Item No. 3
Town of Atherton
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT – CONSENT AGENDA
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
GEORGE RODERICKS, CITY MANAGER
FROM: ROBERT OVADIA, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 21, 2024
SUBJECT: APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR PROJECT
DESIGN FOR THE ALAMEDA DE LAS PULGAS TRAFFIC AND
SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council approve a professional Services agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $456,984.10 for professional engineering and environmental support services necessary to design Alameda de las Pulgas Traffic and Safety Improvements Project; direct the City Attorney to prepare the agreement; and authorize the City Manager to sign the agreement.
BACKGROUND
The Alameda de las Pulgas corridor which connects Redwood City to Menlo Park and Palo Alto, through the Town of Atherton, and unincorporated San Mateo County is a high traffic corridor that serves as a north-south alternate to El Camino Real. Pass-through traffic has been measured to be between 60% to 89% of the overall traffic volume. Residential streets are impacted as commuters attempt to find alternative routes around congested roadways during peak hours, particularly around the Atherton Avenue intersection which is four-way stop controlled.
The Alameda de las Pulgas corridor was evaluated in two separate studies in 2019. The Alameda de las Pulgas Corridor Traffic Study reviewed existing conditions along Alameda de las Pulgas and recommended several improvements, both within and outside of Town limits. The Local Traffic Flow/Long Range Planning Solutions Study evaluated existing traffic operations and origin-designation patterns and recommended short- and long-term measures for efficient circulation. Additionally, it has been determined through these studies that the all-way stop intersection of Atherton Avenue and ADLP currently operates at a level of service (LOS) F with delays up to 92 seconds during the peak hours and that signalizing this intersection will improve operations to LOS B with a significant reduction in delays.
ADLP Traffic and Safety Improvements
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
The Town received an allocation of Community Project Funds, with the support of the Honorable Anna G. Eshoo, Representative California 18th Congressional District, to improve traffic and safety along the Alameda de las Pulgas corridor. The project includes work within both the Town of Atherton, and in Unincorporated San Mateo County. Major project components include:
removal/relocation of the mid-block traffic signal located between Mills Avenue and Camino al Lago on Alameda de las Pulgas to the Camino al Lago intersection to consolidate pedestrian access to Las Lomitas Elementary School, reconfiguration and signalization of the Atherton Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas intersection to improve traffic safety, mobility and reduce traffic delays.
Reconfiguration of the Atherton Avenue intersection would also include accommodation of bicycle and pedestrian needs at the intersection as well as required green infrastructure improvements.
ANALYSIS
On September 22, 2023, the Town released Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Design Services for the Alameda de las Pulgas Corridor Traffic and Safety Improvement Project was released to potential design firms with due date of Friday, October 20, 2023, 2:00 PM. Four proposals were received from the following firms:
• Advanced Mobility Group (AMG)
• BKF Engineers
• Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
• TJKM Transportation Consultants
A selection panel comprised of Robert Ovadia, Director of Public Works, Charmine Solla from Interwest Consulting Group (Project Manager), and Tim Cheng, Senior Engineer, Traffic Engineer, from San Mateo County Public Works, reviewed the proposals received and shortlisted the three highest ranking firms, Advanced Mobility Group, Kimley-Horn, and TJKM, to be interviewed. Based on their rankings and interviews, the panel identified Kimley-Horn as the top ranked firm.
Following the selection process, the Town began negotiations with Kimley-Horn based on their initially proposed scope of work. The final scope reduced the level of effort in initial design stages, geotechnical support and public meetings. Some of the public meeting tasks will be assumed by the project management team. Kimley-Horn’s original cost proposal was $593,935. After several rounds of negotiations, the final negotiated fee was $456,984 which is very close the independent cost estimate prepared by the project manager.
Kimley-Horn cost proposal comprises the following items:
Project Management 38,650.89
Public Outreach & Stakeholder Engagement 33,033.87
Data Collection 21,736.17
Environmental Documents 11,498.80
ADLP Traffic and Safety Improvements
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
Preliminary Engineering and Final Design 199,332.68
Escalation and Miscellaneous 11,448.83
Construction and Transition Support 46,748.88
Subconsultant - Bess Test Lab (Utility Potholing) 46,248.00 Subconsultant – Parikh (Geotechnical Services) 13,466.51 Subconsultant – Unico (Surveying Services) 34,819.47
Total 456,984.10
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project is partially with a grant provided through the Community Project Funding program pursuant to a request and support of the Honorable Anna G. Eshoo, Representative California 18th Congressional District. $2,000,000 was allocated for the improvement of traffic flow and safety along the Alameda de las Pulgas corridor through Atherton and connecting to Unincorporated San Mateo County. The Town’s Capital Improvement Program budget included an allocation of $600,000 in FY 2022-23 and $1,850,000 in FY 2023-24, including the $2000,000 grant.
GOAL ALIGNMENT
This Report and its contents are in alignment with the following Council Policy Goals:
• Goal Area B – Preserve Small Town Character and Quality of Life • Goal Area D – Manage Circulation and Improve Safety
• Goal Area F – Be Forward-Thinking, Well-Managed, and Well-Planned
POLICY FOCUS
The Council policy focus should be on the desire to improve public, pedestrian, and bicycle safety, and traffic flow along the Alameda de las Pulgas corridor, consistent with the capital improvement program and Community Project Funding Grant.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notification was achieved by posting the agenda, with this agenda item being listed, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting in print and electronically. Information about the project is also disseminated via the Town’s electronic News Flash and Atherton Online. There are approximately 1,200 subscribers to the Town’s electronic News Flash publications. Subscribers include residents as well as stakeholders –to include, but be not limited to, media outlets, school districts, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, service provides (water, power, and sewer), and regional elected officials.
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE FEEDBACK/REFERRAL
ADLP Traffic and Safety Improvements
FEBRUARY 21, 2024
This item has not been before a Town Committee or Commission
ATTACHMENTS
None