SR-02-26-2013-3KCity Council Meeting: February 26, 2013
Agenda Item: -3' V_
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Pier Bridge Interim Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to
Contract No. 9690 (CCS) in the amount of $150,000 (including a 10%
contingency) with Meek Shea, Joint Venture, a California -based company, to
implement Pier Bridge interim pedestrian safety improvements. This would result
in a new contract amount not to exceed $8,350,000.
2. Appropriate the budget increases and authorize the budget changes as outlined
in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions section of this report.
Executive Summary
The Pier Bridge is an existing concrete structure connecting Ocean Avenue to the Santa
Monica Pier. The bridge is the primary route for pedestrians to access the Santa
Monica Pier from downtown Santa Monica. The bridge also provides the only vehicular
access to the Pier deck parking lot. Police Department staff has expressed concern
about the potential conflict between vehicles and pedestrians on the Pier Bridge since
the narrow sidewalks are inadequate for the large volume of pedestrians traversing the
bridge. Staff has identified interim modifications to the bridge's sidewalks which would
improve safety until a new bridge is constructed. The new bridge construction is
anticipated to begin in 2016. Staff recommends an amendment to an existing contract
with Meek Shea, Joint Venture, the City's contractor for the Santa Monica Municipal
Pier Replacement Project, to implement the Pier Bridge interim safety improvements in
the amount of $150,000, for a new amount not to exceed $8,350,000.
Background
On September 11 2012, the City Council approved Agreement No. 9642 (CCS) with
T.Y.LIN International, to provide public outreach, conceptual design, and environmental
documentation services for the Pier Bridge Replacement Project. The Pier Bridge
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Replacement Project is intended to replace the existing structure to improve pedestrian,
bicycle, and vehicular access to the Pier utilizing federal transportation grant funds.
On January 22, 2013, the City Council approved construction Contract No. 9690 (CCS)
with Meek Shea, Joint Venture for the Santa Monica Municipal Pier Replacement
Project for demolition and reconstruction of a 360 -foot long by 36 -foot wide section of
the Municipal Pier from the high tide line to the westerly concrete pier constructed in the
late 1980s.
Discussion
The Pier Bridge was built in 1939. On a daily basis, large volumes of pedestrians
access the Santa Monica Pier from downtown Santa Monica via the Pier Bridge. The
majority of the pedestrians access the bridge on the north side from the crosswalk at the
intersection of Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue or from Palisades Park. The
bridge has very narrow sidewalks and tall curbs and the height of the handrail above the
walking surface is less than the height required by current standards. The sidewalks on
the bridge are inadequate to accommodate the volume of pedestrians traveling to and
from the Pier. Pedestrians often walk in the adjacent vehicle lanes as shown in the
attached photo (Exhibit A). For this reason, the Police Department is concerned about
the potential conflict between pedestrians and vehicles in the event a driver was to lose
control of a vehicle.
Staff has reviewed the safety issues on the Pier Bridge and Santa Monica Pier. Various
options to improve the safety of pedestrians, bicycles and vehicular traffic were
explored, including closing or limiting access to vehicles on the bridge and adjacent
pier.
To improve pedestrian safety until a new bridge is built, staff recommends removing the
sidewalks on the bridge, shifting vehicle lanes to the south side and providing a wider
pedestrian walkway on the north side of the bridge. Staff also recommends installing a
temporary concrete barrier between the vehicle lanes and the pedestrian walkway and
`a
improving signage and roadway markings. The existing and proposed cross - sections of
the Pier Bridge are attached (Exhibit B). The public outreach and conceptual design
phase of Pier Bridge Replacement Project was recently initiated. The current schedule
anticipates construction beginning in 2016 and lasting for approximately 18 months.
Contractor Selection
Meek Shea, Joint Venture, the only bidder, was awarded a construction contract on
January 22, 2013 for the demolition and reconstruction of the Municipal Pier and bridge.
The bid was evaluated on competitive pricing, understanding of the project's scope,
direct experience with similar projects, approach to the work, technical competence,
qualifications of the proposed staff, and the ability to meet the project schedule. Staff
verified their experience on past projects and all agencies reported the contractor's work
to be satisfactory. In light of safety concerns raised by the Police Department, it would
be more expeditious to modify the existing contract with Meek Shea, Joint Venture.
Furthermore, for this project, it would be more efficient and effective to mobilize the
company currently on -site than to solicit this interim work under a new project bid.
Therefore, staff recommends a modification to the existing contract with Meek Shea,
Joint Venture to implement the Pier Bridge interim pedestrian safety improvements.
Public Outreach
The proposed pedestrian safety improvements were presented to the Pier Board on
December 5, 2012. The Pier Board approved a motion providing general support for
the interim pedestrian safety plan as a cost effective, interim solution that would provide
safer pedestrian access to the Pier. Additionally, staff has discussed the proposed
improvements with the Pier tenants and staff will continue to keep them informed of the
implementation schedule and any temporary access impacts during implementation.
In order to complete the interim pedestrian safety improvements prior to the summer
season, staff recommends modifying existing Contract No. 9690 (CCS) in the amount of
$150,000 with Meek Shea, Joint Venture as opposed to soliciting bids. Meek Shea will
be mobilizing equipment and materials in and adjacent to the area of the proposed
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interim safety improvements to construct the Santa Monica Municipal Pier Replacement
Project allowing for effective coordination.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The contract modification to be awarded to Meek Shea, Joint Venture, is $150,000 for
an amended contract total not to exceed $8,350,000. Award of the contract
modification requires the following budget actions:
1. Transfer of $24,995 from account 0010655.589000 to account
C010655.589500.
2. Additional appropriation of $125,005 to account C010655.589500.
Prepared by: Mark Cuneo, P.E., Principal Civil Engineer
Approved:
"- 0��
Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
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Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
EXHIBIT "A"
5
EXHIBIT "B"
North EXISTING South
North PROPOSED South
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Reference Modified
Agreement No. 9690
(CCS)