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 Fresno Street Corridor Improvements Project (Council Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15303/Class 3 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Approve the Application for Custom Work - Actual Cost Basis with AT&T in the amount of $85,315.81 to relocate telecommunication facilities
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the application for custom work with AT&T in the amount of $85,315.81 for the Applicant Requested AT&T 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 Fresno Street Corridor Improvements Project will upgrade a variety of pedestrian infrastructure along Fresno Street, between R Street and Friant Avenue, with improvements including traffic signals, countdown pedestrian indication heads, upgraded curb ramps that are compliant with current ADA accessibility standards, median nose cutbacks and new striping to improve existing crosswalks, as well as other striping and signage enhancements. The traffic signal work includes the construction of two High-Intensity Activated crossWalKs (HAWK) pedestrian signals along the Fresno Street corridor; one at Thomas Avenue and the other at San Jose Avenue; as well as two traffic signal modifications to introduce protected left-turns at R Street and at Clinton Avenue. The proposed HAWK at San Jose Avenue is particularly challenging as there are several existing utilities that lie along the west side of the street making the placement of the traffic signal foundation difficult. To accommodate the three-foot diameter concrete structure, staff has been working with AT&T to relocate a conflicting telecommunication vault to a suitable location within the city’s right-of-way to make room available for placement of the signal pole’s foundation. Approval of the Application for Custom Work will initiate the work, in advance of our project going out for advertisement, to ensure the contractor will be able to start work without any interference from the utility company. The Fresno Street Corridor Improvements Project and this contract are fully funded with a Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant.
BACKGROUND
The Fresno Street Corridor Improvements Project proposes corridor-wide enhancements to pedestrian and cyclist safety and makes a positive impact to the large number of residences, schools, businesses, and places of worship. Public Works staff prepared an application package, including construction estimate, schedule, and exhibits for the 2018 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) call for projects and was ultimately selected for funding. The project proposes several improvements including pedestrian walkway upgrades, intersection lighting enhancements, striping and signage improvements, as well as traffic control measures including two traffic signal modifications to add protected left-turn phasing to existing signals and construction of two new pedestrian signals, known as Hybrid Active crossWalKs, or “HAWKs”, which will allow pedestrians to more safely cross previously unsignalized intersections.
Associated with the construction of a HAWK at Fresno Street and San Jose Avenue, Public Works Staff determined there were too many existing utilities between the curb and right-of-way to confidently select a location for one of the HAWK signal foundations. Staff then consulted with a contractor to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to locate and record these underground utilities. Upon review of the GPR utility maps staff found a best option for the pole and foundation; however, that spot requires the relocation of an AT&T utility vault. AT&T’s engineering team made an initial evaluation of the work needed for this relocation and provided staff an estimate. This Application will allow AT&T to commence with their relocation efforts and complete it before the city’s project starts.
Upon completion, this capital improvement project will provide numerous safety enhancements along the Fresno Street corridor to the residences within several Council Districts.
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the Public Works Director, or his designee, to sign and execute the Application for Custom Work - Actual Cost Basis on behalf of the City.
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, which exempts the minor alterations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of an existing use, and Section 15303/Class 3, consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure.
The proposed project consists of upgrading the existing pedestrian heads along Fresno Street from B Street to North Friant Road, modifying traffic signals at Fresno Street and R Street and at Fresno Street and Clinton Avenue, and constructing two High-Intensity Activated Crosswalks (HAWK). These operational upgrades do not constitute an expansion of use as they are safety enhancements rather than capacity enhancements. 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 considered because this application does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is located in Council Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7 and the relocation costs are included in the City’s adopted FY 2023 budget with no impact to the General Fund. The Fresno Street Corridor Improvements Project is fully funded with a Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant.
Attachments:
CEQA Determination
AT&T Application for Custom Work - Actual Cost Basis
AT&T Relocation Vicinity Map