TITLE:
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ADAMS AVENUE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS - MULTIPURPOSE TRAILS
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DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: RAJA SETHURAMAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
CONTACT INFORMATION: RAMIN NIKOUI, SENIOR ENGINEER, (714) 754-5184
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Award a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) (Attachment 1) to Onward Engineering in the amount of $374,517, for professional engineering design services for the Adams Avenue Active Transportation Improvements - Multipurpose Trails project, with an initial term period of five years, effective January 21, 2025 - January 20, 2030.
2. Authorize a ten percent (10%) contingency in the amount of $37,452 for any unforeseen costs that may be required by the project.
3. Authorize the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the PSA and any future amendments to the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
The Adams Avenue Active Transportation Improvements - Multipurpose Trails project (Project) is a multi-modal corridor improvement project that will implement protected bikeways and sidewalk/accessibility improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians along Adams Avenue from the Santa Ana River to Royal Palm Drive (Attachment 2). In 2019, the City commenced the design phase of the Project and in 2020 city staff conducted two community outreach meetings to obtain feedback on different design alternatives. The public was asked to select their preferred alternative through an online survey. The survey results showed that a Class I Multi-use path was the preferred option. A Class I Multi-use path is a paved trail/pathway that is shared by both pedestrians and bicyclists and that is physically separated from vehicles. The conceptual rendering of this option is shown in Attachment 3. This alternative requires curb extensions with new curb and gutter, signing and striping, slurry seal, median modifications, landscaping and irrigation, streetlighting relocations, utility relocations or adjustments, and traffic signal modifications. The project will also require the undergrounding of overhead electrical lines and other utilities along Adams Avenue.
Following the community outreach, the project was placed on a temporary hold due to the pandemic. In 2024, Public Works staff implemented a pavement rehabilitation project along Adams Avenue to address the significantly deteriorated pavement conditions.
The design of the Adams Avenue undergrounding effort is currently underway as part of a separate Capital Improvement Project in coordination with Southern California Edison (SCE) and other affected utility companies. It is anticipated that undergrounding activity will be initiated in late 2025.
In 2023, the City received a federal Orange County Complete Streets Program (OCCSP) grant to partially fund the construction of the active transportation improvements. Due to the recently accelerated federal funding deadlines for the grant, the design of the Project needs to be expedited and federal construction authorization obtained in early 2026. The project is anticipated to begin construction in 2027 after all the undergrounding work has been completed.
ANALYSIS:
On October 4, 2024, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional engineering design services for the Adams Avenue Active Transportation Improvements - Multipurpose Trails project. Four (4) proposals were received to provide professional engineering design services. Proposals were reviewed for compliance with the City’s RFP, and consultants were evaluated based on project understanding, depth of experience, technical expertise, and associated evaluation criteria.
After a thorough evaluation of the proposals, staff finds Onward Engineering (Onward) to be well qualified to perform the requested engineering design services for the Project. The proposal submitted by Onward represents a thorough understanding of the Project, complies with City requirements, and documents Onward’s technical ability and experience with similar projects. The design fees proposed by Onward were determined to be competitive and commensurate with the requested services.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council could choose to not approve the PSA and conduct the project using in-house resources. However, the technical expertise and volume of the work associated with the project far exceed staff’s available resources and time. This would result in delays in the completion of the design within the federal grant timelines required to obtain federal authorization for construction. Therefore, staff does not recommend this alternative.
FISCAL REVIEW:
The design phase of the project, covered by the requested PSA is locally funded. The federal grant funds awarded for the project in the amount of $4,223,000, are for the construction phase only.
The total amount of the proposed contract plus contingency will not exceed $411,969. The funding for this contract is available in the FY 2024-25 Public Works Department’s Budget in the Gas Tax Fund (Fund 201).
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report, prepared the proposed PSA and approved them both as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goals:
• Strengthen the public’s safety and improve the quality of life.
• Maintain and enhance the City’s facilities, equipment, and technology.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Award a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) (Attachment 1) to Onward Engineering in the amount of $374,517, for professional engineering design services for the Adams Avenue Active Transportation Improvements - Multipurpose Trails project, with an initial period of five years, effective January 21, 2025 - January 20, 2030.
2. Authorize a ten percent (10%) contingency in the amount of $37,452 for any unforeseen costs that may be required by the project.
3. Authorize the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the PSA and any future amendments to the agreement.