TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: APRIL 23, 2024
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH GARCON CONSTRUCTION FOR THE COLLEGE AVENUE AT GREEN STREET BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, CIP 2022-01, UPGRADING THE PROJECT RESURFACING FROM SLURRY SEAL TO RUBBERIZED ASPHALT OVERLAY (FUNDING SOURCE: PROPOSITION C FUND)
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SUMMARY
On January 24, 2023, the City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Garcon Construction for the College Avenue at Green Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Project, CIP 2022-01.
The project includes the removal of the existing traffic signal located on College Avenue at Kirkwood Avenue and the relocation of this signal a short distance north, to the College Avenue at Green Street intersection. This project also includes American with Disabilities (ADA) improvements, bicycle improvements, and roadway striping as necessary on College Avenue from First Street to Arrow Highway.
This project was selected by the San Gabriel Council of Governments (SGVCOG) for Measure M grant funding in 2018, with the Los Angeles Country Metro Board approval for funding expenditures following in May 2019. The City Council approved a contract for the completion of this project in January 2023. A Notice to Proceed was issued in March 2024, once the delays related to coordination with utility work, and long lead times for the traffic signal equipment were resolved.
Staff evaluated the condition of the roadway after the completion of utility work on College Avenue from the railroad tracks to Arrow Highway, and the current condition of the roadway is no longer recommended for a slurry seal treatment, as requested in the City’s grant application from 2018. A two-inch grind and pave with rubberized asphalt is now more appropriate given the combination of utility trenches and street cuts that will be visible following the implementation of the bike and pedestrian improvements currently being constructed.
Staff recommends amending the agreement with Garcon Construction and appropriating additional funds in the amount of $242,000 to perform a two-inch grind and rubberized asphalt overlay, to provide an appropriate roadway condition at the completion of the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Authorize the City Manager to amend the existing agreement with Garcon Construction to increase compensation by $242,000, for a total agreement amount of $989,054, for the College Avenue at Green Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements Project;
B. Appropriate $242,000 from the Proposition C fund to fully fund the project; and
C. Find this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The cost to amend the contract with Garcon Construction is $242,000. The project funding summary is below:
|
Garcon Construction |
$679,140 |
Approved 1/24/23 |
|
10% Contingency - Construction |
$67,914 |
Approved 1/24/23 |
|
Amendment Request |
$242,000 |
Pending |
|
Requested Total Authorization |
$989,054 |
Pending |
Staff recommends appropriating $242,000 in Proposition C funds to fund the project, which will bring the total contract amount to $989,054.
The cost associated with the preparation of this staff report is estimated at $700 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
The City of Claremont worked with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and their team of consultants as well as local bicycle and pedestrian advocates and community stakeholders to prepare and adopt the Gold Line Foothill Extension 2B First/Last Mile (FLM) Plan. The FLM plan includes the proposed improvements at College Avenue and Green Street.
LACMTA awarded the City of Claremont $686,945 in Measure M Multi-Year Sub-regional Program (MSP) First/Last Mile and Complete Streets Program funds allocated for the San Gabriel Sub-region for the implementation of this project. These funds were approved in May 2019 and were originally required to be spent by June 30, 2022. A time extension was executed to allow for the completion of this project by June 30, 2024. Initially, this project was expected to commence in June 2023, with construction completed in September 2023. The project experienced delays related to coordination with utility work necessary to be completed on College Avenue and long lead times of over 20 weeks for the delivery of traffic signal equipment. As a result, construction did not begin until March 2024. Completion is now on schedule to be completed in May 2024.
The intersection of College Avenue at Green Street was identified as an area of need in the LACMTA approved FLM plan. The FLM components being addressed at this intersection are listed below:
1. Traffic Signal on College Avenue at Green Street
a. Accessible push buttons
b. Countdown pedestrian signal heads
c. Pedestrian lighting
d. Video detection
i. Bicycle detection
2. Improved Pedestrian Crossings
a. Ladder style crosswalks
b. Bulb-outs
c. Reconstructed ADA ramps
d. Striping adjustments
3. Ancillary Items
a. Removal of the existing traffic signal on College Avenue at Kirkwood Avenue
b. Reconstructed ADA ramps at College Avenue and Kirkwood Avenue
c. Striping adjustments from First Street to Arrow Highway as needed
Slurry seal resurfacing was originally included with the project submitted for consideration in 2018. Due to utility work performed on College Avenue in 2023, the roadway surface will no longer benefit from a slurry seal, and now requires a two inch grind and rubberized asphalt overlay. This will ensure the roadway improvements meet the anticipated life expectancy of ten to twenty years.
The intersection of College Avenue at Green Street will serve as an important connection to the existing Metrolink station, the proposed future Gold Line light rail station, and the future Village South Specific Plan (VSSP) area. The Metrolink and future Gold Line stations are located directly north of the proposed improvements on College Avenue. In addition, once the VSSP public improvements are constructed, a signalized intersection on Indian Hill Boulevard at Green Street will provide pedestrian and bicycle connections to the VSSP area by way of a proposed public street extension of Green Street to Bucknell Avenue and to Arrow Highway. This nexus is identified in the FLM plan and the Multimodal Regional Corridor Plan for Arrow Highway (MMRP).
Additionally, the College Avenue at Green Street traffic signal will better serve families with children attending Oakmont Elementary School. The school entrance faces Green Street and this traffic signal will better assist directing families and children to the appropriate entrance to the school, where the school’s main ADA features are provided. The College and Kirkwood signal, originally installed to provide pedestrian safety and access to the school from College Avenue, no longer serves this purpose as the families and children are now required to access the school from Green Street. Over the years, staff has received requests to improve pedestrian conditions and access at College and Green to better serve the neighborhood and school.
To move forward and complete this project, staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to amend the construction contract with Garcon Construction in the amount of $242,000 to provide for a two inch grind and asphalt overlay for a more appropriate finished surface on College Avenue from First Street to Arrow Highway. If approved, the total contract amount will be $989,054.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainability Plan, General Plan, and the 2022-24 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item (Authorization to Amend the Construction Contract with Garcon Construction for the College Avenue at Green Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements, CIP 2022-01, Upgrading the Project Resurfacing from Slurry Seal to Rubberized Asphalt Overlay), the College Avenue at Green Street Bike and Pedestrian Improvements is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA guidelines. This Class 1 exemption allows for the maintenance and repair of topographical features with negligible or no expansion. The project will perform maintenance work on existing infrastructure (asphalt, curb, gutter, and sidewalk). The work being performed is within existing right-of-way areas and will not expand the capacity of the roadway infrastructure.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a paper copy, please contact the City Clerk.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Vincent Ramos
Community Development Director Associate Engineer
Reviewed by:
Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
City Engineer