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
JESUS AVITIA, Deputy City Engineer
Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Amendment No. 2 to Cooperative Project Agreement for Short-Term Regional Transportation Program Urban Project I2, the Peach Avenue Widening from Jensen Avenue to Butler Avenue, in the amount of $2,850,000 with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (Council Districts 5)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Amendment No. 2 to the Cooperative Project Agreement with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) for Short-Term Regional Transportation Program Urban Project I2, the Peach Avenue Widening from Jensen Avenue to Butler Avenue, in the amount of $2,850,000, which brings the total project funding amount to $5,710,400, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the amendment on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Peach Avenue Widening Project between Jensen Avenue and Butler Avenue (Project I2) was included in the Measure “C” Regional Tier 1 Urban projects list in the voter-approved Measure “C” Expenditure Plan in 2006. Due to significant increases in construction costs through the industry, additional Measure “C” Regional Program funds are needed to fully fund the project. Staff has worked with the Fresno Council of Governments and the FCTA on this amendment which will fully fund construction of Phase 1 of Project I2, which is the Peach Avenue Widening from Butler Avenue to Florence Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno seeks to construct street improvements and widen Peach Avenue between Jensen Avenue and Butler Avenue from two lanes to a four-lane arterial with median landscaping, protected-left-turn-lanes, bike lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalk, landscaping, streetlights, and traffic signal facilities. In 2014, due to funding constraints the project was split into two phases. Phase 1 (Project I2B) of the project is between Butler Avenue and Florence Avenue and Phase 2 (Project I2C) is between Florence Avenue and Jensen Avenue. Phase 2 will be completed as funding becomes available and/or development occurs.
In November 2006, the voters approved a 20-year extension of Measure C, the half-cent sales tax for transportation. On January 27, 2009, the Council adopted Resolution No. 2009-19 in support of the proposed Measure C Short-Term Regional Transportation Program. The program and associated handbook were approved by the Council of Fresno County Governments (FCOG) on January 29, 2009, and in turn by the FCTA on February 18, 2009. FCTA staff then prepared a Measure C Cooperative Project Agreement for Project I2 Peach Avenue Widening Project for preliminary engineering funding on December 16, 2009. Partial construction funding was added to the project via Amendment No. 1 executed on October 28, 2020.
The City completed the northern segment of the Measure “C” Peach Avenue widening project between Belmont Avenue and Kings Canyon Road utilizing a State grant leveraged by Measure “C” funding in the first ten years of the current Measure.
The City will fulfill its commitment of using Local Development Fees for the 20% match.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved Amendment No. 2 to Cooperative Project Agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 the contract amendment approval does not qualify as a project as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Peach Avenue Widening Project is within Council District 5. This request will have no impact to the General Fund. All project costs for the engineering design phase, right of way acquisition, and construction costs will be paid using Measure C and local Developer Impact Fee funds. The proposed amendment provides the necessary funding to fully fund construction of Phase 1 of Project I2, which is Peach Avenue Widening from Butler Avenue to Florence Avenue.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Amendment No. 2 to Cooperative Project Agreement