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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12. Cash Contract S.S. 599 Imperial Medians AGENDA MEMO DATE: February 23, 2010 TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Office of the City Manager By: Brian A. Ragland, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: CASH CONTRACT NO. S.S. 599 IMPERIAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC THROUGHPUT AND SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT - PHASE 2 RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council direct staff to proceed with one of the following configurations pertaining to the proposed raised median islands on Imperial Highway between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue (east) through the Imperial Highway Traffic Throughput and Safety Enhancements Project – Phase 2. 1. Continuous raised median island with no intervening openings per plans and specifications approved by the City Council on October 27, 2009;or 2. Raised median island with left turn lane opening into the westerly driveway serving Beach’s Market, Pepe’s Tacos and Crown Cleaners & Laundry; or 3. A 14’ wide painted 2 way left turn median providing access to the two driveways serving the site occupied by Beach’s Market, Pepe’s Tacos and Crown Cleaners & Laundry. DISCUSSION: The Imperial Highway Traffic Throughput and Safety Enhancements Project is intended to increase vehicle throughput, enhance traffic safety and improve the aesthetics and visual appearance of the Imperial Highway Corridor through a series of raised landscaped median islands and associated improvements. The first phase of this project, which included the portion of Imperial Highway between Bellflower Boulevard and Paramount Boulevard, was completed in August 2007. Since that time the City has seen a 60% reduction in accidents on Imperial Highway between Paramount Boulevard and Bellflower Boulevard following the construction of the raised median islands. During its meeting of December 15, 2009, the City Council awarded a construction contract to Sialic Contracting Corporation, dba Shawnan. Shawnan has since been issued a Notice-to-Proceed and commenced construction work on February 16, 2010. Concerns have been raised in regards to the reduction in access to the retail site currently occupied by Beach’s Market, Pepe’s Tacos and Crown Cleaners & Laundry that would result from the construction of raised median islands along Imperial Highway between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue (east). CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA Mayor and Members of the City Council Cash Contract No. S.S. 599 February 23, 2010 Page 2 As requested by Councilman Guerra at the February 9, 2010 Council Meeting, staff has developed and evaluated alternate configurations for Council consideration: Continuous Raised Median Island This alternate will involve the construction of a continuous raised median island between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue (east). While access to adjacent properties will be less convenient, this alternate will maximize traffic throughput and mobility as well as traffic safety. In addition, this alternate will provide the most landscaping and, hence, corridor beautification of any of the alternates. Raised Median Island With Single Left Turn Opening This alternate will involve the construction of a raised median island between Paramount Boulevard and Smallwood Avenue (east) with an opening at the western- most driveway serving subject retail site. While this alternate will enhance access for the aforementioned site, traffic throughput and safety would be reduced compared to the previous (continuous raised median) alternate. In addition, less corridor beautification would be provided given the reduced area in raised medians. Limited Raised Median Island Construction This alternate will involve the construction of raised median islands from the westerly crosswalk line on the west side of Paramount Boulevard to a point 275’ to the west and from the prolongation of the curb line on the east side of Smallwood Avenue to a point approximately 120’ east. A painted two-way left-turn lane, similar to what exists at this location today, would be installed between the two raised median islands. While this alternate would maximize access for Beach’s Market, Pepe’s Tacos and Crown Cleaners & Laundry and other adjacent uses, it is expected that this alternate would provide the lowest level of traffic throughput and safety among the three alternates. In addition, this alternate would minimize corridor beautification given the least amount of raised median footprint area that would be provided. The three alternates are illustrated on the attached exhibit. Staff will direct the Contractor to proceed with the construction of the alternate as decided upon through this City Council action. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Raised Median Island With Single Left Turn Opening alternate would be the most expensive of the three alternates since this scheme would be the most labor intensive of the three alternates to construct. The Continuous Raised Median Island alternate would be the second most expensive scenario, followed by the Limited Raised Median Island Mayor and Members of the City Council Cash Contract No. S.S. 599 February 23, 2010 Page 3 Construction alternate. The project budget approved by the City Council on December 15, 2009 is based on the Continuous Raised Median Island alternate. The City previously obtained a federal Transportation Enhancements (TE) grant in the amount of $1,466,000 toward the construction of the raised median islands. This grant, in addition to the required 20% ($367,000) local match, will entirely fund the construction of the raised median island component of the project, regardless of which of the three aforementioned alternates is selected. Attachment: Exhibit S:\AgendaMemosCC2010\02-23-10\SS599