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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a: Agreement with Metro Gold Line for Design and Construction of Arcadia Station and Appropriate Funding �� '^Yeory 519 J 9ur1 of A-Re S TAFF REPORT Development Services Department DATE: June 21, 2011 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director- Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer RV SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE METRO GOLD LINE FOOTHILL EXTENSION CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARCADIA STATION AND COLORADO BOULEVARD RAILROAD BRIDGE BETTERMENTS AND APPROPRIATE FUNDING FROM THE SANTA ANITA GRADE SEPARATION FUND Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY The City has worked closely with the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) to determine the baseline design scope for the rail facilities in the City of Arcadia. The Authority has agreed to allow the City to propose upgrades or betterments above the baseline design scope with the betterment costs borne by the City. On June 23, 2010, the City Council approved betterment concepts for the Arcadia Station in the form of custom benches and hand rail frieze panels that reflect a Santa Anita Race Track horse theme. Then on November 16, 2010, the City Council approved the lengthening of the railroad bridge over Colorado Boulevard to accommodate sidewalks under the bridge. The Authority determined the City's share of these proposed betterments to be $265,948 and prepared an Agreement for the betterments. The City has reviewed and concurs with the estimate and the Agreement. Staff recommends approval of the Betterment Agreement and appropriation of funds. Staff Report June 21, 2011 Page 2 BACKGROUND The City has worked for several years with the Authority to determine the baseline design for the project. During that time, the Authority offered all cities along the Gold Line extension route the opportunity to add betterments to the project components like the bridges, stations and walls, with the cities responsible for the additional costs. Betterments could be in the form of, but not limited to, aesthetic treatments like materials, colors or textures, or the addition or enlargement of walls and landscaping. In 2009, Arcadia staff thoroughly reviewed the project components and considered potential betterment opportunities for Arcadia. The focus was limited to those areas with high public visibility like parks, street crossings and the rail station. Several betterment opportunity presentations were made to the City Council including the Santa Anita Grade separation and other elements. DISCUSSION On June 23, 2010, the City Council reviewed betterment concepts for the Arcadia station. The Council approved a "horse frieze" panel concept for the hand railings and custom benches in the theme of the Santa Anita Race Track. The Council also approved a color scheme for the station elements that uses the Race Track colors. The City Council approved an amount not to exceed $125,000 for the station elements and the Santa Anita Race Track committed an additional $25,000. The final cost of these betterments is $120,172. The color change recommendations are considered baseline conditions at no additional cost. On November 16, 2010, the City Council reviewed several betterment opportunities for the reconstruction of the bridge over Colorado Boulevard including the lengthening of the bridge to incorporate sidewalks underneath. Colorado Boulevard has sidewalks on both sides of the street from the east City limits to Colorado Place, except approaching and under the railroad bridge. Pedestrians must walk in the street to pass under the bridge. Colorado Boulevard is one of the few continuous east/west corridors crossing the tracks and this segment under the tracks appears to be a popular pedestrian corridor and an important link to Newcastle Park and a link between the residential neighborhoods on the west and the commercial areas on the east. The Council approved the bridge lengthening at a preliminary estimate of approximately $100,000. After more extensive investigation, the Authority revised its estimate to $145,776. The Authority has prepared a letter agreement for these betterments with the City responsible for the total cost of $265,948. Staff has reviewed the letter agreement and the cost estimates and concurs with both. The City will continue working with the Authority on the design of the Parking Structure and will continue to evaluate betterment opportunities as they arise. Staff Report June 21, 2011 Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT Several years ago the City began setting aside its Proposition A and C funds in anticipation of potential contributions to the Gold Line project. The fund is now entitled the Santa Anita Grade Separation Fund and as of the beginning of this fiscal year in July 2010, the balance was $6,282,372. The City recently committed approximately $4,474,254 as a match to the $8.0 Million in bond funding for the Santa Anita Grade Separation Project. This leaves a balance in the fund of $1,808,118 which is currently uncommitted. The City's proposed share for the station and the Colorado Boulevard Bridge lengthening betterments is $265,948. There are sufficient funds in the Santa Anita Grade Separation Fund to cover these costs. Since the fund balance is Proposition A and C funding and not bond funding from the bond measure, it is not under the authority of the Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee. RECOMMENDATION Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the design and construction of the Arcadia Station and Colorado Boulevard Bridge Betterments and appropriate funds from the Santa Anita Grade Separation fund. Approved: , -tp -60 Donald Penman, City Manager J K: PAW: pa