Fremont City Council Meeting: 09/03/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5245) DOC ID: 5245
Updated: 8/28/2024 5:01 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
FREMONT BOULEVARD MULTIMODAL CORRIDOR PROJECT - Approve a Professional Services Agreement with LCC Engineering & Surveying, Inc., in the Amount of $954,500.00 (Including 15% Contingency), for Design Services for the Fremont Boulevard Elevated Bikeway Improvement Project (PWC9100B); Appropriation Actions; and 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 Fremont Boulevard between Country Drive and Mission View Drive. Using grant funding from Alameda County Transportation Commission (for design) and BART (for construction), the Project will expand the network of high-quality facilities that support increased travel by walking, bicycling and public transit use in the Fremont 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 sidewalk- level (“elevated”) 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 (funded by ACTC
grant).
Various Protected Intersections at
Fremont/Mowry, Fremont/Walnut,
Fremont/Stevenson, Fremont/Eugene,
Fremont/Grimmer and Walnut/ Liberty
Completed in 2021 through 2024 (funded
by Federal, State, ACTC, and BART grants).
Council Staff Report (ID # 5245) Meeting of September 3, 2024 Updated: 8/28/2024 5:01 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
Walnut Avenue Bikeway (Phase 2) – Paseo
Padre Parkway to Fremont Boulevard
Grants allocated for design (by ACTC) and
construction (by BART). Project is under
design and planned for construction in
2025.
Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor –
Country Drive to Mission View Drive
Grants allocated for design (by ACTC) and
construction (by BART).
On October 17, 2023, the City Council accepted a $3,000,000 grant from BART from the “Safe Routes to BART” program for the construction phase of Fremont Boulevard Multimodal Corridor Project. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring/Summer 2026 with completion scheduled by December 2027. Additional construction funding will be needed to complete the full project (estimated to cost approximately $10 million) and is currently being pursued from grant sources. Project may be phased based on funding availability.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: On May 29, 2024, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design services for the Fremont Boulevard Elevated Bikeway Improvement Project. Two proposals were received on June 20, 2024, from the following firms, listed alphabetically:
BKF Engineers and LCC Engineering & Surveying, 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. The consultant team led by LCC Engineering & Surveying, 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 Fremont Boulevard Elevated Bikeway Improvement Project is $830,000 with an additional $124,500 of contingency for a total fee amount of $954,500. The design fee for the Consultant will be funded with a portion of the $1,100,000 grant from ACTC and local grant match of $347,000 previously accepted and authorized by the City Council on September 19, 2023, and April 16, 2024 respectively (PWC9100). Additional funding in the amount of $200,000 is needed for City staff project management expenses. Staff therefore recommends allocating $200,000 in unallocated Traffic Impact Fee fund balance (Fund 531) to PWC9100. With the approval of the recommended reallocation of funds to the project, there will be sufficient funds for the design consultant contract and to cover staff time for the Fremont Boulevard Elevated 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 # 5245) Meeting of September 3, 2024 Updated: 8/28/2024 5:01 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following actions related to the Fremont Boulevard Elevated Bikeway Improvement Project (PWC9100B):
1. Authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute a Professional Services Agreement with LCC Engineering & Surveying, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $954,500 for design services.
2. Allocate $200,000 from unallocated Traffic Impact Fee fund balance – Fund 531 and appropriate it to PWC9100-531.
3. 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).