Agenda Item No: K.4
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 5, 2026
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution 2026-70 PW Construction Contract for the East Tabor Avenue/Tolenas Road Safe Routes to School and Sidewalk Gap Closure Project
Approving the Plans and Specifications and Awarding a Contract to Quimu Contracting , Inc. for the East Tabor Avenue/Tolenas Road Safe Routes to School and Sidewalk Gap Closure Project and Authorizing an Update to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget Funding Source: $3,052,562 ($2,731,000, Federal Grants; $2,559,738, Senate Bill 1; $16,972, State Gas Tax)
Contact: Ryan Panganiban, (707) 428-7017
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt resolution.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
The City of Fairfield secured a $2,731,000 One Bay Area Grant 2 (OBAG) federal grant funding for East Tabor Avenue/Tolenas Road Safe Routes to School and Sidewalk Gap Closure Project (Project; CPW070008). This resolution approves the plans and specifications for the Project and awards a contract to Quimu Contracting Inc., of Dixon, California in the amount of $2,775,056, and updates the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 budget.
DISCUSSION
Students commuting by walking or biking to Tolenas Elementary School and Grange Middle School primarily use East Tabor Avenue and Tolenas Road. While these routes provide important connections, there are opportunities to enhance safety and accessibility, particularly in areas with sidewalk gaps between Railroad Avenue and Olive Avenu e, the at-grade railroad crossing, and along portions of Tolenas Avenue where the existing sidewalk is relatively narrow. At the railroad crossing, pedestrians and bicyclists currently traverse within the traveled way, which can reduce comfort and limit use of the corridor. In 2015, the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District
estimated that more than 380 students reside on either side of the crossing and rely on this route to access school.
The Project is intended to improve these conditions by closing the existing sidewalk gap, installing a dedicated pedestrian and bicycle crossing at the railroad tracks, and widening the sidewalk along Tolenas Avenue from four feet to six feet. These improvements will enhance connectivity for students and support access to nearby transit stops and Tabor Park. Collectively, the Project is expected to improve safety, accessibility, and overall comfort for students and the surrounding community, while encouraging more walking and biking along this corridor.
The railroad crossing will be constructed within the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) right -of-way.
The City has obtained all necessary approvals from UPRR and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). To facilitate the crossing, the existing driveway and parking lot at 1390 East Tabor Avenue will be reconfigured and integrated into an improved parking area. Additionally, a portion of this property has been donated to the City to support the Project.
The Project improvements will be delivered by two separate contractors:
UPRR Delivered Improvements
UPRR is responsible for installation of all crossing-related components, including:
CPUC Standard No. 9 warning devices for pedestrian and vehicle crossings Concrete crossing panels
Automatic swing gates
On June 17, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025 -112, which executed a public highway at-grade crossing agreement for the Project. These improvements will cost $2,250,149.
The total authorized amount is $2,475,163.90 which includes a 10% contingency of $277,505.60 to account for unanticipated expenses.
City Contracted Improvements
The City’s contractor will construct the remaining improvements, including:
Sidewalk connections to the UPRR crossing
Closure of the existing sidewalk gap
Pavement slurry seal and striping to support the new crossing and Safe Routes to School improvements
Widening of the Tolenas Avenue sidewalk from four feet to six feet Driveway and parking lot improvements at 1390 East Tabor Avenue
Bids for the City’s p ortion of the Project were received from two contractors and opened on March 24, 2026. The bids ranged from $2,775,056 to $2,819,208, The engineer’s estimate for the Project was $2,160,000. The apparent low bid was submitted by Quimu Contracting Inc. of Dixon, CA (Quimu).
The higher bid amounts reflect recent market changes, including increased fuel costs associated with the current political climate. Quimu’s bid was initially read as $2,782,556; however, a minor calculation error was identified and corrected, resulting in a revised total of $2,775,056.
Quimu’s bid is considered fair and reasonable, as both contractors independently submitted similar pricing. Staff reviewed Quimu’s bid and determined it to be both responsive and responsible.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The construction authorization for the City contracted portion of the Project will be $3,052,561.60, which is the total bid amount plus 10% contingency ( $2,775,056 + $277,505.60 contingency). The total construction cost for the Project is $5, 527,725.50 ($3,052,561.60 City contracted work + $2,475,163.90 UPRR delivered work). The total cost for the Project will be funded with $ 2,796,725.50 from the State Gas Tax Fund (Fund 162 ) and $2,731,000 from the OBAG grant.
To fully fund construction, a n additional $1,129,725.50 is required. In 2025, t he Project , in collaboration with the Solano Transportation Authority and City of Benicia secured a $2,731,000 OBAG grant . The $2,731,000 amount represents a $631,000 increase in federal funding compared to the previously awarded $2,100,000 Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant. The City was ultimately unable to utilize the ATP grant within the required timeframe due to schedule constraints that did not allow sufficient time to obtain approvals from UPRR and CPUC or complete right -of-way certification. The OBAG funding provides a more flexible delivery schedule, allowing the Project to proceed. Staff will return to the council at a future meeting to seek approval to amend and finalize the OBAG funding agreement with the City of Benicia.
Staff is requesting an update of the grant funding from the $2 ,100,000 ATP grant that was previously programmed to fund this project to $2,710,000 OBAG grant. After accounting for the OBAG award, a funding gap remaining of $ 498,725.50 persists which requires a budget adjustment of $498,725.50 from Senate Bill 1 (Fund 163) to address the funding gap. Finance has confirmed will not impact currently programmed or future budgeted projects.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
A notice inviting bids for this Project was advertised twice in the Daily Republic newspaper on February 25 and March 4, 2026. In addition, distributed a notice of the project and a complete bid package to a total of 12 builder’s exchanges in the State of California covering the area from Redding to San Jose, and Stockton to Santa Rosa. One contractor purchased bid documents for this Project.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
The council may choose not to award the contract, reject all bids and restart the bid process, thus resulting in a significant delay in the construction project schedule. Not awarding the contract would delay the Project schedule as required by the grant and potentially lose grant funding.
COORDINATED WITH
N/A
STAFF CONTACT
Phil Layoso, Assistant Engineer
(707) 428-7505
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Proposed Resolution
Attachment 3: Bid Results