REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Engineering Division, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the First Street Cycle Track, Hazelwood Boulevard to Tulare Street - Bid File 3805 (Council Districts 3, 5, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $899,025 to Bush Engineering, Inc. of Fresno, California
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), award a construction contract with Bush Engineering, Inc. of Fresno, California in the amount of $899,025 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed First Street Cycle Track project will construct a Class IV separated bicycle facility along First Street, from Hazelwood Boulevard to Tulare Street, with a goal of accommodating cyclists who do not feel as confident or comfortable with a traditional Class II painted bike lane, or unstriped Class III bike route. The scope of work includes a maintenance overlay of the entire roadway, construction of the new Class IV bike facilities which will entail placement of new roadway striping and signage, installation of green methyl-methacrylate (MMA) to highlight areas of conflict between bicyclists and motor vehicles, and install flexible post delineators to create the separated, protected space that defines a Class IV facility. In addition, the work includes removal and replacement of existing ramps at the returns within the limits of construction that are not currently compliant with ADA accessibility guidelines which will improve pedestrian access along the corridor. This project is funded by the State of California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) with the required local match funded through Local Measure C Bike Facilities and the SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA).
BACKGROUND
The First Street Class IV Bikeway project was initiated in FY20 when the City of Fresno was awarded grant funding through Caltrans’ ATP to promote active modes of transportation, including biking and walking, throughout the state by funding capital projects which improve these types of facilities. The preliminary engineering design and project management took approximately two years and was completed by City of Fresno staff.
The scope of the project includes a complete maintenance overlay of the roadway, placement of new striping and signage, as well as the installation of green MMA in the conflict zones and installation of flexible post delineators along the limits of the proposed Class IV Cycle Track. The project will also remove and replace existing return ramps along the limits of work which are not ADA-compliant.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on January 14, 2022, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to 10 building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to 39 prospective bidders. Eight (8) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on February 22, 2022, with bids ranging from $899,025 to $1,276,193. Bush Engineering, Inc. submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $899,025.00 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. Local Preference was not applied as the project is grant-funded. The bids will expire on April 27, 2022; if the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
The Project Labor Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, was not incorporated in the bid requirements as the funding agency had not provided approval for this in the original request for construction funding allocation and to resubmit the bid documents for approval after the fact would have caused a substantial delay that may have jeopardized the project funding.
Staff recommends Council award a construction contract with Bush Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $899,025 for the First Street Cycle Track project 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/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), which exempts the repair and maintenance of existing facilities that involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. These exemptions apply because this project involves the reconstruction of an existing roadway, installation of bicycle facilities, and replacement of accessible ramps, none of which involves the expansion of the roadway. 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
The bid evaluation process did not take Local Preference into consideration due to the nature of the funding (State of California ATP grant).
FISCAL IMPACT
The First Street Cycle Track from Hazelwood Boulevard to Tulare Street is located in Council Districts 3, 5, and 7. The overall cost of the project is $1,216,800 and is funded by a State Active Transportation Program grant. Required local match is funded with Local Measure C Bike Facilities and SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding. Of the overall budget of the project, $899,025 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
CEQA Environmental Assessment
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract