REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 25, 2019
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
KRISTOPHER GREY, Projects Administrator
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Actions related to the construction of the Buffer Median Island Bus Stop Upgrades Project:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines;
2. Award a construction contract to JT2, Inc., dba Todd Companies, of Visalia, California, in the amount of $1,581,517.00 for the construction of the Buffer Median Island Bus Stop Upgrades Project (Bid File 3616)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for Existing Facilities, and award a construction contract for the base bid amount of $1,581,517 to JT2, Inc., dba Todd Companies of Visalia, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the construction of the Buffer Median Island Bus Stop Upgrades Project for the Department of Transportation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation/FAX Buffer Median Island Bus Stop Upgrades Project will make improvements to 18 existing bus stops located throughout the city and county of Fresno. These upgraded stops will be receiving safety and access related improvements including all new sidewalks, concrete bus layover pads, crosswalks, curb cuts and ramps, bus stop shelters, benches, trash receptacles, and lighting. The stop improvements will allow FAX to address critical safety and accessibility findings identified in a 2016 independent consultant bus stop survey regarding ADA deficiencies at FAX bus stops.
BACKGROUND
FAX operates a number of bus stops throughout the city of Fresno that are located in median islands. These bus stops typically suffer from significant deficiencies when it comes to passenger safety and ADA compliance. Access to these stops is limited for all passengers due to a lack of defined crosswalks and sidewalk in the bus boarding and alighting areas.
The Buffer Median Island Bus Stop Upgrades Project will enhance bus service by upgrading passenger amenities, updating the stops to meet current ADA guidelines, and improve stop infrastructure to meet both current and future needs at 18 locations throughout the city and county of Fresno. The locations serve several routes and have been identified as those most critically deficient in terms of needing current accessibility and safety upgrades.
The council districts and the number of bus stops renovated by this project are as follows:
District 1: 2
District 3: 1
District 4: 10
District 5: 1
District 7: 4
New amenities are expected to include shelters, benches, trash receptacles, security lighting, and route signage. Upgrades for infrastructure will include bus layover pads and expanded curbing and sidewalk. Safety and accessibility upgrades include new striping for street crossing zones, curb ramps, slope changes to many of the stops, and handrails where required to meet ADA standards.
Bids were solicited for this project on January 7, 2019, and advertised in the Fresno Business Journal. The Notice Inviting Bids was sent to 11 building exchanges and specifications were distributed to nine potential bidders. The bid was publicly opened on January 29, 2019. FAX received four bids from responsive and responsible bidders. The price range for the bids was $1,581,517 to $1,917,373. FAX staff determined JT2, dba Todd Companies, was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The Engineer’s Estimate of Cost for this project is $ 1,638,878.00 which makes the price from Todd Companies 3.5 percent lower than this estimate.
The City Attorney has reviewed the contract and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined this project is exempt under Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines for Existing Facilities, because the improvements to the bus stops involve the restoration or rehabilitation of existing facilities with negligible or no expansion of capacity. Furthermore, none of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not applied as federal funding precludes the use of local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact to the General Fund. This project is funded from a combination of State of California Prop 1B PTMISEA, FTA 5307, and FTA 5317 grants.
Attachment:
Bid Evaluation 3616