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 SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager Engineering Division, Design Section SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Audubon Avenue and Nees Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project - Bid File 3821 (Council District 2): 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2, and Section 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $598,236.50 to American Paving Co., of Fresno, California ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2, and Section 15304/Class 4 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, award a construction contract with American Paving Co., of Fresno, California in the amount of $598,236.50 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Audubon Avenue and Nees Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign the construction contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed Audubon Avenue and Nees Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project will enhance the safety for the motorists and cyclists who travel through this segment every day by improving the intersection's operations with the addition of a second Nees Avenue left turn lane, reconstructing a portion of Audubon Avenue to accommodate the additional lane and increase the radius of the curve, thereby providing a smoother route through the curve. The project does not expand traffic capacity on Audubon Drive, but is designed solely to improve safety, reduce vehicle stacking and relieve congestion. The project is locally funded with the Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation Fee revenues. BACKGROUND The design phase of the project was initiated in FY18 when the project was budgeted using local funds obtained from Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact Fee funds. The preliminary engineering design, real estate services and utility relocations took approximately four and a half years. The scope of the project includes opening the second left-turn lane from eastbound Nees Avenue onto northbound Audubon Avenue, which is currently striped for a single left turn lane. Use of this additional lane will improve the peak-hour operations of the intersection and allow for the installation of Class II bicycle facilities through the intersection. To accomplish this, the project will reconstruct a portion of Audubon Avenue to accommodate the dual lanes needed for the turning traffic and provide a safe distance for vehicles to merge into the one travel lane that continues northeast to Woodward Park and beyond. The construction work on Audubon Avenue includes removal and replacement of approximately 250' of the roadway curve, construction of new sidewalk, curb and gutter, demolition and reconstruction of a portion of the median island to reduce its width, slurry seal, and new signing and striping. The new signing and striping will add a westbound Class II bike lane along Audubon Avenue, through the intersection, and add the missing bike lane segments along westbound Nees Avenue. Other work necessary to complete this roadway reconstruction phase includes relocation of electric, fiber optic, telephone/data and cable television facilities; the contracts for this work were previously approved by Council and work is currently underway. A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on February 4, 2022, posted on the City's website, and distributed to 10 building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to 19 prospective bidders. Four (4) sealed bid proposals were received and opened during a public bid opening on March 15, 2022, with bids ranging from $598,236.50 to $689,629.00. American Paving Co. submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $598,236.50 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire on May 18, 2022. If the bids are rejected or expire, the project must be rebid, which will result in a delay of approximately 90 days. The Community Workforce Agreement, adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this project as the Engineer's Estimate was below the $1,000,000 threshold, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved as to form. Staff recommends Council award a construction contract with American Paving Co., in the amount of $598,236.50 for the Audubon Avenue and Nees Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1, which exempts the minor alterations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of an existing use, Section 15302/Class 2, which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new facilities will be located on the same site as the facility replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the facility replaced, and Section 15304/Class 4, which exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and vegetation, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. These exemptions apply because this project involves the reconstruction of an existing roadway, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and traffic signal construction that does not involve the expansion of the roadway. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project. LOCAL PREFERENCE The local preference was not implemented as American Paving Co. is a local business. FISCAL IMPACT The Audubon Avenue and Nees Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project is located in Council District 2. The overall cost of the project is $1,224,500 and is locally funded by Citywide Traffic Signal Mitigation Impact Fees funds. Of the overall budget of the project, $598,236.50 will be used for the construction contract award. The project will have no impact to the General Fund. Attachments: CEQA Environmental Assessment Vicinity Map Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Standardized Contract