PURPOSE:

Staff requests City Council approval of contract documents and award of a construction contract for Bid Schedule No. 1124, Installation of Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection Systems at Various Intersections.  This project will upgrade and modernize traffic signals at ten locations.

BACKGROUND:

The City Council established two traffic signal improvement programs in Fiscal Year 1999/2000 to modernize existing older traffic signal installations.  The first project provided $175,000 per year for the installation of pedestrian pushbuttons and pedestrian signal heads at approximately three locations, and the second project allocated $150,000 per year for the installation of about four vehicle detection systems (detector loops) each year.  Both programs were funded with Gas Tax monies, and the improvement programs were projected to require five to six years to completely upgrade the signal systems.  The programmed improvements were needed to improve the traffic signal flexibility and improved response times to serve constantly growing, variable traffic demand.

A detailed investigation of existing traffic signal facilities showed that a more extensive renovation would be required at more locations than initially envisioned.  Most locations needed wiring, controller and signal pole upgrades to allow the most efficient operation of the proposed vehicle and pedestrian detection systems.  The two programs were combined in Fiscal Year 2001-2002, and the project was redefined to enable the full upgrade of existing signal systems.  The new program called for the design of twenty intersections and the immediate construction of ten locations.

Ten locations were selected on three of the most heavily traveled major corridors to maximize the efficiency of these streets.  Hollywood Way, Olive Avenue, and Victory Boulevard were selected to complete the upgrade of all traffic signals in these corridors, so that the signals can be efficiently coordinated.

The engineers estimate for the construction project was $736,604.  The selected locations are illustrated in Attachment 1, and they include the following locations:

  �         Hollywood Way and Jeffries Avenue

  �         Hollywood Way and Clark Avenue

  �         Hollywood Way and Oak Street

  �         Hollywood Way and Pacific Avenue

  �         Olive Avenue and Keystone Street

  �         Olive Avenue and Lake Street

  �         Olive Avenue and Third Street

  �         Victory Boulevard and Keystone Street

  �         Victory Boulevard and Fairview Street

  �         Victory Boulevard and Maple Street

This traffic signal improvement project was found to be categorically exempt from environmental review as defined in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, Section 15301(c).

ANALYSIS:

The traffic signal designs for the ten intersections were completed in early 2003 and bids were solicited in August 2003.  Construction bids were received on September 16, 2003 from two contractors, TDS Engineering and Dynalectric (KDC, Inc.).  The lowest responsive bid was obtained from TDS Engineering at $816,905, about 11 percent above the engineers estimate.  The Dynalectric bid price was $849,033 (3.9 percent higher than the lowest bid).  The higher than expected bids were a result of higher materials costs and a higher estimate for the underground work.

TDS Engineering has supplied all required documents, bonds and contractor licenses, and they are qualified to undertake this work.  TDS Engineering recently completed the project of re-lamping of traffic signals with LED indications.

This project will modernize ten existing traffic signal systems, to enable improved traffic signal timing to reduce motorist stops and delays on three major travel corridors, Hollywood Way, Olive Avenue, and Victory Boulevard.  The modernized signals will also improve pedestrian safety, and the signal systems will need a lower level of preventative maintenance effort and have fewer malfunctions.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Program funding is currently at $871,996 in Account No. 125.PW22G.70002.0000.12706 for the reconstruction of the ten traffic signal systems.  This funding level represents about a 6 percent contingency ($55,000) for any unforeseen conditions that may arise.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that City Council adopt the proposed resolution approving the contract documents and awarding a construction contract to TDS Engineering fro Bid Schedule 1124, Installation of Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection Systems at Various Intersections.

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