DATE: APRIL 12, 2022
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
BY: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
TITLE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALINAS AND KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Salinas and Kimley-Horn and Associates and authorizing the use of up to $173,300 from CIP 5800.50.9326 for an Intersection Control Evaluation Step 2 at US 101 Southbound Ramps at Airport Boulevard / Terven Avenue.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council approve a Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Salinas and Kimley-Horn and Associates, and authorizing the use of up to $173,300 from CIP 5800.50.9326 for an Intersection Control Evaluation Step 2 at US 101 Southbound Ramps at Airport Boulevard / Terven Avenue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Salinas Airport Development Lease Project proposes the construction of 65,166 square feet of warehousing, 65,166 square feet of light industrial land uses, and the relocation of the existing City public works building from the northwest corner of John Street & Work Street onto the 100-500 block of Airport Boulevard. This project was found to have traffic impacts at the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard. Caltrans requires an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) analysis for any proposed intersection capacity expansion projects on their facilities. An ICE analysis is a two-step process, and the step one analysis has been prepared for and accepted by Caltrans staff. The City entered into an on call professional service agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates (KHA) and KHA prepared the Step 1 analysis, therefor staff is recommending that City Council approve a professional service agreement with KHA to complete the ICE Step 2 at US 101 Southbound Ramps at Airport Boulevard / Terven Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
On November 14, 2019, the Traffic and Transportation Commission was requested to consider recommending the approval of a Salinas Airport Development Lease Project Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration, based on the Traffic Impact Analysis(Attachment 1). Furthermore, at its May 12, 2020 meeting, City Council approved a Resolution (No. 21845) certifying the Mitigated Negative Declaration(MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for a Ground Lease on the 13.25-acre parcel of land located at 1341 Mercer Way. The findings in the MND identified impacts to the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard. During the public review of the MND Caltrans, the agency which owns and operates this intersection submitted a letter, dated November 19, 2019 requiring an intersection control evaluation at the intersection of the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard to determine the cost-effectiveness of signal modifications compared to a roundabout. Caltrans requires the ICE process for any proposed intersection capacity expansion projects as governed by Traffic Operations Policy Directive 13-02 (attachment 2). The City modified the MND to reflect this change and planned to prepare an ICE analysis at the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard.
Caltrans established a two-step process to support “timely and efficient” selection of intersection traffic control strategies and access configurations for intersections. The objective of the Step One evaluation is to identify access solution concepts meriting further consideration. This approach focuses the expenditure of engineering resources on access strategies and configurations that should meet the transportation purpose and need consistent with system performance goals, the project context, and financial constraints. This typically requires a planning-level capacity analysis to identify the preliminary size or footprint of the intersection. The footprint is usually based on the number and length of the approach lanes for a specific control strategy during the project design period or service life.
An ICE Step One analysis has been prepared and accepted by Caltrans staff for the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard. The ICE analysis process compares five performance metrics evaluated over a 20-year projection at the study intersection to calculate the Benefit Cost (B/C) Ratio which measures the expected return on investment for each proposed intersection control. The performance measures used to calculate the benefits of the proposed improvement compared to the existing condition, or no project alternative are:
Safety Benefit (of the proposed intersection control type) Delay Reduction Benefit (of the proposed intersection control type) Emission Reduction Benefit (of the proposed intersection control type) Operations and Maintenance Cost (added costs of the proposed intersection control type) Initial Capital Cost (added costs of the proposed intersection control type) The analysis estimates the benefit and cost performance measures for different project alternatives, when forecast traffic volumes are considered for a minimum 20-year service life. However, the traffic analysis estimates that the 2035 scenario will be the critical design year, and future redistribution of traffic volumes will decrease the overall traffic at this intersection when other planned infrastructure projects are constructed. The roundabout will perform at LOS A and C at service year (2035) conditions with a maximum 95th percentile queue length of 175 feet on the Terven Ave approach in the PM peak hour and 325 feet on the US 101 SB off-ramp in the AM peak hour. The roundabout operates at LOS A and B in the 2045 peak periods. The B/C ratios for the roundabout concept is 2.91, when compared to the existing signal. Since the B/C ratio is greater than 1.0, the roundabout is more cost-effective when compared to the existing signal. The analysis concludes that a roundabout-controlled intersection is the preferred alternative at the intersection of US 101 SB ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard.
Since the Step One analysis is complete and accepted by Caltrans, the next step is a Step Two analysis. The objective of a Step Two analysis is an engineering estimate and comparison of the system performance impacts, benefits, and costs expected over the design or service life of each control strategy and the “No Build” scenario. Traffic analysis will produce performance impacts and benefits estimates related to traffic operations (control delay) and traffic safety (collision frequency and severity). Step Two evaluation activities include, but are not limited to:
Intersection traffic control warrant studies.
Project alternative capacity, operational and safety analysis.
Design performance checks focused on accommodating the design vehicle, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Economic analysis based on project cost estimates, including life-cycle cost considerations.
Consultations with and recommended by the District ICE Coordinator, functional unit personnel, and ICE Technical Assistance Program personnel.
The City entered into an on call professional service agreement with Kimley Horn and Associates (KHA) and KHA prepared the Step 1 analysis, therefor staff is recommending that City Council approve a professional service agreement with KHA to complete the ICE Step 2 at US 101 Southbound Ramps at Airport Boulevard / Terven Avenue. Public works staff will continue working with Caltrans towards the development and acceptance of the ICE Step Two. The Step Two analysis will make the final selection of the most appropriate intersection control at US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard. Following the acceptance of the ICE Step Two, the City would be responsible for implementing the project through a Caltrans’ encroachment permit or a Design Engineering Evaluation Report (DEER) process.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The approval of a professional service agreement is not a project. An environmental document will need to be required by CEQA and/or NEPA pending the results of the Step Two analysis. Furthermore, the installation of a traffic signal modifications or a roundabout at the intersection of US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard is a mitigation measure as identified in the1341 Mercer Way MND.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This action supports the Council’s initiative of “Investment Strategies/Risk Management” and “Public Safety”.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
On March 8, 2022, City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Mid-Year Budget, which appropriated $300,000 into a new CIP 5800.50.9326. Funds are appropriated and available in the above expenditure accounts.
Additionally, the outcome of the ICE Step 2 analysis may have an impact on the City’s Traffic Fee Ordinance Program. The City collects impact fees from development projects to finance planned capacity improvements to support development. The City’s Transportation Improvement Program (2010) estimates that a new interchange at Airport Boulevard would cost $74.8 million. The planned improvements for a new interchange are financially constrained and unlikely to be fully funded in the foreseeable future. However, the roundabout option may provide sufficient capacity for the cumulative condition without requiring a new overcrossing and substantial right of way acquisition. If the roundabout option is found to satisfy the cumulative condition, the Transportation Improvement Program cost estimate can be reduced, and consequently this could reduce traffic impact fees, when the Traffic Fee Ordinance is updated next.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Professional Service Agreement
Attachment 2: Salinas Airport Development Lease Project Traffic Impact Analysis Attachment 3: Traffic Operations Policy Directive 13-02 Attachment 4: ICE US 101 Southbound Ramps at Terven Avenue/Airport Boulevard Page | 3
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