HomeMy WebLinkAboutC30140 Abandon Mid-Valley Bike Path Prjct 707-07Contract No. C30140
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: ABANDON THE MID -VALLEY BIKE PATH PROJECT (PROJECT
NO. 707-07), AUTHORIZE STAFF TO CLOSE OUT CONTRACT
NO. C30140 WITH TY LIN INTERNATIONAL, AND AUTHORIZE
STAFF TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE COACHELLA VALLEY
ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (CVAG) REQUESTING THE
REMOVAL OF THE PROJECT FROM THE FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (FTIP); AND
REFUND ALL OF THE COLLECTED IN -LIEU FEES FROM
IMPACTED DEVELOPERS AND RELEASE THE RELATED
SECURITIES
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: July 28, 2016
CONTENTS: CVAG Email
Vicinity Map
Recommendation
By Minute Motion:
1. Abandon the Mid -Valley Bike Path Project (Project No. 707-07) and
remove it from City's Capital Improvement Program;
2. Authorize staff to close out Contract No. C30140 with TY Lin
International;
3. Authorize staff to submit a letter to CVAG requesting the removal of
the project from the FTIP; and
4. Refund all of the collected in -lieu fees from impacted developers
and release the related securities.
Strateqic Plan Obiective
The original project would further the goals of the strategic plan by de-emphasizing the
use of single/low occupancy vehicles while optimizing alternative modes of
transportation. The action will shift staffs' attention to similar projects in higher priority
areas within the City.
Staff Report
Cancel the Mid -Valley Bike Path Project
Page 2of3
July 28, 2016
Background
In August 2010, Council awarded Contract No. C30140 to TY Lin international for the
design and the environmental study for the Mid -Valley Bike Path. The contract includes
30 percent complete design plans and the environmental approval through Caltrans.
In November 2013, Caltrans reviewed the Preliminary Environmental Study (PES) for
the project and requested that our consultant perform a Historical Resources Evaluation
Report (HRER). The consultant did not budget for this report and requested more
funding; however, no additional funding was authorized.
On January 8, 2016, Caltrans provided substantial comments from their first review of
the draft Historic Property Survey Report (HPSR). These comments expanded
significantly the HPSR, HIRER and Archeological Survey Report (ASR). TY Lin
International was not able to absorb the cost to complete the additional surveys and
additional work necessary to complete the environmental report.
Although there is $2.2 million of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds
allocated to the Mid -Valley Bike Path, the project is approximately $7.8 million
underfunded and there is no other source of funding currently available. Recently during
a review of the Draft Environmental Documents for the Portola/1-10 Interchange Project,
Caltrans' environmental staff asked the City whether the new interchange project would
have any temporary or permanent impact to the Mid -Valley Bike Path Project. Without
the Mid -Valley Bike Path project, there should be no impact. Maintaining this bike
project, however, will trigger additional studies of the possible temporary or permanent
impact caused by the new interchange. Due to the aforementioned reasons, staff
believes abandoning the project is an appropriate action for City Council to consider.
There are several factors to think about should the City Council decide to abandon the
project. First, the City will lose the $2.2 million of CMAQ funds. Staff did discuss with
CVAG the possibility of reallocating the $2.2 million to the Eldorado West Bike project,
but it was denied (see attached email) as the Eldorado West Bike Project was not part
of the original CMAQ call for projects application in 2008. Second, the City has
conditioned several projects that were affected by the Mid -Valley Bike Path route to
either improve their portion of the path, or to pay an in -lieu fee and dedicate the
necessary right-of-ways or easements. Therefore, any collected in -lieu fees and
associated conditions of approval will need to be returned and removed respectively.
Finally, the Mid -Valley Bike Path shown in the proposed General Plan Amendment
should be removed to avoid confusion for future conditions of the development projects.
Staff Report
Cancel the Mid -Valley Bike Path Project
Page 3 of 3
July 28, 2016
Fiscal Analvsis
The City used Capital Project Reserve funds to fund the design and environmental
studies of the project. The expected construction costs of the Mid -Valley Bike Path were
estimated to be $10 million, and the project is underfunded. By abandoning the
Mid -Valley Bike Path project, the City will relinquish the $2.2 million of CMAQ funds and
the City will need to refund any related securities or fees collected.
Prepared By:
oe Montalvo, P.E, Senior Engineer
t M. Moore, Director of Finance
Approval:
(U)StfiMcCarthyInterim nager
Department Head:
Mark Greeniood, P.E. s
Director of Public Works
Montalvo, Joel
From: Eric Cowie <ecowle®cvag.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 5:02 PM
To: Montalvo, Joel
Cc: Tom Kirk; Dennis Woods
Subject: CMAQ
Joel,
1 reviewed our policy on CMAQ funded projects, and there is no ability for a jurisdiction to simply swap one project for
another. As you are aware, when we issue a CMAQ call for projects, each application is ranked and the top projects are
funded. If the project that you wanted to fund was the next highest ranked {and un-funded} on our last call for projects,
we might have been able to work it out.
CVAG certainly values the Mid Valley Bike Path project, and the willingness of the City of Palm Desert to work with the
region in optimizing our use of these federal funds. I understand that this project is no longer a top priority for the City,
and that you are hopeful to find resources to fund another bicycle project. I will keep you posted about the next
potential cycle of CMAQ funding.
Thank you,
Eric Coyle
Transportation program Manager
Coact► L Valley Association of Governments
CVi0►G 760-346•1127
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