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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: March 20, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Charles A. Montoya, City Manager;
Lynn Merrill, Director of Public Works, Operations, and Maintenance
Department: Public Works
Subject: Resolution Approving Cooperative Agreement with Omnitrans for the “E” Street Median Project (Wards 1
& 3)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2024-057, and Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Cooperative Agreement with Omnitrans for the Design, Environmental Phase, and Construction of the “E” Street Median Project Executive Summary:
The installation of a center median on “E” Street between 10 th Street and Fairway Avenue will enhance roadway safety, as well mitigate the risks associated with crossover accidents, which have been escalating. Both the City and Omnitrans demonstrate the commitment to safeguard all users of the roadway while promoting the efficient and sustainable flow of traffic within the community.
Background
The “E” Street corridor is one of the major thoroughfares in San Bernardino, it was selected as a route for the sbX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system due to its high traffic volume and the need for efficient public transportation options. Bus lanes, which are lanes designated exclusively for buses, are a key component of the BRT systems like sbX. These lanes help buses bypass traffic congestion, allowing them to move more quickly and adhere to schedules more reliably.
The sbX Line operates in a center-running dedicated transit lane along “E” Street between 10th Street and Hospitality Lane, and along Hospitality Lane between “E” Street and Tippecanoe Avenue. The City owns and maintains the street right-of-way, including dedicated bus lanes, pursuant to the Master Cooperative Agreement 1 9
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between Omnitrans and the City of San Bernardino for the “E” Street Corridor sbX Bus Rapid Transit Project, executed September 21, 2009.
The City and Omnitrans have determined that a safety concern exists where vehicles make left turns out of business driveways across the dedicated bus lane. The temporary delineators installed by Omnitrans to stop vehicles from crossing the dedicated bus lane have not been effective because they are easily removed/destroyed and need frequent replacement. Since the beginning of the sbX line in 2014, the City has found the maintenance and replacement of the missing and destroyed delineators to be costly.
In 2019, the city constructed a median on Hospitality Lane between “E” Street and Waterman Avenue, which resulted in significantly reduced bus and vehicle collisions, demonstrating the necessity of this median.
Discussion
The City and Omnitrans have decided to collaborate on addressing the escalating collisions involving buses and vehicles along the sbX line on “E” Street, spanning from 10th Street to Hospitality Lane. Under this agreement, we will jointly undertake the design, pursue environmental clearance (CEQA or NEPA in case of federal funding), and oversee construction for the project aimed at achieving the final development of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E).
The estimated total cost for the Project is $2,380,646, which includes design, environmental clearance, construction, construction management services, design services during bid phase and construction, and a 15% contingency The estimated total cost of the Project is described in greater detail in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. The City and Omnitrans agree to split the total Project Cost, and each Phase Cost, in half.
Thus, Omnitrans agrees to reimburse no more than 50% of the expected total project cost, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $1,190,323 to be funded by Omnitrans under this Agreement through Federal funds.
The following is a breakdown of the three phases of the project:
The City and Omnitrans will proceed through each phase of the project subject to the availability of funds allocated for each phase. Collaboratively, they will actively pursue competitive grant opportunities at both the State and Federal levels to secure funding for the design and construction of the project. The goal of this action is to enter into
1.Designand Environmental Phase –cost is estimated to be$242,510.2.Construction of Median on“Segment 1” -along“E” Streetbetween 10thStreet and Mill Street –cost is estimated to be$1,007,098.3.Construction of Median on “Segment 2” -along“E” Street from Mill Street to Fairway Avenue –cost is estimated to be$1,131,038. 1 9
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the design phase for the project in order to aid in securing additional grant funds for the of the Construction Phase.
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
This project is consistent with Goal No 4. Improve Quality of Life- Evaluate and enhance the quality of public safety services. The median on “E” Street along the proposed segment will enhance roadway safety for both the buses and the vehicles. .
Fiscal Impact
There is no General Fund impact associated with this action. The City will pursue competitive grant opportunities at both the State and Federal levels in order to secure funding for the design and construction of the project. .
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, adopt Resolution No. 2024-057, and Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Cooperative Agreement with Omnitrans for the Design Phase, Environmental Phase, and Construction of the “E” Street Median Project Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2024-057
Attachment 2 Cooperative Agreement with Omnitrans
Ward:
Wards 1,3
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A