DATE:
June 4, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services Contract In The Amount Of $250,000 With MIG For Professional Design Consultant Services For The Powell Street Redesign Project As A Part Of ATP Studies Project SUT-02 (CIP Project #24475018); Appropriating $50,000 From Fund 475 In CIP No. 24475020 Into CIP No. 24475018 Recommendation
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt the above-entitled resolution.
Background
The City of Emeryville’s Active Transportation Plan was adopted on October 17, 2023 by the City Council and aims to make walking, biking, and rolling through Emeryville easier and more enjoyable. The Plan identified a number of improvements for Powell Street west of W. Frontage Road, and highlighted Powell Street as an area for future study in the Studies section of the Plan (F-3 Powell Street Segment A and F-8 Bay Trail Widening).
The City of Emeryville has allocated funds to ATP Studies in the Capital Improvement Program FY 2023-2028, which was adopted by the City Council on June 6, 2023. Planning Phase funds are intended to support all necessary tasks for this phase of the Project including City staff time.
An overview of anticipated corridor-wide improvements is summarized below:
Multimodal Treatments (Separated two-way Class IV bikeway at sidewalk grade) Streetscape Improvements and Public Art Opportunities
Green Infrastructure and Landscaping Opportunities
Coordination with City’s Powell Street Sewer realignment project Powell Street is the main public street on the Emeryville peninsula and the only existing east-west access point to the marina and shoreline on the west side of I-80. As such, the addition of a bikeway facility on Powell Street that is comfortable for all ages and abilities is essential. Powell Street also provides access to public open space on the peninsula including McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, Davenport Park, and the Emeryville Marina, as well as a pedestrian path spur of the Bay Trail. The Emeryville Police Station and Alameda County Fire Station 34 are both located on Powell Street. Powell Street does not include any AC Transit stops but does contain four of the five Emery Go-Round stops on the peninsula.
Powell Street from W. Frontage Road to the end of the Emeryville Marina has three distinct sections. The first 0.6 miles from W. Frontage Road to Davenport Park (Section A) has Class II painted bike lanes where bicyclists are separated from drivers by a painted line from W. Frontage Road to Davenport Park. This section also contains a vegetated median that ranges in width from 9 feet to 20 feet and one vehicle lane in each direction (except between W. Frontage Road and Access Road which has two vehicle lanes in each direction). The pedestrian path spur of the Bay Trail runs immediately adjacent to Powell Street in this section. This section is also called out for further study in the City’s Active Transportation Plan (F-3 Powell Street Segment A).
The second 0.6 miles section from Davenport Park to the roundabout at the end of the Emeryville Marina has a Class III shared bicycle route where bicyclists share one vehicle lane with drivers. The pedestrian path spur of the Bay Trail runs immediately adjacent to Powell Street for part of this section and then runs parallel to Powell approximately 100 feet apart. The City’s Active Transportation Plan has called out this pedestrian path for further study (F-8 Bay Trail Widening). Section B begins at Davenport Park and goes until the beginning of the Emeryville Marina property. Section C begins at the Emeryville Marina property and goes until the end of the roundabout in the Marina.
Adjacent major land uses on Powell Street include mixed-use non-residential and medium-high density residential (Watergate Community), as well as public and open park space. Specific uses include a small shopping center inclusive of grocery, large office towers and business park, restaurants, bank, hotel, gas station, and surface level parking lots. The marina includes both the public Emeryville Marina and the private Emery Cove Yacht Harbor both of which include some liveaboard residents.
Public Works staff brought two high-level initial concepts of a Powell Street Redesign to the Transportation Committee on April 10, 2023 for early feedback on two options for Section A. The first option was a moderate-cost version that keeps the current median and angled parking as is and would extend the sidewalk and install a two-way cycle-track on the south side of Powell Street. The second option was a higher-cost version and would remove the whole median, raise the cycle track on the southside and could include planting trees, sidewalk expansion, and new lighting on the southside. One lane of traffic in each direction and most of the parking would remain. Transportation Committee members were supportive of the higher-cost version if the City is able to secure funding for a more robust redesign effort.
Discussion
On March 14, 2024, the Public Works Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for “Professional Design Services for the Powell Street Redesign.” The ideal consultant would be a firm knowledgeable in design and construction of Active Transportation Projects within an urban environment. In addition, both limited traffic modeling as well as experience designing improvements in Caltrans right of way were anticipated components of the project. The ideal consultant would also have experience with applying for and receiving grant funding for active transportation projects. The RFP was for the Planning and Concept Design Phase, with a possible second future Environmental Phase (that was not included in this proposal).
On April 18, 2024, the City received proposals from four consultant teams. Two of the four teams demonstrated a detailed understanding of the project at-hand, compiled strong teams, formulated well thought-out approaches to the project, and showed ample technical expertise from past projects. City staff were most comfortable with the approach, experience, and understanding of the City’s needs from MIG.
Staff recommends executing a Professional Services Contract with MIG Group with an expiration date of December 31, 2025 in order to ensure that this consultant provides full support during the design and bidding phases for the Project.
Fiscal Impact
The MIG Contract is written to not exceed $250,000. As the planning and 35% design work for this project is anticipated to December 31, 2025, there is $205,300 available in ATP Studies SUT-02. This amount can be supplemented by funding available in Park Studies URG-02 since this project also includes public realm and park improvements for the Bay Trail along Powell Street and path improvements within and bike lane improvements through Marina Park.
ATP Studies SUT-02 (Project #24475018)
Fund
FY23/24
FY24/25
FY25/26
250 – Traffic Impact Fee
$45,300
$25,000
$25,000
475 – Gen Cap Fund
$60,000
$25,000
$25,000
Park Studies URG-02 (Project #24475020)
Fund
FY23/24
FY24/25
FY25/26
475 – Gen Cap Fund
$50,000
Staff Communication with the Public
There was no communication with the public about this item.
Conflict of Interest
No conflict of interest was identified.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the above-entitled resolution.
PREPARED BY: Josie Ahrens, Management Analyst
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Professional Services Contract
Exhibit A – Scope of Work
Exhibit B – Insurance Requirements
Exhibit C – Federal Contract Provisions
PSC with MIG (Powell Street Redesign Project)
City Council Meeting | June 4, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM