City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 09/08/2026
Subject: Scope and Fee for Westwood Consulting
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Professional Services Agreement with Westwood Professional Services, Inc. to prepare the design plans and specification associated with the Phase 1 ACE Station project located on Industrial Avenue in the not to exceed amount of $125,000 (funding source: REAP grant).
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ripon and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) previously entered into a Letter of Understanding (LOU) regarding the implementation of an Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) station in Ripon. Under the LOU, SJRRC agreed to take the lead in implementing the planned ACE station and the infrastructure necessary to support the station that is planned to be located on Industrial Avenue (next to the old Nestle water tower).
The planned improvements associated with the ACE station included:
Construction of parking facilities on the east and west side of Industrial Avenue. Reconstruction of Industrial Avenue from Main Street to Fourth Street. Reconstruction of Fourth Street from Industrial Avenue to Stockton Avenue. Removal of the water tower and realignment of Industrial Avenue. Signage, security, and other improvements associated with the planned ACE station.
The design of these improvements have been completed to a 60 percent level.
DISCUSSION:
Since execution of the LOU, ACE has determined that implementation of the Ripon station will be delayed. Although the timing of the future ACE station remains uncertain, several of the planned infrastructure improvements could provide an immediate benefit to the City's transit operations and can be advanced independently of the station.
The following figure shows the proposed phase 1 ACE station improvements to be implemented prior to the ACE train station, along with a description.
Industrial Avenue Transit Parking Lot: Construct the parking lot planned for the east side of Industrial Avenue. The parking lot would provide additional parking to support the City's transit operations and could ultimately serve the future ACE station.
Water Tower Removal: Remove the water tower located on Industrial Avenue.
Industrial Avenue Reconstruction and Realignment: Reconstruct and realign Industrial Avenue from the proposed parking lot south to Main Street. The improvements would establish the roadway configuration necessary to support the parking lot and improve circulation within the area.
Staff has requested a scope of services and fee from the consultant (Westwood Professional Services, Inc.) previously involved in preparing the project plans to complete the design of the proposed phase 1 ACE station planned improvements to a level sufficient for the City to advertise and bid the project.
The consultant has provided a scope of services to complete the design and prepare contract documents for bidding. The total fee is not to exceed $125,000. The $125,000 design cost would be funded with REAP funds allocated to the City through the San Joaquin Council of Governments.
Prior to construction, staff will prepare a funding plan for the construction phase of the project and present to the City Council. The completed design and bidding documents will provide the City with a more reliable construction cost estimate that can be used to evaluate future funding opportunities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed $125,000 design expenditure would be funded entirely from the City's available REAP funds.
Attachments:
1. 2026-08-06 PSA_Ripon Transit Parking Lot