PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
CITY HALL
10300 TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255
TELEPHONE: (408) 777-3120
CUPERTINO.GOV
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: October 20, 2026
Subject
Adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept $850,000 in federal grant funds from the Community Project Funding Program, awarding a Design Professional Services Agreement to Biggs Cardoza Associates, Inc. for a total not to exceed amount of $1,278,700, for the McClellan Road Bridge Project, and authorizing City Manager to execute the agreement.
Recommended Action
1. Adopt Resolution No. 26-XXX authorizing the City Manager to take all necessary steps to accept $850,000 in federal grant funds from the Community Project Funding Program for the McClellan Road Bridge Project;
2. Award a Design Professional Services Agreement to Biggs Cardoza Associates, Inc. for McClellan Road Bridge Project in a total not to exceed amount of $1,278,700; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Design Professional Services Agreement with Biggs Cardoza Associates, Inc. when all conditions have been met.
Background
The McClellan Road bridge is situated along McClellan Road, near McClellan Ranch, and is one of only three east-west connections over Stevens Creek within the City of Cupertino’s jurisdiction.
The nearest east-west connection is the Stevens Creek Boulevard bridge, which is situated approximately one mile north. Maintaining a reliable crossing at this location supports emergency response and evacuation.
The bridge was built in 1920, as a single span reinforced concrete structure. In 1976, the existing bridge was retained and widened by adding two reinforced concrete girders to the original four girder structure. Portions of the existing load-carrying superstructure are more than 100 years old.
Caltrans performs periodic inspections of the bridge as part of the National Bridge Program. In 2024, Caltrans performed an inspection (Attachment C), rating the bridge deck and substructure in “Good” condition and superstructure in “Fair” condition. The inspection documented concrete cracking, patching, spalling and exposed reinforcing steel. The bridge received a sufficiency rating of 47.5, and Structural Evaluation score of 4, which is considered the minimum tolerable level. Historical Caltrans inspection records indicate the bridge has remained serviceable with localized concrete repairs, but there has been a long-term decline in the sufficiency rating with fluctuations (see table below). Sufficiency rating is a historical composite measure.
The Caltrans reports document visible deterioration of the facility, raising concerns about the bridge’s current condition. The structure predates modern hydraulic, seismic, and bridge design standards, and the bridge deck falls below the FEMA 100-year floodplain level. While the bridge remains open to traffic, the Caltrans reports compel investigation of the structural capacity of this bridge.
The bridge rating warrants a structural analysis and a feasibility analysis. After these analyses are performed there may be varying levels of scope that Council can consider if interested, such as:
• Remedial repairs with no impact to current traffic patterns • Significant repairs with no impact to current traffic patterns • Significant repairs with new sidewalk and bicycles lanes along the bridge • Replacement of the existing structure with a new bridge and updated transportation and mobility facilities.
At this time, the City is not sure which of the options above will address Caltrans concerns and provide the best cost-benefit return for the City. The feasibility study will perform this analysis and aid in selecting the least expensive option that meets the concerns and goals.
Reasons for Recommendation and Available Options
Due to the inspection and rating information provided by Caltrans (as discussed above), the bridge qualifies for assessment for long term viability. The City has received significant external funding to facilitate this assessment. The grant funding awarded to date may be insufficient to fully fund the project scope that is ultimately selected. Advancing the engineering design and preparation of project documentation will help position the project for future grant opportunities
60.9 60.9
57.9 57.9 57.9
42.1 46.5 46.5
53.8 47.5
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Sufficiency Rating
if needed. Grant programs often give preference to "shovel-ready" projects that have completed design plans and specifications, increasing the likelihood of a successful funding application.
As such, the proposed agreement (Attachment B) with the engineering consultant includes a great deal of initial analysis and investigation as is typically required by bridge projects. The initial engineering scope of work will perform geotechnical, structural, hydraulic, and seismic analysis and feasibility studies. From this work (Tasks 1.2 through 1.4 in Exhibit A of Attachment B), the Consultant will develop a Feasibility Study Report and related cost estimates.
Once the feasibility report is complete and scoping options are available for consideration, the project will return to Council for review and approval of the design direction before further work begins on conceptual design options. This is tentatively planned by the end of 2027. The professional services required to continue work on the project following Council’s design direction are included in the draft agreement.
Acceptance of Grant Funds
Annually, Representative Ro Khanna’s office asks the Tribes, Counties, School Districts, NonProfits and Cities within his district to submit applications for the Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending Program (CPF) grants. CPF requests are selected from a pool of applicants for submission by each member of Congress to the House Appropriations Committee. The CPF process is extremely targeted and very competitive. The process follows the timeline for Appropriations bills to be crafted and considered by the respective House and Senate Appropriations Committees (late spring through summer), and the House and Senate must still convene a “conference committee” to work out the differences of each of those bills. The bills must then be signed into law by the president.
In 2024, Cupertino was awarded $850,000 for the McClellan Road Bridge Project as part of the CPF. The funding will be administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT). As a procedural step to acquire the specified grant funds, DOT requires that City Council adopt a resolution delegating authority to the City Manager to execute a Funds Transfer Agreement and any amendments thereto, and to take all necessary steps to accept the funds. A draft resolution in the form required by the DOT is provided as Attachment A. Caltrans has given the City a deadline of November 30, 2026, to execute the agreement.
The City previously secured $5 million in grant funding for the McClellan Road Bridge Project.
Acceptance of the additional $850,000 in CPF grant funds would bring the total project funding to $5.85 million. This funding will allow for engineering, environmental review, and project development to evaluate the bridge and identify potential improvement strategies.
Award of Design Professional Services Agreement
The City advertised a request for proposals (RFP) for qualified engineering consultants to evaluate the existing bridge structure, prepare a feasibility study, engineering designs, and environmental clearance technical documents. The RFP was advertised on July 15, 2025, and proposals were due to the City by August 28, 2025. The City received one proposal from Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. (Biggs Cardosa). DOT required re-advertisement of the RFP since only one submittal was received. The RFP was re-advertised on September 18, 2025, and proposals were due to the City by October 9, 2025. Once again, one submittal was received from Biggs Cardosa. DOT re-examined the City’s bidding and advertisement process and ultimately determined that the City’s process was extensive, properly executed, and adhered to the requirements. DOT approved proceeding with this Consultant for the project.
Staff reviewed the proposal and determined that Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. is qualified to provide engineering consultant services for this project. Biggs Cardosa has substantial experience designing similar bridge projects and demonstrated a strong understanding of the project scope and requirements in its proposal.
Given the complexity of the McClellan Road Bridge Project, the work will require a broad range of specialized services and technical expertise, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Caltrans and Federal Transportation Improvement Program requirements; feasibility and conceptual studies; design and engineering; environmental analysis; geotechnical, hydraulic, roadway, traffic, and scour analyses; and other related services.
The draft Professional Services Agreement is structured into specific tasks to address the technical requirements of the work and meet NEPA, CEQA, Caltrans, and other federal standards. The initial tasks, thru Task 1.3, include project management, research and data gathering, engineering investigations into geotechnical, environmental hydraulics, and other existing conditions. The Feasibility Report and cost estimates are the deliverables for Task 1.4, as this is required by Caltrans. Council will review this report before work proceeds with later tasks. The engineering scope of work includes Tasks 1.5 to Task 2.4 which covers engineering from conceptual design to final documentation, environmental review, specifications and estimates, permitting, bid support, and construction support. Biggs Cardosa estimates that the design and documentation phase will take approximately two and one half years to complete.
Staff reviewed and negotiated the proposed agreement (Attachment B) with Biggs Cardosa for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $1,278,700. Based on the scope, complexity, and duration of the services required, staff finds the proposed contract amount to be fair and reasonable. Staff therefore recommends awarding the Design Professional Services Agreement to Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. in a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,278,700.
Next Steps
If City Council approves the recommended action, the consultant will begin research and investigations, in service to the Feasibility Report. Staff will return to City Council at a future date to present the results and scope alternatives for Council consideration before proceeding with design and engineering.
If City Council declines to approve the recommended action, the $850,000 grant opportunity will be forfeited and staff will defer the project indefinitely while shifting focus to a maintenance program aimed at maximizing the structural integrity and longevity of the existing bridge for as long as feasibly possible.
Sustainability Impact
Evaluation of the McClellan Road Bridge is consistent with the City’s sustainability goals. The project increases community resiliency by evaluating potential improvements to an important east-west connection route across Stevens Creek.
Fiscal Impact
With the approval of the recommended action, the City would receive $850,000 for the McClellan Road Bridge, bringing the total available funding to $5,850,000. The ultimate project scope and cost will depend on Council consideration and direction upon review of the Feasibility report.
Fiscal Summary
Current Funding Status Amount
CPF Grant funding (tonight’s action) $850,000
State Allocation (Specified Grant Funds) $5,000,000
$5,850,000
**Project Cost Estimate will depend on the scope alternative selected following the engineering evaluation and feasibility study.
Current Expenditures/Encumbrances Amount
Biggs Cardoza Associates, Inc. Professional
Design Services Agreement (tonight’s action) ($1,278,700) Subtotal: ($1,278,700)
Current Funding Status (Budget) Amount
Approved project funding $5,850,000
Encumbrances ($1,278,700)
Project funds remaining: $4,571,300
City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description
None
Council Goal
Quality of Life and Transportation.
TBD Item
No
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The proposed action does not constitute a “project” subject to CEQA. The project will complete any necessary environmental review as required under CEQA. _____________________________________
Prepared by: Saurabh Nijhawan, Senior Civil Engineer
Reviewed by: Susan Michael, CIP Manager
Chad Mosley, Director of Public Works
Kirsten Squarcia, Deputy City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Resolution
B – Draft Agreement Biggs Cardosa
C – Bridge 37C0220 Caltrans Inspection Report 2024