Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board consider the following pertaining to the Pioneer Trail / U.S. Highway 50 Intersection Safety Improvement Project, Capital Improvement Program project number 36104026, Contract 7614:
1) Approve and adopt the Plans and Contract Documents and authorize the Chair to sign the Plans; and
2) Authorize advertisement for construction bids.
(District 5)
FUNDING: Highway Safety Improvement Program (29.5% - Federal), Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Mitigation Funds (1.5% - Local), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (22% - Federal), Surface Transportation Block Grant (21% - Federal) and State and Local Partnership (26% - State).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Pioneer Trail / U.S. Highway 50 Intersection Safety Improvement Project (Project) is located in the Tahoe Basin at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50/State Route 89 and Pioneer Trail in the community of Meyers. The work consists of converting the existing signalized intersection to a modern single-lane roundabout.
The Board approved this Project's contract documents and authorized Transportation to advertise for construction bids on February 6, 2024 (Legistar file 24-0009). However, during the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans) final review of the Project’s contract documents, Caltran's required changes to the contract documents before proceeding with advertising for construction bids. Transportation revised the Project’s contract documents per Caltran's requirements, as the Project is being built in Caltran's right of way. Because the contract documents have been revised since the Board’s February 6, 2024 approval, Transportation is required to return to the Board and request that the Board approve the final contract documents and authorize Transportation to advertise them for construction bids.
Upon Board approval of Transportation’s recommendation for this agenda item, Transportation will proceed with the bid process and return to the Board for consideration to award the construction contract. Transportation anticipates scheduling the construction contract award for the February 7, 2025 Board meeting.
ALTERNATIVES
1) The Board could choose not to approve the contract documents or not authorize advertisement for construction bids. Transportation would make any changes requested by the Board and return at a later date.
2) The Board could choose to cancel the Project. Transportation would likely be required to return all federal grant funds spent to date.
3) The Board could choose not to authorize additional funding for the Project. Transportation would reject acceptance of the Local Partnership Program funds.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion / Background section above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Contract Documents.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no Net County Cost associated with this item. The Board will not obligate the County with the current requested action. The obligation will result from the subsequent action of awarding the bid. The total estimated cost for the Project’s construction phase is $10,453,916, which includes construction items of work, construction management, inspection, materials testing, supplemental costs, and contingencies.
The estimated construction cost is included in the Project budget, which is funded by TRPA Mobility Mitigation, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, Surface Transportation Block Grant, and State and Local Partnership Program funds.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on the Construction Plan cover sheet for the Project.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the original signed Construction Plan cover sheet to John Kahling, Transportation, Headington Engineering.
TRANSPORTATION FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Transportation will advertise the Project for bid proposals and return to the Board with recommendations for award at a later date.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation