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Home My WebLink AboutSR - C27510 - Alternatives to Widening of Portola Ave CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Further Consideration of Implementation of One of Two Alternatives to Complete the Widening of Southbound Portola Avenue Between the Portola Bridge and Magnesia Falls (Project 657-08) SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works DATE: April 10, 2008 CONTENTS: Full Widening Alternative Minimum Widening Alternative HMCG Agreement and Cost Proposal Location Map Recommendation: That City Council, by Minute Motion: 1.) Direct staff to proceed with the full widening of southbound Portola Avenue between the Portola Bridge and Magnesia Falls, and 2.) Award contract No. C27510 to Harvey-Meyerhoff Consulting Group in the amount of $30,570 for environmental services to complete the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project, and 3.) Authorize the Mayor to execute the contract. Background: The Portola Avenue Bridge over the Whitewater Channel project was recently completed. The bridge was built with sufficient width to accommodate three lanes in each direction between Magnesia Falls and Interstate 10, with sidewalks on both sides of the roadway as indicated on the Circulation Element of the City's General Plan, there are currently approximately 20% of all vehicles making a right turn during peak traffic. To avoid delay of the bridge construction, the project did not include the widening of southbound Portola Avenue between the bridge and Magnesia Falls, adjacent to the Palm Desert Mobile Estates. In order to allow for the construction of the third southbound lane, accompanying sidewalk, parkway, retaining/sound wall and landscaping, Portola Avenue south of the bridge must be widened. To accomplish the widening, additional right-of-way must be acquired. Such an action requires the preparation of an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration, in compliance with California Environmental Quality Act. A Notice Inviting Proposals was advertised and staff solicited proposals for the environmental services from the professional environmental consultant community. A single proposal was received, from the firm of Harvey-Meyerhoff Consulting Group (HMCG) of Carlsbad, California. Direct staff to proceed with the Southbound Portola Avenue Widening Page 2 of 3 April 10, 2008 Discussion: It was requested that staff bring the consideration back to council to further discuss the full impacts of the project Subsequent to the proposal process, staff was directed to evaluate an alternative that would not require the acquisition of additional right-of-way and that accommodates only the missing sidewalk. The attached drawings illustrate the "full widening" and "minimum widening" alternatives. Full Wideninq The full widening alternative provides a third lane, which will be used as a dedicated right- turn lane from southbound Portola Avenue to westbound Magnesia Falls, and an 8-foot sidewalk. This will require the acquisition of property from the Palm Desert Mobile Estates (including the possible purchase of two mobile homes), onsite modifications and the construction of a soundwall/retaining wall. Should Council direct staff to proceed with the full widening of Portola Avenue, the following is the current (estimated) schedule for completion: Milestone Date Complete Environmental Documentation June 2008 Complete Right-of-Way Acquisition December 2008 Complete Design December 2008 Begin Construction March 2009 Complete Construction September 2009 The total estimated cost to complete the project is approximately $1,800,000. Funds are available for this project in the following account: 400-4359-433-4001. The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) will reimburse the City for 50% of the project costs. Minimum Wideninq The minimum widening alternative consists of the construction of a sidewalk with landscaping along this section of Portola within the public right-of-way. A three- to five-foot retaining wall in front of the existing wall in this area would also be required. The following is the current schedule to complete the minimum widening alternative. Since no additional right-of-way would be acquired in this scenario, there would be no need for an environmental document: Milestone Date Complete Design July 2008 Begin Construction October 2008 Complete Construction March 2009 The total estimated cost to complete this alternative is approximately $350,000. This project does not qualify for reimbursement of costs by CVAG. Although this alternative can be accomplished sooner and for lesser cost, the southbound right-turn traffic would interfere with the number two lane through traffic on southbound Portola Avenue. � Direct staffto proceed witF��he Southbound Portola Avenue Wi�cning Page 3 of 3 April 10, 2008 Although widening Portola Avenue is not currently in the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan, opting not to widen it at this time would mean removal of the newly-constructed sidewalk, retaining wall and landscaping in order to conform to the General Plan in the future. Therefore, staff recommends the implementation of the full widening alternative. The proposal received from HMCG was evaluated on specified criteria including firm z qualifications, management approach, technical approach/work plan, and overall completeness of the proposal. Harvey-Meyerhoff Consulting Group and its noise � assessment subcontractor/consultant, Urban Crossroads, have significant environmental � experience on similar projects they have completed for the cities of Vista, Solana Beach, � Irwindale, and Blythe. HMCG cost proposal was reviewed and staff is confident in the � value being received. Although HMCG is headquartered in Carlsbad, it also has a local � office in Palm Desert. If the full widening alternative is selected, staff recommends that w City Council award the contract for environmental services to HMCG in an amount not to � v exceed $30,570 and authorize the Mayor to execute the same. � �I a, � • Alternatively, staff directed could be directed to pursue the full widening alternative only if � o the right-of-way acquisition could be achieved. If the purchase of right-of-way could not b� � Q easily achieved staff would then pursue the minimum widening alternative. .° � M � � u � � � w 0 0 Prepared By: Department H ad: y � +� o a°a � u o o � � � w o d D +�+ � Aaron Kulp Mark Green ood, P.E. + o •� � � Associate Engineer Director of Public Works � � � � � O H � � A Approval: y ,� �� q cC / _� .� +°J.� aj i � � � +� a �O Homer Cro Paul Gibson „ �� ACM for Development Services Finance Director o b b �+ aa a �+ � ;;I TY CGUNC IL✓�►G�ION: e�.� � APPROVED DENIED ., �, •d RECEIVED OTHER _____�_�_ .� � � +� � TI D�TE tl � ,x � Carlos L. Ort AYES: �' *' City Manager NOEs: � � � ABSENT: � b ,� ABSTAIN: y VB�tIFIED BY s � � � idni '�riginal on File wi City Clerk's Offi�E * o � REGULAR PALM DESERT CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 10, 2008 XVI. OLD BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE OF TWO ALTERNATIVES TO COMPLETE THE WIDENING OF SOUTHBOUND PORTOLA AVENUE BETWEEN THE WHITEWATER BRIDGE AND MAGNESIA FALLS DRIVE (PROJECT NO. 657-08). Rec: By Minute Motion: 1) Direct staff to proceed with the full widening of southbound Portola Avenue between the Whitewater Bridge and Magnesia Falls; 2) award Contract No. C27510 to Harvey- Meyerhoff Consulting Group, Carlsbad, California, in the amount of $30,570 for environmental services to comp{ete the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for the project; 3) authorize the Mayor to execute said contract — funds are available in Account No. 400-4359-433-4001. TWO MOTIONS HERE: 1. By Minute Motion, approve reconsideration of the widening and sidewalk along Portola Avenue. 4-0 (Ferguson ABSENT) 2. By Minute Motion, approve the minimum widening and construction of the sidewalk along Portola Avenue between the Whitewater Bridge and Magnesia Falls Drive. Motion received NO ACTION on a 2-2 vote, with Spiegel and Benson voting AYE, Finerty and Kelly voting NO, and Ferguson ABSENT. THEREFORE, the action taken at the March 27, 2008, Meeting stands. R�K /r��m �