REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Engineering Division CASSIE L. SCHOLZ, PE, Supervising Professional Engineer Public Works Department, Transportation Project Management SUBJECT ..Title Approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group Inc. in the amount of $149,900 with a $10,000 contingency for design and construction support services for the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue (Council District 7) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that City Council approve an agreement for Professional Engineering Services with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group Inc. in the amount of $149,900 with a $10,000 contingency for design and construction support phases of the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue, and allow the Public Works Director or designee to sign the agreement on the City's behalf. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed project, Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue, will implement the Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy with a complete street design including the construction of a protected Class IV bicycle facilities in each direction of Blackstone Avenue. Implementation of a road diet will reduce Blackstone Avenue from three vehicle lanes in each direction to two vehicle lanes, which allows for the addition of the Class IV bicycle facility and other complete streets features. The subject consultant agreement in the amount of $149,900, with a $10,000 contingency, will facilitate the design and construction support services necessary to complete the project. The project is fully funded with a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant and local Measure C funding. BACKGROUND The Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy is based on a community-driven process that led to the development of design concepts to improve the corridor. The Southern Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Strategy was adopted by Fresno City Council on May 2, 2019. The transformative bicycle and pedestrian concepts included in the strategy includes a road diet on Blackstone Avenue to implement the complete streets concept and install protected bicycle facilities starting at Shields Avenue and running south towards McKinley Avenue. The facilities will connect at University Avenue to the future Class IV bicycle facilities proposed as part of the Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation. Grant funding was applied for in November 2019, and the total project cost of $2,055,200 is fully funded by CMAQ and Measure C. The CMAQ funding will be administered by Caltrans on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration. This funding will allow the City to install one mile of Class IV protected bike lane in each direction to activate a critical section of the corridor. Additional improvements associated with the project include: installing new curb ramps, traffic calming features, sidewalks, green conflict zone markings, reconstructing median noses and installing elevated bus platforms for BRT riders. The project will improve accessibility and support multimodal travel options with the addition of the Class IV buffered bike lane. It will also provide connectivity to the Midtown trail at Blackstone Avenue and Shields Avenue. In accordance with Administrative Order (A.O.) 6-19, staff sent out requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ's) on October 16, 2021 via Planet Bids, email, and published in the Business Journal. Two SOQ's were received and staff interviewed the top two qualified respondents. Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group Inc. was determined the most qualified consultant based on the review of Statements of Qualifications (SOQ's) and consultant interviews, and staff negotiated a fee of $149,900 with a $10,000 contingency for the preparation of the plans, specifications, cost estimates, bidding support services and construction support services for the project. Staff recommends that City Council approve the agreement with Provost and Pritchard Engineering Group Inc. for $149,900 with a $10,000 contingency, for the design of plans, cost estimates and general construction documents for the Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved as to form. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, this item does not qualify as a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented for this project because this contract is federally funded. FISCAL IMPACT The Blackstone Avenue Smart Mobility Project between Shields Avenue and McKinley Avenue is located in Council District 7. This Project will have no fiscal impact to the General Fund. The Project is fully funded by CMAQ grant funds as well as funding from Measure C as the local match. Attachments: Consultant Agreement Vicinity Map