REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL June 16, 2016 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Capital Management Division BY: RANDY BELL, PE, Capital Program Manager Public Works Department, Capital Management Division SUBJECT ..Title Award a construction contract in the amount of $430,569 to American Construction Engineers of Tollhouse, California for the Herndon Right Turn Lane Improvements at the intersection of Herndon and Blackstone Avenues - Bid File No. 3461 (Council District 6) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract with American Construction Engineers in the amount of $430,569 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, for the Herndon Right Turn Lane Improvements and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign a contract on behalf of the City. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno seeks to extend the right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue at Blackstone Avenue to improve traffic flow. The project will lengthen the turn lane from 100' to 400' and will include right turn phasing on the westbound traffic signal. This project is located in Council District 6. BACKGROUND In Fiscal Year 2014, the Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) allocated funds for the Herndon Right Turn Lane Improvements. The existing right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue is 100' long causing significant traffic delays to vehicles in the adjacent lane when a number of vehicles are making right turns. This project will lengthen the right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue to 400' which will increase storage capacity to minimize this impact. Additionally, the westbound traffic signal will be modified to include right turn overlap phasing which will improve traffic flow. This project also includes constructing a concrete traffic barrier between Herndon Avenue and the frontage road immediately to the north. The traffic barrier will be very similar in appearance to the concrete barrier on the south side of Herndon Avenue across the street from the subject location. In order to accommodate the space required for the turn pocket extension, the frontage road will be shifted to the north approximately 6 feet. The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on March 25, 2016, and posted on the City's website and faxed to seven (9) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to thirty-three (33) prospective bidders. Five (5) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on May 3, 2016, with the bids ranging from $430,569 to $668,495. American Construction Engineers is deemed the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The apparent low bid price was 12.7% above the Engineer's Estimate. The project will be completed 60 working days after the issuance of the notice to proceed. The bids will expire in 64 days of the bid opening on July 6, 2016. If the bids are rejected, the project will be rebid resulting in a delay of approximately 60 days. Staff is recommending award of a construction contract to American Construction Engineers in the amount of $430,569 to construct the Herndon Right Turn Improvements Project and to authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS A Finding of a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301(c) was adopted by Council on May 1, 2014 for Herndon Avenue right turn lane extension project at Blackstone Avenue. A Notice of Exemption was filed on February 5, 2015. The Herndon Avenue right turn lane extension project at Blackstone Avenue was included in the project description for the findings of Categorical Exemption. Therefore, all necessary environmental review required by CEQA has been completed. LOCAL PREFERENCE The local preference was not implemented because this project is funded with federal funds. FISCAL IMPACT The project is located in Council Districts 6. The overall cost of the project is $696,425 and is funded by Regional Surface Transportation Program Lifeline (RSTP) and a local match of Proposition 111 Gas Tax funds. The project will not have any impact to the General Fund. Of the overall budget of the project, $430,569 will be used for the construction contract award. Attachments: Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Vicinity Map