Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
JANUARY 20, 2022
Subject
SUBJECT: STATE ROUTE 71 (SR-71) IMPROVEMENTS (SOUTH SEGMENT): UPGRADE 1.8 MILES OF THE EXISTING EXPRESSWAY TO A 6-LANE FWY BETWEEN MISSION BLVD AND LOS ANGELES/SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY LINE
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE Contract Modification No. 17 (CCO 17) for payment to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the construction contract of South Segment of the SR-71 Improvements Project between Mission Blvd and Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line (The Project) in an amount not to exceed $4.5 million within the overall corridor Life of Project (LOP) budget.
Issue
ISSUE
The construction contract for SR-71 improvements between Mission Blvd and Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line encountered several problems including special requirements for excavation near the SCE power poles, utilities conflicts not identified during design, contaminated soil, and third-party delays. When the contractor started excavating for the construction of drainage culverts in August 2021, contaminated soil was encountered. Further investigations confirmed the presence of arsenic. The excavation work was immediately halted. Caltrans determined that the contaminated soil had to be appropriately disposed under the EPA regulations.
After consulting with disposal sites that are permitted to accept arsenic-contaminated soil, Caltrans estimated an approximated cost of $4.5 million to properly dispose the excavated soil.
Contract modifications exceeding $500,000 require Board authorization.
Background
BACKGROUND
The existing SR-71 is a four-lane expressway and has signalized intersections between Mission Boulevard and Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line. The Project will upgrade SR-71 from a four-lane expressway to a six mixed-flow lane and two HOV lane freeway within the specified limits. This Project is eligible for funding under Line 12 of the Measure M Expenditure Plan to improve the operation and safety of the facility. This Project includes extensive utility relocations, new retaining and soundwalls. Total budget for Construction Capital is $124,097,000. Of the total budget for Construction Capital, $3,052,707 is spent to date; of this amount $3,026,265 was funded with Measure M (17%) Highway Funds.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The SR-71 Improvement Project from Mission Blvd to Los Angeles/San Bernardino County Line was awarded on February 5, 2021. Caltrans designed and is currently managing the construction of the Project.
Construction of the Project started on May 10, 2021 and is currently in progress.
The construction of the Project is divided into five stages. The first stage is to construct the new drainage culverts. When the contractor started excavation for construction of the new drainage culverts, a strong organic smell was encountered in the soil in most areas. The work was immediately halted, and the soil was tested. Later the contractor informed Caltrans that the potential for the presence of arsenic was not stated in the contract documents and requested directions and additional funding to resolve the problem. Four dump sites were identified for the transfer of the contaminated material. Caltrans selected a dump site, which would perform the required soil tests and will accept any contaminant levels of arsenic soil for disposal.
The volume of the contaminated soil to be transported to various dump sites is estimated to be 64,000 cubic yards.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
There are no safety impacts resulting from this action.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The LOP budget of SR-71 South Segment Improvements in Construction Capital per FUNDING AGREEMENT NO. FA# 9200000000M500501 is $124,097,000 and included $86,072,000 in Local Measure M (17%) Highway Funds and $38,025,000 in State Funds (TCEP). Metro’s contribution to this project for Construction Capital is limited to the $86,072,000 of Measure M (17%) Highway funds.
The up to $4.5 million funds needed for CCO 17 is within the LOP budget. For FY22, $27,659,821 has been budgeted for the SR-71 Improvements South Segment within the Highway Subsidies, Cost Center 0442, SR-71 Improvements, Project 475005, Account 54001 (Subsidies to Others). No Budget adjustment is needed at this time. Upon approval of this recommendation, staff will reassess the budgetary needs for the corridor, and proceed with the payment of the CCO amount.
Since this is a multi-year project, the Chief Countywide Planning Officer, Senior Executive Officer-Highway Program and Cost Center Manager will be responsible for budgeting the project costs in future fiscal years.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for this recommendation is Measure M (17%) Highway Funds and TCEP Funds from SB1 which are not eligible for bus or rail operating expenditures.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Project is administrated by Caltrans. Throughout the construction phase, the outreach efforts consist of sending press releases to the city, community, media outlets, and elected offices regarding construction work. Caltrans Public Affairs unit responds to constituent inquiries. The scheduled and as-needed community meetings will be conducted. Progress reports and updated information will be posted on Caltrans and Metro websites. Every effort will be made to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate construction impacts on the corridor communities.
This action is necessary to minimize the presence of hazardous contaminants in the State ROW and allow the exports of the hazardous material to the appropriate dump site(s). The Project will be constructed within the Caltrans-owned right-of-way. Temporary construction easements (TCE) have been acquired for the necessary preparatory and temporary work on parcels adjacent to the freeway with proper compensation to the property owners. All those TCEs will be restored to their original or improved conditions and returned to the owners of record.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Approval of staff recommendation would allow for the payment to the contractor to clean up the contaminated soil found in the Project. The Project is consistent with the following Metro Vision 2028 Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: Providing high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling by providing improved mobility at this location through upgrading the Expressway to an access-controlled freeway and HOV lanes to encourage carpooling and improve transit efficiency.
Goals 4 and 5: Transforming LA County through regional collaboration with Caltrans and the Corridor Cities by contributing funds and providing resources to assist Caltrans in the management and delivery of this Project.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may choose not to approve the staff’s recommendation. However, this disapproval would result in further schedule delay, legal complications, and cost increase.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board’s approval of the recommended action, Metro staff will authorize payment to the Contractor.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A - SR-71 CCO Log
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Victor Gau, Director of Engineering, Highway Programs, (213) 922-3031
Abdollah Ansari, Senior Executive Officer, Highway Programs (213) 922-4781
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Jim de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
