title
ADOPT RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE REAL-TIME TRAFFIC FLOW MONITORING PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Approve the Notice of Exemption No. NOE53-21 under the California Environmental Quality Act for the Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring, Project No. WT17026/Federal Project No. CML-5008(180).
2. Approve the plans and specifications for the Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring, Project No. WT17026/Federal Project No. CML-5008(180).
3. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $401,670 to St. Francis Electric, LLC of San Leandro, CA, for the Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring, Project No. WT17026/Federal Project No. CML-5008(180).
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring project will install Bluetooth sensors along arterials throughout the City to gather travel time information (Attachment A). The information gathered by the sensors can be used to determine origin-destination, average speed, and historical and real-time travel time information that can be used to improve signal coordination with the goal of reducing congestion and improving air quality. The project was included in the 2017-22 and 2018-23 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
On April 28, 2022, the City received five bids for this project. Staff recommends award of the Construction Contract to the lowest responsible bidder, St. Francis Electric, LLC, in the amount of $401,670. Staff also recommends that Council adopt a resolution approving Notice of Exemption No. NOE53-21 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approving the plans and specifications for the project. Construction is anticipated to be completed by October 2022.
This project is federally funded and is subject to federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements.
DISCUSSION
Background
The project will install Bluetooth sensors along arterials throughout the City to gather travel time information (Attachment A). The information gathered by the sensors can be used to determine origin-destination, average speed, and historical and real-time travel time information that can be used to improve signal coordination with the goal of reducing congestion and improving air quality.
The Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) program is a federal-aid program that provides funding for projects that contribute to air quality improvements and provide congestion relief. The Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring project was approved for CMAQ construction funding in the amount of $443,700. A 10 percent local match is required. The project was included in the 2017-22 and 2018-23 Five-Year CIP.
Since the project is funded with federal transportation dollars, DBE program rules apply. DBE rules require that the prime contractor either meet a calculated project specific DBE participation goal or undertake and document good faith efforts to do so. If the apparent low bidder does not meet the project goal, a Good Faith Efforts Evaluation must be made examining several specific factors. Failure to meet the goal or provide evidence of adequate good faith efforts are grounds for rejecting the bidder as non-responsive.
A DBE is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business owned by a woman or by a specified ethnic group that has been properly certified by Caltrans. These groups include:
• African American
• Asian Pacific American
• Native American
• Women
• Hispanic American
• Subcontinent Asian American
A DBE goal of 14 percent was established for this project. The goal was calculated by examining the breakdown of the types of work to be performed and the availability of certified DBE companies in our market area to perform the work. A pre-bid meeting was held on April 13, 2022, to emphasize the DBE requirements and to provide information on how to meet the project DBE goal.
The federal CMAQ funding restrictions prohibit the use of the Local Employment Ordinance (Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) section 3.68.095) and the Local Business Preference Ordinance (SMC section 3.68.090).
On July 26, 2016, Council adopted a Community Workforce and Training Agreement (CWTA). The CWTA became effective August 25, 2016, and applies to all Public Works projects over $1 million that are bid after that date. On July 16, 2019, by Motion No. 2019-07-16-1403, Council extended the CWTA term to August 25, 2024. The CWTA was not applied to this project as federal regulations prohibit the use of such agreements and the engineer’s estimate was under $1 million.
Present Situation
On March 31, 2022, the Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring, Project No. WT17026/Federal Project No. CML-5008(180), was advertised for bids. On April 28, 2022, five bids were received with the following results:
COMPANY NAME BID AMOUNT
St. Francis Electric, LLC (San Leandro, CA) $401,670
Tennyson Electric, Inc. (Livermore, CA) $479,685
Tim Paxin’s Pacific Excavation, Inc. (Elk Grove, CA) $486,525
Mike Brown Electric Co. (Cotati, CA) $520,500
Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc. (Alviso, CA) $524,000
Engineer’s Estimate $422,950
The bid from St. Francis Electric, LLC, the lowest responsible bidder, is regular in all respects. St. Francis Electric, LLC has the proper license to perform the work and has proposed a DBE participation of 25.30 percent, which exceeds the 14 percent DBE goal.
Staff recommends Council approve the plans and specifications for the project and award a Construction Contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC of San Leandro, CA, in the amount of $401,670.
Caltrans National Environmental Policy Act determination was received on November 12, 2019. The State determined that the project is a Categorical Exclusion under 23 CFR 771.117(c): activity (c)(3). Similarly, the project is in conformance with the City’s General Plan, pursuant to California Government Code section 65402, and is categorically exempt from the requirements of CEQA as specified under Section 15301(a) of the CEQA guidelines. The activities related to this project constitute a discretionary project under the City’s jurisdiction and qualifies as a project that does not have a significant effect on the environment. The resolution will approve the filing of Notice of Exemption No. NOE53-21 under CEQA.
Construction is anticipated to be completed by October 2022.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is sufficient funding in the Real-Time Traffic Flow Monitoring, Project No. WT17026 (formerly PW1726)/Federal Project No. CML-5008(180), Account No. 4570-000-800007-300-000-30-45-000-000, to award a Construction Contract to St. Francis Electric, LLC in the amount of $401,670.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended actions.
Attachment A - Project Map