REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 14, 2019
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations and Planning Division
JESUS AVITIA, PE, Deputy City Engineer
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations and Planning Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve an agreement with AECOM Technical Services Inc., for the conceptual design, project cost estimate, and nomination application for the proposed North Avenue Grade Separation to the California Public Utilities Commission Section 190 Grade Separation Program for an amount not to exceed $135,000 (Council District 3 and 5)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends approval of an agreement with AECOM Technical Services Inc., (AECOM) for the conceptual design, project cost estimate, and nomination application for the proposed North Avenue Grade Separation for an amount not to exceed $135,000; and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A long-term goal of the City is to construct grade separations to eliminate at-grade railroad crossings. The North Avenue grade separation concept engineering was included in the adopted FY2019 budget due to the high volume of trains, vehicular traffic and goods movement at this crossing. The scope of the conceptual engineering work includes a nomination package which will be used by the City to submit a Railroad Grade Separation Nomination application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Section 190 Grade Separation funding program. The nomination will serve to establish ranking on the CPUC Grade Separation Priority List to assist in funding the separation of the existing at-grade crossings on UPRR Mainline, BNSF Mainlines, and North Avenue. The grade separation concept plans will consider the potential for future development and/or high-speed rail integration in the preliminary plans and cost estimates. North Avenue is classified as an arterial in the circulation element of the 2035 General Plan and is currently two lanes wide. The proposed design will meet current City of Fresno Standards and Specifications for arterial streets.
BACKGROUND
The North Avenue Grade Separation project has been identified by the Department of Public Works (DPW), as an existing at grade crossing meeting the criteria for the State Funded Section 190 Grade Separation Program. The Section 190 program uses a ranking system to establish priority funding for existing at grade crossings that could highly benefit from a grade separation. The parameters used by the CPUC are: Average 24 hour vehicle count, Average 24 hour train count, project cost, accident history, crossing delay, vehicle speed, train speed, crossing geometrics, number of passenger trains, passenger buses, school buses, hazmat trucks, hazmat trains, and community impact.
The scope of work for AECOM includes:
• Coordinate all design matters with UPRR, BNSF, Amtrak, Caltrans, and CPUC
• Prepare and present at least three grade separation concepts with design and construction estimates for the City to review and select a single concept to progress
• Prepare and maintain design delivery schedule
• Prepare and provide preliminary geometric plans for selected concept
• Prepare and submit utility search identifying underground utilities that must be installed or relocated prior to the implementation of railroad crossing improvements
• Prepare utility notification letters to various utilities and agencies as needed
• Conduct site investigation as needed to complete deliverables
• Prepare cost estimates and exhibit drawings required for the submission of North Avenue for Railroad Grade Separation Nominations to the CPUC
• Process City provided topographic survey information
• Prepare construction cost estimates at each phase of work identified in the consultant agreement.
• Submit conceptual design documents for review to City offices, utilities/agencies, and address comments
DPW staff issued a public Notice for Consulting Services on September 11, 2018, which was posted on the City’s website, and emailed to numerous consulting firms. The City received four proposals and held interviews of the prospective firms to determine the most qualified firm. The City issued a selection letter to AECOM on October 18, 2018, requesting a cost proposal and Scope of Work write-up which included a not to exceed amount of $135,000. If the agreement is not approved, the City will not be able to submit the proposed grade separation application to the CPUC Section 190 Grade Separation program to be considered for a grant fund of $5 to $15 million dollars, delaying any potential funding opportunity by CPUC until 2023.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form the DPW-S 28.2 Engineering Consultant Service Agt. Short Form T&M 03-24-14 Standardized Contract.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
AECOM has a local office in the City of Fresno.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in City of Fresno Council Districts 3 and 5, and this initial phase was included as part of the adopted FY2019 Budget utilizing Measure “C” funding. The General Fund is not impacted by this project.
Attachments:
DPW-S 28.2 Engineering Consultant Service Agt. Short Form T&M 03-24-14 Standardized Contract
Vicinity Map