DATE: October 15, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Award a Construction Contract to Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping for the Orchard Avenue Traffic Calming Quick Build Pilot Project, Project No. 05312 in the Amount of $159,237, and Approving $23,886 in Administrative Construction Contingency
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) awarding a construction contract to Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping for the Orchard Avenue Traffic Calming Quick-Build Pilot Project in the amount of $159,237 and approve $23,886 in administrative construction contingency.
SUMMARY
This project proposes traffic calming improvements by striping and delineation changes to improve the operation of the roundabout and removes a traffic lane in each direction on Orchard Ave between Joyce Street and Mission Boulevard. The plan also includes changes to the lane configurations at Mission Boulevard and additional no truck signage.
On September 18, 2024, the call for bids was released and advertised until the bid opening date of October 1, 2024. On October 1, 2024, the project received two (2) bids. Staff recommends that Council award the contract to the responsible low bidder, Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping, for $159,237 and approve $23,886 in administrative construction contingency. Cato’s General Engineering, Inc., dba Cato Paving submitted the second lowest bid in the amount of $209,695.50. The engineer’s estimate for the project (not including contingency) was $160,240.
BACKGROUND
Orchard Avenue is a minor arterial roadway. From Soto Road heading east, it consists of one lane in each direction for approximately 1,300 feet until Joyce Street, where it opens up to two lanes in each direction for approximately 1,450 feet ending at Mission Boulevard. The surrounding area is residential with some businesses closer to Mission Boulevard.
Orchard Avenue has a history of traffic calming efforts. In 1992, the City extended Hayward Boulevard to directly connect to Carlos Bee Boulevard, making it easier to use Carlos Bee Boulevard and Orchard Avenue to access Jackson St through Soto Rd, and other areas in the City. In September 1999, City staff held a neighborhood meeting to discuss proposed improvements to reduce the speeding on Orchard Avenue and Soto Road. At the meeting, a roundabout was proposed with an even split of residents who favored and opposed the idea. After the meeting, staff researched potential traffic-calming strategies and developed a traffic calming plan that consisted of a roundabout at Orchard Avenue & Joyce Street and two raised intersections along Orchard Avenue at Muir Street and Thomas Avenue. The plan to construct a temporary roundabout was approved by Council on February 15, 2000, and installed the same month. Staff confirmed after the installation of the roundabout that the average speed along Orchard Avenue decreased from 33 to 26 miles per hour. City Council approved the design and construction of a permanent roundabout on September 19, 2000.
Although the roundabout led to a significant reduction in the average speed, residents have identified other issues of concern on Orchard Avenue The roundabout was not centered along the centerline of the western approach; therefore, it was less effective for eastbound traffic. Increased new and used car dealers along Mission Boulevard along with increased traffic brought more heavy vehicles and trucks along Orchard Avenue. Recently, City staff received feedback that the raised intersections were not effective and caused excessive noise. As speeding has generally increased in the Bay Area and in the State post-pandemic, recent data collected in 2023 on Orchard Avenue between Joyce Street and Oneil Avenue confirmed high average speeds of 36 to 37 miles per hour.
On January 22, 2024, City staff held a neighborhood meeting to discuss plans to improve Orchard Avenue and receive feedback. The plans discussed at the meeting focused on improving the operation of the roundabout and removing the raised intersections. In addition, the police department discussed its enforcement strategy for Orchard Avenue. Over 50 residents attended the meeting and provided feedback about various issues including the roundabout, increased speeding, truck traffic, parking issues, and desire for more crosswalks. Residents also requested that something be done in the short-term.
In the following months, staff developed a quick-build pilot plan that would target an earlier construction date than the proposed plans discussed in the neighborhood meeting. The quick-build pilot plan consists of:
Adding painted islands with vertical delineation at the roundabout and its approaches.
Restriping of the north crosswalk across Joyce Street approaching the roundabout from standard transverse style to high-visibility ladder.
Removing one travel lane in each direction from Joyce Street to Mission Boulevard using vertical delineation and edge lines.
Extending the length of the median using striping near the Orchard Avenue & Oneil Avenue intersection.
Removing one eastbound left-turn lane and one westbound right-turn lane at the Orchard Avenue/Carlos Bee Boulevard & Mission Boulevard intersection.
Installing additional no truck-signage near Mission Boulevard & Orchard Avenue, Orchard Avenue & Soto Road, and Jackson Street & Soto Road.
City staff presented the quick-build pilot plan to the neighborhood during an online meeting held on May 9, 2024. Sixteen residents attended the meeting and feedback was mostly positive with some concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed plan.
At the June 26, 2024, Council Infrastructure & Airport Committee (CIAC) meeting, Staff presented the quick-build pilot plan to the Committee to receive further feedback. Staff spent the months of July and August revising the plans and developing specifications to prepare for the City’s bid solicitation process.
The quick-build pilot project is not intended to address all of the concerns that have been voiced by residents. Staff will continue to refine the comprehensive long-term plan that was developed for the January 2024 public meeting, informed by the implementation of the quick-build pilot project. Future long-term plans may require additional funding.
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is categorically exempt under California Code of Regulations 15301 Existing Facilities (Class 1). Projects exempt under this category involve negligible or no expansion of an existing use. A CEQA Notice of Exemption was filed with the County of Alameda Clerk-Recorder’s Office and the Office of Planning and Research in September 2024.
DISCUSSION
Council approved the plans and specifications and call for bids for the quick-build pilot project on September 17, 2024. On September 18, 2024, the call for bids was released and advertised until the bid opening date of October 1, 2024. On October 1, 2024, two (2) bids were received. Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping of Orinda, California submitted the lowest bid in the amount of $159,237. The engineer’s estimate for the project (not including contingency) was $160,240. Cato’s General Engineering, Inc., dba Cato Paving submitted the second lowest bid in the amount of $209,695.50.
Staff has reviewed the submitted bids and recommends that Council award the contract to the responsible low bidder, Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
This item has no direct economic impact.
FISCAL IMPACT
This item will not impact the General Fund. Funding for this project is associated with Fund 213, consisting of Measure BB (Pedestrian & Bicycle) revenues.
The updated project cost if Council approves the award of construction contract to Tri-Valley Contracting, Inc. dba Tri-Valley Striping is shown below:
Costs (Fund 213)
Construction
$159,237
Administrative Construction Contingency
$23,886
Total
$183,123
The quick-build pilot project is not intended to address all issues on Orchard Avenue. Future long-term plans may require additional funding to implement.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item supports the Strategic Priority of Invest in Infrastructure: Invest in Infrastructure. Specifically, this item relates to the implementation of the following project:
Project N1: Continue to implement major corridor traffic calming initiatives
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
This project will include safety improvements that will benefit pedestrian and bicycle modes of travel, which may facilitate increased use of these modes of transportation.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public outreach for this project was first conducted through an in-person neighborhood meeting on January 22, 2024. A second neighborhood meeting with the purpose of providing an update and introducing the short-term traffic calming plan was held online on May 9, 2024. For both meetings, approximately 1,500 notices were mailed in both English and Spanish. A recording of the meeting was made available on the City’s project website. Staff will conduct a public meeting in Spring 2025 to gather feedback on the quick-build pilot and identify next steps for the long-term project.
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves, staff will prepare and route a construction contract for the City Manager to execute and issue a notice to proceed to start construction. Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.
Date
Contract Execution
October 2024
Preconstruction Meeting
November 2024
Start of Construction
November 2024
End of Construction
December 2024
Prepared by: Byron Tang, Senior Transportation Engineer Hugh Louch, Deputy Director of Public Works – Transportation Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
____________________________
Dustin Claussen, Interim City Manager
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