Fremont City Council Meeting: 04/16/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5137) DOC ID: 5137
Updated: 4/12/2024 10:43 AM by Dina Lewis Page 1
WALNUT AVENUE BIKEWAY IMPROVEMENTS - Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in the Amount of $500,576 (Including 20% Contingency), for Design Services for the Walnut Avenue Bikeway Phase 2 Improvement Project (PWC9100A); Appropriation Actions; Make Findings of CEQA Exemption.
Contact Persons:
Name: Edelzar Garcia Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Civil Engineer Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4781 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate the design of bikeway and streetscape improvements along Walnut Avenue between Paseo Padre Parkway and Fremont Boulevard. Using grant funding from Alameda County Transportation Commission (for design) and BART (for construction), the Project will further extend the Walnut Avenue bikeway from the Fremont BART Station area into the City’s Downtown/City Center area.
BACKGROUND: The Fremont Bike Master Plan includes the development of a high-quality urban bikeway network along the Walnut Avenue and Fremont Boulevard corridors to connect jobs, housing, retail, regional transit, and other services in the Downtown and City Center area, as well as connecting with the Centerville and Irvington communities. The corridors are designated as Priority Development Areas for infill urban development, including affordable housing. When fully improved, these corridors will include a bikeway that is physically separated from vehicle traffic, along with enhancements for pedestrian safety, repair of damaged sidewalks and pavement, modernization of traffic signals, upgraded bus transit stops, and landscaping for visual beautification. Improvement to the “Walnut/Fremont” corridors is aligned with regional plans approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC).
In summary, the past and current projects in the Walnut Avenue and Fremont Boulevard corridors are as follows:
Location Status
Walnut Avenue Bikeway (Phase 1) – Mission
Boulevard to Paseo Padre Parkway
Completed in 2020
Walnut Avenue Bikeway (Phase 2) – Paseo
Padre Parkway to Fremont Boulevard
Grants allocated for design (by ACTC)
and construction (by BART)
Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor –
Country Drive to Mission View Drive
Grants allocated for design (by ACTC)
and construction (by BART)
On September 19, 2023, the City Council accepted a $1,100,000 grant from ACTC for designing both the Fremont Boulevard and Walnut Avenue Bikeway (Phase 2) Improvement Council Staff Report (ID # 5137) Meeting of April 16, 2024 Updated: 4/12/2024 10:43 AM by Dina Lewis Page 2
Projects (PWC 9100). This grant requires local matching funds for which a funding transfer in the amount of $347,000 is recommended in this staff report. Additional funding in the amount of $100,000 is needed for City staff project management expenses. The source of funds is proposed from the Regional Projects Funding Match (PWC9041) appropriation established in the adopted Capital Improvement Program to support grants. It is noted that on October 17, 2023, the City Council accepted a $1,500,000 grant from BART from the “Safe Routes to BART” program for the construction phase of Walnut Avenue Bikeway Improvement Project. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring/Summer 2025 with completion scheduled by December 2025.
For the related Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Project (Country Drive to Mission View Drive), staff is currently in the process of selecting a design consultant for the project and grant funding for construction has been announced by BART. Future Council actions to advance the Fremont Boulevard project will be brought forward by staff later this year.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: On January 29, 2024, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design services for the Walnut Avenue Bikeway Phase 2 Improvement Project. Five proposals were received on February 29, 2024, from the following firms, listed alphabetically: BKF Engineers, CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group, Inc., Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., LCC Engineering & Surveying, Inc., and MNS Engineers, Inc. The proposals were evaluated by a selection panel comprised of City staff based on criteria that included relevant experience, project understanding, overall project approach, and project delivery schedule. Interviews were conducted on March 22, 2024, with two firms, Kimley- Horn and Associates and LCC Engineering & Surveying. The consultant team led by Kimley - Horn and Associates, Inc., was selected as the top-ranked firm based on qualifications and experience on similar projects.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Consultant fee for the design of the Walnut Avenue Bikeway Improvement Project is $415,576 with an additional $85,000 of contingency for a total fee amount of $500,576. In addition, staff recommends transferring funds at this time to support project grant matching requirements and for staff management expenses to include: reallocating $347,000 in Fund 515-Measure BB, and $100,000 in Fund 531-Traffic Impact Fee from Regional Projects Funding Match (PWC9041) to PWC9100. With the approval of the recommended reallocation of funds to the project, there will be sufficient funds for the ACTC grant, the design consultant contract, and to cover staff time for the Walnut Avenue Bikeway Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Environmental review is not required because award of this agreement is not a project within the meaning of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) and 15378(b) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that award of the contract will have a significant effect on the environment and the award is an administrative activity that will not result in an effect on the physical environment. Appropriate environmental review will be prepared for this project as part of the professional services provided with this service agreement.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5137) Meeting of April 16, 2024 Updated: 4/12/2024 10:43 AM by Dina Lewis Page 3
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following actions related to the Walnut Avenue Bikeway Phase 2 Improvements Project (PWC9100A):
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $500,576 for design services.
2. Reallocate $347,000 from PWC9041-515 and appropriate it to PWC9100-515.
3. Reallocate $100,000 from PWC9041-531 and appropriate it to PWC9100-531.
4. Find that the actions are exempt from environmental review as a separate and independent base for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378 (administrative and funding activity not a “project” under CEQA) and Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment).