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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2e - Agreement for Citywide Traffic Counts. GQsLIFORN —�9 A.6ust 5, 1903 V DATE: December 3, 2013 TO: Mayor and City Council STAFF REPORT Development Services Department FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WILLDAN ENGINEERING FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE 2014 CITYWIDE TRAFFIC COUNTS AND ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,701; AND APPROVE A 10% CONTINGENCY Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY The California Vehicle Code requires cities to conduct Engineering and Traffic (E & T) Surveys every five years to set prima facie speed limits on City streets. The current E & T Survey establishing speed limits within the City is set to expire in March 2014. Requests for Proposals were sent to three qualified firms to obtain Citywide traffic counts, and to provide the engineering services for the survey. The engineering services include conducting radar surveys, surveys of roadway conditions, analyzing the radar data to establish the 85th percentile for speed, obtaining accident data, establishing accident rates, and preparing the final report in a court- approved format. Two proposals were submitted with Willdan Engineering being selected to perform the work. It is recommended to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering for the requested engineering services in the amount of $21,701. BACKGROUND The purpose of the E & T Survey is to establish speed limits enforceable by radar on City streets. These surveys are required to avoid "speed traps" within a jurisdiction. The California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 40802(b) defines a speed trap as a section of highway with a prima facie speed limit not justified by an E & T Survey conducted within the past five years, and where enforcement involves the use of radar or other electronic devices used to measure the speed of moving objects. Section 40802 Agreement with Willdan Engineering December 3, 2013 Page 2 of 3 declares that evidence obtained from the use of a speed trap is inadmissible in court when prosecuting under the Code. The E & T Survey referred to above is defined in Section 627 of the CVC as a survey of highway and traffic conditions in accordance with methods determined by the Department of Transportation (CalTrans) for use by State and local authorities. The survey must include: 1. Prevailing speeds as determined by engineering measurements 2. Collision reports 3. Highway, traffic, and roadside conditions not readily apparent to the driver The current E & T Survey, which was adopted by the City of Arcadia in March 2009, established speed limits on portions of 38 arterial and collector streets. That Survey will expire in March 2014. DISCUSSION Pursuant to the CalTrans Traffic Manual, speed limit recommendations are made based on the 85th percentile of speed traveled on a given road segment. The speed limit recommendations were historically set at or below the 85th percentile speed. However, more recent court rulings have required speed limits to be set at or up to the next 5 -mph increment above the 85th percentile speed. To avoid the perception of a conflict of interest, for the 2008 study it was determined that the best interests of the City would be served by obtaining the engineering services of an outside consultant. The report was professionally prepared by Kimley -Horn and Associates and was very successful and defensible when challenged in court. For the 2014 Survey, it is recommended to again obtain professional engineering services. Requests for Proposals (RFP) were sent to three firms qualified to perform these services. Included in this RFP was a request to obtain 24 -hour traffic counts on various arterial and collector streets. The City received proposals as follows: Willdan Engineering $21,701 Kimley -Horn and Associates $29,760 KOA Corporation No response Willdan Engineering has provided exceptional traffic engineering services to the City for many years. In review of the proposals, Willdan is well qualified to perform E & T Surveys. It is recommended that the City Council enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering for engineering services in the amount of $21,701. Agreement with Willdan Engineering December 3, 2013 Page 3 of 3 FISCAL IMPACT These services were budgeted in the 2013 -14 Fiscal Year Capital Improvement Program at $25,000. There are sufficient funds available for these professional services. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to execute a Professional Service Agreement with Willdan Engineering for engineering services for the 2014 Citywide Traffic Counts and Engineering and Traffic Survey in the amount of $21,701; and approve a 10% contingency. Approved_ Dominic Lazzar d City Manager JK:PAW:pa