DATE:
June 25, 2024
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue
Intersection Improvements, Design and
Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—
Various Actions
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find that in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21 -39, is categorically exempt as Class 1, Existing Facilities under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and on a separate and independent basis is categorically exempt as Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land, under CEQA Guideline Section 15304.
2. Approve plans and specifications for Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue I ntersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21 -39, and authorize staff to advertise the project for bids.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to award a construction contract to the lowest responsive responsible bidder if the bid is within the project budget of $3,675,000.
BACKGROUND
The intersection of Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue is located along Grant Road approximately midway between North Drive and Cuesta Drive (see Figure 1 , Project Location 1). The intersection is adjacent to Cuesta Park and is an essential connection to the entrance to the Stevens Creek Trail, approximately one -half mile to the east of the intersection. El Camino Hospital and YMCA are both to the west of the intersection along North Drive. The re is one marked crosswalk at the eastern leg of the intersection to cross Sleeper Avenue, and a median opening and accessible curb ramps are provided on the southern leg of the intersection to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Grant Road (see Figure 2).
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
Figure 1: Project Location Map
Figure 2: Existing Conditions
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
In 2019, the City contracted with TJKM Transportation Consultants to conduct a feasibility study of the Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue intersection and evaluate conceptual alternatives for improvements to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians and bicyclists crossing Grant Road at Sleeper Avenue. A virtual community meeting was held on October 22, 2020, to gather public input on the proposed alternatives. These alternatives and public input were then presented to the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) on February 24, 2021 and to the Council
Transportation Committee (CTC) on April 20, 2021.
On June 8, 202 1
, Council approved the preferred alternative recommended by BPAC and CTC, which is shown in Figure 3 and included:
• Pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) on Grant Road;
• High-visibility crosswalks on the southern and eastern legs of the intersection;
• Left-turn lane restriction from Sleeper Avenue onto Grant Road;
• Adaptive traffic signal equipment and signal interconnect;
• Streetlights;
• Enhanced signage and striping; and
• Northern bicycle crossing (not shown in Figure 3).
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
Figure 3: PHB with a Southern Crosswalk and Left-Turn Restriction from Sleeper Avenue
On February 14, 2023, Council approved a professional services agreement with BKF Eng ineers, Inc., to provide design and construction support services for the Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection improvements consistent with the Council -approved preferred alternative. The scope also included an additional nine intersections to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements (see Figures 4 and 5). The nine intersections include:
1. Rengstorff Avenue crosswalk at Junction Avenue;
2. East Middlefield Road crosswalk at Tyrella Avenue;
3. West Middlefield Road crosswalks at Terra Bella Avenue;
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
4. West Middlefield Road crosswalks at San Pierre Way;
5. Cuesta Drive crosswalk at Bonita Avenue;
6. New crosswalk across Cuesta Drive at Begen Avenue;
7. Heatherstone Way/Dale Avenue crosswalk at the Stevens Creek Trail entrance;
8. Pedestrian improvements at Sleeper Avenue and Franklin Avenue; and
9. East Dana Street crosswalk at Pioneer Way.
Figure 4: Intersections 1 through 4
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
Figure 5: Intersections 5 through 9 and Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue
The additional intersections originated from community requests , staff’s evaluations of those intersections, and the Pedestrian Master Plan . The recommended improvements at the intersections generally consist of LED-enhanced signs, Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons, high- visibility crosswalks, signing, striping, and/or other appropriate traffic-calming measures.
To prioritize the improvements at the Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue intersection, the project has been split into two phases. Phase I will include three intersections: Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue, Sleeper Avenue/Franklin Avenue, and Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way at the Stevens Creek Trail entrance (see Figure 1, Project Locations 2 and 3). The remaining seven intersec tions will be completed with Phase II.
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
ANALYSIS
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection
On September 27, 2023 and October 3, 2023 , BPAC and CTC, respectively, reviewed a revised layout with a dditional features for the Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue inters ection. The revised layout included all elements from the approved preferred alternative, with the addition of the following elements, as shown in Figure 6:
• High-visibility northerly crosswalk and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps;
• Northerly and southerly bicycle crossings, including green markings, bicycle ramps, and pathway access on westerly side of intersection;
• Activated blank-out signs (illuminated no-right-turn restriction for westbound vehicles on Sleeper Avenue);
• A median island for improved visibility of the left -turn restriction from Sleeper Avenue to Grant Road; and
• PHB push buttons for bicycles (not shown in Figure 6).
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
Figure 6: Revised Layout Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue
Both BPAC and CTC supported the modifications. CTC requested the left-turn restriction from Sleeper Avenue onto Grant Road be implemented as a pilot with a traffic circulation evaluation to be performed after construction. This feedback has been included in the final design and as part of postconstruction activities.
In summary, the final scope of work for the Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue intersection will include the following elements:
• PHB on Grant Road at Sleeper Avenue;
• High-visibility crosswalks on the northern, eastern, and southern legs of the intersection with ADA-compliant ramps;
• Northerly and southerly bicycle crossings, including green markings, bicycle ramps, and pathway access on westerly side of the intersection;
• PHB push buttons for bicycles;
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
• Pilot left-turn lane restriction from Sleeper Avenue onto Grant Road, with activated blank - out signs (illuminated no-right-turn restriction for westbound vehicles on Sleeper Avenue) and median area with rubber curbs and flexible posts;
• Adaptive traffic signal equipment and signal interconnect; and
• Streetlights and enhanced signage and striping.
Sleeper Avenue/Franklin Avenue and Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way Intersections
As part of Phase I, the project includes pedestrian and bicycle improvements at two additional intersections, as follows:
• Sleeper Avenue/Franklin Avenue:
— Speed humps approaching the intersection;
— An eastbound bicycle crossing, including green markings; — Median island at the intersection with a bicycle refuge area; and — Signage and striping.
• Dale Avenue/Heatherstone Way:
— Rectangular rapid-flashing beacons; and
— Signage.
Plans and Specifications
The plans and specifications for Phase I of the project are complete . If Council approves the recommended actions, s taff anticipates completing the bidding process and awarding the construction contract by September 2024. It will take approximately six months after contract award for the contractor to receive materials that require a long lead time to manufacture, such as steel traffic signal poles. Construction activities are estimated to begin in early 2025 and be completed in fall 2025. The remaining seven intersections will be with Phase II of the project and brought to Council for consideration of approval of plans and specifications in fall 2024.
Environmental Clearance
In accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the project has been determined to be categorically exempt as Class 1, Existing Facilities , pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301(c), and as Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land, pursuant to Article 19, Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
Section 15304(f), as it consists of minor alternations to existing street intersections to enhance bicycle and pedestrian facilities and requires minor trenching where the surface will be restored.
Staff recommends Council make findings that , in accordance with the CEQA requirements, the project is categorically exempt as Class 1, Existing Facilities, and as Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land, under CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) Sections 15301(c) and 15304(f), respectively.
FISCAL IMPACT
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements Phase I, Project 21-39, is funded with $2,250,000 from the Capital Improvement Program ( CIP) Reserve Fund, $750,000 from 2016 Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) 2016 Measure B Sales Tax, and $675,000 from the Transportation Reserve Fund, for a total project budget of $3,675,000.
The estimated cost for Phase I of the project is as follows:
Construction $1,020,000
Construction Contingency 100,000
Project Management 140,000
Consultant Services 433,000
Construction Inspection and Testing 35,000
Permits and Miscellaneous 20,000
Subtotal $1,748,000
City Administration 114,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $1,862,000
If Council approves the recommended action, there is sufficient funding in the project budget for Phase I of the project. No additional appropriation is requested at this time.
CONCLUSION
Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction, Project 21-39, includes intersection improvements to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians and bicyclists at the Grant Road /Sleeper Avenue intersection, as well as intersection improvements at nine additional intersections. As a first phase, the project will install improvements at the intersection s of Grant Road/Sleeper Avenue, Sleeper Avenue/Franklin Avenue, and Heatherstone Way/Dale Avenue. The improvements at the three intersections generally include a P HB, high visibility crosswalks, bike lane striping, rectangular rapid-flashing Grant Road and Sleeper Avenue Intersection Improvements, Design and Construction (Phase I), Project 21-39—Various Actions June 25, 2024
beacons, signing, and striping. The project is consistent with the feedback received from BPAC, CTC, and the community. The design is complete and will be advertised for construction should Council approve the recommended actions.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not make environmental findings, do not approve the plans and specifications, and defer the project.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Kathryn Robertson
Associate Civil Engineer
Reviewed by:
Robert Gonzales
Principal Civil Engineer/
Civil Infrastructure
Edward Arango
Assistant Public Works Director/
City Engineer
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Public Works Director
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
KR/EP/6/CAM
952-06-25-24CR
204229
cc: APWD—Arango, PCE —Gonzales, PCE —Shah, ACE —Robertson, SMA —Goedicke, File (Project 21-39), [email protected]