Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pw
Item # 16
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 16, 2025
TOPIC: Agreement for Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to Design and Build the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (No. 25- 6705) (Non-General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to Design and Build the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project for an amount not to exceed $5,680,658, for a term beginning September 16, 2025 and ending September 15, 2028, with provisions for two one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX).
2. Approve the Project Cost Analysis for a total estimated delivery cost of $5,710,658, which includes $5,680,658 for the design and build contract and $30,000 for in-kind staff support.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
The Public Works Agency (PWA) Engineering Division is responsible for the administration and oversight of all Capital Improvement Projects in the City including the operations and maintenance of the City’s traffic signal system. Santa Ana’s traffic signal system consists of 325 interconnected signals connected through various communication methods including 229 using fiber optic cables. These signals are synchronized using real-time traffic data to enhance traffic flow and minimize congestion.
On November 21, 2023, City Council authorized staff to submit a competitive grant application for the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (Project) with participating agencies for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Measure M2 Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program. The Project was submitted to provide inter-jurisdictional
Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project
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traffic signal synchronization and intelligent transportation system improvements along the corridor through the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The project will include data collection, design, construction, signal timing optimization, and ongoing operation and maintenance. This project is primarily a technology project that will upgrade existing traffic signals with new control cabinets, sensors, communication devices, and fiber optic cables where needed.
On May 13, 2024, the OCTA Board of Directors awarded the City of Santa Ana and partnering agencies (the cities cited above) $4,568,526 for the Project which requires a 20% funding match in the amount of $1,142,132, of which the City of Santa Ana’s share is $381,277 ($351,277 cash and $30,000 in-kind staff time). City of Santa Ana was elected to lead the project on behalf of the partnering agencies due to staff’s experience with similar projects, the significance of this corridor in the Santa Ana traffic signal synchronization network, and the fact that the majority of the traffic signals on the corridor are owned and operated by City of Santa Ana.
On October 15, 2024, City Council authorized an appropriation adjustment recognizing $4,568,526 in Measure M2 grant funding. On April 1, 2025, City Council approved a cooperative agreement and appropriation adjustment recognizing $760,855 in matching funds from the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Orange, and Placentia which allows the City to receive the necessary matching funds from the partnering agencies to complete the project funding. The total Measure M2 grant funding and match commitments from the participating agencies, including Santa Ana’s share, is $5,710,658. This funding will be used for the design and build of intelligent transportation system improvements and implementing and maintaining inter-jurisdictional traffic signal synchronization for a two- year operation and maintenance period. At the end of the two-year period, responsibility for ongoing signal timing maintenance will revert to the respective local agencies.
Funding for Santa Ana’s portion of ongoing routine signal timing maintenance is budgeted annually in the Special Gas Tax Fund for Traffic Signal Maintenance.
The Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, and Grand Avenue corridor extends 15 miles from Lambert Road in the City of Brea to Dyer Road in the City of Santa Ana. The corridor connects the northern Orange County limits to the center of Orange County, encompassing 61 signalized intersections controlled by the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Orange, Placentia, Santa Ana, and Caltrans (Exhibit 1). The corridor serves a mix of residential, schools, retail, and large commercial land uses with traffic volumes ranging from 13,000 in the cities of Brea and Placentia, up to approximately 46,000 in Anaheim, and more than 40,000 vehicles daily in Santa Ana. The high traffic volumes and mix of land uses demand a well-synchronized traffic signal network to manage the peak traffic demand. The proposed traffic signal synchronization and improvements will enhance traffic flow along the corridor by reducing travel time, stops, delays, and traffic congestion.
Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project
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The grant requires that this project be completed by December 31, 2028.
Project Advertisement and Consultant Procurement
On January 14, 2025, PWA released Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24-121, by which it sought the Design-Build services of a qualified consulting firm to implement the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, and Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project.
The RFP was advertised and proposals were received electronically on the City’s online procurement management and publication system, PlanetBids, on February 4, 2025.
The City notified a total of 932 regional vendors via PlanetBids, 40 of which are Santa Ana based. Fifty vendors requested bidding documents and four proposals were received and evaluated by a selection committee comprised of personnel from each participating agency/city. Based on criteria outlined in the RFP, the following summarizes the top responding firms:
Firm City Ranking
Arcadis U.S., Inc. Irvine, CA 1
Iteris, Inc. Santa Ana, CA 2
Advantec Consulting Irvine, CA 3
AGA Engineers, Inc. Fullerton, CA 4
Arcadis U.S., Inc. (Arcadis) is an accomplished engineering, construction management, and environmental consulting firm with nearly 70 years of experience working with public and private agencies throughout the country and Southern California. Arcadis has a highly skilled and efficient Design-Build team that combines local experience with global expertise in managing large regional traffic signal synchronization projects. The Arcadis Design Build team includes four local subcontractors, AET & Associates and LLG Transportation Engineers & Partners, for engineering design support services, AimTD for traffic data collection, and Yunex Traffic for construction. Arcadis is currently performing work as the prime engineering firm on the McFadden Transit Signal Priority Pilot Project to enhance bus operations and safety along McFadden Avenue. Their experience supporting agencies nationwide in deploying traffic signal intelligent transportation technologies reassures their ability to enhance traffic flow and safety along the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, and Grand Avenue Corridor. Staff recommends awarding the agreement to Arcadis U.S., Inc., to implement the Kraemer Boulevard, Glassell Street, and Grand Avenue Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (Exhibit 2).
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Project Schedule and Contract Time
The project will be implemented in two phases, Primary Implementation (PI) and Operations & Maintenance (O&M). The Primary Implementation phase will design and construct the improvements along with Signal Timing Implementation. Once the PI phase is complete, a subsequent two (2) year O&M period will provide continued support and finetuning of the newly implemented optimized timing. The two-phase approach will accomplish the scope of work as outlined in the grant documents. The consultant is responsible for determining the scheduling and sequencing of activities based on their proposed means and methods to complete both phases in the time allotted.
System construction is estimated to be completed September 2026, barring unforeseeable conditions such as rain, natural disasters, or other delays beyond the control of the City and of the Contractor. O&M is estimated to be completed September 2028 which will provide two (2) years of support and finetuning of the newly implemented optimized timing. The design-build contract will provide both design and construction services, streamlining the project delivery from start to finish.
The actual completion date will depend on the consultant’s schedule, material procurement timelines, and any unforeseen delays. Based on a typical project timeline, the estimated project completion is provided below;
Project Milestones
Milestone Estimated
Completion Date
Notes
Primary Implementation
(PI)- Phase 1 September 2026
Data Collection December 2025 Field Review, Traffic Counts, Before and After Studies
Signal Timing Optimization
and Implementation September 2026
Concept of Operations,
Optimized Timing, Field
Implementation, Fine Tuning
Project Report September 2026 Executive Summary
System Design and
Construction September 2026
Design Plans and
Specifications, Material
Procurement, Construction,
Construction Administration,
Inspections
Operation & Maintenance
(O&M) - Phase 2 September 2028
Continuing Support September 2028 On Call Signal System and Timing Support
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Milestone Estimated
Completion Date
Notes
Final Technical
Memorandum September 2028 Technical Memorandum
Project Delivery
To deliver a complete project, in addition to the design-build contract, the estimated total project delivery cost includes a budget allocation for engineering administration and inspection. Engineering administration and inspection may be performed by either Staff or consultants and includes construction management, inspection of the Contractor’s work to ensure contract compliance, workmanship and quality, and implementation of the labor requirements.
Any of the allocated City of Santa Ana local match funds not spent are considered project savings and are returned to the M2 Fairshare fund balance upon close out of the project.
As indicated in the Cost Analysis (Exhibit 3) and as summarized in the table below, the estimated total construction delivery cost of the project is $5,710,658.
Project Item Total
Design-Build Contract Amount $5,680,658
Engineering Administration $30,000
TOTAL ESTIMATED DESIGN-BUILD DELIVERY COST $5,710,658
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the recommended actions are exempt from further review pursuant to Section 15301(b) of the CEQA Guidelines for projects consisting of repair/maintenance of existing public facilities. The proposed project continues to meet these parameters of the CEQA Guidelines and Categorical Exemption Environmental Review No. ER-2025-82 will be filed for Project 25-6750 (Exhibit 4).
FISCAL IMPACT
The funds were budgeted and available in the following accounts for Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 and will be carried forward for use in Fiscal Year 2025-2026, subject to City Council approval of the carryover on October 7, 2025 (Exhibit 5).
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Fiscal Year
Accounting
Unit -
Account #
Fund
Description Accounting Unit,
Account Description Amount
2025-26 03217663-
66220
(25-6705)
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2
Competitive Street,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$4,568,526
2025-26 03217663-
66220
(25-6705)
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2
Competitive Street,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$760,855
2025-26 03217662-
66220
(25-6705)
Measure M-
Street
Construction
Measure M2 Local
Fairshare St,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$381,277
Total: $5,710,658
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Location Map
2. Agreement with Arcadis U.S., Inc.
3. Cost Analysis
4. Environmental Determination
5. CIP Project Sheet
Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E., Acting Executive Director – Public Works Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager