SR 09-26-2017 3G
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: September 26, 2017
Agenda Item: 3.G
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Transportation Planning
Subject: Contract Approval for Design Services for Safe Routes to School Pedestrian
Improvements at Four Schools
Recommended Action
Staff Recommends that the City Council:
1. Award RFP #2017- 127 to Anderson Penna, a California based company, to
provide engineering design services for the Safe Routes to School Pedestrian
Improvements, as required by the Mobility Division, for John Adams and Lincoln
Middle Schools, Roosevelt Elementary School and the Will Rogers Learning
Community school.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services
agreement with Anderson Penna in an amount not to exceed $149,126 (including
a $19,452 contingency).
Executive Summary
The Safe Routes to School Pedestrian Improvements at Four Schools project is
identified as a 5-year priority project in the Pedestrian Action Plan, adopted in 2016. The
project emphasizes improving safety for students, parents, and faculty who walk and
bike to John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools, Roosevelt Elementary School, and
Will Rogers Learning Community. The project will add curb extensions at various
intersections, recommend/implement striping and signing changes to ease peak-time
pick-up/drop-off congestion, and improve pavement markings and crossings to increase
visibility of pedestrians. This project builds on previous engagement with the schools
conducted in 2013. Staff recommends Anderson Penna, an engineering consultant, to
provide the design services for Pedestrian Improvements at Four Schools in an amount
not to exceed $149,126.
Background
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The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program increases the number of children who walk
or bicycle to school by removing the barriers that currently prevent them from doing
so. In July 2012, Council approved a grant-funded agreement with Alta Planning +
Design to implement a SRTS pilot program at four schools in Santa Monica: John
Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Will Rogers
Learning Community. In July 2013, as a component of the SRTS pilot project, Alta and
the City conducted “walk audits” in partnership with the Santa Monica Malibu Unified
School District (SMMUSD), students, parents and faculty. Auditors observed routes,
facilities and behaviors for all approaches to the school site and provided an
improvement plan to address barriers to walking and biking, which included: curb
extensions; replacement or installation of crosswalks; installation of rectangular rapid
flashing beacons; signage; and adjusting parking and pick-up/drop-off regulations.
In 2016, Council adopted the Pedestrian Action Plan, which included these community-
identified improvements as 5-year priority projects to increase safety and encourage
walking and bicycling to school in the surrounding neighborhoods. In the same year,
Council budgeted Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Funds of $1,560,000 for design
and construction of these improvements through Fiscal Year 2018–2019.
Discussion
John Adams and Lincoln Middle Schools, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Will
Rogers Learning Community school campuses abut busy roadways like Montana
Avenue, Lincoln Blvd, Pearl Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. Students, parents and
staff walking and biking to school can face long crossing distances, high traffic speeds
and traffic volumes, and peak-time congestion and confusion around school sites.
The project emphasizes safety for students, parents, and faculty who come to school by
bike or on foot, and focuses improvements on key crossings, school access points,
adjacent higher-speed roadways, and congestion caused during peak pick-up and drop-
off times. The final design process would improve upon the community-identified
projects at specifically identified intersections/roadways adjacent to all four schools, and
develop designs and cost estimates ready for construction. Improvements include:
Up to 34 Curb extensions, which would minimize the exposure of pedestrians
to vehicles by reducing both the time and the distance that pedestrians are in
the roadway.
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Marking and improving crosswalks, which reinforces the best location for
pedestrian crossing, therefore reducing unpredictable mid-block crossings
and potential conflicts.
Parking, pick-up/ drop-off, and peak hour regulations to help streamline traffic
flow when needed.
Next Steps
Anderson Penna would initiate a study of peak-time pick-up/drop-off activity, conduct all
required survey work, and prepare initial construction drawings for previously identified
improvements. City Staff would engage with the neighborhoods, schools, Santa Monica
Malibu Unified School District, and parent groups to reaffirm project selection and
address any community concerns that may arise. Following the public outreach process
Anderson Penna would develop the final construction ready drawings. The design
phase of the project is 31 weeks. Staff anticipates construction to begin in winter 2018-
2019 and will be working with schools to ensure that the construction schedule has
minimum impact on school operations.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
On July 24th, 2017 the City published Notices Inviting Bids to obtain design services for
the Safe Routes to School – Pedestrian Improvements at Four Schools project. The bid
was posted on the City’s on-line bidding site, and notices were advertised in the Santa
Monica Daily Press in accordance with the City Charter and Municipal Code provisions.
68 vendors downloaded the bid request. Three proposals were received on August 14th,
2017. Proposals were evaluated based on the criteria in SMMC 2.24.073 and as
outlined in the RFP, which included Experience/Technical Competence, Ability to Meet
Work Plan and Timelines, Project Approach, Cost of Services and Cost Control,
Stability/ References, and the Value Added/ Breadth of Service.
On August 16th, 2017 the selection committee, comprised of staff from Planning and
Community Development and Public Works, recommended Anderson Penna to provide
the design services for this project. Anderson Penna was not the lowest bidder, but
demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience with regard to SRTS projects, and
similar capital improvement projects in the Cities of Anaheim, Downey, and Laguna
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Beach. Anderson Penna also demonstrated through past projects its ability to offer
project design on schedule and at a competitive price. Based on these criteria Anderson
Penna is recommended as the best bidder.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to Anderson Penna is for an
amount not to exceed $149,126. Funds are available in the FY 2017-18 Capital
Improvement Program budget in account C049145.589000.
Prepared By: Kyle Kozar, Bike Share Coordinator
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 2017 OAKS INITIATIVE FORM_AndersonPenna
REFERENCE:
CONTRACT NO. 10551
(CCS)