TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: John Ristow
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: November 25, 2024
Approved:
Date:
12/5/24
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 4
SUBJECT: Cost-Sharing Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for the Montague Expressway Bridge Improvements Project
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute the cost-sharing agreement, as well as any required amendments, between the City of San José and the Santa Clara Valley Water District for the design and environmental planning phase of the Montague Bridge Improvements Project in an amount not to exceed $550,000 with a term from the date of full execution to December 31, 2027.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
The recommended action will provide the funding needed for the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) to lead and manage the engineering design and environmental planning activities for the Montague Bridge Improvements Project (Project), which consists of transportation, potential trail restoration, and flood protection improvements. Valley Water will manage the development of the Project in partnership with the City of San José (City) and the County of Santa Clara (County). This work will advance the Project to a state of readiness for construction while improving its competitiveness for regional funding opportunities.
BACKGROUND
On December 14, 2022, the County and the City entered the "Settlement Agreement Between the County of Santa Clara and the City of San José Regarding North San José," in which the City was tasked to design, develop, construct, and deliver a set of projects for the County, including transportation improvements to the Montague COUNCIL AGENDA: 12/17/24
FILE: 24-2340
ITEM: 2.31
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 25, 2024
Subject: Cost-Sharing Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for the Montague Expressway Bridge Improvements Project
Expressway Bridge over the Guadalupe River. The transportation improvements include removing the existing sidewalk on the Montague Expressway Bridge deck to incorporate an additional westbound vehicular travel lane and an adjacent bicycle/pedestrian crossing that connects to the Guadalupe River Trail network. If the City and Valley Water commit to a cost-sharing agreement for joint delivery of the Project by December 31, 2024, the settlement agreement allows for the completion of the bicycle/pedestrian crossing by December 2031, instead of December 2027, had the City elected to implement the transportation improvements separately.
The Project is located along the Guadalupe River from Tasman Drive to US- 101/Bayshore Freeway. From Tasman Drive to Trimble Road, the east bank of the river is located within the San José while the west bank of the river is located within the City of Santa Clara. Montague Expressway is an east-west thoroughfare through Santa Clara Valley, owned and operated by the County’s Roads and Airports Department.
Montague Expressway connects three major freeways: United States Highway 101, Interstate 880, and Interstate 680.
Valley Water is simultaneously pursuing the development of the Lower Guadalupe River Capacity Restoration Project, which includes raising levees, adding retaining walls, and raising bridge headwalls along the Guadalupe River from Tasman Drive to the US- 101/Bayshore Freeway. In the Project area, the flood protection improvements involve raising the height of bridge headwalls along Montague Expressway Bridge over the Guadalupe River and additional bridge modifications necessitated by the raising of the headwalls.
In 2022, Valley Water and the City initiated discussions regarding consolidation of the transportation, potential trail restoration, and flood protection improvements into the Project scope. The agencies concluded that it would be in the agencies’ interest from a cost and schedule perspective to pursue concurrent delivery with Valley Water serving as the lead agency for the Project. Toward the conclusion of the design and environmental planning phase, the City and Valley Water will enter into a future cost- sharing agreement for the construction of the Project and any potential trail restoration work necessitated by the Lower Guadalupe River Capacity Restoration Project.
ANALYSIS
The Project aims to alleviate peak-hour traffic congestion on Montague Expressway and to enhance safety and connectivity for all roadway users.
To realize these objectives, the Project will consider the following transportation improvements that are outlined in the “Settlement Agreement Between the County of Santa Clara and the City of San José Regarding North San José.” At the same time,
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 25, 2024
Subject: Cost-Sharing Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for the Montague Expressway Bridge Improvements Project
there will be an evaluation of other alternatives that achieve project goals and limit impact and/or the need for right-of-way acquisition.
• Montague widening (North First Street to Lick Mill Boulevard): Expansion of Montague Expressway to eight through lanes—four lanes in each direction from North First Street to Lick Mill Boulevard—including the crossing of the Guadalupe River. It shall also include the construction of an adjacent bicycle/pedestrian crossing over the Guadalupe River.
The scope of work to be performed by the City as part of the recommended cost- sharing agreement with Valley Water includes:
• Provide all documentation and information regarding the proposed transportation improvements; and
• Review and provide feedback on design documents, including scopes of work; 30%, 60%, 90%, 100%, and final drawings; specifications; cost estimates; California Environmental Quality Act documentation; and other deliverables prepared for the Project.
The scope of work to be performed by Valley Water as part of the cost-sharing agreement includes:
• Lead and oversee the design of the Project, including incorporating the flood improvements and transportation improvements in the Project design; and • Coordinate with appropriate local, state, federal, and regulatory agencies.
In parallel to the Project, the City is developing a new comprehensive transportation plan for North San José. Community needs and feedback that are solicited through that process will help shape the alternatives that are evaluated for the Project.
Racial Equity Impact Analysis
According to the San José Equity Atlas, the Project area is located along the border of census tract 5050.12, which has a combined race and income score of 3 (on a scale of 1 to 10), and census tract 5050.06, which has a combined race and income score of 4 (on a scale of 1 to 10). The higher the combined score, the higher the concentration of both people of color and low-income households within the census tract. By improving bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, local road operations, and transit connectivity across Montague Expressway, the Project promotes equity by providing enhanced access to transportation infrastructure between these census tracts and to nearby transit routes (e.g., light rail along North First Street).
Climate Smart San José Analysis
The recommendation in this memorandum aligns with one or more Climate Smart San José strategies by improving traffic operations and safety on the local roadway, expanding bicycle/pedestrian access and transit connectivity, and facilitating regional access to the Project area. The improved multi-modal network and its emphasis on providing a connection to the Guadalupe River Trail network will benefit bicyclists,
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 25, 2024
Subject: Cost-Sharing Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for the Montague Expressway Bridge Improvements Project
pedestrians, and transit users along Montague Expressway by facilitating mobility choices other than single-occupancy, gas-powered vehicles.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
Updates on this Project will be brought to the Transportation and Environmental Committee and City Council at key milestones. Additionally, toward the conclusion of the design and environmental planning phase, the City and Valley Water anticipate bringing forward a future cost-sharing agreement for the construction of the Project and any potential trail restoration work necessitated by the Lower Guadalupe River Capacity Restoration Project.
COST SUMMARY/IMPLICATIONS
The cost-sharing agreement with Valley Water provides for the City’s contribution not to exceed $550,000 for the initial engineering design and environmental planning activities of the Project. Valley Water will use the City’s contribution for design and environmental planning consultant costs, Valley Water’s labor for project management, other environmental or regulatory review, permits, consultants, and incidental expenditures required for the complete design of the Project. The 2024-2025 Modified Budget allocated $552,000 in anticipation of this agreement.
BUDGET REFERENCE
The table below identifies the fund and appropriations to fund the contract recommended as part of this memorandum and remaining project costs, including project delivery, construction, and contingency costs.
Fund
No.
Appn.
No.
Appropriation
Name
Total
Appropriation
Amount
for
Contract
2024-2025
Adopted
Capital
Budget
Page
Last
Budget
Action
(Date, Ord.
No.)
465 7688 Montague
Expressway
Improvements
Phase 2
$552,000 $550,000 934 10/22/2024
Ord. No.
31130
*The 2024-2025 Adopted Budget was approved on June 11, 2024 and adopted on June 18, 2024 by the City Council.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 25, 2024
Subject: Cost-Sharing Agreement with Santa Clara Valley Water District for the Montague Expressway Bridge Improvements Project
COORDINATION
This memorandum and agreement have been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office; the City Manager’s Budget Office; the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department; and the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the December 17, 2024 City Council meeting.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No commission recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-002, Consultant services for design, study, inspection, or other professional services with no commitment to future action.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
John Ristow
Director, Department of Transportation
For questions, please contact Neil Ong, Senior Engineer, Department of Transportation, at [email protected] or (408) 975-3237.