Administrative
Report
H.8., File # 25-0118 Meeting Date: 2/4/2025
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE AVIATION BOULEVARD AT ARTESIA
BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS (NORTHBOUND RIGHT TURN LANE) PROJECT, JOB NO. 40780, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY CLERK TO ADVERTISE THE PROJECT FOR
COMPETITIVE BIDDING
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Aviation Boulevard at Artesia Boulevard Intersection Improvements (Northbound Right Turn Lane) Project, Job No. 40780 (“Project”), funded by Metro Measure R Funds and supported by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), is designed to improve the level of service at the intersection of Aviation Blvd. and Artesia Blvd. through the installation of a dedicated northbound right turn lane along Aviation. Implementation of the project requires the purchase of a narrow strip of private property. The process to acquire the property, which has taken several years, is nearly complete, and it is now time to procure a contractor for project construction.
The final Project construction plans and specifications are ready for competitive bidding and are available for viewing at the plans and specifications review area located behind the Engineering permit counter at City Hall. If approved, the plans will be posted online prior to the start of the 4-week advertising period. The Engineer’s construction estimate for the project is $1.27 million.
Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2025 and take approximately one hundred twenty (120) working days to complete.
BACKGROUND
Measure R is a one-half cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2008 to provide dedicated funding for transportation needs in Los Angeles County. The City of Redondo Beach has received regional Measure R funding for numerous street improvements over the years and for this particular project was awarded $2,457,000, initially, to cover the costs of property acquisition, design, and construction of a new dedicated right turn lane on northbound Aviation Blvd. at Artesia Blvd. In June of 2024, the SBCCOG and the Metro Board approved an additional $1,000,000 for the project and more recently the City submitted two additional requests for funding in the amounts of $1,500,000 and $400,000 respectively. The $1,500,000 request was approved by the SBCCOG and will be considered by the Metro Board in March of 2025 for final action. The $400,000 request is expected to go to the Metro Board in June of 2025. The additional requests have been made to account for final legal fees, the settlement payment, and increased construction costs, which have become more defined since the original project cost estimate and grant request were made.
Both of the pending requests are expected to be supported by the SBCCOG and approved by Metro.
H.8., File # 25-0118 Meeting Date: 2/4/2025
Both of the pending requests are expected to be supported by the SBCCOG and approved by Metro.
If approved, the total available funding for the Project will be $5,357,000.
Work on the project began on December 18, 2012, when the City Council approved contracts with Overland, Pacific and Cutler, Inc. for right of way acquisition services and RBF Consulting, Inc, now Michael Baker International, Inc. for project design.
The right-of-way acquisition was fiercely contested by the adjacent property owner and the City was required to go through a lengthy eminent domain process involving a series of steps including environmental review, a needs assessment, and a trial before the court. On May 19, 2020, the City Council, via Resolution No.CC-2005-034, adopted the Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2020-XX-IES-MND-OOX, complying with CEQA, for the addition of a northbound right turn lane from Aviation Boulevard to Artesia Boulevard in the City of Redondo Beach. On January 19, 2021, the City Council, adopted the Resolution of Necessity to acquire the right of way required for the Project.
These actions were followed by a trial, where the court assigned to the eminent domain case ruled in the City’s favor.
The court’s decision allowed the City to purchase the property for fair market value. The City and property owner later agreed to a reasonable price for the land and are in the process of finalizing a settlement agreement. As part of the settlement agreement, the City will have 12 months to complete construction of the project. With the strict timeframe for construction, it is recommended that the City begin advertising the project for construction now in order to have a contractor ready to begin as soon as possible.
The design of the Project is complete, the final plans and specifications have been finalized and are ready for a competitive bidding. The plans and specifications are available for viewing at the plans and specifications review area located behind the Engineering permit counter at City Hall and will be posted online by the first day of advertising.
As noted, the Engineer’s construction estimate for the project is $1.27 million. Construction is expected to begin in May 2025 and is anticipated to take about one hundred twenty (120) working days to complete.
COORDINATION
The development of the Project Plans and Specifications was coordinated by the Public Works Department - Engineering Services Division. Funding for the project has been coordinated with Metro and the South Bay Cities Council of Governments.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project is funded by transportation restricted monies provided by Metro. Specifically, to date, $3,457,000 of Regional Measure R Grant funds have been awarded to the project. The City has requested $1,900,000 of additional funding to cover any remaining project costs. The Metro Board is set to consider $1,500,000 of the requested funds in March and the remaining $400,000 in June.
Both requests are expected to be approved. The grant funds are paid to the City on a cost reimbursement basis. Final project costs will be known after the construction bids are received, but are expected to be well below the anticipated level of funding.
H.8., File # 25-0118 Meeting Date: 2/4/2025
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Project Location Map