Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
MARCH 21, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: CONTACT WIRES FOR C LINE OVERHEAD CATENARY SYSTEM (OCS) REPLACEMENT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE CONTRACT AWARD
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to award Contract No. DR119508, to Global Electric, for 96,839 linear feet of contact wire to support the C Line OCS Replacement Project for a firm fixed price of $1,052,646.22, inclusive of sales tax, subject to resolution of any properly submitted protest(s), if any.
Issue
ISSUE
The existing C Line OCS contact wires are approximately 30 years old, as they have been used since the start of C Line service in 1995. They require replacement as they are reaching the end of their useful life. Contact wires are a central railway infrastructure asset. They transmit traction power to supply electrical energy for the operation of Metro rail vehicles.
Background
BACKGROUND
In May 2021, the Board of Directors established a $38,350,000 Life-of-Project (LOP) budget for the Metro C Line Overhead Catenary System Replacement as part of the FY22 budget adoption. The existing OCS contact wires were designed with a life expectancy of 30 years. The continuous operation of the rail service in various weather conditions has caused the contact wires to wear and are nearing the end of their functional lifespan. The Traction Power Maintenance Department has regularly inspected the contact wires and replaced sections when needed. However, this maintenance work has resulted in disruptions to rail services as affected trains must be single-tracked during the replacement of contact wires. Installing new contact wires will increase the reliability of the C Line while preventing service disruptions caused by sections of old contact wires that have been overworn and require replacement.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The project’s work plan involves dividing the replacement of contact wires into three sections along the C Line. Section A starts at the Redondo Beach Station and ends at the Aviation Station, with an approximate length of 62,311 feet. Section B starts at the Aviation Station and ends at the Long Beach Station, with an approximate length of 111,752 feet. Section C begins at the Long Beach Station and ends at the Norwalk Station, with an approximate length of 96,838 feet.
Section A is in progress and planned to be completed in May of 2024. The project's next phase is to replace contact wires in Section C, which needs 96,838 feet of contact wires.
The recommended Board action is to approve the purchase of contact wire for Section C, which is planned to start in May 2024. Section B is the last section to be completed and is estimated to begin in October 2025. Procurement of the OCS contact wire for the Section B replacement is scheduled to take place in June 2025. The contact wire replacement work is being performed by in-house Traction Power workforces.
This project is part of Metro’s commitment to delivering a robust State of Good Repair (SGR) program that invests in modernization and enhancement to renew asset life and reduce asset breakdowns that impact daily service and customer experience.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
In accordance with Metro’s SGR requirements and Transit Asset Management (TAM) Plan, the C Line OCS contact wires are reaching the end of their useful life and must be replaced promptly to comply with safety and reliability standards, alongside meeting California Public Utilities Commission regulations.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
A total of $1,052,646.22 is needed for this action. The budget is contained in Capital Project 205121 - Metro Green Line OCS Wire Replacement. The Life of Project (LOP) budget is $38,350,000.00, which is within the project budget.
Since this is a multi-year contract, the Project Manager will be responsible for budgeting resources in future Fiscal Years.
Impact to Budget
The current source of funds for this action is Proposition A 35%, which is eligible for rail operations.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The C Line OCS contact wires are located along the 105 freeway throughout Los Angeles County, including Equity Focus Communities (EFCs). The EFCs served include Downey, Paramount, Lynwood, Rancho Dominguez, Willowbrook, Westmont, Lennox, Hawthorne, and Lawndale. According to the 2022 Metro Customer Satisfaction Survey, 73% of current C Line passengers originate from households with very low income, and 74% lack access to personal vehicles for transportation. Furthermore, four out of every five riders on the C Line self-identify as belonging to Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The replacement of OCS contact wires improves the reliability of transportation, and the riders will benefit from it. Awarding the OCS contact wire purchase will minimize rail service disruption for Metro riders who rely on transit services for their mode of transportation.
This contract award was designated as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) set-aside and the solicitation was open to SBE Certified Small Businesses only. The recommended firm, Global Electric, is a minority-owned electrical contracting company that holds 8(a) Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certifications with Metro.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The recommendation supports Metro’s Strategic Plan Goal 1) Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. This contract will help maintain safety, service, and reliability standards to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within Los Angeles County.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Staff considered not purchasing or replacing the entire C Line OCS contact wire, but it is not recommended. This option would require a high frequency of single-tracking operations to inspect the contact wire and regular closures to replace smaller sections. This could result in premature system failures.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval of the recommendation, Vendor/Contract Management (V/CM) will execute Contract No. DR119508.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - DEOD Summary
Prepared by: Kelvin Zan, Executive Officer, Operations Engineering, (213) 617-6264
Errol Taylor, Deputy Chief Operations Officer, Maintenance and Engineering, (213) 922-3227
Debra Avila, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 418-3051
Reviewed by:
Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, Bus (213) 418-3034
