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) Authorize a total project budget increase of $3,055,000 to reflect California State and Local Partnership Program funding awarded to the subject project, raising the estimated total project cost as reflected in the 2023 Capital Improvement Program from $8,791,000 to $11,846,000;
2) Approve and adopt the Plans and Contract Documents and authorize the Chair to sign the Plans; and
3) Authorize advertisement for construction bids with an estimated construction phase total cost of $10,507,000.
(District V)
FUNDING: Highway Safety Improvement Program (30% - Federal), Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Mitigation Funds (4% - Local), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (20% - Federal), Surface Transportation Block Grant (19% - Federal) and State and Local Partnership (SLPP) (27% - State).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Pioneer Trail/ U.S. Highway 50 Intersection Safety Improvement Project (Project) is located at and around 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 roundabout.
An Initial Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project was adopted by the Board on January 4, 2022 (Legistar 20-1133, Item 34), in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
Upon Board approval of the Department of Transportation’s (Transportation) recommendations for this agenda item, Transportation will initiate the bid process and return to the Board for consideration to award the construction contract, pursuant to Transportation’s recommendation. Transportation anticipates scheduling the construction contract award for the April 2, 2024, Board meeting.
In November 2022, Transportation submitted a grant application under the State’s Local Partnership Program and received a $3,055,000 award recommendation for the Project in July 2023. When formally awarded by the California Transportation Commission at its January 2024 meeting, the funding will be allocated by Caltrans for use on the subject project. This funding will be utilized for the construction phase, anticipating the ongoing trend of increased bid costs for roadway infrastructure construction projects.
ALTERNATIVES
1) The Board could choose not to approve the Contract Documents and Plans or authorize advertisement for construction bids. Transportation will make any changes requested by the Board and return at a later date.
2) The Board could choose to cancel the Project. Transportation would be required to return all federal grant funds spent to date.
3) The Board could choose not to authorize additional funding for the Project and Transportation will 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 $10,507,000, 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
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation