SR 01-23-2018 3I (2)
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 23, 2018
Agenda Item: 3.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Transportation Planning
Subject: Contract Approval for Design Services for Stewart Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award RFP #133 to KOA Corporation, a California based company, to provide
engineering and design services for the Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Improvements Project.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional s ervices
agreement with KOA Corporation in an amount not to exceed $315,000 (including a
15% contingency) for an initial two-year term and a one-year renewal option.
Executive Summary
One of the City Council’s five Strategic Goals is the creation of a new model of mobility
to improve access for Santa Monica residents to get around within and beyond their
community.
To promote pedestrian and bicyclist safety and access to the Expo 26 th Street/Bergamot
Station and Expo Corridor Bike/Ped Path, the Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Improvements Project (the “Project”) would enhance linkages to the Expo station,
facilitate walking and biking, and support a safer and barrier-free network. Specifically,
the Project would install sidewalks on Pennsylvania Avenue between 26th and Stewart
Streets where no sidewalks currently exist; create a protected bikeway along Stewart
Street between Colorado and Kansas Avenues; and reconfigure the atypical 3-street, 5-
leg Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart intersection.
These Project elements are identified as a priority in the Bike Action Plan adopted in
2011 and the Pedestrian Action Plan adopted in 2016 because they increase access to
transit, and make biking and walking easier and safer. Staff recommends KOA
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Corporation (KOA), a planning and engineering consultant, to provide the design
services for the Project in an amount not to exceed $315,000 (including a 15%
contingency).
Background
The City began planning for the arrival of Expo light rail nearly a decade ago when
updating the General Plan Land Use & Circulation Element (LUCE). Adopted in 2010,
following a six-year community engagement process, the LUCE puts forth a land use,
urban design, and transportation vision for the City that both establishes new districts
comprised of mixed residential and commercial land uses and creates a multi-modal
transportation system that provides safer access and mobility options for all. Building on
LUCE recommendations, and with community input, the 2011 Bike Action Plan
prioritized a Stewart Street protected bike facility; the 2013 Bergamot Area Plan
identified preliminary streetscape recommendations for Pennsylvania Avenue and
Stewart Street and developed a concept for reconfiguring the
Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart intersection; and the 2016 Pedestrian Action Plan identified
Pennsylvania Avenue sidewalk gap closure and the reconfiguration of the
Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart intersection as priority projects.
In the Fiscal Year 2016-2018 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget, Council
budgeted CIP Funds of $2,800,000 comprised of local and federal funds for the design
and construction of both this Project and the adjacent Olympic Boulevard Improvements
Project. The Olympic Boulevard Improvements Project will create a sidewalk along the
north side of Olympic Boulevard between 26th and Stewart Streets and install
pedestrian amenities. Due to the procedural requirements and extended timeline related
to federal-funded projects, only local funds are being applied to the Olympic Boulevard
Improvements Project so that it may be designed and constructed in advance of the
Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Improvements Project. At the December 12,
2017 (Attachment A) Council meeting, Council authorized staff to execute a contract
with KOA Corporation to provide engineering and design services for the Olympic
Boulevard Improvements Project in an amount not to exceed $200,000 (including a 15%
contingency). The Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Improvements Project will
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proceed on a separate, but coordinated, timeline using a mix of local and federal
funding.
Discussion
The Project area is located within formerly industrial lands with wide roadways and
limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Now adjacent to an Expo light rail station,
the Project is needed to meet the changing needs and uses for the Project area. The
Bergamot Area Plan designates Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue as “Complete
Streets.” Complete Streets serve station linkages and provide access for all:
pedestrians, vehicles, bicycles, and transit. This Project will create new pedestrian
connections along Pennsylvania Avenue between 26th and Stewart Streets and
enhance bicycle facilities along Stewart Street between Colorado and Kansas Avenues
(see Attachment B). Improvements include:
Installation of new ADA-compliant sidewalks on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Creation of a protected bikeway on Stewart Street.
Enhanced bike connection on Colorado Avenue between Stewart Street and
Yale Avenue.
Improved crosswalk and curb ramps at the north leg of the Stewart
Street/Olympic Boulevard intersection.
Pedestrian-oriented lighting to enhance visibility, increase safety, and
accommodate increased pedestrian volumes.
Reconfiguration of the atypical 3-street, 5-leg Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart
intersection to reduce/eliminate left-turn conflicts from Nebraska Avenue.
Pedestrian and/or bicyclist amenities, such as benches, shade structures, bike
racks, and trash containers, as needed.
This local- and federal-funded Project will coordinate with the adjacent Olympic
Boulevard Improvements Project, but will follow on a separate timeline.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
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On September 19, 2017, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) #133 to obtain
design services for the Stewart Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Improvements Project.
The RFP 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. 250 vendors downloaded the RFP request. Three proposals were received
on October 19, 2017. Following a revie w of submittal requirements, all three proposals
were accepted and evaluated to determine the best qualified person or firm based on
the criteria outlined in the RFP, which included understanding of the work to be done,
experience with similar kinds of work, quality of staff for work to be done, capability of
developing innovative or advance techniques, familiarity with state and federal
procedures, financial responsibility, and demonstrated technical feasibility.
On November 6, 2017, the Evaluation Team comprised of staff from Planning and
Community Development and Public Works recommended KOA to provide the design
services for this project based on its team composition and experience with similar
projects in the Cities of Claremont, Long Beach, San Diego, and Temple City; project
approach and understanding; and commitment to deliver the project to the City on
schedule and within budget. Based on Section 2.24.073 of the Municipal Code and
these criteria, KOA is recommended as the best qualified firm.
Next Steps
KOA would initiate background research and data collection; conduct required survey
work; and identify design alternatives to be considered. Following the public outreach
process, KOA would develop and deliver a City approved, community supported, and
technically vetted final design and construction documents. Due to the federal funding
component of this Project and required environmental clearance and Caltrans
coordination, staff anticipates 12-18 months for the design phase of the project
depending on Caltrans coordination, with public outreach beginning summer 2018 and
construction beginning summer 2020.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to KOA for the Stewart Street and
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Pennsylvania Avenue Improvements Project is for an amount not to exceed $315,000
(including a 15% contingency) for an initial two-year term and a one-year renewal
option. Funds are available in the FY 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program budget in
the following accounts:
Account FY 17/18
C459141.589000 $215,000
C019094.589000 $100,000
Total $315,000
Prepared By: Linda Cogswell, Associate Planner
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. December 12, 2017 Council Staff Report Web Link
B. Project Area Map
C. 2017 OAKS INITIATIVE FORM_KOA
0 250 500125 Feet¯
M
M
Nebraska Ave
(Flexible Street)
J Ave.
(Potential New Shared Street)
Nebraska Ave
(Shared Street)
DRAFT
New
Building
New
Building
Plaza
STEWART ST
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Existing
Building
Existing
Building
Existing
Parking Lot
Existing
Parking Lot
Santa Monica
College
N
Appendix A: Project Area Map26th Street/Bergamot Station Connectivity Improvements Project (Stewart St. and Pennsylvania Ave.) Existing Signalized Intersec tion New Sidewalk New Sidewalk - provided by SMC New Sidewalk - separate RFP
Intersection Improvements
Note: For Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart
intersection improvements, see
Bergamot Area Plan concept below)
Protected Bikeway (buered bke lanes or cycletrack)
New Crosswalk
Widen Crosswalk
Expo Light R ailExpo Bike Path26th Street/Bergamot StationExisting Bike FacilityExisting Big Blue Bus StopMColorado AvePennsylvania Ave
Olympic
B
l
vd
Stanford StBerkeley StNebraska Ave
Ex p osition Bl v d
I-10
26th StStewart St Franklin StMixed Use Creative AreaBergamot Transit Village Ex p o Lig h t R ailExpo Bi k e P a th2834 Colorado Ave. ProjectYale StSanta Monica College (SMC) Campus Project
City of Santa Monica, August 2017
To Kansas Avenue
Proposed Olympic/Nebraska/Stewart Intersection Concept
(Bergamot Area Plan, Figure 4.C.02)
400 feet
0 250 500125 Feet¯
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26TH STREET
STEWART STREET
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M Expo Station and Light Rail
New Pedestrian Lighting
New Sidewalk Stewart Street
Protected Bikeway
Colorado Avenue
Bikeway Connection
Expo Corridor Bike/Ped Path
New CrosswalkBus Stop
Widen Crosswalk
Attachment B: Project Area Map
REFERENCE:
Agreement No. 10612
(CCS)