Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 4 to a Consulting Services Agreement with BKF Engineers for the Preparation of Construction-Ready Plans, Specifications and Estimates for the MacArthur/Superior Roundabout Design Project, Project No. 2014.0470 to Increase the Amount of Compensation by $16,966 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $164,300
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Consulting Services Agreement Amendment No. 4 with BKF Engineers to increase the amount of compensation by $16,966 for a total not to exceed contract amount of $164,300.
BACKGROUND
The intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Superior Avenue operates at a Level of Service “F”, the lowest rating possible, which indicates that drivers wishing to cross the intersection experience extremely long waits during the peak hours of 7:00am to 9:00am and 4:00pm to 6:00pm. In addition, the collision rate at this intersection is 0.24 collisions per million vehicles (observed in the three-year period from 2011 through 2014). This rate is three to four times higher than the statewide average collision rate for similar intersections.
Studies of the subject intersection indicate that a roundabout would provide the most improvement to traffic flow and traffic calming compared to other alternatives, such as a traffic signal. The conceptual design for the roundabout was completed in 2009, but due to lack of funding, the City did not enter into a design contract with BKF Engineers for the development of construction-ready plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) for the roundabout until 2016.
The original 2009 roundabout design concept required bicyclists to either ride in the same lane as motor vehicles or to share the sidewalk with pedestrians. Based on comments received at Facilities and Transportation Committee and public meetings, most individuals expressed a preference for a dedicated lane within the roundabout for bicyclists, so protected bike lanes were added to the conceptual design, which increased the project’s footprint.
Analysis
The latest design concept includes protected bike lanes instead of having bicyclists share the sidewalk with pedestrians or street with vehicles and the project footprint has subsequently increased beyond the original project as a result. The center of the roundabout was adjusted to minimize the amount of right-of-way needed from Caltrans, but existing public right-of-way limits, and buildings and design constraints restricted how far the roundabout could be moved southwards. Therefore, right-of-way from Caltrans is needed at the north side of the project intersection, at the toe of the freeway embankment for Interstate 580, to successfully construct the project.
Staff recommends the approval of this contract amendment for additional work to allow BKF Engineers to prepare right-of-way documents (i.e. plats, legal descriptions and closure calculations) and also coordinate with Caltrans for the right-of-way de-certification and transfer to the local jurisdiction for the additional Caltrans property that is needed for the construction of this project.
Current Agency Policies
Maintain and enhance San Leandro’s infrastructure
Previous Actions
• On April 4, 2016 by Resolution 2016-040, the City Council approved a consulting services agreement with BKF Engineers for $97,490.00 for the preparation of construction-ready plans, specifications and estimates for the subject project.
• On May 7, 2018 by Resolution 2018-039, the City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to a Consulting Services Agreement with BKF Engineers for surveying and mapping work associated with the acquisition of private right-of-way and easements at 650 MacArthur Boulevard
Committee Review and Actions
• On September 20, 2016, Engineering and Transportation (E/T) Department staff presented the roundabout project at the City Council Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting. The Committee expressed concerns regarding the speeding and high rate of collisions in the project vicinity; bike lanes and ramps taking precedence over landscaping; and the proposed shared use of sidewalks for both pedestrians and bicyclists. Staff was also directed to work with the Arts Commission and the surrounding neighborhood regarding the landscaping and artistic design elements for the project.
• On April 5, 2017, E/T Department staff presented the roundabout project to the Facilities and Transportation Committee. The Committee expressed concern about how bicyclists and pedestrians will be in close proximity to each other on the sidewalk and suggested providing better accommodations for bicyclists in the design.
• On June 7, 2017, at the Facilities and Transportation Committee meeting, the Committee recommended not to include the design alternative without a roundabout as an option for public feedback, since such an option would not provide traffic calming, thereby missing an important goal of the project.
• On March 7, 2018, the Facilities and Transportation Committee asked staff to reach out to the surrounding neighborhood prior to construction of the roundabout.
• On November 14, 2018, the Committee asked staff to consider a mitigation strategy for street parking as part of the project. The Committee suggested adding a traffic camera to monitor speeds and/or installing a speed feedback sign directed at traffic approaching the roundabout from the freeway.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• Goal T-3, Policy T-3.6 - Pedestrian Environment: Improve the walkability of all streets in San Leandro through the planning, implementation, and maintenance of pedestrian supportive infrastructure.
• Goal T-5, Policy T-5.4 - Traffic Flow Improvements: Use a variety of technology-driven measures to improve traffic flow at congested intersections
• Goal T-6, Policy T-6.1 - Traffic Calming Strategies: Use a variety of approaches to slow down or “calm” traffic on San Leandro streets, based on the specific conditions on each street. Emphasize approaches that improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists and enhance neighborhood aesthetics.
• Goal T-7, Policy T-7.2 - Capital Improvements: Identify capital improvements and other measures which improve the safety of bicyclists, pedestrians, and motor vehicles on San Leandro streets.
Environmental Review
This project is categorically exempt from CEQA per Section 15301 - Existing Facilities of the CEQA guidelines. A Notice of Exemption was filed with the Alameda County Recorder’s Office on December 20, 2017.
This project will also need to undergo the NEPA process as part of the de-certification effort of the right-of-way to be acquired from Caltrans, since it affects a freeway embankment, thereby triggering the involvement of the FHWA.
Summary of Public Outreach Efforts
• The first public meeting for the project was held on September 13, 2016, at 7:00 pm in the lecture hall of the San Leandro Main Library. Attendees were mostly supportive of the project but had numerous questions and recommendations on what should be included in the scope of work.
• The second public meeting was held on July 19, 2017 at the lecture hall of the San Leandro Main Library. Two design concepts were presented. One included protected bike lanes while the other did not. Most attendees favored the design concept with the protected bike lanes.
Fiscal Impacts
The total cost of the project, including construction, is estimated at $2,814,000. The exact cost of the right-of-way and easements are not yet determined as of this writing and will require formal appraisals.
With Amendment No. 4, the design contract will be $164,300 as shown below.
Original CSA Contract $97,490
CSA Amendment No. 1 $11,154
CSA Amendment No. 2 $38,690
CSA Amendment No. 3 (time extension) $ 0
CSA Amendment No. 4 $16,966
Total Contract Amount $164,300
Budget Authority
Account No. Source Fiscal Yr. Amount
120-28-193 DFSI FY13-14 $43,000
(Appropriation was renewed with Resolution No. 2019-181)
210-28-193 General Funds FY13-14 $80,000
210-38-290 General Funds FY15-16 $10,000
210-38-901 Successor Agency to RDA FY16-17 $1,274,134
120-28-193 DFSI FY19-20 $200,000
Total Project Appropriation: $1,607,134
Approximately $1,207,000 of additional funding is needed for the completion of the project; this project is eligible for use of developer fees for street improvements.
Attachment(s) to the Resolution
• CSA Amendment 4 - BKF Roundabout Design Project
PREPARED BY: Kyle K. Lei, Associate Engineer, Engineering and Transportation Department