Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.gov/pw
Item # 17
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
September 15, 2026
TOPIC: Award Agreement with Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center Bike Center Project
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Gensler, Inc. for Architectural Design Services for the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) Bike Center Project (Project No. 25-6912) (Non-General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve an appropriation adjustment recognizing Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant funding in the amount of $2,625,000 in the Select Street Construction, State Grant-Direct revenue account and appropriate the same amount into the Select Street Construction, Improvements Other Than Building expenditure account. (Requires five affirmative votes)
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the SARTC Bike Center in an amount not-to-exceed $107,600 for a one-year term beginning September 15, 2026 and expiring September 14, 2027 with provisions for four, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2026-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
The Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC) Bike Center Project (Project) was developed to improve first- and last-mile connectivity by providing secure bicycle facilities for residents and commuters accessing regional transit services at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center. In January 2018, the City received a $1.25 million State Bicycle Corridor Improvement Program (BCIP) grant that is administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for the design and construction of the SARTC Bike Center Project. The Project was originally included in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Capital Improvement Program and proposed a secure indoor bicycle storage facility and supporting amenities plus the installation of 2,500 bicycle racks throughout
Award Agreement with Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center Bike Center Project
September 15, 2026
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the City. The project is intended to expand bicycle infrastructure and improve connections between bicycle travel and other transportation options.
On August 21, 2018, the City retained Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the Bike Center Project under an agreement not to exceed $149,000. After completing the design, the project was advertised for construction bids on May 25, 2021. The lowest responsive bid exceeded available funds by approximately $400,000.
To reduce construction costs, Staff revised the project scope by reducing the number of proposed bicycle racks from 2,500 to 1,500 and eliminating the restrooms and storage room from the SARTC Bike Center. The revised project was re-advertised for construction bids on July 11, 2022; however, the lowest responsive bid again exceeded available funds by approximately $500,000. Following the second unsuccessful bid solicitation, the City deferred the Project to evaluate funding and project delivery options.
In February 2023, City staff began working with OCTA staff to review the project scope and pursue alternative funding opportunities for the Project. As a result, a project scope change was approved in January 2024 which separated the bike rack improvements from the SARTC Bike Center improvements which allowed the City to pursue additional funding for the improvements at SARTC.
On May 15, 2026, the City was awarded a $2,625,000 Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant to construct the revised SARTC Bike Center Project. These grant funds are part of a regional grant received and administered by OCTA. The grant funds both updates to the project's design construction documents as well as the construction phase.
Subsequently, in July 2026 the citywide bike rack component of the project was formally canceled from the BCIP Program due to high cost and unavailability of grant funds.
The revised Bike Center Project scope includes construction of a secure indoor bicycle storage facility with lockers and a community bicycle workspace. The facility will provide secure bicycle storage and supporting amenities for SARTC users, improving first- and last -mile bicycle access and connectivity to regional transit services fully funded by the TIRCP grant.
The original SARTC Bike Center plans prepared by Gensler need to be updated to reflect the new scope of work as well as to comply with the current 2025 California Building Standards Code, as the original design documents were prepared under a previous edition of the code. Public Works staff coordinated with Planning and Building Agency staff and determined that an in-house design approach was not feasible because the City does not have staff with the specialized design experience necessary to perform the required design updates. Additionally, modifying construction documents Award Agreement with Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center Bike Center Project
September 15, 2026
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prepared by another design firm would require the City to assume responsibility for those revisions.
Because Gensler prepared the original construction documents, the firm possesses direct knowledge of the Project’s design and is best positioned to efficiently complete the required revisions. Assigning the work to another firm would require substantial review of the existing documents and assumption of design responsibility, resulting in duplicative effort, additional costs, and potential project delays. City staff consulted with the grant agencies and confirmed that retaining the original design firm is acceptable under the applicable grant requirements. The procurement was also conducted in accordance with the City’s applicable procurement requirements.
Approval of the proposed agreement with Gensler, Inc. will allow the consultant to revise the construction drawings and specifications to comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Code and advance the SARTC Bike Center project toward construction. TIRCP grant funds will be used to fund this design work, with the remaining funds available for project construction. Upon completion of the document updates and required permitting, staff anticipates advertising the Bike Center Project for construction bids and returning to the City Council for award of a construction contract utilizing the balance of the TIRCP grant funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
With the approval of the requested appropriation adjustments, all funds will be available for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2026-2027. 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 2027-2028. Subsequent fiscal year funding will be included in the proposed budgets for City Council consideration.
With the approval of the requested appropriation adjustment, $2,625,000 in TIRCP grant funds will be recognized in the Select Street Construction, State Grant-Direct revenue account (No. 05917002-52025) and appropriated for spending into the Select Street Construction, Improvements Other Than Building Account (No. 05917660- 66220).
Approval of the requests to reallocate funds will provide a total of $31,000 in unspent funds from Project 23-6905.
Award Agreement with Gensler, Inc. to provide architectural design services for the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center Bike Center Project
September 15, 2026
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Fiscal
Year
Accounting
Unit – Account
No.
(Project No.)
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account Description Amount
APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT
2026-27 05917660-66220
(25-6912)
Select Street
Construction
Select Street
Construction,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$2,625,000
REALLOCATION
2026-27 03217662-66220
(From 26-6905)
Measure M –
Street
Construction
Measure M2 Local
Fairshare,
Improvements Other
Than Buildings
$31,000
TOTAL $2,656,000
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement with Gensler
Submitted By: Rodolfo Rosas, P.E., Acting Executive Director of Public Works Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager