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Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute an agreement between Solano County and the City of Benicia for Lake Herman Road Improvements and Chip Seal project; Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute an agreement between Solano County and the City of Vallejo for Sidewalk Improvements and Chip Seal project; and Authorize the Director of Resource Management to solicit bids, award, and execute construction contracts, up to $2.65 million, for the two construction contracts
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute an agreement between Solano County and the City of Benicia for Lake Herman Road Improvements and Chip Seal project; Authorize the Director of Resource Management to execute an agreement between Solano County and the City of Vallejo for Sidewalk Improvements and Chip Seal project; and Authorize the Director of Resource Management to solicit bids, award, and execute construction contracts, up to $2.65 million, for the two construction contracts.
SUMMARY:
Lake Herman Road is a two-lane Route of Regional significance that connects Benicia, unincorporated Solano County, Vallejo, and Interstate 680. Lake Herman Road needs shoulder widening and reconstruction, from Reservoir Road to 0.8 miles west, to enhance safety through both the City of Benicia and unincorporated Solano County jurisdictions. It also needs maintenance treatments, from Reservoir Road to Highway 680, approximately 1.3 miles in the City of Benicia, to bring that portion of road into a state of good repair. Staff from the Department of Resource Management and the City of Vallejo have worked on a proposed agreement which provides for the process, contract administration, and funding responsibilities to construct the road improvements. The Benicia Agreement also includes reimbursement for 1.3 miles of chip seal maintenance by Solano County’s Operations Division.
In the Homeacres and Starr Subdivision areas of unincorporated Vallejo, there are mix of aged sidewalks and unimproved (dirt) walkways that need sidewalk improvements constructed to current standards. The unimproved walkways exist as gap connections between the unincorporated and incorporated portions of Vallejo. Staff from the Department of Resource Management and the City of Vallejo have worked on a proposed agreement which provides for the process, contract administration, and funding responsibilities to construct the sidewalk improvements. The Vallejo Agreement also includes reimbursement for 3 miles of chip seal maintenance by Solano County’s Operations Division on the City of Vallejo’s Benicia Road, South Regatta Drive, and Columbus Parkway.
With the Board’s authorization, the Director of Resource Management will execute both agreements, and then solicit, award, and execute two construction contracts for the improvements. The chip seal work in the agreements will be added on the list of roads that Operations Division plans to chip seal this fiscal year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The agreements stipulate that staff in the Department of Resource Management (DRM) will complete the project designs with input from City staff. DRM will then administer construction contracts to complete the work, and the cities will pay proportionate shares of the project costs. Of the $2.65 million in construction costs to be paid by the Solano County Road Fund, approximately $1.2 million will be reimbursed by the cities under the terms of the agreements. These projects have no impact on the County General Fund. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2020/21 Preliminary Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Lake Herman Road has been identified as a Route of Regional Significance in the Solano County Arterials, Highways, and Freeways Plan due to its connection value in the event of shutdowns on Interstate 80, 680, or 780. Various projects and improvements have been completed on Lake Herman Road over the last decade to improve geometry and enhance the safety of most of the road. There remains 0.8 miles west of Reservoir Road (0.3 miles County and 0.5 miles City) that needs paved shoulders to meet minimum width geometric standards. The project design includes some minor vegetation removal along the route but preserves healthy trees along the corridor in accordance with the Road Improvement Standards tree preservation policy. The construction cost is estimated to be approximately $1.575 million.
Design exceptions for the Lake Herman Road improvements include shoulder constraints, as well as some trees and slopes within the clear recovery zone standards of the Highway Design Manual. These exceptions exist due to environmental constraints, limitations in right of way dimensions, and cost constraints. Given these exceptions, shoulder widening has been shown to enhance safety and improve accident rates independent of most other factors.
The sidewalk improvements in the Vallejo agreement will provide necessary pedestrian enhancements and connections. This Vallejo area project represents the first phase of sidewalk improvements that are planned to be completed over the next 5 years, as the County upgrades its aged inventory of sidewalks in this area. The construction cost is estimated to be approximately $1.075 million. The sidewalk contract work will also include some limited replacements in the Green Valley Area.
The agreements also include $312,000 in chip seal work on approximately 4 miles of city roads that will be completed by Operations Division as part of their normal chip seal work this fiscal year. The Capital Improvement Plan had anticipated approximately 5 miles of chip seal work for cities as part of annual workload.
Solano County, the City of Benicia, and the City of Vallejo have shared a long-term interest in collaborating on projects to maintain and improve these roads. Passage of the Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017 (new Gas Tax), and the new revenues it creates, provides the funding means to accomplish these joint improvements.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to authorize the execution of one or both of the agreements. This is not recommended, as the agreements have been prioritized in the Solano County Public Works Capital Improvement Plan for the last several years and these projects will provide needed pedestrian and safety enhancements.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Staff from the City of Benicia and the City of Vallejo have worked collaboratively with the Department of Resource Management to plan these regionally beneficial improvements. County Counsel has reviewed and approved this item as to form and will approve the agreements prior to execution.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION