HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-01-05 - Engineering agreement with IWA Engineers - PCH-NB2TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
SUBJECT: PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY/NEWPORT BOULEVARD
INTERCHANGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute an engineering agreement with IWA Engineers for the preparation of the Project Report.
DISCUSSION:
On January 9, 1995, City Council authorized an engineering agreement with IWA Engineers to prepare a Project Study Report (PSR) for the Interchange Structures Improvement project. This
initiation of the PSR document is the first step of the Caltrans project development process that the City must follow to pursue the proposed project to replace the existing PCH/Newport
Boulevard interchange bridge and widen the westerly side of the existing Newport Channel bridge. The PSR is required to secure Caltrans conceptual approval of the proposed project
since this work is within the State highway right of way. This document will utilize the information obtained from the recently completed Improvement Study and integrate additional
information such as Initial Site Assessment, preliminary environmental evaluation, formalized traffic study, bridge and retaining wall advanced planning studies, detailed vertical alignment
analysis, and the conversion of existing base maps and preliminary plans to metric dimensions as required by the State. The PSR preparation is proceeding on schedule and on February
17, 1995, the City's consultant submitted the draft of the PSR document to Caltrans for their review.
The success of this project largely depends on the City's ability to meet the project schedule in order to take advantage of the Federal funding opportunity under the Intermodal Surface
Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) program. The project schedule, although realistic, does not provide much room for deviation in meeting the construction contract award deadline
of June 1997. As shown on the attached schedule the next step is the preparation of the Caltrans Project Report (PR). The PR document more fully describes the proposed project including
preliminary design, environmental mitigation requirements as established by the Environmental Impact Statement and reevaluation document, specification and confirmation of right of
way needs, utility relocations, project scheduling and phasing, and funding. The completed PR document will be submitted to City Council and Caltrans for review and approval. The
completion and approval of this document will conclude the preliminary engineering
phase of the proposed project. The next step will be to initiate the preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates, the final design phase, for the project.
To meet the aggressive schedule, it will be necessary to initiate the preparation of the PR document before the final City Council approval of the PSR document. As shown on the project
schedule, the approval of the final PSR will be tentatively set for the City Council meeting on April 24, 1995. City Staff proposes that additional engineering agreements with the
project consultants be executed to prepare the PR at this time to advance the project. Provisions will be made within the PR engineering agreements to permit termination of the agreements
should the City Council elect to not proceed with the proposed project at the April 24 meeting.
The various elements of the report will require detailed technical information from several consultant specialists. Separate minor engineering agreements will be required to provide
report preparation and coordination, traffic engineering, structural engineering analysis, and geotechnical engineering. IWA Engineers, Inc. was originally selected as the most qualified
consultant to perform the preliminary engineering for the project. They have completed the Improvement Study and are presently preparing the PSR document. On this basis, City staff
requested a proposal from IWA Engineers to coordinate this work and prepare the PR document which will conclude the preliminary design phase of the project. The next phase of work,
the preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates, will require a consultant selection procedure. This proposal has been reviewed by staff and it is recommended that an engineering
agreement be executed with IWA Engineers for the preparation of a Project Report. Fees are to be at an amount not to exceed $58,900. Funding for this project is available within
the Orange County Combined Transportation Funding Program (OCCTFP) Fund account # 7281-P301199K (Measure 'M' Local Turnback funds) and the Gas Tax Fund account #7181- P301070A .
Don Webb
Public Works Director