Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: EAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT - ADVANCED UTILITY RELOCATION DESIGN FOR DWP
Action
ACTION: AUTHORIZE CONTRACT MODIFICATION FOR FINAL DESIGN OF ADVANCED UTILITY RELOCATION FOR DWP DESIGN PACKAGE 2&3
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to execute Modification No. 26 to Contract No. AE58083E0129 with Gannett Fleming, Inc. for the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Project, for the final design of advanced utility relocation for DWP Design Package 2&3, in the amount of $1,926,053, increasing the total Contract amount from $74,851,987 to $76,778,040.
Background
BACKGROUND
The Project is a light rail system that will extend north from the Van Nuys Metro G-Line, previously known as the Metro Orange Line, station to the Sylmar/San Fernando Metrolink Station, a total of 9.2 miles with 14 at-grade stations. The Metro Board certified the Final Environmental Impact Report on December 3, 2020. The Project achieved Record of Decision on January 29, 2021. The Project is currently finalizing the preliminary engineering design, with street improvements and guideway design advanced to 60 percent and all other design elements (stations, maintenance facility and systems) to 30 percent. Final design for select advanced utility relocations is also being advanced.
Included in the Project environmental document was the initial operating segment (IOS) defined as the southern 6.7 miles of the Project alignment. The IOS is street running in the middle of Van Nuys Boulevard and includes 11 at-grade stations along with the maintenance facility. The remaining northern 2.5-mile environmentally cleared segment is going through additional analysis as directed by the Board in December 2020 and is not included in the IOS.
As the IOS was cleared and the design has advanced, the IOS portion of the Project is proceeding into the next phase of final design and construction to keep to the Measure M completion schedule. The IOS procurement process for a Contractor is anticipated to begin in late 2021 followed by groundbreaking in 2022. Substantial completion will be achieved in 2028 in accordance with the Measure M schedule.
Issue
ISSUE
The recommended Contract Modification is to provide final design for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) vault relocations, specifically combined Design Package 2&3. On the critical path, the relocation of the DWP vaults is necessary to meet the revenue operations by 2028. This action will greatly assist in mitigating risk.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
In 2019, Metro awarded to Gannett Fleming, Inc. a cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) contract for Architecture Engineer (AE) services to advance the design for the design build project delivery method (Phase 1), support during the solicitation process (Phase 2) and design support during construction (Phase 3) for the Project. Within the Phase 1 scope of work there includes an unfunded scope of work to prepare design and technical documents for inclusion into advanced utility relocation construction procurement documents. This contract modification will be issued under that scope item.
Metro and DWP have coordinated on the vault relocation design since 2019. Currently there are seven (7) separate vault relocation design packages. Design 1 is moving forward into final design under a separate contract modification. DWP has provided their conceptual designs for combined Design Package 2&3 to Metro and the next step is to issue a contract modification to Gannett Fleming to advance the design to final design, coordinate review and approval with DWP and City of Los Angeles and develop technical documents to support the construction procurement documents. Metro plans to release the construction procurement documents end of 2022.
Equity Platform
Equity Platform
The Gannett Fleming contract has SBE commitments (see Attachment C), and the contract modifications do not change the level of commitment. For this contract modification, an SBE will be completing some of this contract modification work. This contract modification scope of work could be a separate procurement, but this would delay the project, which would facilitate new high-quality transit in an area of high need.
The existing vaults are underground and will remain underground within Van Nuys Blvd. Therefore, no burden to the adjacent businesses and/or community is expected. The vault relocations are expected to have no potential harm for equity concerns because it is in the design phase and therefore, no unintended negative impacts are expected from the Board Report action. As the final design progresses, Metro and Gannett Fleming will continue to coordinate with DWP and City of Los Angeles. Finalizing the vault relocation design for DWP Design Package 2&3 before the ESFV Progressive Design-Build (PDB) contractor starts will assist in meeting the opening day schedule of 2028.
Community engagement strategies may include multiple rounds of community outreach activities to engage with the community on project design elements and potential project impacts. As part of the Project, construction phasing plans and traffic management plans will be developed to mitigate temporary traffic impacts from lane and/or road closures resulting for the vault relocations on Van Nuys Blvd.
The project study area average of 0.53 zero-vehicle households per acre is 77 percent higher than the 0.30 County average. Expanding on this, Equity Focus Communities (EFC) are within walking and biking distances to the proposed stations. Accordingly, the project will improve access for East San Fernando Valley transit riders in EFCs along the existing route to additional destinations such as colleges, hospitals, museums, open spaces, recreational and nature attractions, Metrolink and Orange Line Transit Centers (providing bus and rail connections to San Fernando Valley).
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact the safety of Metro’s customers or employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This Project is funded on a fiscal year basis under Project number 865521 East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Corridor, cost center 8510, under various accounts including Professional/Technical Services and $251,167,442 is included in the FY22 Adopted Budget. This multi-year project requires expenditure authorizations in fiscal year increments until a Board Authorized Life of Project Budget is adopted. It is the responsibility of the Cost Center Manager, Project Manager and Chief Program Management Officer to budget for this project in the future fiscal years and within the cumulative budget limit for the affected fiscal year.
Impact to Budget
Sources of funds for the recommended actions are Measure M 35% and State Grants. There is no impact to Operations eligible funding. No other funds were considered.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The Project supports the following strategic goals:
Strategic Goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling.
The purpose of the Project is to provide high-capacity transit service in the San Fernando Valley.
Strategic Goal 2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system.
The at-grade light rail system will attract bus ridership and improve the trip experience for users of the transportation system.
Strategic Goal 3: Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
With 11 stations, including connections to Metro G-Line and Metrolink, the ESFV enhances mobility to the community
Strategic Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership.
Collaboration with the elected officials, citizens, and Metro patrons of San Fernando Valley continues to positively impact the Project.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
A separate procurement could be considered for advancing the design for utility relocations to final design and development of technical documents to support the construction procurement. Staff does not recommend this alternative because schedule impacts to pursue a separate procurement would delay the project. Completing this design work is necessary to expedite the advanced utility relocations that are on the Project critical path. Delays will jeopardize the ability to meet the Measure M Expenditure Plan schedule, including the opening date of FY 2028.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Metro Board adoption, staff will complete negotiations and execute the contract modifications.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Procurement Summary
Attachment B: Contract Modification / Change Order Log
Attachment C: DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Rick Meade, Senior Executive Officer, (213) 922-7917
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Bryan Pennington, Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 922-7557
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management (213) 418-3051
