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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-01-27 - AGENDA REPORTS - IMPROV PROJ 95 065 RR AVENUE (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: T. Brad Therrien DATE: 6* : DINa DEPARTMENT: January 27, 1998 RAILROAD AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT NO. 95-065 PROJECT STATUS Transportation and Engineering Services RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council receive the project status report for the Railroad Avenue Improvements Project No. 95-065. On June 11, 1996, the City Council approved in concept the Newhall Downtown Revitalization Plan. A major part of this program is the reconstruction of Railroad Avenue from San Fernando Road south of 4th Street to San Fernando Road at 11th Street (see Railroad Avenue Reconstruction Map, Attachment A). At the July 8, 1997 City Council meeting, the construction contract was awarded to Gueno Development Company, Inc. At this meeting, Council expressed its concern with standard concrete street lights being installed on Railroad Avenue. Council requested that staff return with alternative street lights that would incorporate the Western, Victorian, or Spanish style of architecture identified by the Downtown Newhall Revitalization Plan. Staff researched available alternatives and returned to Council on August 26, 1997 for authorization to proceed with the "Nostalgic" street lighting theme. The plans already prepared by our consultant and approved by the County Lighting District required significant revision to accomplish the "Nostalgic' lighting theme established by Council. The plans were reviewed and the concept approved by the County. During the process, City staff realized that it was possible to pay for these improvements using district funds already budgeted and approved for system upgrades. After lengthy discussion with Lighting District personnel, City staff convinced them of the appropriateness of allocating a portion of these funds to be used for this purpose. An agreement was prepared to have the Street Lighting District pay for the upgraded street lights and installation. This agreement was approved by Council on August 26, 1997 and became effective on October 1, 1997. The accomplishment of this task took a significant amount of time and effort but resulted in a major improvement to the project and the area. The delay to the project is insignificant compared with the benefits derived from the changes. RAILROAD AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 95-065 January 27, 1998 Page 2 One of the first items of work on the construction schedule required Southern California Edison to remove and/or relocate existing power poles that interfered with construction. The delay in receiving the pole relocation plans had a significant effect on the project schedule. Edison policy is not to begin relocation and service design until they have Los Angeles County Street Lighting Division approval on the street lighting plans. This approval was not received until November 1997; and Edison's electrical plans were not available to the City or the contractor until December 1997. Gueno Development Company, Inc. was not able to start work until the Edison plans were completed. Because of the magnitude of the plan changes, a "change order" to the contract was required to accomplish the task of installing the specialty lights. All right-of-way parcels have been. acquired for the Railroad Avenue project. As part of the acquisition of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority right-of-way, the City, as successor in interest, assumed responsibility over existing leases that MTA previously established along the right-of-way. One of the MTA -leased areas interferes with the construction and utilization of Railroad Avenue. In accordance with terms of the lease, a "Notice of Termination" has been issued to the lessee. The City had requested that the MTA issue the notice to vacate the property while it was under their control, but due to staffing and workload issues, MTA staff did not issue the notice. This would have allowed the right-of-way to be available to the contractor upon commencement of work. As a result, the notice could not be issued until jurisdiction over property was formally transferred to the City. The City has given the tenant and leaseholder proper notice; including adequate time to vacate, and is providing relocation assistance to the tenant. This approach is in strict compliance with the City Council and staff goal of minimizing impacts and optimizing cooperation with the businesses affected by the construction. This project also minimizes future impacts to the area and facilitates construction of the future Metrolink Station project. It was beneficial to acquire all of the property needed for both projects at one time rather than a portion at a time. Acquiring the properties in this fashion saved significant time and money for both projects. In addition, this project includes grading and improvements needed for the station project, which will help minimize that construction schedule. The project was originally scheduled to be completed by February 1998, but the above- mentioned factors delayed the start of construction by three months. Consequently, when these three months are added to the 23 days already lost this winter to rain, construction is now estimated to be completed by the end of June 1998. The contractor and the overwhelming majority of the businesses in the area have been extremely cooperative throughout the process,. as have Newhall County Water District, Southern California Gas Company, and Southern California Edison Company personnel. Staff has made an extraordinary effort to minimize impacts to the business community, and cannot RAILROAD AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT NO. 95-065 January 27, 1998 Page 3 express enough gratitude to the business people who have maintained a positive attitude toward the project, the contractor, and City staff. Weekly project team meetings are held each Thursday on site, with the public and all utility companies invited. In addition, nearby business owners frequently visit the on-site office to discuss any project concerns they have. This has enhanced cooperation with all those involved in the project. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS None identified by staff. FISCAL IMPACT None by this action. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Status Report Attachment B: Vicinity Map RM:vjj ...11AR695065.RM ATTACHMENT A RAILROAD AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS - PROJECT NO. 95-065 PROJECTSTATUS RAILROAD AVENUE RECONSTRUCTION Under construction since October 27, 1997 Newhall County Water line relocation: 80% complete Edison power pole relocation: 50% complete Roadway excavation: 40% complete Storm drain construction: 90% complete MTA spur track relocation: 100% complete Grading: 30% complete CHANGE ORDERS Three minor change orders have been issued due to revised storm drain plans and the Caltrans permit fee. These change orders totaled $8,945 and added five days to the duration of the contract. We are currently negotiating a major change order to install electrical conduits for the "Nostalgic" street lights for approximately $200,000, which will add ten days to the duration of the contract. This is being done as Council directed at their August 26, 1997 meeting. Rainy days have added 23 days to the duration of the contract. NEWHALL METROLINK STATION Boyle Engineering Corporation has been awarded the professional services contract to design the Newhall Metrolink Station. A meeting was held with the Redevelopment Design Standard Sub - Committee on December 16, 1997 to discuss architectural styles for the station. A program summary has been prepared, and the architectural design has begun. Preparation of the plans and specifications is being "fast -tracked" and is scheduled to be completed and ready for bid procurement late this summer. Construction is scheduled to begin late in 1998, barring any unforeseen circumstances that would prevent this from happening. The station is scheduled to begin operations by June 1999. The amount funded by the Transit Capital Improvement (TCI) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) grants will provide for a station with approximately 200 parking spaces, a platform, and a small building to provide storage space for maintenance equipment and public restrooms. Additional funds will be required if we are to provide canopies, enclosed waiting areas, a clock tower, Sheriffs substation, and a child care center. The scope ofwork submitted with the TCI grant application identifies a budget of $4,273,061. The actual Newhall Metrolink Station budget is $4,273,900. Much of this budget has been expended to date on property acquisition and road improvements required for the operation of the station. The project elements listed in the scope of work, such as: Union Pacific Spur Relocation; Railroad Avenue/Market Street Signal Interconnect; Market Street Crossing Upgrade, Sidewalks, Street Lights, Landscape, Irrigation; and portions of the Engineering Design, Survey, Geotechnical Investigation; Construction Management; and Construction Cost Contingency, are all being constructed as part of the Railroad Avenue Improvement Project. The funds remaining to construct the Newhall Metrolink Station amount to approximately $1,600,000. engeivi\95-066%mtl.r