Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
AUGUST 19, 2020
Subject
SUBJECT: SEPULVEDA TRANSIT CORRIDOR
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to:
A. AWARD AND EXECUTE a 50-month, firm fixed price Contract No. AE67085000 to HTA Partners, a joint venture between HNTB Corporation, Terry A. Hayes Associates Inc. and AECOM Technical Services, Inc., for environmental analysis and advanced conceptual engineering (ACE) design services on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor in the amount of $48,304,067 (inclusive of two optional tasks: Task 11 for an additional alternative in the amount of $6,778,040 and Task 12 for Westside-LAX environmental clearance in the amount of $7,544,627), subject to resolution of protest(s), if any; the amount of $3,394,472 has been requested in the FY21 budget in Project 460305 (Sepulveda Transit Corridor) in Cost Center 4360 to support environmental clearance, Advanced Conceptual Engineering, and associated community outreach; upon approval of this action, staff will ensure necessary funds are allocated to the project in coherence with the Continuing Resolution until the FY21 budget is adopted in September; and
B. APPROVE Contract Modification Authority in the amount of 25% of the contract award value and authorize the CEO to execute individual Contract Modifications within the Board-approved Contract Modification Authority.
Issue
ISSUE
On December 11, 2019, Metro issued a Request for Proposals (RFP No. AE67085) seeking a qualified contractor for environmental and engineering services for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project (Project). Optional tasks allow for the inclusion of an additional alternative and/or an extension of the alternatives to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Board approval is needed to award Contract No. AE67085000 to allow the contractor to begin work on the environmental process. Approval of this contract supports the advancement of the Pre-Development Agreement (PDA) process.
Background
BACKGROUND
The Project will provide an essential transportation link across the Santa Monica Mountains, connecting the heavy concentration of households in the San Fernando Valley with major employment and activity centers on the Westside, including LAX.
The Project was included in Metro’s 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and is included in the updated 2020 Draft LRTP. In 2016, the Project was accelerated by the approval of Measure M. The Measure M Expenditure Plan identifies the Valley-Westside portion of the Project (referred to as “Phase 2” in Measure M) for groundbreaking in 2024 and opening in 2033-35. Measure M identifies the Westside-LAX portion of the Project (referred to as “Phase 3” in Measure M) for groundbreaking in 2048 and opening in 2057-59.
On July 27, 2019, the Board approved the PDA approach to support the Project’s development and approved the solicitation of PDA contracts for the Project. The PDA process allows for early contractor involvement in project design through the development of independently proposed alternatives. Services associated with the PDA process and outreach services are each proceeding under separate procurements.
Figure 1 below shows the current Project status along the overall Project Development Process.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
At the December 2019 meeting (Legistar File 2019-0759), the Board received the findings of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Feasibility Study. The study included the identification and evaluation of high-capacity rail transit concepts and alternatives that would provide high quality service to a large travel market between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside, including the LAX area.
As described in the September 18, 2019 Board Box, the selection of project alternatives to be evaluated in the environmental document will occur after the PDA proposals are received. Project alternatives will be brought to the Board concurrent with the award of the PDA contract(s), initiating the environmental phase. The contract option for extending environmental analysis to LAX would be exercised if a PDA contractor team submits a viable proposal for delivering both Valley-Westside and Westside-LAX portions of the project. The number of PDA contracts awarded would determine whether the option to analyze an additional alternative through the environmental contract should be exercised.
Consistency with Metro’s Equity Platform Framework
To help address disparities in access to opportunity across Los Angeles County, the Metro Board adopted the Equity Platform policy framework in February 2018 and a working definition of Equity Focus Communities (EFCs) in June 2019. The Sepulveda Transit Corridor is consistent with the Metro Equity Platform in that the alternatives help address accessibility for residential and employment centers, support for transit-oriented communities’ policies, support for first/last-mile connections, and investment in disadvantaged communities. In addition, ridership estimates suggest that a large share of the ridership demand would include low-income riders. Going forward, the Project will use the working definition of EFC along with other metrics as appropriate to guide analyses and to conduct robust community engagement. Robust public outreach to all stakeholders, particularly EFCs, will continue to be a critical element of the Project as it advances.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The environmental study and design phase will not have any impact on the safety of our customers and/or employees.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The amount of $3,394,472 has been requested in the FY21 budget in Project 460305 (Sepulveda Transit Corridor) in Cost Center 4360 to support environmental clearance, Advanced Conceptual Engineering, and associated community outreach. Upon approval of this action, staff will ensure necessary funds are allocated to the project in coherence with the Continuing Resolution until the FY21 budget is adopted in September. This amount is consistent with the CEO’s Call to Action Financial Recovery Plan. Costs associated with the PDA contract(s) are being budgeted by the Program Management Division in Cost Center 8510. Since this is a multi-year program, the Cost Center Managers and Chief Planning Officer will be responsible for budgeting in future years.
Impact to Budget
The sources of funds are Measure R and Measure M 35% Transit Construction funds. These funds are not eligible for bus and/or rail operating expenses.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project will support the first goal of the Vision 2028 Metro Strategic Plan by providing high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. Travel times for the Feasibility Study alternatives are less than 30 minutes for the Valley-Westside (from the Ventura County Metrolink Line in the north to the E Line (Expo) in the south), and less than 40 minutes for Valley-Westside-LAX (from Metrolink to the Crenshaw/LAX Line). This performance is highly competitive with travel by car on the I-405 freeway.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to approve any or all of the recommendations. This is not recommended as this work is necessary to prepare for the arrival of the PDA contractor team(s) and maintain the Measure M delivery schedule.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Contract No. AE67085000 with HTA Partners to provide environmental and advanced conceptual engineering design services on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Jacqueline Su, Transp. Planner, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-2847
Peter Carter, Senior Manager, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-7480
Cory Zelmer, DEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-1079
David Mieger, SEO, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 922-3040
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
Debra Avila, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
