STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of April 25, 2023
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Michael Roberts, Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: Professional Services Agreement with WSP in the amount of $101,891 for the Willow/Palm Sidewalk Connector Project RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with WSP for a not to exceed amount of $101,891 for Construction Management Services for the Willow/Palm Sidewalk Connector Project.
BACKGROUND:
Closing the gap in the pedestrian network between the Hercules Transit Center (HTC) and the neighborhoods in northeast Hercules and unincorporated County has been a high priority for many years. Currently, residents have to walk in the road of Willow Avenue and Palm Avenue or the adjacent grassy embankment to reach this critical transportation center, which is owned by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and served by WestCat.
The City applied for and recently received grants which now make this project financially feasible. The grants include a $1.058M Measure J grant from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA), a $52.8K TDA Article 3 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and a commitment from BART for $100K to be appropriated as part of their FY 23-24 Budget.
With regards to specific project improvements, a new 5 ft sidewalk will be installed on the north side of Willow Avenue (the old State Hercules to Martinez highway, hence no sidewalk) from the Hercules Transit Center easterly a total of 2,100 ft to Palm Avenue and then 700 ft southerly along the south side of Palm Avenue to Sycamore Avenue.
The project also includes streetlights, which currently are not in place, to illuminate the sidewalk and street, and provide a measure of security at night. The sidewalk on Palm Avenue includes a section through the tunnel under the BNSF Railroad tracks and flashing beacons will be installed to alert vehicles at each end. A section of sidewalk on Willow will cross an unnamed creek and include a short section of safety fencing. The minimum traffic lane width on all sections will be 11 ft to allow for bus traffic and Willow can be widened to the south in the future for bike lanes. Until that time, bicyclists will continue to share the road with vehicles.
The Willow/Palm Sidewalk Connector Project was recently advertised for bids and award to the low bid contractor is being recommended under a separate agenda item.
Given the relatively large size of the project, the low bid amount was $1.49M, minimal City staffing levels at this time, and need to have the appropriate level of oversight and expertise, it is recommended a construction management firm be hired.
Project Location
ANALYSIS:
WSP is on the City’s pre-approved vendor list and has successfully provided construction management services on large projects for the City in the past including the Path To Transit Project and Willow Avenue Rehabilitation Project.
Contracting with WSP will be cost-effective since they are already in the City providing construction management services for the Sycamore Avenue Trunk Sewer Replacement Project. This will allow resident engineering and inspection staff to be utilized on both projects concurrently, an efficiency which saves the City money.
The following is an outline of the scope of work WSP will be providing on this contract.
Provide initial submittal reviews as they are received from contractor.
Project management and main point of contact for contractor, to include day-to-day coordination of construction, schedule, and contract administration Analyze and prepare monthly pay estimates
Contract Change Order and RFI management
Perform field inspection as needed to ensure contract compliance Perform materials testing on an as-needed basis with their subconsultant, Kleinfelder, Inc.
Perform inspection on each of 18 ADA curb ramps prior to and after concrete pour, including completion of required ADA Compliance Certification documentation Perform project close-out, to include punch list, as-built plan changes, and final estimates.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Sufficient funding was appropriated in the FY 23-24 Budget for the Willow/Palm Sidewalk Connector Project for construction management as follows:
Funding Sources
Account Numbers
Amount
Gas Tax
262-5432-642.05-20
$101,891
This Gas Tax funding is from savings from the Sycamore Avenue Rehabilitation Project as that project came in under budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attach 1- Resolution
Attach 2 – Construction Contract Including Proposal
Attach 3 – Shewchuk, Bruce CM
Attach 4 - Bohlander, Matt WSP
Attach 5 - Jon Adams WSP
Attach 6 – Cowling Jeff WSP