sr-121311-8b10_
City of City Council Report
Santa Monica"
City Council Meeting: December 13, 2011
Agenda Item: _SL_,LL
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
David Martin, Director of Planning & Community Development
Kathryn Vernez, Deputy City Manager for Special Projects
Subject: Expo Light Rail Station Betterment Components at Bergamot/26th Street,
Memorial Park /17th Street, and Downtown /4th Street Stations
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute such agreements, as may
be appropriate, not -to- exceed $6,700,000 (includes a contingency and reserve)
with the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority to perform final engineering
services and construction of betterments at Bergamot/26th Street Station.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute such agreements, as may
be appropriate, not -to- exceed $2,400,000 (includes a contingency and reserve)
with the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority to perform final engineering
services and construction of betterments at Memorial Park /17th Street Station.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute such agreements, as may
be appropriate, not -to- exceed $450,000 with the Exposition Metro Line
Construction Authority to perform preliminary engineering services at the
Downtown /4th Street Station.
4. Authorize budget changes, including appropriations, as outlined in the Financial
Impact and Budget Actions Section of this report.
5. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to
complete additional work within budget authority.
Executive Summary
On September 13, 2011, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate with
the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Authority) for the station betterments
at Memorial Park /17th Street Station and at Bergamot/26th Street Station, and return to
Council with final commitment recommendations. In addition, on September 13, 2011,
City staff provided an alternate improved Downtown /4th Street Station alignment that
increases train operating speeds and improves station pedestrian access. The revised
alignment softens the curvature of the tracks enabling faster train speeds across the
intersection of 5th Street /Colorado Avenue, reducing the potential wheel noise, and
improves the resulting opportunities for use of the remainder of the former Sears
1
Automotive and adjacent City -owned sites, including preserving the 4th Street tunnel
access.
Preliminary engineering services were approved on June 28. 2011 and are now
complete for the Memorial Park/17th Street Station and at Bergamot/26th Street Station.
The Authority obtained cost proposals from Skanska -Rados Joint Venture (SRJV) for
the City requested betterments at these two stations. An independent assessment of
the cost of the betterment was performed by the Authority. The City and the Authority
have worked together to negotiate a reasonable cost for the construction of the
betterments. The Authority identified the re- design of the Downtown /4th Street Station
as a partial betterment to be funded in part by the City. Skanska -Rados Joint Venture
prepared a cost estimate for the preliminary engineering.
Staff recommends authorization to execute an agreement with the Authority to perform
final engineering services and construction of the betterments at the Memorial Park /17th
Street Station, Bergamot /26th Street Station and preliminary engineering services at the
Downtown /4th Street Station. Staff is requesting an appropriation of General Funds in a
not -to- exceed amount of $6,700,000 for Bergamot/26th Street Station, $2,400,000 for
Memorial Park /Mid -City, and $450,000 for the Downtown /4th Street Station. During the
design phase, a 15% reserve of $862,000 would be budgeted by the City until final
design is completed. The reserve would be used for any unanticipated additional costs
that are estimated as design progresses to final design. Only changes authorized by
the Director of Public Works would be approved for payment to the Authority. Upon
completion of final design, the reserve would be reduced to $0 and only a construction
contingency would be paid to the Authority for unanticipated change orders required
during construction. The total cost of engineering design services and construction as
outlined above is $9,550,000.
With regards to Bergamot/26th Street and Memorial Park/Mid -City stations, Metro and
Expo have agreed to assist in securing California Public Utility Commission (CPUC)
approval for the required grade crossings at the second entrances to these stations.
Background
The Exposition Light Rail line will connect from Downtown Los Angeles to Downtown
Santa Monica with stations in Santa Monica at Bergamot Arts Center (Olympic /26th
Street), Memorial Park/17th Street Station (Colorado /17th Street) and Downtown
(Colorado /4th Street). The Expo line is projected to be one of the busiest light rail lines
in the country, with estimated 64,000 daily boardings. The Exposition Light Rail
Construction Authority is designing and building the line, and it will be turned over to the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for operation
following completion and testing. Phase 2 of the Expo Light Rail Line to Santa Monica
is scheduled to be complete and ready for passenger service in 2016.
Pa
On July 13, 2010, the Council unanimously adopted a range of recommendations for
elements to be incorporated into the City's three Expo stations that included:
• Bergamot/26th Street Station: separate station platforms for east and west bound
trains (side - loaded) with full pedestrian track crossings at both ends of the station
to integrate the station with the adjacent Bergamot Art Center and the large
ridership pool north of Olympic Boulevard.
• Memorial Park /17th Street: a second entrance at the west end of the center
platform with a full pedestrian track crossing and an off- street transfer area and
bicycle facility.
The recommendations prioritize functionality, safety and access, and advance Santa
Monica's integrated land use and circulation priorities established in the General Plan.
The proactive integration of the stations into Santa Monica is critical to encourage
ridership and convenient connections to the stations by bicycle, walking, transit and
drop -off. The City has been working closely with the Construction Authority and Metro
on these recommendations as the design process has proceeded, and to ensure
coordination with public and private projects in the station areas.
On June 28, 2011, the City Council authorized funds for preliminary engineering design
services to pursue the Bergamot/26th Street station side - loaded platforms, and the
Memorial Park /17th Street station western entrance and crossing. On September 13,
2011, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate with the Authority and
Skanska -Rados joint venture team for identified station betterments at Memorial
Park /17th Street Station and at Bergamot/26th Street Station, and return to Council with
final commitment recommendations.
The project is currently in the design /pre- construction phase. SRJV has completed
portions of the 60% designs and submitted partial packages to the City for review. Staff
is currently reviewing and providing feedback on the 60% design packages for work
east of 17th Street. SRJV has also completed utility and geotechnical explorations to aid
the design process. Remaining 60% design packages for work west of 17th Street
areas are expected at the end of this year.
3
Discussion
The Authority has completed Preliminary Engineering for City requested betterments at
the Bergamot/26th Street and the Memorial Park/17fh Street stations. The scope of work
for the betterments would also include completion of final design documents and
construction of improvements. The additional construction at the Memorial Park /17th
Street Station primarily includes a western station entrance and signalized crossing to
anticipate surges in ridership. High bicycle use is projected at this station due to
proximity to Santa Monica College and a high volume of businesses in the area. This
western entrance also supports direct access to Memorial Park recreational facilities,
and significantly improves access for future mixed -use housing and commercial
development envisioned as part of the Memorial Park activity center outlined in the
Land Use and Circulation Element. The additional work at Bergamot/26th Street Station
entails developing two side platforms instead of one platform to integrate the station into
Bergamot Arts Center and Bergamot Transit Village district with signalized pedestrian
crossings at both ends of the station. The crossing is being coordinated with proposed
improvements in the area, and is critical to providing the direct access that would
encourage ridership and connections to pedestrian, bicycle and bus facilities. This
betterment price consists of:
• Additional civil, structural, and architectural elements.
• Train control and communications equipment for the two stations such as
additional station platform concrete and reinforcing steel.
• Station and ticketing area canopies, handrails, metal arches, gates, pavers, tile,
lighting, trash receptacles, benches, and map cases.
In addition to construction, Ticket Vending machines (TVMs) would be procured by
Metro as part of the Uniform Fair System bulk procurement cost, where the City would
be the recipient of bulk prices for the additional TVMs requested. If the TVM count is
reduced, the City would obtain a credit from the Authority for such reduction.
Negotiations - Memorial Park /17th Street Station and Bergamot/26th Street Station
Exposition Construction Authority's initial proposal for construction of the betterments
was $7,462,312 for the Bergamot/26th Street Station and $3,340,226 for the Memorial
S
Park /17th Street Station. The City's initial cost estimate was $4,843,923 and
$2,366,548 for each station respectively. After several negotiating sessions where the
scope of work was clarified and differences in the estimates were resolved, it was
agreed that a fair cost for the subject betterments was $6,700,000 and $2,400,000,
including an allowance of $350,000 for additional road work and a City controlled design
reserve of $862,000. Staff would work with the Authority to reduce the final cost for the
roadwork to the fullest extent possible. The City controlled reserve would be reduced to
zero dollars ($0) upon completion of final design documents and those unused funds
would be utilized for a construction contingency. With regards to Bergamot/26th Street
and Memorial Park /Mid -City stations, Metro and Expo have agreed to assist in securing
California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) approval for the required grade crossings
at the second entrances to these stations.
Preliminary Engineering — Downtown /4th Street Station
The initial Preliminary Engineering concept (approximately 10 -30% design) for the
Downtown /4th Street Station utilized the majority of the former Sears Automotive site at
4th Street and Colorado Avenue for the station site. This design would require trains to
slow significantly as they navigate the turn with the potential for resulting wheel noise
along the curvature and extended east -west signal phases at the 5th Street/Colorado
intersection. The City has worked closely with the Construction Authority to evaluate
the proposed station with respect to train operations, pedestrian circulation, vehicle flow,
noise and the resulting site design. Through this process, the City and Authority
identified an improved Downtown /4th Street Station alignment that reduces impact to
traffic operation and improves station pedestrian access. The position of the station on
the site addresses visibility issues at the intersection of 5th /Colorado through Expo
acquisition of the property at the southwest corner. It also begins to integrate the
station within the future Colorado Esplanade and create opportunities for clear
pedestrian orientation and wayfinding to direct users to and from the Downtown, Civic
Center and Pier. The revised alignment softens the curvature of the tracks enabling
faster egress across the intersection of 5th Street/Colorado Avenue, reducing the
potential wheel noise, and improving the resulting opportunities for use of the remainder
5
of the City -owned sites. Preliminary engineering needs to be completed for the
improved Downtown /4th Street Station alignment as soon as possible to avoid delay of
the project schedule. Through the design, the Authority would be establishing and
presenting a bid price to the City for the construction cost of the requested
enhancements.
The SRJV team provided proposals for preliminary engineering of the Downtown /4th
Street Station revised alignment covering engineering, station design, landscape
architecture, and systems design (traction power, overhead catenary system, track
alignment, etc.). Primary work proposed to be done under the agreements includes:
• Revise the track alignment.
• Prepare updated site plans that reflect revised configuration and rearrangement
of ticketing areas, ramps, pedestrian crossings associated plan, section and
elevation drawing.
• Revise grading, drainage and composite utility plans.
• Revise structural foundation and platform plans with longitudinal sections and
structural sections and details.
The proposed preliminary engineering work modifies an estimated 15 sheets within the
design set to match the work done as part of Stage A and form a basis for cost for the
construction work. Staff has reviewed the work tasks and preliminary engineering
proposal, and provided comments back to the Authority and SRJV regarding scope
refinements that remove errors and redundancies and are calibrated to the level of
detail commensurate with the Stage A drawings. Staff has negotiated a revised
estimate of $450,000. The Expo Construction Authority would submit to the City
progress and final statements indicating actual work performed by their contractor
during their normal billing period (with direct and indirect costs of the work directly
associated with this City authorized work) within 120 days following the commencement
of the subject work. The City shall review all invoices and make appropriate payments
within forty (40) days of receipt of such invoices.
A
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Costs for betterment construction would be paid to the Authority in an amount not -to-
exceed $6,700,000 for Bergamot/26th Street Station and $2,400,000 for the Memorial
Park /Mid -City Station. In addition $450,000 would be paid to the Authority to cover the
cost of preliminary engineering for Downtown /4th Street Station. A City controlled
reserve of 15% totaling $862,000 for the two stations will be budgeted by the City for
any necessary changes to complete the work. The total cost for Bergamot/26th Street
Station and Memorial Park /Mid -City is $9,100,000. It is recommended that $5,000,000
in the General Fund be appropriated to account 0017065.589000. Staff will return to
Council with any further action after real estate negotiations with the Authority are
complete. Release $450,000 from Prop A Rail Reserve in account 20.341895 and
appropriate $450,000 to account C207065.589000 Expo PE Downtown /4th Street
Station, subject to Metro approval.
Prepared by: Alex Nazarchuk, P.E., Civil Engineer
Francie Stefan, Strategic & Transportation Planning Manager
Approved:
t
w
Kathryn Vernez
Deputy City Manager for Special
Projects
Approved:
Approved:
David Martin
Director of Planning & Community
Development
Forwarded to Council:
I
Martin Pastucha Rod Gould
Director of Public Works City Manager
7
Reference Contract Nos.
9523 (CCS)7 9524 (CCS)7
and 9525 (CCS)