HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08 - Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper Project, Sewer Pipe Relocations and Construction Contingency Department Name: Utilities
Cost Center: 6102
For Agenda of: January 19, 2021
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Aaron Floyd, Utilities Director
Prepared by: David Hix, Utilities Deputy Director - Sewer
Miguel Barcenas, Interim Deputy Director Engineering and Planning
SUBJECT: RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL TAFT TO PEPPER PROJECT, SPECIFICATION
NO. 91375, SEWER PIPE RELOCATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
CONTINGENCY
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a Resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the use of $50,000 from Sewer Fund
Unassigned Working Capital to increase available construction contingency for the completion
of the Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper Project, Specification No. 91375.
DISCUSSION
On August 21, 2020 the Railroad Safety Trail – Taft to Pepper Project, Spec. 91375, was
awarded to Souza Contraction Inc. in the amount of $3,774,960. The project includes pedestrian
safety improvements over the railroad right of way, and some required utility relocations of
sewer and water pipes. Construction began on October 5, 2020 and is anticipated to be complete
in the summer of 2021.
The contractor began the project with
clearing and grubbing operations
within the proposed alignment for
pedestrian safety improvements. The
clearing of trees and vegetation had
uncovered unforeseen conditions on
the existing sewer system at the north
end of the project. Staff initially
determined that the sewer mainline
and its alignment were satisfactory
and would not require replacement.
As a result of discovering the sewer
main’s poor condition, replacement of
an additional 242 feet of 6” clay sewer
pipeline and one maintenance-hole is
being recommended.
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Completing this work now would renew all City infrastructure along the new pathway, reduce
the likelihood of potential sewer failures that could result in costly damages to the new pathway
or in a sewage spill. The contractor is currently under contract with the City and has all the
permits and authorization from Union Pacific Railroad to complete this work. Future
replacement will likely result in higher replacement costs, additional delays to obtain the
required permits to work near the railroad, and limited access to the site after completion of the
safety trail.
The plan and the cost provided by the contractor will replace the six-inch clay sewer pipeline
with new 8-inch HDPE sewer pipeline, which will reduce maintenance costs. Wastewater
Collection staff performs routine preventative maintenance in this region once every 6 months.
With the replacement of the additional pipe segments near the railroad right of way, periodic
maintenance requirements will be significantly reduced.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Actions
The City Council approved advertisement of the Project on March 17, 2020 (Attachment B). The
award of the Project was approved by the City Manager on August 21, 2020.
Policy Context
This project involves the replacement of poor condition sewer mainline that will maintain
compliance State Water Resources Control Board’s regulations and the City’s adopted Sanitar y
Sewer System Management Plan. This project also aligns with the City’s General Plan goal to
collect and convey all wastewater under safe and sanitary conditions to the Water Resource
Recovery Facility.
The collection and conveyance of all wastewater under safe and sanitary conditions to the Water
Resource Recovery is a goal in the Wastewater Element of the City’s General Plan.
Public Engagement
The City maintains a copy of the Sewer System Management Plan on the City’s Utilities
Department website. Outreach is also performed through various City programs including the
Environmental Compliance (Pretreatment) Program and Capital Improvement Program.
CONCURRENCE
Public Works staff concurs with this request.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
An initial study of this Project was conducted, and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was
filed to the County of San Luis Obispo on May 19, 2017. All construction plans conform to those
mitigations found in the MND.
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FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: FY 20-21
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources Current FY
Available Budget
Additional
Funding Total Project Cost
Local Funds $2,516,108 $2,516,108
State Funds $3,494,000 $3,494,000
Federal
Fees
Other: Sewer Fund $0 $50,000 $50,000
Total $6,010,108 $50,000 $6,060,108
City Council approved the 2019-21 Financial Plan – Capital Improvement Program, which
identified the Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper (Project) with a total budget of $6,010,108.
To increase the contingencies for sewer related improvements for the Project would cost a total of
$50,000, increasing the total project budget from $6,010,108 to $6,060,108. Sewer Fund
Unassigned Working Capital has an available bal ance of over $30 million to accommodate the
recommendation.
ALTERNATIVE
Do not approve the Resolution. The Council may elect not to approve the Resolution
authorizing additional contingency; however, staff does not recommend this alternative as future
replacement will likely result in higher replacement costs, ongoing maintenance is costly and
time consuming and failure of pipeline would result in closure of the safety trail to perform
emergency repairs.
Attachments:
a - Draft Resolution
b - Council Agenda Report dated March 17, 2020
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2021 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING USE OF SEWER FUND
UNASSIGNED WORKING CAPITAL TO INCREASE CONSTRUCTION
CONTINGENCIES FOR THE RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL TAFT TO
PEPPER PROJECT, SPECIFICATION NO. 91375, SEWER PIPE
RELOCATIONS
WHEREAS, in June of 2017, the City Council approved 2019-21 Financial Plan – Capital
Improvement Program, which identified the Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper (Project) with a
total budget of $6,010,108; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the City Council approved the Railroad Safety Trail Taft
to Pepper Project (Project) to advertise for bids; and
WHEREAS, on August 21, 2020, City Manager awarded the construction contract to
Souza Construction Inc. in the amount of $3,774,960.26, and authorized $630,000.00 for
construction contingencies related to transportation improvements; and
WHEREAS, it has been discovered during construction that several hundred feet of sewer
line are in poor condition and must be replaced to provide safe and sanitary conveyance of
wastewater; and
WHEREAS, to ensure adequate funding is available for completion of the Project, staff is
recommending the City Council approve use of $50,000 from Sewer Fund, Unassigned Working
Capital to appropriate project contingencies related to unforeseen conditions for sewer pipe
replacements; and
WHEREAS, a balance of approximately $30 million is available from Sewer Fund,
Unassigned Working Capital to fund the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council authorizes staff to transfer $50,000 from the Sewer Fund,
Unassigned Working Capital to the Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper Project, Specification No.
91375, for sewer related improvements as it is a high priority City project as shown in the attached
Budget Amendment Request (Exhibit A).
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Resolution No. _____ (2021 Series) Page 2
R ______
SECTION 2. Environmental Review. An initial study of this Project was conducted, and
a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was filed to the County of San Luis Obispo on May 19,
2017. All construction plans conform to those mitigations found in the MND.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2021.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, on ___________________________.
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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Department Name: Public Works
Cost Center: 5010
For Agenda of: March 17, 2020
Placement: Consent Item
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Shelly Stanwyck, Assistant City Manager, Community Services
Prepared By: Bryan Wheeler, Transportation Planner-Engineer III
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE AND AWARD RAILROAD SAFETY
TRAIL TAFT TO PEPPER PROJECT, SPECIFICATION NO. 91375
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve plans and specifications for the Railroad Safety Trail Taft to Pepper Project
(Project), Specification No. 91375 and authorize staff to formally advertise for bids; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract if the lowest responsible bid
is within the publicly disclosed funding amount of $5,070,600; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to award the construction management contract if the lowest
responsible bid is within the publicly disclosed funding amount of $603,750; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to award the railroad services contracts for flagging and
permitting, not to exceed the publicly disclosed funding amount of $110,000.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Railroad Safety Trail (RRST) has long been one of the highest-priority multimodal
transportation projects in the City of San Luis Obispo (City)—a crosstown, dedicated facility for
pedestrians and bicyclists connecting the southern City limits north to California Polytechnic
State University (Cal Poly). Over the past two decades, approximately 40 percent of the total
four-mile trail has been completed and existing portions of the trail are enjoyed by over 1,000
pedestrians and cyclists per day. This Project proposal includes construction of the next segment
of the RRST from Taft Street to Pepper Street. It segment was included in the 2013 Bicycle
Transportation Plan (Attachment A) and supports the current Major City Goal to improve
Sustainable Transportation in the City.
The RRST extension from Taft Street to Pepper Street will encompass about 0.4 miles from the
existing trail alignment on the west side of California Boulevard, near Taft Street, south along
the existing bridge crossing over Highway 101, then shifting away from California Boulevard
behind the California Highway Patrol (CHP) property to a new bicycle/pedestrian bridge
crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and connecting Phillips Lane to Pepper Street.
A Project vicinity map and bridge rendering shown below (Figure 1 & 2).
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Figure 1: Study Area Map
Figure 2: Rendering of Railroad Safety Trail Bridge over UPRR Tracks between Phillips and Pepper
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Caltrans Active Transportation Program Grant
In 2015, the City applied for a Caltrans Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant for the
Project and was awarded $3.24 million in funding towards Project construction. Over the past
five plus years, the Project progressed with planning, design, environmental review, permitting
and right-of-way acquisition to the current “shovel-ready” stage. After diligent negotiations with
UPRR, the State, and a private property owner, all property acquisition necessary to construct the
Project were completed in summer of 2019. At this time, staff has completed the Plans,
Specifications and Estimates and the Project is ready to be advertised for construction.
Project Scope of Work
The construction package attached to this Report includes plans and specifications for
construction of the RRST between Taft Street and Pepper Street. The designs include the
following elements:
a. Taft Street to Highway 101 Overcrossing – Separated Class I bicycle/pedestrian trail
along the west side of California Boulevard from Taft Street to the Highway 101
overcrossing.
b. Highway 101 Overcrossing – On-street Class IV protected two-way bikeway (“cycle
track”) along the existing California Boulevard bridge crossing over Highway 101. A
metal railing physically separates cyclists from motor vehicles and the existing sidewalk
serves pedestrian travel along the bridge.
c. Highway 101 Overcrossing to Phillips Lane – Separated Class I bicycle/pedestrian trail
shifts behind the CHP headquarters connecting to the Phillips Lane cul-de-sac.
d. Phillips Lane to Pepper Street – A new bicycle/pedestrian bridge connects Phillips
Lane on the north side of the UPRR tracks south to Pepper Street.
e. Other Elements
1. ADA curb ramps and path-of-travel upgrades at the Highway 101 bridge.
2. Widening of the Highway 101 offramp at California Boulevard to provide additional
queue storage (a requirement for Caltrans approval)
3. Resurfacing and re-striping along California Boulevard from Taft Street to the
Northbound Hwy 101 On- and Off-ramps.
4. Lighting system for the Class I trail.
Construction plans, specifications, and engineer’s estimate are provided as City Council Reading
Files as Attachment B thru D.
Next Phases of the Railroad Safety Trail Project
Upon completion of the Project, several gaps will remain along the RRST, totaling
approximately 1.5 miles. With completion of planned and pending development within the
Orcutt Area, the segment of the RRST between Tank Farm Road and the Jennifer Street Bridge
is anticipated to be fully connected within the next few years. This leaves about a one-mile gap
between Pepper Street and the Jennifer Street Bridge to complete the four-mile continuous
crosstown route. The preferred alignment and type of facility to complete this final RRST gap
will be identified in the City’s Active Transportation Plan, which is currently being drafted, and
is scheduled for completion later in 2020.
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Public Engagement
This Project was vetted by the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee in 2011 and has continued to
be identified as a top project priority each year by the Active Transportation Committee (ATC).
The project was included in the 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan and 2014 General Plan
Circulation Element, each of which included several public engagement opportunities. During
public outreach activities conducted in fall of 2019 for the upcoming Active Transportation Plan,
completion of the RRST was commonly expressed as one of the highest priority projects for
community members.
Policy Consistency
This project is identified in the RRST Plan, adopted in 2002, the General Plan Circulation
Element, and the City’s Bicycle Transportation Plan (BTP), adopted in 2013.
Construction of this RRST segment furthers the adopted 2019-21 Major City Goal: Multi-Modal
Transportation - Prioritize implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan, pedestrian safety, and the
Short-Range Transit Plan.
CONCURRENCE
The Project has been reviewed by the ATC and is a top priority for the committee to achieve the
City’s Sustainable Transportation Major City Goal. Updates have been provided to the ATC
throughout the project process.
The project came before City Council on August 20, 2019 to approve the transfer of funds from
the Transportation Impact Fee Program to the project. The RRST project was included in the
Citywide Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) program, and staff requested the transfer of
$2,894,163 in total from the Citywide TIF account to the RRST project account to fund the
property acquisition ($496,000) and construction funding shortfall ($2,398,163).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
An initial study of this Project was conducted, and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was
filed to the County of San Luis Obispo on May 19, 2017. All construction plans conform to those
mitigations found in the MND.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2017-18
Funding Identified: Yes
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Fiscal Analysis:
RRST- Taft to Pepper (91375)
Project Costs
Construction Costs $4,440,600
Construction Contingencies (15%) $630,000
Total Costs for this Construction Contract $5,070,600
Additional Items Outside Construction Contract (UPRR Items) $110,000
Construction Management & Materials Testing $603,750
Total for Construction $5,784,350
Project Funding
State Funds (Caltrans ATP Grant & SHA Funds) $3,494,000
Local Funds (Citywide TIF & Local Revenue Measure) $2,516,108
Total Available Funds $6,010,108
Funding Sources Current FY Cost
Annualized
On-going Cost
Total Project
Cost
General Fund (LRM) $117,108
State (ATP Grant) $3,244,000
State (SHA) $250,000
Federal $0
Fees $0
Other: Citywide TIF $2,399,000
Total $6,010,108
The total construction cost for this project is estimated at $5,784,350, which includes
construction costs and contingencies related to this bid package ($5,070,600), construction
management and materials testing ($603,750) and related railroad flagging and permit review
costs, ($110,000). Construction Management support for this project will be procured via a
Request for Proposals (RFP) process through the City’s existing on-call construction
management contracts.
To date, $748,717 has been used or encumbered for property acquisition, environmental review
and project design.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council may choose not to authorize advertising for construction at this time. However, this
is not recommended because there is adequate funding for the project, the improvements will
provide a much-desired expansion of the Railroad Safety Trail to Cal Poly for bicyclists and
pedestrians, and this project will set up a critical link for the Railroad Safety Trail to connect
with Downtown San Luis Obispo. Further, if a construction contract is not awarded by June
2020, the City would risk forfeiture of the $3.24 million in Caltrans ATP grant funds.
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Attachments:
a - Project Page from 2013 Bicycle Transportation Plan
b - COUNCIL READING FILE - Project Plans
c - COUNCIL READING FILE - Special Provisions
d - COUNCIL READING FILE - Project Estimate
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