Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/pw
Item # 22
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
May 5, 2026
TOPIC: Approve Appropriations Adjustments and a CIP Amendment, and Agreements with Mark Thomas, Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and Caltrans for Design Phase Services and Grant Funding for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project (No. 26-6718) (Non- General Fund).
AGENDA TITLE
Approve Appropriations Adjustments and a CIP Amendment, and Agreements with Mark Thomas, Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the U.S.
Department of Transportation, and Caltrans for Design Phase Services and Grant Funding for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project (No. 26-6718) (Non- General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve an appropriation adjustment recognizing Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant funding in the amount of $7,000,000 into the Select Street Construction, State Grant-Direct revenue account (05917660- 52025) and appropriate the same amount into the Select Street Construction, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account (05917660-66220) (Requires five affirmative votes).
2. Approve an appropriation adjustment recognizing $134,176 in prior-year fund balance in the Transit Zoning Code, Prior Year Carry Forward revenue account and appropriate the same amount into the Transit Zoning Code, Improvements Other Than Buildings expenditure account (Requires five affirmative votes).
3. Approve an appropriation adjustment recognizing $90,742 in prior-year fund balance in the Local Drainage Area Fees – IV, Prior Year Carry Forward revenue account and appropriate the same amount into the Local Drainage Area Fees – IV, Improvements Other Than Buildings expenditure account (Requires five affirmative votes).
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4. Approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Capital Improvement Program to include TIRCP grant funding in the amount of $7,000,000, Local Drainage Area Fees – IV in the amount of $90,742 and Transit Zoning Code funding in the amount of $134,176 for the inclusion of Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project. (Project No. 26-6718)
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Mark Thomas & Company, Inc. to provide Professional Design Phase Services in an amount not- to-exceed $6,859,918, which includes $6,471,318 in Design costs and $388,600 for unanticipated or unforeseen work, for a three-year term beginning May 5, 2026 and expiring May 4, 2029, with provisions for two, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
6. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) to provide Design Support in an amount not-to- exceed $315,000 for a three-year term beginning May 5, 2026 and expiring May 4, 2029, with provisions for two, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2026- XXX).
7. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to receive RAISE Grant funds for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation project (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On January 4, 2011, the City Council approved an agreement with AECOM Engineering Services to prepare a Project Study Report Equivalent (PSRE) and develop conceptual engineering plans for the Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation (SAGS) Project. At the time, staff secured $1,500,000 in funding from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to complete the PSRE and conceptual engineering phase. Caltrans requires a PSRE for all transportation projects within local agency jurisdiction that would like to receive state or federal and be included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and/or Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP).
The proposed SAGS project (Exhibit 1) is adjacent to the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) and will include a new four-lane underpass to replace the existing at-grade rail crossing at the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) double tracks on Santa Ana Boulevard. By eliminating the at-grade crossing, the project will allow for enhanced safety by separating vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists from trains at the railroad crossing. It will reduce traffic congestion along a busy arterial, encourage a passenger rail mode shift, reduce air and noise pollution, provide Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project
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unhindered access for emergency vehicles, and provide connectivity across Santa Ana Boulevard to SARTC. The improvements will include a raised median, bike lanes, sidewalks, pedestrian and rail bridges, storm water pump station, space for a transportation opportunity zone, and a pedestrian plaza. The total cost of this project is estimated to be $126,500,000 and can only be realized with grant funding, which is typical for transportation projects of this magnitude.
In 2014, the City Council approved the PSRE and environmental report for the proposed SAGS project. This action transformed SAGS from a concept to a formally identified capital improvement project for the City and allowed staff to pursue grant funding for the project.
On July 6, 2023, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) awarded a $7,000,000 grant from the TIRCP program to the City to fund the design phase of the project. Due to the highly complex nature of grade separation projects, staff is unable to perform the design phase scope in-house and requires the services of a highly experienced engineering firm that has demonstrated experience on grade separation projects. Staff performed an extensive, competitive Request for Proposals procurement process and recommends awarding a design phase services contract to Mark Thomas in an amount not to exceed $6,859,918. Their proposal and subsequent interview received the highest score due to their experienced team and proven track record on other grade separations in southern California. In addition, Mark Thomas submitted a highly competitive fee substantially below the industry standard of 10% of the construction cost estimate ($12,650,000 in this case), allowing the entirety of the design phase services to be paid for by the CalSTA grant.
To date, the City has received a total of $32,000,000 to fund the project including the following grants:
$7,000,000 grant from the State Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
$25,000,000 grant from the Federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program
Staff only seeks approval of design phase services and will continue to seek additional grants from both State and Federal programs to fully fund the SAGS project. Right-of- Way and construction phases of the project will not commence until the project is fully funded, likely no sooner than 2028.
TIRCP Grant
On July 6, 2023, California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) awarded a $7,000,000 grant from the TIRCP program to the City to fund the engineering phase and the revalidation of the project’s environmental documentation. The original environmental report was approved by the City Council on December 2, 2014; however, Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project
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due to its age and subsequent changes in the project area – including new developments, implementation of the OC Streetcar, and coordination with the County of Orange –the environmental analysis is required to be updated to reflect current conditions.
The TIRCP program requires a Master Agreement (MA) to allow agencies to receive funds from the program as well as a Program Supplement Agreement (PSA) defining the specifics of each individual project. On December 17, 2024, the City Council authorized execution of Master Agreement No. 64SantaAnaMA with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The executed MA was received from Caltrans on December 18, 2025, authorizing the City to procure a contract for the described services. Additionally, on October 17, 2025, the project was approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC), authorizing Caltrans to draft the PSA. Staff is currently working with Caltrans to finalize the PSA. The CTC action authorizes grantees to award contracts and begin expending funds until the PSA is executed.
RAISE Grant
On June 26, 2024, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded the City $25,000,000 through the RAISE program to fund a portion of the project’s right- of-way (ROW) acquisition and construction phases. As a condition of the award, Caltrans will serve as the primary recipient of the grant and enter into a grant agreement with USDOT, while the City will execute a separate subrecipient agreement with Caltrans. The attached agreement (Exhibit 4) is the grant agreement between USDOT and Caltrans, to which the City is also a signatory as the subrecipient. Following execution of the recipient agreement and negotiation with Caltrans, the subrecipient agreement will be brought before City Council for approval.
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) Agreement Because the project entails major modifications to the railroad crossing and corridor, a Design Services Agreement with SCRRA is required. The agreement will provide comprehensive design support throughout the project, including participation in field reviews, detailed site inspections, and ongoing coordination during both the design and construction phases. SCRRA will review proposed improvements to ensure consistency with railroad operational requirements, safety standards, and applicable regulatory guidelines. This support will include evaluation of existing conditions, verification of design assumptions, coordination with Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Metrolink, and review of plans, specifications, and construction activities to confirm compatibility with current and future rail operations. SCRRA will also provide technical input and recommendations to help minimize service disruptions, maintain safe rail operations, and ensure the project is delivered in accordance with established railroad criteria and best practices.
Staff recommends adding the TIRCP and RAISE grant, Drainage Area Fee, and Transit Zoning Code transportation system improvement funds to the Santa Ana Boulevard Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project
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Grade Separation Project for the Design, Right-of-Way, and Construction Phases and amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program to include these funds. Additionally, staff recommends approval of the agreement with SCRRA for their support of the project.
Engineering Phase Consultant Procurement
To facilitate this highly complex project, consultant support is required to provide the requisite technical expertise as well as to advise and support the complicated regulatory and grant compliance requirements of the project. To provide these services, Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 25-131A was advertised on November 14, 2025 on the City’s online bid management and publication system, PlanetBids. A summary of vendor participation and results is as follows:
2,411 Vendors notified
117 Santa Ana vendors notified
117 Vendors downloaded the bid packet
5 Bids received
0 Bids received from Santa Ana vendors
Proposals were solicited, opened on January 14, 2026, and evaluated. Five proposals were submitted by the RFP deadline and all proposals were determined to be responsive to the specifications and met the City’s requirements. Proposals were subsequently evaluated by a selection committee comprised of City staff and OCTA staff. Based on criteria outlined in the RFP, the following summarizes the top responding firms:
Firm City Ranking
Mark Thomas Irvine, CA 1
RailPros, Inc. Irvine, CA 2
Kimley Horn Orange, CA 3
Moffatt & Nichol Costa Mesa, CA 4
T.Y. Lin International Irvine, CA 5
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to the highest-ranked firm, Mark Thomas.
Mark Thomas has had previous contracts with the City for the Grant Writing for this project and as the engineering consultant for the Standard Avenue Protected Bike Lane Project as well as serving as an on-call engineering consultant for the City. Their proposal and subsequent interview received the highest score due to their consistent team dynamic on many other grade separations as well as their innovative connectivity of pedestrians and bikes through the grade separation and connections to the north.
The RFP included Design, ROW, and Construction Support services. The fee for each of these services was negotiated, but the agreement proposes only to award Design Engineering services at this time. Future amendments for the ROW Engineering and Santa Ana Boulevard Grade Separation Project
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Construction Support services will be recommended for City Council approval as future grant funding for the project materializes.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with the recommended action. As part of this proposed agreement, the Consultant will be preparing a revalidated environmental report for future consideration by City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
With the approval of the requested appropriation adjustments, the funds will be budgeted and available per the accounts listed in the table below. Any remaining balances not expended at the end of the fiscal year will be presented to City Council for approval of carryovers into Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Approval of the requested appropriation adjustments will recognize $7,000,000 in the Select Street Construction, State Grant-Direct revenue account (No. 05917002-52025) and appropriate for spending in the Select Street Construction, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account (No. 05917660-66220).
A portion of the Transit Zoning Code Transportation System Improvements accumulated fund balance will be appropriated for spending in the Transit Zoning Code, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account (No. 04817660-66220). The spendable portion of the fund balance is estimated to be $134,176 as of June 30, 2026, which is sufficient to allow for the recommended appropriation of $134,176.
A portion of the Drainage Area Fee IV accumulated fund balance will be appropriated for spending in the Public Works Storm Drain, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account (No. 22417660-66220). The spendable portion of the fund balance is estimated to be $218,222 as of June 30, 2026, which is sufficient to allow for the recommended appropriation of $90,742.
Fiscal
Year
Accounting
Unit – Account
No.
(Project No.)
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account
Description
Amount
APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT
2025-26
04817660-
66220
(26-6718)
Transit Zoning
Code
Transit Zoning
Code,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$134,176
2025-26
05917660-
66220
(26-6718)
Select Street
Construction
Select Street
Construction,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$7,000,000
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2025-26
22417660-
66220
(26-6718)
Drainage
Area Fee IV
Public Works Storm
Drain,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$90,742
TOTAL $7,224,918
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Location Map
2. RFP No. 25-131A
3. Agreement with Mark Thomas
4. Subrecipient Agreement with Caltrans
5. SCRRA Agreement
6. CIP Amendment
Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E, Acting Executive Director, Public Works Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager