SR-11-10-2015-3I
City Council
Report
City Council Regular Meeting: November 10, 2015
Agenda Item: 3.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director, Public Works, Civil Engineering
Subject: California Incline Pedestrian Overcrossing Conceptual Layout Approval
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve the “Alternative 3” proposed conceptual layout as the preferred design
of the California Incline Pedestrian Overcrossing and direct staff to proceed with
the expedited design and construction of the “Alternative 3” Pedestrian
Overcrossing.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to
contract #10025 with MCM Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
$1,900,000 for construction of the “Alternative 3” Pedestrian Overcrossing. This
will result in an amended contract with a new total amount not to exceed
$16,975,306 (includes a 15% contingency).
3. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to
complete additional work within budget authority.
4. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget
Actions section of this report.
Executive Summary
The California Incline Pedestrian Overcrossing (POC) and Idaho Trail (Trail) project
addresses the need to replace the POC, and improve the drainage, reduce soil erosion,
and improve the maintenance of the Trail. TY Lin International (TY Lin), the engineering
firm hired by the City of Santa Monica for the design of this project, prepared multiple
concept designs for the new POC. Staff recommends approval of concept design
“Alternative 3” and approval to proceed with the expedited design and construction of
“Alternative 3”.
Background
The POC crosses over the California Incline Bridge and Roadway between Ocean
Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The Trail goes diagonally up the bluff t o
Palisades Park and exits near Idaho Avenue. To the west, the Trail and POC connect
to another pedestrian overcrossing (owned by Caltrans) that goes over PCH providing
pedestrian access to the beach from Palisades Park (attachment A).
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Bi-annual inspection reports for the POC performed by the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Works (LACDPW), per an agreement with the California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans), have consistently given the POC a poor
structural rating. These reports have indicated the need for the following: repair the
delamination and spalling in the deck surface, patch spalls in the south girder, and
replace missing tie wires in the bottom of the pedestrian fence and to rebuild the east
slope to stabilize the staircase and walkway.
On April 2, 2014, TY Lin completed a Structural Assessment Report for the POC and
Trail to provide a more detailed and enhanced assessment than the LACDPW bi -annual
reports. This report concluded that a portion of the POC should be replaced, and the
structure is in need of seismic retrofitting and rehabilitation work to patch concrete.
Additionally, recommendations were made to improve the bridge aesthetics. The report
also provides suggestions for improvements to the Trail which has had numerous
erosion and drainage problems.
On January 27, 2015 (attachment B), Council awarded a construction contract to MCM
Construction, Inc. (MCM), in an amount not to exceed $15,690,211 for the construction
of the California Incline. Of this amount, $614,905 was for the construction of an SCE
conduit to be placed underneath the California Incline. SCE decided to no longer have
MCM construct the conduit. Staff unencumbered $614,905 from the contract reducing
MCM’s contract to $15,075,306.
On August 25, 2015 (attachment C), Council awarded a professional services
agreement to TY Lin to provide engineering design services for the POC and Trail
Project in an amount not to exceed $411,827.
Discussion
Staff and TY Lin have been moving forward with an expedited design of this project in
order to take advantage of the current closure of the California Incline Bridge. This will
allow the City to proceed through construction at a faster pace and lower cost. If the
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POC and Idaho Trail construction were to begin afte r the California Incline Bridge
reopens, it would require an additional closure of the California Incline which would
result in a longer construction period and additional costs for encroachment permits and
traffic control. Staff did not recommend this work to occur concurrently with the
California Incline Project for a couple of reasons. The California Incline is funded with
Federal Transportation funds with an 11% local match and would have required multiple
coordination and authorizations through Caltra ns because the POC would be fully paid
by the City thus mixing project accounting and further delaying construction of the
Incline. There was a lot of public concern about the length of closure of the Incline and
the traffic impacts resulting from this closure, so adding project work at that time would
have met stiff opposition. The designer T.Y. Lin and staff have worked to expedite the
design after the initial traffic impacts of the closure were not realized. We also realize
the opportunity to take advantage of the contractor expertise and window of opportunity
moving forward on site at this time will result in a short extension of the closure only,
and not an additional closure.
Public Outreach
Staff from the Civil Engineering and Architectural Services divisions of Public Works,
and the Strategic and Transportation Planning division of Planning and Community
Development worked with TY Lin on conceptual designs for the new POC, and selected
the three best conceptual designs based on functionality, budget and aesthetics among
other factors. The three design alternatives were presented at a community meeting at
the Ken Edwards Center on October 5, 2015. A notice for the community meeting was
mailed to 1,966 households and businesses within 1,000 feet of the project on
September 10, 2015 (attachment D), and it was advertised in the Santa Monica Daily
Press on September 28, 2015. Additionally, an email notification was sent to
community and business organizations, neighborhood associations, and schools. The
meeting was also advertised on the SM Constructs Facebook page and the CA Incline
Twitter page. The meeting notification was retweeted by the City, Palisades News,
Santa Monica Chamber and Our Santa Monica.
The three design alternatives presented to the public are shown in attachments E, F,
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and G. In determining the three options to present to the public, staff considered
functionality, budget, aesthetics, and the ability to complete the project with minimal
additional closure of the California Incline Bridge and Roadway.
The 15 participants at the October 5th community meeting exhibited strong support for
Alternative 3. Participants preferred Alternative 3 because it provides the most pleasant
pedestrian walking experience and a sweeping panoramic ocean view down the spiral
walkway. Alternative 3 was also preferred because it has fewer stairs than the other
two options and fits in with the look of the new California Incline Bridge. Alternative 3 is
also staff’s preferred option due to its unique shape and how it differs from the existing
pedestrian overcrossing, yet compliments the spiral crossing bridge over PCH below the
POC.
Next Steps
If Council approves Alternative 3, staff and TY Lin would continue with the expedited
design and prepare construction plans and specifications. The plans and specifications
would be reviewed by City departments, and upon approval, MCM would finalize price
and construct the project. MCM is the contractor for the California Incline Bridge
replacement project. Staff recommends a contract modification in an amount not to
exceed $1,900,000 with MCM to construct the POC while the California Incline is
closed.
Additional coordination with Caltrans will be required as well. A revalidation to the
NEPA environmental approval will be required as well as the revalidation of the Right of
Way certification. The construction work to be done by MCM on the POC and Trail
would be processed through Caltrans as a non-participating change order. This means
that the additional work is City funded and not paid for by the federal grants that fund
most of the California Incline.
Alternatives
If the City does not expedite the design and approve a contract modification with MCM
for construction of the POC then the project would be completed after the California
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Incline is reopened to the public. This option would require a second closure of PCH
which would significantly increase project cost by requiring additional traffic control and
further inconvenience the public.
Construction Schedule
Staff estimates that construction of the POC will add an additional two to three months
to the closure of the California Incline. The California Incline Bridge project began on
April 20, 2015 and is scheduled to be completed by April 20, 2016 . With the POC
construction added, it’s estimated both structures would be completed by July 3, 2016
(not including potential rain delays).
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The contract modification to be approved for MCM Construction is for an amo unt not to
exceed $1,900,000, for an amended contract total not to exceed $16,975,306 .
Funding in the amount of $1,076,400 was originally included in the FY 2016 -17 Budget
Plan for the Capital Improvement Program. Accelerating this funding for use in FY 2015-
16 would facilitate acceleration of the project completion within preferred construction
timelines related to the broader California Incline Bridge Replacement project.
Acceleration of the funding requires the use of $1,500,000 from capital reserves,
$200,000 from FY 2014-15 General Fund capital improvement projects realized project
savings, and $200,000 from Special Revenue Fund from State Highway Relinquishment
Funds.
Award of the contract modification requires the following budget actions:
1. Release of fund balance from reserve account 1.380006 (capital project
contingency) of $1,500,000;
2. Release of fund balance from reserve account 1.380246 (FY 2014-15 Capital
Improvement Project savings) of $200,000;
3. Release of fund balance from reserve account 4.366208 (State Highway
Relinquishment funds) of $200,000;
4. Appropriate $1,700,000 to account C010678.589000 (Cal Incline Ped
Overcrossing); and
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5. Appropriate $200,000 to account C040678.589000 (Cal Inc Ped Overcrossing -
Relinquish).
Prepared By: Zach Pollard, Civil Engineer
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Site Map
B. January 27, 2015 Staff Report (Web Link)
C. August 25, 2015 Staff Report (Web Link)
D. Community Meeting Notice
E. Design Alternative 1
F. Design Alternative 2
G. Design Alternative 3
H. CA Incline_Presentation_2015-11-10
Help us decide the future look of the
Pedestrian Bridge over the california Incline
N
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www.smconstructs.org (888) 303-6026
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
SMConstructs @SMConstructs
The pedestrian bridge over the California
Incline is getting a new look and the City
requests your input.
A community meeting will be held to learn
more about the pedestrian bridge concepts
and receive public input.
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401 BC
-
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WHEN: Monday, October 5
TIME: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Ken Edwards Center
Room 100 A/B
1527 4th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
COMMUNITY MEETING
City staff and project representatives will be
available to share project design alternatives
and answer your questions.
FIRST CLASS
PRESORT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AMI
alternative 1 | Aerial View alternative 1 | PCH View
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
alternative 1 | Deck Perspective alternative 1 | Uphill Perspective
alternative 2 | Aerial View alternative 2 | PCH View
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
alternative 2 | Deck Perspective alternative 2 | Uphill Perspective
alternative 3 | Aerial View alternative 3 | PCH View
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
TELL US YOUR PREFEREN C E H E R E :
alternative 3 | Deck Perspective alternative 3 | Uphill Perspective
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Reference:
Modified Contract
No. 10025
(CCS)