CC SR 20180904 03 - Western Corridor ImprovementsRANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/04/2018
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to receive and file a briefing on the Western Avenue
Congestion Improvement Project
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file a briefing on the Western Avenue Congestion Improvement
Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this project was included in the FY2018/19 budget.
Amount Budgeted: 300,000
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): 220-400-8809-8802
ORIGINATED BY: Ron Dragoo, PE, Principal/City Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Elias Sassoon, PE, Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Report - “Western Corridor Improvement Project” (available online at
http://www.rpvca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12381)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The Western Avenue Corridor Improvement Project is needed to address the
deficiencies identified through work conducted by the Western Avenue Task Force
Group. The Group consisted of representatives from the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,
the City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation, the State of California
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Lomita. The Group served as a
forum for communication between public agencies and community representatives in
the Rancho Palos Verdes and San Pedro areas. The report, produced by the Group
included a strategic action plan (On line LINK) which identified deficiencies in the multi
model transportation system, is to be used as guide for development of the Project
Study Report (PSR) for the Western Avenue Congestion Improvement Project. The
limits of the report included that section of Western Avenue from 25th street to Palos
Verdes Drive North.
Western Avenue is within the jurisdiction of Caltrans (SR-213) and a PSR is required by
Caltrans for work that is proposed on the State’s transportation system. The City of
1
Rancho Palos Verdes is the lead agency on this project and is currently working with
Caltrans to develop a Project Initiation Document which includes a funding agreement
that will allow Caltrans to review and comment on the PSR which is part of the State’s
approval process. To that end, Staff is in the process of bringing a consultant on board
to assist with development of the PID and to provide assistance in developing the PSR
as the first step in designing this project.
The project will be done in three phases:
Phase I: Project Initiation phase; prepare Fact Sheet(s) as required to identify all non-
standard design features within project limits and obtain Caltrans approval of the
completed Project Study Report. End Result: A well-defined Scope of Work, Cost
Estimate, and Fact Sheet Identifying all Non-Standard Design Features within Project
Limits approved by Caltrans
Phase II: Project Design; End result: Approved Project Plans, Specifications and
Estimates (PS&E), along with securing Utility Clearance from all franchised utilities.
Phase III: Project Advertisement, Bidding & Construction; End result: Award the
Construction Contract, and complete construction.
Staff issued a Request for Qualifications for Engineering Services and received several
responses. The proposal received from Willdan Group, Inc. was determined to be the
best fit for this phase of the project and the cost for the services is being negotiated at
this time. This project was included in the On-Going Professional Services Agreements
staff report which was approved by the City Council at the July 31, 2018, meeting.
Accordingly, an amendment with Willdan Group, Inc. is being prepared for the design
services for the Western Avenue Traffic Congestion Improvements.
Services requested will include setting up the project overview to help further define the
scope of the project prior to completing the Project Initiation Document. Researching
existing drawing, survey data along with utility information from all companies/agencies
with infrastructure located within the Western Avenue right of way. Maps will need to be
located including assessor parcel maps, tract maps, and improvement drawings, as-
built drawings for street, traffic signals, signing, striping, sewer, and storm drain
improvements. Aerial Topography will be employed to gather topographic survey data
of the project area using 1 foot contours over the entire project area. The information
collected on existing facilities will be included with the topographic survey to create the
base sheets needed to prepare the base sheets for the project design.
The selected consultant will also be required to perform a field review of the project
limits to verify the existing site conditions so any additional information that may be
identified can be included in the project plans. During this phase of their work, sidewalk,
curb and gutters, ADA ramps, curb returns, and driveway approaches into businesses
will be reviewed and an approach will be developed to repair these areas as needed.
The roadway’s drainage will also be reviewed and plans developed for areas that need
2
corrections. Caltrans design units will need information on geometric design issues that
are required to be addressed during the project initiation phase. This information is
included in Fact Sheets which are used to identify all non-standard design features
within the project limits.
Phase I of the project will also address the Project Study Report for this project which
will include the area addressed in the Western Corridor Improvement Project Report
which is the stretch of Western Avenue from Palos Verdes Drive North to 25th Street.
The conceptual plans included in this report will show the proposed striping
recommendations and minor adjustments needed based on the topographic and field
review information. The conceptual plans will be used to support the recommendations
in the PSR.
Environmental documentation to support the PSR will be developed. It is expected that
the proposed intersection geometric improvements along Western Avenue will be
Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Staff anticipates the first phase of this project will require approximately 20 months to
complete. Staff will provide periodic reviews of this project during this phase of the
project.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative is available for the City
Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff to modify the Amended Engineer’s Report and bring this item
back to City Council for approval at a future meeting.
3