REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 24, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: JOHN STANBOULIAN, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations Center
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Dynamic Downtown Adaptive Signal Control Technology, Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and Bus Rapid Transit Corridors - Bid File No. 3765 (Council District 3)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff’s determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
2. ***RESOLUTION - 17th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 appropriating $1,643,500 for the Dynamic Downtown Adaptive Signal Control Technology Project (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $796,083 to Audeamus Inc., dba Sebastian of Fresno, CA, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Dynamic Downtown Adaptive Signal Control Technology, Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and Bus Rapid Transit Corridors
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(c) Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines, adopt the 17th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 appropriating $1,643,500, award a construction contract to Audeamus Inc., dba Sebastian, of Fresno, CA, in the amount of $796,083 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or Designee to sign a standardized contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project will install a state-of-the-art Adaptive Signal Control Technology (ASCT) system which will be added to the existing time-of-day system in Downtown Fresno along Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and the Downtown Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors. The ASCT adaptive system will employ video detection technology for real-time monitoring and continuous real time synchronization. As a result of these improvements, traffic equipment will respond dynamically to changing conditions to optimize traffic flow along BRT corridors. Separate from this contract, but as part of the overall Dynamic Downtown ASCT project, staff will be bringing to Council a contract for the purchase of the traffic signal adaptive modules. This will bring key downtown corridors to the same level of adaptive synchronization as the Shaw Avenue and Herndon Avenue corridors, improving operations and reducing energy consumption and vehicle emissions. This project is funded by Measure C New Technology grant from the Fresno County Transportation Authority.
BACKGROUND
The Dynamic Downtown ASCT project along Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and BRT Corridors was initiated in FY2019 when the City was awarded a Measure C New Technology grant from the Fresno County Transportation Authority. The project was designed by Public Works staff after the project was budgeted in the adopted FY2020 Capital Budget and the funds were obligated. The preliminary engineering design took approximately 11 months to complete.
The Dynamic Downtown ASCT project construction contract includes the installation of ITS infrastructure, including conduits, conductors/cables, pull boxes, viewing cameras, signal loop detectors, camera detection system, pedestrian push buttons as well as the upgrade of affected concrete curb ramps. The project will provide the corridor with the necessary ITS infrastructure improvements for the deployment of an adaptive traffic synchronization system along BRT corridors.
Staff prepared a Notice Inviting Bids, which was then published in the Fresno Business Journal on July 13, 2020, posted on the City’s website, and faxed to six building exchanges. Project plans and specifications were distributed to 18 prospective bidders. Two sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on August 11, 2020; bids received are $796,083 and $930,993. Audeamus Inc., dba Sebastian, of Fresno, CA, with their bid of $796,083, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is October 14, 2020. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid which will result 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 that Council award a construction contract to Audeamus Inc., dba Sebastian of Fresno, California, in the amount of $796,083 to construct the Dynamic Downtown ASCT project along Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and BRT Corridors as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the 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) Class 1 (existing facilities) which exempts projects involving a negligible or no expansion of an existing facility. This exemption applies because this project involves improving efficiency of an existing roadway through coordinating the operation of existing traffic signals to reduce congestion without expansion of the roadway. The project will install conductor cables in existing conduits; will install camera detection equipment in existing cabinets; will install wiring in existing signal cabinets, and will install signal loop detectors on existing pavement as required. Staff determined under the CEQA Guidelines this project fits within the definition of existing facilities in Section 15301(c) Class 1, as Categorically Exempt from further CEQA review. 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 for this project because the lowest responsive and responsible bidder is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project will have no impact to the General Fund. The Dynamic Downtown ASCT project along Fresno Street, Van Ness Avenue and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridors is located in Council District 3. The overall cost of the project is $1,763,800 and is funded by Measure “C” New Technology grant from Fresno County Transportation Authority. Local match is funded with Measure “C” Flexible allocation. Of the overall budget of the project, $796,083 will be used for the construction contract award. Adoption of the attached AAR amendment resolution will appropriate the necessary funding to award the construction contract in the current fiscal year. Additional appropriations for the remaining project costs will be included in the City’s fiscal year 2022 budget.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Vicinity Map
Standardized Contract
CEQA Notice of Exception
17th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159