Item 1-B

 

Council Meeting: October 8, 2002                                               Santa Monica, California

 

TO:                  Mayor and City Council

FROM:            City Staff

SUBJECT:     Award of Construction Contract for the Pedestrian and Crosswalk Improvements, Phase 2

 

Introduction

This report recommends that the City Council award a contract for the construction of Pedestrian and Crosswalk Improvements, Phase 2 to Los Angeles Engineering, Inc., the best bidder, in the amount of $4,650,135.10 (excluding contingency) and to authorize the Transportation Planning Manager to issue any necessary change orders within budget authority to a total expenditure not to exceed $457,924.90.

Background

On June 29, 1999 the City Council directed staff to complete a second Pedestrian Crosswalk Enhancements study. The study recommended ways to improve pedestrian crossings along Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Broadway and Ocean Park Boulevard. Council reviewed the study recommendations on August 8, 2000 and directed staff to design and construct them. Construction of physical improvements will take place at the following locations:

·        Wilshire Boulevard between Lincoln Boulevard and Franklin Street

·        Santa Monica Boulevard between 9th Street and Berkeley Street

·        Broadway between 10th Street and Centinela Avenue

·        Ocean Park Boulevard between Third Street and 30th Street

·        Pearl Street at 17th Street

 On February 13, 2001 the City Council requested staff to complete a Pedestrian Crosswalk Enhancements study for the length of 26th Street. Council reviewed the 26th Street recommendations on November 13, 2001 and directed staff to design and construct the improvements as part of the previously approved Phase 2 improvements. Construction on 26th Street will be at select locations south of San Vicente Boulevard to Washington Street.

Discussion

The goal of pedestrian and crosswalk improvements is to enhance pedestrian movement and safety along identified study corridors. The improvements assist in the development of increased neighborhood traffic safety as well as improving conditions in the Special Office District, specifically on Broadway and on 26th Street. This construction package includes all of the improvements to complete the implementation of crosswalk improvements along Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Broadway, Ocean Park Boulevard, the intersection of 17th/Pearl Streets and 26th Street.

The Notice Inviting Bids for construction of the project was published in the Metro section of the Los Angeles Times on August 29th and September 5th and in the Dodge Report Green Sheet on August 28 and September 12. A Notice Inviting Bids, along with the plans and specifications, was also provided to 11 construction journals and plan rooms, including 5 women/minority business enterprise (WMBE) associations. Nineteen contractors requested bid packages. The City Clerk's Office received 5 sealed bids, which were publicly opened and read aloud on September 19, 2002, by a Records and Election Services staff member. The bid results were as follows:

Contractor

Base Bid

Los Angeles Engineering, Inc.

$4,650,135.10

Griffith Company

$5,149,856.77

Sequel Contractors, Inc.

$5,349,454.30

Valley Crest

$5,468,404.55

Excel Paving

$5,672,760.55

Engineers Estimate

$4,600,000.00 to $5,000,000.00

 

City staff and its construction manager, CBM, Inc. evaluated the bids and concluded that, pursuant to criteria set forth in S.M.M.C. Section 2.24.072, Los Angeles Engineering, Inc.  submitted the best bid. Los Angeles Engineering has:

1.                  Submitted a price to do the work through the competitive bid process and was the lowest bid received;

2.                  Extensive experience in this type of work, completing the $4 million Ontario View Corridor Project for the City of Ontario in 2001, checks of other projects in the Los Angeles area similar to the Pedestrian Improvement Project have found that the projects were completed successfully and to a high standard of workmanship;

3.                  An excellent track record with clients for whom they have undertaken projects; 

4.                  A proven track record for completing projects in a timely manner;

5.                  Submitted a bid bond and will be required to provide a bond to guarantee their performance and payment of their sub-contractors and suppliers; 

6.                  Been described by references as cooperative, open minded, responsive and of a high integrity in the development of their projects;

7.                  Demonstrated to staff that both the proposed Project Manager and Supervisor are professional in their approach and quality of work;

8.                  Proposed a team of sub-contractors found to be reliable and capable; and

9.                  Undertaken work for the following municipalities in the past 2 years: Ontario, Downey, Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach, Laguna Hills, Dana Point, Irvine, Newport Beach, Paramount, Tustin and The County of Los Angeles.

The California State Contractors' License Board verified the license is current, active, and in good standing. 

 Project Schedule

Work is expected to start on the project by the end of October 2002, with completion scheduled for May 2003.

 

The improvements on the eastern half of Broadway and the installation of the new signal at Berkeley Street and Santa Monica Boulevard will be the first areas of work to be undertaken. Work will not be permitted on Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard from November 25, 2002 through January 1, 2003. Work on the paving in the intersection at Pearl and 17th Streets will be undertaken during the Santa Monica College Winter break, which runs from December 18 through January 1. Timing of construction on Wilshire Blvd. will be coordinated with the streetlight project currently underway on this street.

 

Improvements on all of the streets will be constructed as expeditiously as possible without major disruption of traffic. Special consideration will be given to the work at the intersection of 26TH Street and Washington, where the new round about is to be installed. Staff is coordinating other City projects to avoid conflicts and reduce inconvenience for people traveling in the City.

 

Budget/Financial Impact:

This project requires funds for unanticipated costs due to required lighting upgrades and curb ramp redesigns. As construction drawings were created additional expenses were identified. The construction of the roundabout at the intersection of 26th Street and Washington Avenue necessitates the installation of additional lighting. The existing lighting on 26th Street is a series design and cannot support additional lighting. The upgrading of this lighting is currently not funded or scheduled, thus this project is rewiring two blocks of street lighting to not delay the improvements at this intersection. Similarly, this project is undertaking the necessary redesign on dozens of pedestrian curb ramps to make them ADA compliant. Although the City’s Engineering and Architecture Division would eventually undertake this work, these ramps are in the most difficult locations and necessitate the costly relocation of storm drains.

Funds required for this project are as follows:

Construction Contract, excluding contingency

$4,650,135.10

Authorized Funding Total

$5,108,060.00

 

Funds for the project are available in the following accounts:

Account Number

Account Description

Account Value

C20047102.589000

MTA Crosswalk TEA grant

$857,000

C20047202.589000

Caltrans SR2 School grant

$243,000

C20045602.589000

Crosswalk Imp – TEA*

$498,600

C20045603.589000

“                   “          “  *

$654,400

C01045602.589000

Crosswalk Imp -Gen Fund**

$1,329,394

C01045600.589000

“                   “         “       “

$114,376

C01045601.589000

“                   “         “       “

$156,444

C01027098.58900

Mid-City Traffic Imp

$393,350

C04021498.589000

Office Dist. Traffic Imp

$250,000

C04021499.589000

“           “        “         “

$250,000

C04021491.589000

“           “        “         “

$175,248

C01021491.589000

“           “        “         “

$186,248

TOTAL

 

$5,108,060

*City STPL funds were replaced with TEA funds at the request of the MTA ** $750,000.00 will be replaced with Proposition C funds as part of the mid-year budget action.

Compliance with AB 2522

State law requires that there be a public notice prior to the removal of a crosswalk. The proposed project will remove marked crosswalks at four locations on Santa Monica Boulevard, at: 12th, 19th, Stanford and Franklin Streets. These crosswalks are no longer necessary because the project improvements will allow pedestrians to travel no more than one block in either direction from each of these locations to reach a signalized intersection or an in-pavement flasher crosswalk. Notices were sent in March of 2002 to all residents, property owners, and business license holders within the four square blocks surrounding each intersection; notices were also posted at both ends of the crosswalks on Santa Monica Boulevard. Transportation Management staff received 20 written comments in favor of the changes and 10 opposing the changes. Although there will no longer be marked crosswalks at these locations, it will remain legal for pedestrians to cross the streets at these locations.

Recommendations:

1.      Award a contract to Los Angeles Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $4,650,135.10 excluding contingency.

  1. Authorize the Transportation Planning Manager to issue any necessary change orders within budget authority to a total expenditure not to exceed $457,924.90, pursuant to Administrative Instructions on change orders.

Prepared by:  Suzanne Frick, Director of Planning and Community Development
Lucy Dyke, Transportation Planning Manager
Beth Rolandson, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner