CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Agreement with Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. for the Ethanac Road/Highway 74 Realignment Feasibility Study
Project
MEETING DATE: August 20, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Carlos Geronimo, Engineering Manager
REVIEWED BY: Nick Fidler, Public Works Director
APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Parsons Transportation Group, Inc., for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Ethanac Road/Highway 74 Realignment Feasibility Study Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 25-13, for a total amount not-to-exceed $399,751.05 through December 31, 2026.
DISCUSSION
The Ethanac Road/Highway 74 Realignment Feasibility Study Project (Study), CIP Project No. 25-13 would realign California State Route Highway 74 through Ethanac Road (Project), crossing the existing railroad tracks, and connecting Antelope Road and Mathews Road as proposed in the City’s General Plan. The realignment of Highway 74 through Ethanac Road is part of a larger regional transportation facility project referred to as the “Ethanac Expressway”, which would ultimately connect Highway 74 to Interstate 15 (I-15) through the Cities of Perris and Lake Elsinore, as well as unincorporated portions of Riverside County.
In January 2016, the County of Riverside prepared a Draft Preliminary Study Report for the Ethanac Road Gap Closure, which focused on identifying missing roadway links through the Cities of Menifee and Perris. Within the City of Menifee, the study focused on alternatives to connect Highway 74 to Ethanac Road through the existing railroad tracks.
In June 2019, Riverside County and the Cities of Perris, Lake Elsinore, and Menifee entered into a Cooperative Agreement to develop a Corridor Development Report. The report was completed in 2020 and focused on alternatives extending Ethanac Road and connecting it to the I-15 within the City of Lake Elsinore.
The proposed Study would focus on the realignment/connection of Ethanac Road and Highway 74 in the vicinity of the existing railroad tracks from Trumble Road to Palomar Road. The Study would evaluate the existing challenges associated with the ultimate configuration of a connecting
City of Menifee Staff Report
CIP 25-13 Parsons Agreement
August 20, 2025
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facility and explore environmental concerns, development growth, existing and future traffic volumes, connectivity and mobility opportunities, utility conflicts, right-of-way, drainage, design alternatives, and provide estimated costs associated with the Project. The Study would serve as the basis for the development of future phases of the Project and provide a comprehensive understanding of challenges, costs, and coordination efforts necessary to complete the Project.
On April 15, 2025, staff released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Engineering Services. A total of five proposals were received. An evaluation committee comprised of experienced City staff members evaluated the proposals based on the specific criteria and scoring parameters stated in the RFP. The results of the initial proposal scoring are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 – PROPOSAL RANKING SUMMARY
Following the review of proposals received, SENER Engineering and Systems, Inc. and TKE Engineering, Inc. were deemed non-responsive for failure to submit all required documentation in response to the RFP and were subsequently disqualified from moving forward to the final evaluation. The three remaining responsive firms were invited to participate in selection interviews to further assess the proposed project teams and to determine which firm most closely aligned with the scope of work outlined in the RFP. The average scores of the evaluation completed by the interview panel are summarized in Table 2.
TABLE 2 – SELECTION INTERVIEW FIRM RANKING SUMMARY
Under the California Government Code Section 4526, local agencies are required to select professional services for architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, or construction project management solely on the basis of demonstrated competence and professional qualifications. For this reason, cost proposals are sealed until the selection process is completed. After thorough review, Parsons Transportation Group (Consultant) was selected as the highest-ranking proposer.
The Consultant demonstrated qualified experience and a comprehensive understanding relevant to the Project’s scope as outlined within the RFP. The City’s independent estimate for the Project Firm Name Proposal Scoring Initial Proposal Ranking
Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. 76.80 1
CNS Engineering, Inc. 76.60 2
SENER Engineering and Systems, Inc. Non-Responsive 3
Michael Baker International 73.80 4
TKE Engineering, Inc. Non-Responsive 5
Firm Name Interview Score Cost Proposal Qualification
Ranking
Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. 87.80 $399,751.05 1
Michael Baker International 80.80 $398,959.63 2
CNS Engineering, Inc. 78.80 $399,882.62 3
City of Menifee Staff Report
CIP 25-13 Parsons Agreement
August 20, 2025
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was $420,000. The final cost proposal from the Consultant was $399,751.05, which was determined to be reasonable and within the established Project budget.
The amount of the proposed Agreement exceeds the City Manager’s signing authority. Pursuant to Resolution No. 24-1569 and Menifee Municipal Code §3.12.060, any contract amount that exceeds the City Manager’s signing authority shall be approved by the City Council.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Connectivity and Mobility
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of the proposed Agreement with Parsons Transportation Group, Inc. is for the total amount not-to-exceed $399,751.05. Funding for the Agreement is available in the Fiscal Year 2025/2026 budget from the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) Fund (4320- PWD-CIPS-900-02310-652800), as summarized in Table 3 below.
TABLE 3 – PROJECT BUDGET
Fund Project Account String Available Budget Anticipated Cost TUMF Fund CIP25-13.2310.PRE.CAE $500,000.00 $399,751.05 TOTAL $500,000.00 $399,751.05
No additional budget appropriation action is required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Project Location Map
2. Agreement