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
Public Works Department, Engineering Division, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to West Audubon Drive Street Reconstruction at West Nees Avenue (Council District 2)
1. Approve an Agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in the amount of $85,700.00 to relocate telecommunication facilities associated with the relocation of electrical facilities. (Council District 2)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in the amount of $87,500.00 for the Applicant Requested PG&E telecommunication facilities relocation, and authorize the Public Works Director, or his designee, to execute the listed contract on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Audubon Drive and Nees Avenue dual left-turn project will put the existing second left-turn from eastbound Nees Avenue to northbound Audubon Drive into operation which will reduce traffic congestion at the Nees and Audubon intersections and help to avoid vehicle queuing and stacking into the Palm and Nees intersection, improving safety. The project proposes to realign and widen Audubon Drive, north of Nees, to provide a second northbound travel lane that will receive left-turning traffic from the second left-turn lane at Nees Avenue; it will then quickly transition into one lane eastbound after the curve. This project will not increase the traffic capacity of Audubon Drive. Under a prior Council-approved agreement, PG&E began the relocation work of an electrical vault that lies within the proposed roadway. Upon commencement of this relocation, PG&E’s contractor discovered a previously un-platted fiber-optic cable (FOC) which was routed through the electrical vault; to complete the relocation of the vault, this FOC will need to be cut and pulled back to the PG&E substation at Ingram and Fallbrook, then repulled into the new vault location and the cut ends spliced. Approval of this Agreement will allow PG&E to perform the necessary work on the FOC so the vault relocation can be completed, locating it within right-of-way previously acquired for this project outside the roadway expansion area. Major roadway construction will commence upon completion of the utility relocation.
BACKGROUND
Although it was designed and constructed to accommodate dual-left turns, the intersection of Audubon Drive and Nees Avenue currently has only one operational left-turn lane from eastbound Nees Avenue to northbound Audubon Drive due to a lack of adequate roadway on Audubon to receive the second lane of traffic. The Audubon Drive and Nees Avenue dual left-turn project will open the second left-turn lane from eastbound Nees Avenue to northbound Audubon Drive and allow the signalized intersection to operate as it was designed; this second travel lane on Audubon will then transition back into one lane immediately after the curve. PG&E commenced their electrical relocation work earlier this year when they uncovered a previously unrecorded fiber optic cable that had been pulled into this electrical vault. The previous PG&E agreement did not contemplate any work on fiber utilities and removal and replacement of this cable represents a change to the scope of the original agreement. PG&E works with city staff to find a solution that was the cheapest option and removal of the cable to their substation then replacement once the vault is relocated was deemed the best alternative.
Once the FOC is removed, PG&E will be able to complete the vault relocation and then the other utilities, AT&T and Comcast, will be able to relocate theirs as well. Once all utilities are relocated to the proposed sidewalk area the General Contractor, already under contract for the roadway work, will be able to schedule start of the major roadway construction work.
Upon completion, the realignment of Audubon Drive will provide sufficient pavement area to allow construction of the additional receiving lane as well as provide a safe and proper lane drop beyond the curve to allow the two lanes to merge into one thereafter. Class II bicycle facilities, street lighting and restoration of pedestrian facilities will be part of the completed project. Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Public Works Director, or his designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
A CEQA analysis was completed previously with a Categorical Exemption (CE) adopted by Council during their April 28, 2022 hearing.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this agreement does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in Council District 2, and the relocation costs are included in the FY 2023 adopted City budget.
Attachment:
PW00806 Vicinity Map
PW00806 PG&E Utility Relocation Contract