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Department of Transportation recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 106-2021, authorizing the Director of Transportation the delegated authority to approve Utility Agreements in the amount of $200,000 or less with various utility agencies, for the relocation of utilities for public works, maintenance, and Capital Improvement Program projects.
FUNDING: N/A
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Department of Transportation (Transportation) manages and oversees public works, maintenance, and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, as well as contracts for public facilities. One element of the right of way activity is the relocation of existing utilities in conflict with such project work. The burden of cost to relocate the facilities is based upon the existing land rights of the individual utilities. Transportation coordinates with the affected utilities to evaluate conflicts and create relocation designs, resulting in Agreements. These Agreements include the professional engineering services, requirements, conditions, orders, and amount of compensation required to relocate the utilities and are typically in a standardized form. Individual utility companies operate and contract work under the regulations of the California Public Utilities Commission, and in coordination with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Caltrans and FHWA provide contract templates with specific provisions that require their approval when federal funds are applied to a project. There are also standard forms provided by the various utility companies, such as Agreement to Perform Tariff Schedule Related Work.
The Board approved current Resolution 003-2018 on January 9, 2018 (Item 24, Legistar 17-1372); however, Resolution 003-2018 requires revision to provide additional definitions of utility agreements. The new proposed Resolution authorizes the delegation of authority to the Director t...
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