Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Subject
SUBJECT: LOS ANGELES UNION STATION FORECOURT
AND ESPLANADE IMPROVEMENTS
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award and execute a 63-month firm fixed price Contract No. AE39616001 with Gruen Associates in the amount of $2,910,657 for architectural and engineering services to design the Los Angeles Union Station Forecourt and Esplanade Improvements Project and provide design support during construction, subject to resolution of protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
The Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) Forecourt and Esplanade Improvements (Project) were identified in the Union Station Master Plan Implementation Program presented to the Metro Board in October 2014. The Project will reconfigure the public right-of-way and LAUS forecourt to expand pedestrian and bike facilities on Alameda and Los Angeles Street and create a civic plaza in front of the station (Attachment C, Project Map). Staff has secured over $18M in grant and matching funds to design and implement most of the Project improvements, and the Project Environmental Impact report is currently in public circulation. The recommended actions will award the design and engineering contract.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Project History and Funding
Between 2012 and 2014, Metro led the Union Station Master Plan (USMP) and the Connect US Action Plan planning efforts. Both efforts involved robust stakeholder engagement and resulted in the identification of the Project improvements. The Project was part of the USMP Initial Implementation Plan presented to the Metro Board in October 2014, and since that time, staff has secured three grants that fund the following project components:
• Proposition A - $1M (secured in 2014): Grant secured from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for design and construction of improvements in Father Serra Park and connections from the park to LAUS and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic and Cultural Monument. The scope of the Father Serra Park improvements will be informed by stakeholder engagement that will commence in early 2018. The Father Serra Park improvements will be environmentally cleared by the City of Los Angeles but will be designed and constructed concurrently with the Forecourt and Esplanade Improvements as part of the subject Contract.
• Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle 2 - $12.3M (secured in 2016): Design and construction of the Alameda Esplanade includes reconfiguration of Alameda Street, between Arcadia Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, by narrowing the roadway and widening pedestrian and bicyclist facilities on the east side of Alameda Street and pedestrian facilities on the west side of Alameda Street.
• ATP Cycle 3 - $3.2M (secured in 2017): Design and construction of the Los Angeles Crossing which includes a consolidated, raised crossing at the Alameda/Los Angeles Street intersection and closure of the northern Los Angeles Street travel lane and the northern LAUS driveway.
These funds are matched by approximately $2.4M in Metro funds (for design and construction) approved by the Board of Directors. Staff must initiate design services and secure construction level documents for the proposed projects by summer 2019 to comply with grant requirements and timelines.
The Project components include:
• Alameda Esplanade: Roadway configuration between Arcadia Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue to widen pedestrian and bicyclist facilities.
• Los Angeles Crossing: Consolidated raised intersectional crossing at Alameda and Los Angeles Street, closure of the northern Los Angeles Street travel lane and closure of the northern LAUS driveway.
• LAUS Forecourt: Repurposing the existing surface parking lot as a new civic plaza with sustainable features. (Construction of this improvement will be a Future Project Component.)
• Arcadia Street: Repurposing the easternmost travel lane as a dedicated El Pueblo tour bus parking zone.
• Father Serra Park: Improvements to Father Serra Park that will be informed by stakeholder engagement, including the El Pueblo Commission. Design and construction costs associated with Father Serra Park shall not exceed the Proposition A grant allocation.
Environmental Clearance
Metro initiated environmental clearance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), held a scoping meeting on the Project in January 2017, released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for public review and comment on August 11, 2017, and anticipates bringing, for Board consideration, the Final EIR in early 2018. The City of Los Angeles (El Pueblo) will be securing the environmental clearance for the Father Serra Park improvements. As the ATP grant includes federal funding, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) clearance will also be secured for the Project. Caltrans is the lead agency under NEPA.
The Project requires Caltrans concurrence as a portion is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Prior to contract execution, Caltrans Audits and Investigations (A&I) unit will have to review the contract and supporting documentation. Upon compliance of all requirements, A&I will issue a Conformance letter authorizing Metro to proceed.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Alameda Street, within the project boundaries, is identified in the Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN), which are streets that have a higher incidence of severe and fatal collisions. According to the City of Los Angeles Vision Zero site, The HIN is comprised of 386 corridors that represent 6% of Los Angeles’ street miles. Sixty-five percent of all deaths and severe injuries involving people walking and biking occur on these 6% of streets. Between 2012 and 2016, there were two fatalities at the intersection of Alameda Street and Los Angeles.
Award of the Contact, and the resulting design and project implementation, will greatly improve customer and employee safety while travelling to and from Los Angeles Union Station. The proposed improvements will reduce pedestrian crossing distances on Alameda Street and Los Angeles Street, slow vehicular speed, and provide visual cues to motorists through the widened sidewalks and expanded and raised crossing.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The FY18 budget includes $600,000 for the Project in Cost Center 4530 (Strategic Initiatives), Project 405557 (Union Station Master Plan). Since this is a multiyear contract, the cost center manager and Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting funds in future years.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for the design contract are grant funds (Proposition A, grant secured from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, and State ATP) and Metro Right-of-Way Lease Revenues used for the local match (Attachment D). The local match funds are eligible for Metro bus and rail operating and capital expenditures.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could postpone awarding the Contract. This is not recommended as the ATP program has strict timelines that call for the Project to request construction allocation by summer 2019. Design must be initiated, collaboration with the City of Los Angeles must be re-initiated, and stakeholders must be engaged in advancing concept plans to construction-ready documents and specifications. Delaying contract award would delay project implementation and potentially jeopardize grant funding.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Contract No. AE39616001 with Gruen Associates to initiate the design work.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Attachment C - Project Map
Attachment D - Funding Table
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Elizabeth Carvajal, Senior Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3084
Jenna Hornstock, EO, Transit Oriented Communities, (213) 922-7437
Calvin Hollis, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-7319
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Therese W. McMillan, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-7077
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
