CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 29 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 10-4661 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: June 16, 2025
SUBJECT:
Traffic Signal Modification at Poplar Avenue and Humboldt Street — Agreement RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an agreement with Phoenix Electric Company for construction of the Traffic Signal Modification at Poplar Avenue and Humboldt Street in the amount of $367,000; establish a contingency reserve in the amount of $55,000; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented and issue change orders as allowed by the contract documents and within the contingency reserve.
BACKGROUND:
The City adopted its first Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) in May 2024. The LRSP analyzes traffic safety performance and crash patterns and recommends strategic and proven solutions to improve safety performance at priority locations citywide. After a year of community engagement and review by the Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission (SIC) and City Council, the adopted LRSP is a data-driven plan focused on improving safety. In addition to adopting the plan, City Council directed staff to prioritize implementing the top 10 priority projects identified in the plan.
Project Scope
The LRSP identified the intersection of Poplar Avenue and Humboldt Street (Project) as the third highest-priority location in the City in need of safety improvements. It is the highest priority location that is within the City's jurisdiction, with the top two locations being on El Camino Real and subject to Caltrans’ jurisdiction. This Project improves safety by reducing conflict points between turning cars and people walking or driving, giving pedestrians a head start to cross, improving visibility with better lighting and signal upgrades, helping emergency vehicles move through more easily, and making crosswalk ramps easier and safer to use.
The Project will execute the improvements identified in the LRSP which includes modifying the signal system to add protected left turns in all directions, leading pedestrian intervals, new signal heads with upgraded high visibility back plates, emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) for Poplar Avenue (EVP already exists on Humboldt Street), and accessible pedestrian signals. The Project will also reconfigure the intersection safety lighting and move some utility boxes out of pedestrian ramp surfaces. The Project will accomplish these improvements without changing any existing vehicle lane configurations or removing any on-street parking. The Engineer’s Estimate for the project is $406,200.
Outreach
In addition to the year of engagement to the community, SIC, and City Council as part of the LRSP, staff distributed informational mailers to residents near the project site in May 2025. Staff also delivered a presentation for the Project at the College Park Elementary campus in Spring 2025 as part of a construction update meeting conducted in collaboration with the San Mateo-Foster City Unified School District.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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Project Bid
The Project was advertised on April 3, 2025, and a total of seven (7) bids were received and opened on May 1, 2025. The bids received are listed below in order of increasing bid amount.
CONTRACTOR BID AMOUNT
Phoenix Electric Company $367,000
St. Francis Electric, LLC $386,670
Ray’s Electric $418,185
Tennyson Electric, LLC $441,500
Bear Electrical Solutions, LLC $458,000
Mike Brown Electric Company $474,840
Liffey Electric $535,000
Based on a review of the bids received, staff recommends Council award the agreement to Phoenix Electric Company as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.
Staff also recommends a $55,000 contingency (approximately 15 percent of contract value) to be established because the Project is replacing four large traffic signal mast arm poles at a busy intersection near a freeway ramp and two schools, and the schedule is expected to coincide with construction at the College Park Elementary School site. These factors create a high level of complexity for the Project with greater potential for unforeseen circumstances.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Sufficient funds are available in Poplar Avenue/Humboldt Street Signal Modify - Left Turn (460049) project to award this agreement in the amount of $367,000 and establish a contingency reserve of $55,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This project is categorically exempt from CEQA as an “existing facility,” because it consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Agreement
STAFF CONTACT
Mike Kato, Associate Engineer
[email protected]
650-522-7377