Agenda Item Wording:
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Riggin Avenue Widening Project Traffic and Construction Impacts - Receive a staff presentation outlining the construction phases of work, traffic detours, and resident impacts for the Riggin Avenue Widening Project Kelsey St. to Shirk St
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Deadline for Action: 5/19/2025
Submitting Department: Community Development
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Diego Corvera, Senior Civil Engineer, Diego.Corvera@visalia.city, 713-4209
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, chris.crawford@visalia.city, 713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Department Director, Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.city, 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that City Council accept the construction phasing plan and staff presentation on the construction impacts, traffic detours, and motorist impacts associated with the Riggin Avenue Widening Project Kelsey St. to Shirk St.
Background Discussion:
The Riggin Avenue Widening Project spans from Kelsey St. to Shirk St. and consists of widening the existing 2-lane street to a divided 4-lane street with the construction of center medians, landscaping, street lighting, interconnect conduit, storm drainage, turn pockets, Class IV bike lanes, and the signalization of the Riggin Ave. and Shirk St. intersection.
Industrial and residential development in the surrounding areas has increased significantly over the past ten years, resulting in greater traffic congestion in this area of the City. The widening of this segment of Riggin Avenue between Kelsey Street and Shirk Street will help alleviate this congestion. Additionally, the proposed traffic signal at the intersection of Riggin Ave. and Shirk St. will help with access to SR 198 and SR 99 interchanges along those respective roadways.
Project Anticipated Timeline:
Riggin Avenue Widening Kelsey St. to Shirk St. - Construction awarded April 2025, project anticipated to begin as early as June 2025 and be completed by early 2026. The anticipated timeline is as follows:
Phase 1 - June - August 2025
Phase 2 - August - October 2025
Phase 3 - October 2025 - January 2026
The timelines shown are approximate and are subject to change. Notice will be provided to the public throughout the process using social media and press announcements; people who travel through the area frequently are encouraged to sign up for text alerts by texting RIGGIN to 1-877-309-3802 for current project updates.
Project Phase & Traffic Control:
The project is expected to be constructed in 3 major phases as follows:
- Phase 1 - Construction of northside of Riggin Avenue - Sewer installation, curb & gutter, bike lane, streetlight conduit and partial paving. Traffic will continue to utilize the existing two-lane roadway.
- Phase 2 - Construction of southside of Riggin Avenue - Storm drain installation, curb & gutter, bike lane, streetlight conduit partial paving and southerly median curbing. Eastbound traffic will continue to utilize the northernmost section of the existing two-lane roadway and westbound traffic will be shifted to the newly constructed northside.
- Phase 3 - Construction of center of Riggin Avenue - Installation of curb & gutter, streetlights landscaping and all median curbing. Eastbound traffic will utilize the newly constructed southern section of roadway and westbound traffic will utilize the newly constructed northern section of roadway.
The roadway will be finalized with striping and signage utilizing lane shifts as typical per industry standards.
Eastbound and westbound travel is planned to remain open throughout construction. During construction a speed reduction zone may be in place to protect construction workers and motorists alike. There may be times when one lane is open and the roadway is under flagger control.
Outreach
In addition to the project notices circulated the week of May 5th, 2025 to the surrounding community, throughout the project, staff will be working with the construction manager to coordinate a robust outreach campaign that will provide the following public notifications and information:
- Construction mailers will be sent to properties within a ¼ mile radius from the project with contractor information 7-days prior to work starting.
- A text alert number has been created and has been included on the mailers that were distributed notifying the public about the City Council presentation. The text alert system will be used during construction to notify the public about phase changes, detour changes, and general construction progress.
- City social media systems will be used to provide construction information updates.
- Press releases will be sent out as project milestones are met and when the project transitions from each phase.
City staff intends to notify the public of all pertinent project information to mitigate inconveniences and frustrations that often arise with large street construction projects like this one.
Fiscal Impact:
Riggin Avenue Widening project is a multi-funded project with funds budgeted from Transportation Impact Fee (241), Measure R Regional Fund (133), and an Economic Development Administration grant.
See the project funding breakdown for both projects below.
|
Riggin Avenue Widening Project Kelsey to Shirk Budget |
|
Riggin Avenue Project Budget |
|
|
Measure R Regional Funds (Fund 133) |
$4,265,000 |
|
Traffic Impact Fee (Fund 241) |
$4,775,000 |
|
Economic Development Administration Grant |
$4,000,000 |
|
Total Project Funding |
$13,040,000 |
|
Estimated Project Costs: |
|
|
Project Management |
$200,000. |
|
Design Services |
$375,000 |
|
Acquisition Services |
$29,000 |
|
Land Acquisition (Right-of-way) |
$1,107,000 |
|
Utility Relocation (Refer to SCE relocation Agreement) |
$1,200,000 |
|
Construction (Agee Construction Corp) |
$8,098,281 |
|
Construction Contingency (~10% of Construction) |
$809,828 |
|
Construction Management ~(3.5%) |
$280,000 |
|
Traffic Signal Pole and Equipment Purchase |
$250,000 |
|
Construction Services (Material Testing, Inspection, Survey) ~ (7.5%) |
$690,000 |
|
Total Estimated Project Costs: |
$13,039,109 |
Project is currently fully funded.
Prior Council Action:
April 21, 2025
Council authorized the purchase of traffic signal poles from Jam Services, Inc., for $105,462.00, for the Riggin Ave. and Shirk St intersection associated with the Riggin Widening project from Kelsey St. to Shirk St.
April 21, 2025
Council authorized the City Manager to award the construction contract with Agee Construction Corporation for the Riggin Widening project from Kelsey St. to Shirk St. in the amount of $8,098,281.00; authorized the transfer of Measure R Regional Funds and the amendment to Measure R Supplemental Agreements.
October 21, 2024
Council Authorized the City Manager to execute and agreement with NV5, Inc. to provide construction management services for two City projects 1) Shirk Street Capacity Enhancement Project from School Ave to Riggin Ave and 2) Riggin Avenue Widening Project from Kelsey St to Shirk St in the amount of $545,707.60 & $259,369.23 respectively, combined total of $805,076.83
August 5, 2024
Council authorized the execution of Southern California Edison (SCE) Facilities Relocation Agreement for $1,081,000.00 and adopt resolution 2024-46 for the Riggin Avenue Widening Project Kelsey St to Shirk St. Project.
October 17, 2022
Council accepted grant award from the U.S. Economic Administration (EDA) for $4,000,000 and executed the EDA grant agreement for the construction of Riggin Avenue Widening project from Kelsey St to Shirk St.
March 21, 2022
Adopted resolution No. 2022-09 certifying Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2021-62 prepared for CEQA compliance as part of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) ARPA Grant for construction of the Riggin Widening Project from Kelsey Street to Shirk Street (State clearing house No. 2022010046) (Resolution No. 2022-09 required).
March 15, 2021
Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to G.C. Section 54956.8 Property: Portion of APN 077-200-006 generally located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Riggin Avenue and Shirk Street.
Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to G.C. Section 54956.8 Property: Portion of APN 077-100-088 generally located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Riggin Avenue and Shirk Street.
Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to G.C. Section 54956.8 Property: Portion of APN 077-480-001 generally located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Riggin Avenue and Kelsey Street.
September 8, 2020
Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Pursuant to G.C. Section 54956.8 Property: Portion of APN 077-480-001 generally located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Riggin Avenue and Kelsey Street.
August 17, 2020
Council authorized the City Manager to enter into a contract with 4Creeks Inc., for RFP 19-20-60 to prepare Plans, Specifications, Estimates, and Environmental Services for the Riggin Avenue Widening Project from Kelsey Street to Shirk Street, in the amount not to exceed $200,000.00.
April 6, 2020
Council authorized the execution of a measure R Supplement Agreement with the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) to secure $3.5 million of Measure R Regional Funds for the Riggin Ave. Widening from Kelsey St to Shirk.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to accept the construction phasing plan and staff presentation on the construction impacts, traffic detours, and motorist impacts associated with the Riggin Avenue Widening Project Kelsey St. to Shirk St.
end
Environmental Assessment Status:
Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2019-73
Attachments:
1. Project Location Map
2. Project Traffic Impacts and Outreach Presentation