Meeting_Body
PLANNING & PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 20, 2016
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: I-710 SOUTH CORRIDOR PROJECT EIR/EIS, SCOPE, BUDGET, AND SCHEDULE
ACTION: APPROVE CONTRACT MODIFICATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to execute Contract Modification No. 17 to Contract No. PS4340-1939 for the I-710 South Corridor Project with URS Corporation (an AECOM Entity) to provide professional services for an additional four month period in the not-to-exceed amount of $3,729,598, increasing the total contract value from $45,794,130 to $49,523,728.
Issue
ISSUE
At the October 2015 meeting, the Board approved Motion 22.1 to evaluate additional scope elements for Alternatives 5C and 7 in the I-710 Corridor Project EIR/EIS and directed staff to report back in 60 days. The additional scope elements include bikeway and pedestrian improvements, right-of-way avoidance designs, and additional transit service analysis among other things (see Attachment D). Three independent bikeway projects were also recommended for study outside the EIR/EIS and staff was directed to return to the Board with recommendations on how to fund these studies.
Metro staff developed a statement of work and an independent cost estimate for the additional scope elements included in Motion 22.1. The contract modification covers the preliminary engineering and environmental studies associated with the additional scope items for the I-710 South Corridor EIR/EIS. The cost to develop the three independent bikeway projects ($1,196,596) will come from Measure R Administrative funds and is included in this contract modification. Staff also determined that the additional work will delay the re-circulation date by at least four months.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The I-710 South Corridor Project (I-710 South) study encompasses an 18-mile long corridor that extends from Ocean Blvd in Long Beach to State Route 60. The I-710 South is a vital transportation artery linking the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to Southern California and beyond. As a result of population growth, cargo container growth, increasing traffic volumes, and aging infrastructure, the I-710 South experiences serious congestion and safety issues. Among the major concerns in the corridor are higher than average truck accident rates; the projected growth in the study area, and effects of recurring congestion and diesel emissions on the quality of life in the surrounding communities. The I-710 South project alternatives seek to improve safety, air quality/public health, and mobility, and accommodate projected growth.
A Draft EIR/EIS circulated on June 28, 2012 evaluated four build alternatives, three of which included a grade-separated freight corridor. Close to 3,000 comments were received as part of the circulation. Community Alternative 7 (CA-7) was proposed by the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice (CEHAJ) as a build alternative to be studied in the Draft EIR/EIS. CEHAJ consists of several environmental and community organizations including Communities for Better Environment, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Natural Resources Defense Council, East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Coalition for Clean Air, among others. CA-7 proposes no additional general purpose lanes, a separate 4 lane elevated freight corridor restricted for use by zero emission trucks, no new right-of-way acquisition, an aggressive strategy to improve public transit via rail and bus in the I-710 Corridor, comprehensive regional active transportation improvements, comprehensive construction mitigation program, and extensive community benefits programs. As most of these proposed concepts are not fully developed, CEHAJ proposed that CA-7 be further developed by the Project Team and then studied in the Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIR/SDEIS).
In early 2014, the Project Team began working with the various I-710 advisory committees to present the work accomplished so far (traffic forecasting and alternatives development) and to further refine the preliminary build alternatives and geometric concepts. By the middle of 2014, the following two Build Alternatives were presented to the 710 Committees for inclusion in the RDEIR/SDEIS:
Alternative 5C - widen to 5 mixed flow lanes in each direction plus improvements at I-710/I-405 (including truck by-pass lanes), I-710/SR-91, I-710/I-5 and every local interchange between Ocean Blvd. and SR-60.
Alternative 7 - two dedicated lanes (in each direction) for clean technology trucks from Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach to the intermodal railroad yards in Commerce/Vernon, plus improvements at I-710/I-405, I-710/SR-91, I-710/I-5 and every local interchange between Ocean Blvd. and SR-60.
The Board approved Motion 22.1 after extensive coordination and collaboration with a variety of stakeholders. This Motion directed staff to evaluate certain CA-7 scope elements under Alternatives 5C and 7 in the I-710 Corridor Project EIR/EIS, and to report back in 60 days. The additional scope elements include bikeway and pedestrian improvements, right-of-way avoidance designs, and additional transit service analysis among other things (Attachment D). Three independent bikeway projects were also recommended for study outside the EIR/EIS and staff was directed to come back with recommendations on how to fund the studies.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
The I-710 South Corridor project scope, schedule, and budget revisions will have no impact to the safety of Metro’s patrons or employees or the general public.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for the scope elements to be added to the I-710 South Draft EIR/EIS is included in the $13,886,695 FY16 budget in Cost Center 4730 (Highway Program B), Project 460316, (I-710 South Early Action Projects), Account 50316 (Services Professional/Technical). Funding for the independent bikeway projects will come from Measure R Administrative funds. Since this is a multi-year project, the cost center manager and the Managing Executive Officer of the Highway Program or designee will continue to be responsible for budgeting the cost in future years.
Impact to Budget
The additional sources of funds for this project will be from Measure R Highway Capital (20%) Funds from the I-710 South and/or Early Action Projects and Measure R Administrative funds. These funds are not eligible for bus and rail operating and capital expenditures.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may elect not to approve the proposed contract modification. This option is not recommended. Completing the environmental document for the project is a necessary step in developing the improvements described in Measure R for the corridor. Board approval would allow the project to move forward with continued community engagement and support which has been the trademark of this study.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval by the Board, staff will execute the contract modification.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Attachment D - Board Motion 22.1
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Lucy Olmos-Delgadillo, Transportation Planning Manager, Highway Program, (213) 922-7099
Ernesto Chaves, Director, Highway Program (213) 922-7343
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ivan Page, Interim Executive Director, Vendor/Contract Management (213) 922-6383
Richard Clarke, Executive Director, Program Management, (213) 922-7557
