HomeMy WebLinkAboutA004 - Council Action Form dated January 24, 2017 ITEM# 26a-c
DATE: 1-24-17
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: 2016/17 US 69 IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM (S. DUFF AVENUE
SAFETY AND ACCESS PROJECT)
BACKGROUND:
On October 11, 2016, City Council approved plans and specifications for the 2016/17
US 69 Improvements Program (S. Duff Avenue Safety and Access Project) from South
5th Street to the Squaw Creek Bridge. Council also set the letting date for November 16,
2016. On November 22, 2016, City Council accepted the report of bids and delayed the
award of the project to allow staff time to work with Walmart and Hunziker to finalize an
equal-share funding agreement and a cross-access easement agreement on Walmart's
property.
As a reminder, this project involves the installation of raised median between S. 5th
Street and the Squaw Creek Bridge, a new traffic signal approximately 1/8th ,,of a mile
south of S. 5th Street, and the reconfiguring Walmart's west parking lot area along with
their South Duff Avenue frontage to allow for cross access for the east side businesses.
It should be noted that this project is anticipated to have the following safety and
operational benefits:
Benefit % Change Effect Notes:
Safety B/C -39% Reduction Present value of avoided crashes
(Benefit) _ $1,500,493; Project Cost=
$1,150,026 (B/C = 1.30:1)
Travel Time -24% Reduction Average Speed (mph) from 15 MPH to
20 MPH; Likelihood of stopping drops
from 29% to 23%
Fuel Economy 22% Increase Estimated Average Fuel Consumption
from 12.4 mpg to 15.1 mpg
CGA, the City's engineering consultant, with input from the City, Iowa Department of
Transportation District 1, Walmart, and other local businesses generated plans and
specifications that meet the technical requirements of the respective parties. It is
important to note that work on the street right-of-way (US highway 69) is under the
jurisdiction of the Iowa DOT, whereas work on Walmart's property will follow City zoning
requirements to,the maximum extent possible while still achieving the goals of the
project.
Staff met with District 1 at the Iowa DOT to discuss phasing and staging options for the
project that have the potential to provide cost savings in the future. However, until a
contractor has been hired, staff cannot confirm these savings at this time. Therefore, if
this project is to move forward, the funding for the full cost of the improvement must be
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identified. Public Works has confirmed with the Finance department that the City has
the required additional funds coming from G.O. Bond savings in past street projects.
On November 16, 2016, bids for the project were received as follows:
l_B d r B d Amount
Engineer's Estimate $907,263
Con-Struct, Inc. $1,150,026
A revised budget summary of the project funding is shown below:
Revenues Expenses
U-STEP $400,000 Design $87,873
TSIP $450,000 Construction $1,150,026
City of Ames $158,467 Contingency (5%) $57,501
Walmart $158,467 Construction Admin (est.) $30,000
Hunziker $158,467 Total $1,325,400
Total $1,325,400
EQUAL-SHARE FUNDING AGREEMENT:
Staff worked with the City Attorney and representatives from Hunziker and Walmart
corporations to draft a funding agreement that reflects the increased cost from the bid
received on November 16, 2016. The agreement obligates the City, Hunziker, and
Walmart to an equal share of the local match as shown in the table above. Staff can
approve up to 20% in change orders before requiring City Council approval, which
follows City of Ames purchasing polices. If change orders were to exceed this limit, an
addendum to the funding may be needed to cover the additional costs.
CROSS-ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT:
Staff, again working with the City Attorney, has drafted a cross-access easement on
Walmart's property that utilizes their parking lot to connect the proposed traffic signal at
S. Duff Avenue to the businesses on the East side of S. Duff Avenue, both north and
south of the new signal. The easement area connects directly to the cross-access
easement that has already been established on U-Haul's property. As a reminder, the
cross-access easement on U-Haul's property was secured on August 9, 2016. As part
of the contract rezoning, U-Haul is required to construct a driveway within the easement
area connecting from Walmart's property, south, to the last property north of Squaw
Creek. Standard provisions of the City Code require completion within two years from
the date of rezoning contract approval (September 13, 2016). However, U-Haul has
submitted a site plan and plans to complete the work in 2017.
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ALTERNATIVES:
1. For the 2016/17 US 69 Improvements Program (S. Duff Avenue Safety and Access
Project):
a. Approve the cost sharing agreement with Hunziker and Walmart for the
construction phase.
b. Approve the cross-access easement agreement on Walmart's property.
c. Award the project to Con-Struct, Inc. of Ames, Iowa, in the amount of
$1,150,026.
2. Reject the bids and direct staff to cancel or make modifications to the project.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
This project, in addition to many of the projects identified in the 2040 Long Range
Transportation Plan (LRTP), is intended to address the safety and efficiency of traffic
along arterials with the highest congestion and crashes as in the case of Lincoln Way
(near Downtown) and S. Duff Avenue. The improvement is expected to work together
with other projects such as; the S. Grand Avenue Extension, the S. 5th Street Extension,
intersection improvements at S. 5th Street & S. Duff, and S. 16th Street & S. Duff
Avenue, as well as, Adaptive Signal Control along S. Duff Avenue (LRTP No.66), and
Adaptive Signal Control along Lincoln Way (LRTP No.69). By awarding the project,
work will proceed as soon as weather permits in Spring 2017. The anticipated
completion date will be before October 15, 2017.
Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative No. 1 as described above.
Note: As of the time of writing this Council Action Form, signed documents had
not been received from Walmart. However, their legal counsel indicated that he
expected to receive them soon from Walmart administration. He will then forward
them on the City as soon as possible. If the documents have not been received at
the time City Council convenes on January 24, 2017, the recommended action will
be that City Council again table this item to the next meeting, February 14, 2017.
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