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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3a: Report concerning Gold Line Transit Plaza preferred design concept.DATE: October 16, 2012 STAFF REPORT Development Services Department TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director�K Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer�4 By: Linda Hui, Transportation Services Manager d k, SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION CONCERNING GOLD LINE TRANSIT PLAZA PREFERRED DESIGN CONCEPT Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY As directed by the City Council at the July 3, 2012 meeting, the preferred Gold Line Arcadia Transit Plaza design has been further refined for consideration and approval. The refined design features include landscaping, a performing stage, a holiday tree, a monument sign, a vendor area, park furniture, bicycle racks, and a water feature, with a total cost of $747,000. Currently, a total of $609,000 has been earmarked for the project through existing grants and match dollars. It is requested that the City Council approve the design as presented at a project cost of $747,000, and authorize an additional funding appropriation of $138,000 from Proposition A/C Reserves. In addition, it is requested that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a project funding agreement with the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the approved project design and funding level. BACKGROUND The City was awarded a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Call for Projects grant for the Transit Plaza improvement project. Recently, the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) has obtained federal grant funds and allocated a portion to the Arcadia Station area for the bus /pedestrian interface enhancements, including the Transit Plaza, with a 20% local match from the City. By pooling the Authority's federal grant and the City's MTA grant and City match, the City will be able to implement pedestrian and transit amenities that are beyond what the MTA grant alone would cover. This also means that the Authority will be the lead agency in implementing a good portion of the project. However, the City is responsible for creating a design development plan for the Transit Plaza. Gold Line Arcadia Transit Plaza Design October 16, 2012 Page 2 of 3 The Authority's parking facilities and bus /pedestrian interface enhancement design /build work (DB -3) procurement process is underway. The City's Transit Plaza design development plan will be included in the DB -3 scope, and used as a quality control plan during the final design and construction. Similar to the Santa Anita Avenue Bridge funding arrangement, the City will enter into a funding agreement with the Authority, which will outline the project scope and each party's contribution to the project. The final project budget will depend on the City Council's direction as well as the Authority's concurrence. DISCUSSION On July 3, 2012, three design concepts for the Transit Plaza were presented to the City Council. The "Town Square" design concept was selected as a preferred alternative for further refinement. The City Council also directed staff to include a water feature as part of the design. As part of the review process, the Arcadia Downtown Business Association (ADBA) was consulted on the theme and design features of the Transit Plaza. The ADBA members expressed that the Transit Plaza should be made an integral part of downtown, in that design elements such as street trees, enhanced crosswalks, and street furniture, should be carried over to the Transit Plaza. The City's Public Works Services Department (PWSD) staff was also consulted on the types of trees and building materials to be used to ensure durability and ease of maintenance. Based on the input from the ADBA and PWSD, consistent trees and furniture have been selected, which can easily be incorporated into the City's routine maintenance program. A number of water features were considered and analyzed. They included an interactive pop -jet fountain with re- circulating water, a cascading pool, and a standard, above ground water fountain. During the design process, some of the main concerns included the maintenance of the water feature and ensuring that the placement of the water feature would not compromise other uses of the Plaza. The pop -jet water fountain can be turned on and off, and would be integrated into the overall plaza. However, it would require ongoing specialized maintenance and associated cost, and would have health considerations as it will be interactive. After preliminary design, the cost of the pop jet or cascading pool fountain ranged upward of $225,000. The standard water fountain would be the least costly at approximately $65,000. This above - ground fountain could be placed in the center of the Plaza area. A place holder for this option is included in the project cost and shown in the drawing. The cost of the Transit Plaza with a standard fountain is estimated to be $747,000, which is $138,000 above the current earmarked funding. Currently, there is approximately $1.26 million in the Proposition A/C Reserve account for the Gold Line and transportation related purposes that remains un- programmed. If the City Council chooses not to authorize an additional funding appropriation, there are two possible options to reduce the cost. Added features such as the performing stage and water fountain, as well as the monument sign could be eliminated from the design. These Gold Line Arcadia Transit Plaza Design October 16, 2012 Page 3 of 3 features add value to the plaza and make it versatile and unique but they are not needed for the plaza to function appropriately. Removal of these items would bring the total cost within the currently allocated funding. Another possible option is to downgrade the paving materials and amenities. However, downgrading building materials would not reduce the project cost significantly, and would adversely impact the feel and appearance of the plaza. Based on the above considerations, the proposed design with standard water fountain would be the most desirable. However, if this option is not acceptable to the City Council, the added features should be removed: performing stage, water fountain and directional /monument signs. FISCAL IMPACT The proposed funding share for the Transit Plaza is as follows: Gold Line Authority (Federal Grant) $320,000 City Match and MTA Grant $289,000 Requested additional Fund Appropriation $138,000 Total $747,000 Currently, a total of $609,000 is available for the Transit Plaza project. An additional fund appropriation of $138,000 is needed for the implementation of the Transit Plaza as proposed. Currently, there is approximately $1.26 million in the Proposition A/C Reserve account that remains un- programmed. The Proposition A/C Reserve account was set up specifically for Gold Line related uses. The Proposition A/C funds can generally be used for transportation /transit related projects. Thus, Proposition A/C Reserve funds can be used to cover the additional cost of $138,000 and there would be no impact on the General Fund. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council approve the preliminary design of the Gold Line Transit Plaza at a project cost of $747,000, authorize an additional funding appropriation of $138,000, and authorize the City Manager to enter into a project funding agreement with the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the approved project design and amount. Approved: ominic Lazza o City Manager Attachments: A) Transit Plaza Drawings O-WI - I I if. LE :B3 Q N IL z LI Alm y;3 t t t yp� F # U Ll t� T_ 1 J Vi F= u ix UJ l Yz J Q C; L �T (� t R I r 8p{� f„ 4 zf �r t. 7 4 t i,w x; 1t r` JWlk Irv" 61 1.9,1