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, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project - Bid File 12301743 (Citywide)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2, and Section 15303/Class 3 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. ***RESOLUTION - 41st Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2022-154 appropriating $200,300 for the BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements project (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
3. Award a construction contract in the amount of $1,469,097 to Pelagic Engineering, of Oxnard, California
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), and Section 15303/Class 3 (New Construction of Conversion or Small Structures), approve the 41st Amendment to Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2022-154, award a construction contract with Pelagic Engineering, of Oxnard, California in the amount of $1,469,097 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The scope of work proposed for the BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project includes replacement of pedestrian indication heads (ped-heads) with “countdown” type heads, replacement of pedestrian pushbuttons (PPBs) with accessible pedestrian signal (APS), or audible PPBs, and refreshing crosswalk striping where needed. This work affects 51 intersections along Blackstone Avenue, from Divisadero Street to Nees Avenue, and Ventura Avenue/Kings Canyon Road from Van Ness Avenue to Phillip Avenue - effectively the entire BRT corridor. This project is funded with a grant from the Federal Active Transportation Program (ATP Cycle 3), with supplemental funding provided through Measure C.
BACKGROUND
The BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project was included with the City’s application package for the State of California’s ATP Cycle 3 Call for Projects that was adopted by Council resolution on May 28, 2016. The project was initiated when the grant funding for design became available and approved in the FY2020 budget. Project design commenced thereafter, and preliminary engineering design and project management took approximately 30 months.
The BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project will remove and replace existing pedestrian signal heads at many of the signalized intersections along the BRT corridor: Blackstone Avenue, from Divisadero Street to Nees Avenue, and Ventura Avenue/Kings Canyon Road from Van Ness Avenue to Phillip Avenue, totaling fifty-one (51) affected intersections. The scope of the project includes pedestrian indication head upgrades to the current “countdown” style at 46 intersections. Some existing ped-heads have previously been upgraded to this technology, some needing only a height adjustment to bring them into full compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. Additionally, there are 38 intersections which need pedestrian push buttons upgraded to the ADA-compliant models which provide audible and tactile feedback for vision and hearing-impaired roadway users. The project scope also includes replacement of crosswalk stripes that have become faded, worn, or otherwise damaged at 18 intersections. In all, 51 intersections along the Blackstone Avenue and Ventura Avenue/Kings Canyon Road corridors will receive pedestrian improvements.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s website on February 22, 2023, and sent to 10 building exchanges. Specifications were distributed to 13 prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bids were received and opened in the public bid opening held at City Hall on March 28, 2023, with bid proposals ranging from $1,469,097 to $2,461,450. Pelagic Engineering, with their bid of $1,469,097, was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids expire on May 31, 2023. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days.
The project’s construction grant funding authorization was received prior to the City’s adoption of the Community Workforce Agreement (PLA); therefore, the project labor agreement requirements were not applied to this project.
Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to Pelagic Engineering in the amount of $1,469,097 for the BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project 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/Class 1 (Existing Facilities), which exempts the repair and maintenance of existing facilities that involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use, Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced, and Section15303/Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), consisting of construction and location of limited numbers of new small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment of 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. These exemptions apply because this project involves partial reconstruction of a traffic signal, reconstruction of sidewalks and accessible ramps that do not involve 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
Not applicable due to the requirements of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The BRT Corridor Pedestrian Improvements Project affects intersection locations in all seven Council Districts. The overall cost of the project is $1,914,400 and is grant funded by a federal Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant. The required local match is funded by Measure C ADA Compliance funds. Of the overall budget of the project, $1,469,097 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 2024 budget. The project will have no impact to the General Fund.
Attachment(s):
CEQA Environmental Assessment
41st Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2022-154
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standardized Contract