Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorize the City Manager to award a construction contract to Bush Engineering, Inc. for two locations; Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Projects, in the amount of $282,322 (CIP 3010-72000/CP0297-999 & CIP 3010-72000/CP0476-999) and appropriate $50,200 from the Measure R Local Fund.
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Deadline for Action: 6/20/2022. This deadline is to have the construction completed prior to the beginning of school on August 11, 2022
Submitting Department: Administration - CIP Engineering
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Eric Bons, Senior Civil Engineer, Eric.Bons@visalia.city, 713-4350
Frank Senteno, City Engineer, Frank.Senteno@visalia.city, 713-4331
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager, Nick.Mascia@visalia.city, (559) 713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to award a construction contract to Bush Engineering, Inc. for the Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Projects in the amount of $282,322; and
2. Approve an appropriation of $50,200 from the Measure R Local Fund to the Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue project (CP0297).
Background Discussion:
These two projects are to provide pedestrian safety measures at two separate locations near existing elementary schools. The first location is along Linwood Street between Ferguson Avenue and Modoc Avenue. This will provide the connectivity between the existing sidewalks at each end of the project limits to provide a safe route along a county island, but within City ROW, between the existing residential neighborhood to and from Oak Grove Elementary School. The second location is at the intersection of Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue where an enhanced crosswalk with pedestrian activated flashing beacons will be installed adjacent to the existing Denton Elementary School.
The first project will construct a pedestrian pathway along the west side of Linwood Street between Ferguson Avenue and Modoc Avenue connecting to the existing sidewalk at the north and south limits of this project. Linwood Street is a City of Visalia roadway, however the parcels to the west along this segment are still within the County. This segment of Linwood Street is currently a two-lane roadway with graded shoulders. The pedestrian pathway’s design is consistent with the neighborhood’s rural setting. The pathway will meander along the west side of Linwood Street adjacent to an abandoned irrigation ditch which will be retained to function as a swale to collect any urban runoff. Oak Grove Elementary is located south of the intersection of Linwood Street at Ferguson Avenue and student walk along Linwood Street from the existing residential houses located north of the project limits to the elementary school. The proposed pedestrian pathway will provide a separate all weather surfaced pathway connecting the existing sidewalks at the limits of this project. This is an already developed area that will be annexed into the City. This is an opportunity to provide a safer route for pedestrians prior to annexation since further development will not occur that would provide this sidewalk.
In recent years there has been a significant construction of residential houses in the northwest Visalia area. This growth caused the Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) to construct a new elementary (Denton Elementary) at the corner of Denton and Ferguson to facilitate the need. This new school initiated a minor re boundary of the elementary schools in this area including Hurley, Goshen, Oak Grove and Denton Elementary. When the re boundary occurred busing was adjusted which removed Oak Grove students from bus services to now walking. This occurred in 2018 with the opening of Denton Elementary in 2019. The path leads the displaced Oak Grove students to Linwood Street where a county island exists without the normal sidewalk and infrastructure built. There have been multiple meeting with VUSD and Oak Grove Elementary parents who have expressed the need for a connective pathway along this segment of Linwood Street for students walking to and from school.
The second project will construct an enhanced crosswalk at the intersection of Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue which is adjacent to Denton Elementary School. This enhanced crosswalk also provides access to Lyons Park located on the north side of Ferguson Avenue at Denton Street. The enhanced crosswalk will provide for a safer crossing of Ferguson Avenue and provide connectivity between the residential neighborhood on either side of Ferguson Avenue. The existing school crosswalk will be relocated to the west side of the intersection closer to Denton Elementary School, provide pedestrian activated flashing beacons, the installation of a median island, and bulbouts for the protection of the pedestrian crossing Ferguson Avenue. The existing school crosswalk on the east side of the intersection crossing Ferguson Avenue will be removed in its entirety so that all pedestrian traffic is funneled to cross at a single location. The existing school crosswalk crossing Denton Street will remain.
This location meet the California Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA-MUTCD) criteria for the installation of the flashing beacons due to the high number of pedestrian crossing associated with Denton Elementary School and the use of Lions Park located on the north side of Ferguson Avenue. The majority of the students attending Denton Elementary walk to school.
The Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Projects were advertised together because they are similar in scope which can be completed by a single contractor.
Construction is expected to begin the first week of July and has been specified to be completed by August 4; which is one-week prior to the start of school, as to minimize any construction activity that would hinder school traffic.
Bidding Process:
These two projects were advertised together (RFB 21-22-52 and RFB 21-22-54) for the Installation of the Enhance Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Project and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Project since they are complimentary projects. Staff advertised these two projects which closed on June 3, 2022. Three (3) companies responded with the following bids:
Bush American Avison
Engineering Inc. Paving Co Construction Co.
Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton
Street and Ferguson Avenue $145,107 $214,370 $27,697
Linwood St Pedestrian Pathway $137,215 $195,490 $192,163
Total: $282,322 $409,860 $463,860
Staff has reviewed the bids and found that each bidder submitted the required information. Bush Engineering, Inc. bid proposal was determined to be the lowest responsive bid and as part of the bid review process, the reference provided by Bush Engineering, Inc. have been verified. The response from each reference was favorable and demonstrated Bush Engineering, Inc. and their listed sub-contractors can perform the work for these two projects.
Fiscal Impact:
Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue Project (CP0297)
The Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue project is funded by the Measure R Local fund (131) and the Gas Tax fund (111) with a total project budget of $190,000.
The table below shows the budget summary for the Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue project:
Project Funding:
Measure R Local fund (131) $110,000
Gas Tax fund (111) $80,000
Total Project Funding: $190,000
Project Costs:
Design Staff Time $30,800
Design -Consultant (QK Inc.) $36,760
Construction Contract $145,130
Construction Contingency (Estimated 10%) $14,510
Material Testing (Estimated) $3,000
Surveying (Estimated) $5,000
Construction Management -Staff Time (Estimated) $5,000
Total Project Costs: $240,200
Summary:
Total Project Funding: $190,000
Total Project Cost: $240,200
Budget Surplus/(Deficit): ($50,200)
Additional Appropriation Needed: $50,200
Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Project (CP0476)
The Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway project is funded by the Measure R Local fund (131) and the Gas Tax Fund (111) with a total project budget of $232,000.
The table below shows the budget summary for the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway project:
Project Funding:
Measure R Local fund (131) $57,000
Gas Tax fund (111) $175,000
Total Project Funding: $232,000
Project Costs:
Design Staff Time (Estimated) $9,400
Design -Consultant (QK Inc.) $42,943
Construction Contract $137,215
Construction Contingency (Estimated 10%) $13,722
Material Testing (Estimated) $5,000
Surveying (Estimated) $5,000
Construction Management -Staff Time (Estimated) $5,000
Total Project Costs: $218,280
Summary:
Total Project Funding: $232,000
Total Project Cost: $218,280
Budget Surplus/(Deficit): $13,720
Staff recommends additional funds in the amount of $50,200 be appropriated from the Measure R Local Fund to the CP0297 Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton St. & Ferguson Ave. project to address the budget shortfall. Any remaining funding allocated to these projects will be returned to the funding source once the projects are completed.
Prior Council Action:
April 5, 2021 - City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with QK, Inc. for the design of the Denton Street at Ferguson Avenue Enhanced Crosswalk and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway projects in the amount of $79,706.
Alternatives:
Reject all bids and re-bid the projects or do not complete the project.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Bush Engineering, Inc. for the Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue and the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway Projects in the amount of $282,322 and appropriate $50,200 from the Measure R Local Fund.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
No NEPA Environmental Assessment required for this project.
CEQA Review:
Categorical Exemption, Section 15301(c), issued March 16, 2022, for the Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton Street and Ferguson Avenue project.
Categorical Exemption, Section 15304(c), issued March 16, 2022, for the Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway project.
Attachments:
Project Location Map: Enhanced Crosswalk at Denton St and Ferguson Ave.
Project Location Map: Linwood Street Pedestrian Pathway.
Bid Summary
Contract Disclosure Form.