City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 23, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.L
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Engineering and Street Services
Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works Department Subject: Award Construction Bid to Access Pacific, Inc. for Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvements Project Phase 2A
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15311 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and Section 21080.25 of CEQA.
2. Award Bid #SP2669 to Access Pacific, Inc. for the construction of the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvements Phase 2A Project for the Public Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Access Pacific, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $1,711,848 (including a 10% contingency).
4. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to complete additional work within contract authority.
5. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions section of this report.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica has a longstanding dedication to improving safety and enhancing the overall roadway experience for all users. With over half of its residents walking and biking daily, and a third of students walking to school, the city consistently invests in broadening mobility choices. This includes designing streets with targeted safety enhancements that benefit users of all ages and abilities. The Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvements Phase 2A Project (Project) would construct improvements at the 2 of 6
intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and 16th Street to promote safety, encourage diverse modes of mobility, and minimize traffic conflict points that contribute to collisions. Staff recommends awarding a contract to Access Pacific, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,711,848 (including a 10% contingency) to provide construction services.
Discussion
The City of Santa Monica adopted the Pedestrian Action Plan on February 23, 2016 (Attachment A), with the ambitious goal of eliminating fatal and severe injury crashes on its streets by 2026. As part of the Pedestrian Action Plan, a 2018 Vision Zero analysis in Santa Monica identified the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and 16th Street as having the third highest incidence of fatal and severe injury crashes citywide. This intersection, crucially located adjacent to UCLA Medical Center and one block from Lincoln Middle School, experiences a high volume of pedestrian activity, with more than 2,000 crossings per day.
The Wilshire Safety Study was adopted by City Council on February 11, 2020 (Attachment B). Examination of the 2020 Wilshire Safety Study revealed a predominance of broadside crashes, accounting for approximately 50% of incidents at this location. Broadside crashes, often resulting from failure to yield the right of way, are particularly hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists. This intersection met several warrant criteria for the installation of a traffic signal including crash experience, school crossing, and pedestrian volumes, underlining the need for enhancements.
The Project aims to significantly improve safety and mobility at this intersection. The Project would install a new traffic signal, upgraded lighting, and curb extensions on all four corners. These measures are designed to address the unique challenges of this location. A description of the improvements, associated benefits, and potential outcomes are outlined below.
New Traffic Signal: The addition of a traffic signal equipped with a leading pedestrian interval would provide safely control movements at this intersection, thereby reducing the potential for collisions.
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Upgraded Lighting: Improved lighting would enhance nighttime visibility, a critical factor in ensuring security for all road users, especially during peak hours.
Curb Extensions: Extending the curb at the crosswalk would shorten pedestrian crossing distances, increase visibility at crosswalks, discourage speeding, and offer greater protection for pedestrians.
The proposed changes to Wilshire Boulevard and 16th Street were developed as part of the Wilshire Safety Study, a year-long community engagement process involving residents, businesses, and visitors in Santa Monica. Community outreach included presentations to neighborhood associations and commissions, branded banners along the corridors, meetings with key city stakeholder groups, corridor canvassing, outreach to local businesses, and a robust online presence with study updates.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Access Pacific, Inc.
Evaluation
Criteria
Price; the ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract within the time specified; the sufficiency of the bidder’s financial resources; the reputation and experience of the bidder.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Submittals Received
Access Pacific, Inc. $1,556,226
Hardy & Harper, Inc. $ 1,585,000
PALP Inc. dba Excel Paving Company $ 1,598,863
Bid Data
Date
Posted
Posted On Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
09/21/2023 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
78 10/26/2023
Best Bidder Justification
Staff recommends Access Pacific, Inc., the lowest bidder, as the best bidder when evaluating bid price and completion of past projects for the City of Santa Monica, including the North Beach Trail Improvements, Pedestrian Improvements at Four 4 of 6
Schools, 17th Street/SMC/Expo Bike Path Connection, and Pico Boulevard Pedestrian Safety Improvements Projects, as well as past projects for the City of Los Angeles, and Conejo Recreation & Park district.
Public Outreach
Construction is expected to begin in August 2024 and last for 9 months. It generally takes up to 6 months to procure and fabricate traffic signal poles, thus the estimated August 2024 start. Prior to and during construction, City staff and the contractor would distribute notifications to adjacent properties detailing the project scope, construction schedule, and potential impacts. Periodic updates would be provided, as necessary.
Social media would be utilized to notify the public about general construction updates.
Environmental Review
The Project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 and Section 15311 of the CEQA Guidelines and Section 21080.25 of CEQA. Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) exempts 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. Section 15311 (Class 11 – Accessory Structures) exempts the construction, or replacement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, including but not limited to seasonal or temporary use items in generally the same locations from time to time in publicly owned parks, stadiums, or other facilities designed for public use. Additionally, Section 21080.25 of CEQA states that CEQA does not apply to pedestrian and bicycle facilities that improve safety, access, or mobility, including new facilities, within the public right-of-way. This Project would add new traffic signals, upgrade curb extensions, and make upgrades to the street lighting to improve pedestrian safety. The Project would not expand or materially change existing City streets or infrastructure.
Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to these exemptions. Therefore, the Project is 5 of 6
exempt pursuant to Sections 15301 and Section 15311 of the CEQA Guidelines, and Section 21080.25 of CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
February 23, 2016
(Attachment A)
Approved adoption of the Pedestrian Action Plan, which
strategically invests in ongoing initiatives to enhance pedestrian safety and comfort, incorporating community input and aligning with the Vision Zero initiative.
February 11, 2020
(Attachment B)
Approved the recommendations from the Wilshire Safety Study.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to appropriate available funds from the Special Revenue Source Fund (Transportation Impact Fee) for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvements Phase 2A Project to balance unprecedented project cost escalations sustained since 2020.
FY 2023-24 Budget Changes
Release Funds Appropriate Funds
Account Number Amount Account Number Amount
10.370332 - Transportation
Impact Fee
$722,066 C1008180.689290 $722,066
Total $722,066
Staff also seeks authority to award a contract with Access Pacific, Inc. to provide construction services for the Project using the budget changes proposed for Council approval and the previous appropriations in the Special Revenue Source Fund (Transportation Impact Fees), Miscellaneous Grants Fund (Metro Grant), and Local Return Fund (Measure R).
Contract Request
Funding
Source
FY 2023-24
Request
CIP Account # Total
Contract
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Amount Amount
Requested Funds (if appropriated)
Transportation
Impact Fees
$722,066 C1008180.689290 –
Wilshire Safety
Project
$722,066
Available Funds (previously appropriated)
Metro Grant
Funds
$616,000 C2008180.689290 –
Wilshire Safety
Project
$616,000
Transportation
Impact Fees
$82,600 C1008180.689290 –
Wilshire Safety
Project
$82,600
Transportation
Impact Fees
$173,747 C1007150.689000 –
Vision Zero Projects
$173,747
Transportation
Impact Fees
$63,864 C1007600.689000 –
Vision Zero and
Mobility Projects
$63,864
Measure R
Local Return
Funds
$53,571 C2704720.689120 –
Pedestrian Action
Plan
$53,571
Total $1,711,848
Prepared By: Jonathan Maldonado, Civil Engineering Associate Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Pedestrian Action Plan
B. Wilshire Safety Study Adoption
C. Oaks Initiative Form - Access Pacific