of $1,039,477 for the base bid and add alternate #1 and #2, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Herndon Adaptive I.T.S. Project, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a standardized contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Herndon Avenue corridor is the most traveled and congested roadway in Fresno, and the only expressway in north Fresno connecting east-west businesses, hospitals, State Route 99, State Route 41 and the City of Clovis. The Herndon Avenue Adaptive ITS Project from Golden State Boulevard to Willow Avenue construction contract includes the installation of ITS infrastructure, technology and updated vehicle detection that will prepare the Herndon Avenue corridor for the deployment of state-of-the-art real-time adaptive traffic synchronization. Separate from this contract, but as part of the overall Herndon Avenue Adaptive ITS Project, staff will be bringing to Council a contract for the purchase of the adaptive traffic synchronization software system. This system will bring Herndon Avenue to the same level of adaptive, real-time traffic synchronization as the Shaw Avenue corridor, improving Herndon Avenue corridor operations by up to 15%, meanwhile reducing energy consumption and vehicle emissions.
BACKGROUND
The Herndon Avenue Adaptive ITS System and Synchronization Project, from Golden State Boulevard to Willow Avenue, was initiated in FY15 when the City was awarded a Federal grant from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ). The project was designed by in-house Public Works staff once the grant funds were obligated and the project was budgeted in the adopted FY16 Capital Budget by City Council. The preliminary engineering design took approximately 18 months to complete.
The Herndon Avenue Adaptive ITS Project construction contract includes the installation of ITS infrastructure, including communication conduits, fiber optic cables, vaults, communication cabinets, networking equipment, cameras, signal loop detectors, conductors and cables, and traffic signal controllers. The project will provide the corridor with the necessary ITS infrastructure improvements for the deployment of an adaptive traffic synchronization system.
Separate from this construction contract, but as part of the overall Herndon Avenue Adaptive ITS Project, staff will be bringing to Council a sole-source contract for the purchase of adaptive traffic synchronization system equipment and added intersection software licenses. The Herndon Avenue corridor Advance Transportation Management System (ATMS) Synchro Green licenses will be added to the existing ATMS/Synchro Green system currently in operation. Through the updated system along Herndon Avenue corridor, the Synchro Green adaptive system will monitor real time traffic flow and will have the ability to make real time adjustments to traffic synchronization (cycle lengths and splits). Synchro Green studies show an approximate 15% travel time improvement of travel times with the adaptive traffic synchronization system as compared to the existing time-of-day synchronization system.
Public Works staff prepared a Notice Inviting Bids which was published in the Fresno Business Journal on March 16, 2018, posted on the City’s website and faxed to 8 building exchanges. The specifications were also distributed to 13 prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on April 17, 2018. Base Bids ranged from $910,105 to $1,234,230. Per the project specifications, the low bidder was determined by the base bid amount only. Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian, submitted a base bid in the amount of $910,105. Sebastian’s base bid plus add alternates #1 and #2 total $1,039,477 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire 64 days after the bid opening date. The expiration date of the bids is June 20, 2018. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form the proposed Standardized Construction Contract.
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract to Kertel Communications, Inc. dba Sebastian of Fresno, CA in the amount of $1,039,477 for the Base Bid and Add Alternate #1 and #2, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and 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 the repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities, including existing streets, sidewalk and gutters, with no further expansion of existing use. 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 implemented based on conditions of the federal funding for the project.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project will have no impact to the General Fund. The Herndon Ave Adaptive ITS System and Synchronization Project from Golden State Blvd to Willow Avenue is located in Council Districts 2 and 6. The overall cost of the project is $2,026,100 and is funded by Federal grant from the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Proposition 111 Gas Tax as the local match. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,039,477 will be used for the construction contract award.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Standardized Contract