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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c: Direction Regarding Gold Line Extension Improvements to the Arcadia Station and 2nd Avenue/Huntington BridgeSTAFF REPORT Development Services Department DATE: May 18, 2010 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer c4, SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DIRECTION REGARDING GOLD LINE EXTENSION IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ARCADIA STATION AND THE HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND SECOND AVENUE BRIDGE Recommended Action: Provide Direction SUMMARY The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) has released the industry review draft of the design and construction bid documents for the main alignment of the Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2A from Pasadena to the Azusa Pacific /Citrus College Station. Staff is finalizing the City's request for all upgrades as part of the main alignment. All requests are due by the end of May, however, final approval will not occur until the Construction Authority determines the final scope and cost and the City approves them. At the City Council meeting of April 6, 2010, the Council directed staff to pursue alternative design concepts for the bridge abutment facades at the Huntington Drive and Second Avenue Bridge. The Council also directed staff to work with the Chamber of Commerce, at the Chamber's request, to propose betterments to the station and to seek private funding contributions. Staff requests that the City Council provide direction on the design concepts for betterments /upgrades to the Huntington Drive and Second Avenue bridge abutments and the station. BACKGROUND The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) has prepared a detailed project scope and bid documents for the next phase of the Gold Line construction (Phase 2A) from Pasadena to the Azusa Pacific /Citrus College Staff Report May 18, 2010 Page 2 Station. These documents are the second of three distinct project construction activities that the Construction Authority will bid separately. The three construction activities are: 1) The Iconic Freeway Bridge Structure, 2) The Main Alignment, and 3) The Parking Structures. The Design /Build contract for the Iconic Freeway Bridge Structure is very soon to be approved, and work will begin as early as this summer. The Main Alignment bid package has been released for the industry review with comments due by the end of May, 2010, with the hope of releasing the final bid documents for bidding purposes at the end of August 2010. The Parking Structure bid package will be released last at a date to be determined. Staff is finalizing the City's request for all upgrades /betterments and preparing to review and agree to final costs. All upgrade requests are due by the end of May. The Authority will review the City's requests and will determine costs for review and approval by the City prior the final bid package completion. On April 6, 2010, the City Council approved the design concept for the Santa Anita Avenue Bridge structure. At that time the Council directed staff to pursue alternative design concepts for the bridge abutment facades at the Huntington Drive and Second Avenue Bridge to match the newly approved Art Deco elements of the Santa Anita Bridge and /or the existing Colorado Bridge elements. The Council also directed staff to work with the Chamber of Commerce, at the Chamber's request, to propose betterments to the station and to seek private funding contributions. DISCUSSION The IBI Group prepared several design concepts for the Huntington Drive and Second Avenue Bridge abutments. The bridge and the abutments are difficult to view in their entirety for several reasons: The bridge's alignment is angled with the abutments facing all streets at roughly a 45 degree angle; the abutment structure and adjoining walls are unique and asymmetrical; the street trees are very dense in the parkways and the medians with low canopies; and the southeasterly wall is covered with ivy. Staff has selected two alternative concepts (attached), one with minimal detail and an inlay and the other with the Art Deco theme found on the Colorado Boulevard Bridge abutments and used on the Santa Anita Avenue Bridge. It was difficult for IBI to capture the true perspective from Huntington Drive and it should be noted that the entire bridge structure is difficult to view at one time. For this reason, this bridge is unlike the Santa Anita Avenue Bridge. From any of the four perspectives, the Bridge will not appear as a symmetrical bridge; each view will be different. Staff has had several discussions with the Chamber of Commerce regarding their ideas of upgrades /betterments to the station. Staff attended a meeting called by the Chamber to discuss ideas and a tour of Gold Line Stations offered by the Construction Authority to see baseline conditions and upgrades. At the time of this writing, staff has received no information from the Chamber. They will present their ideas and funding support to the City Council at the meeting. Staff Report May 18, 2010 Page 3 FISCAL IMPACT There is no immediate fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council provide direction regarding the Gold Line Extension improvements to the Arcadia Station and the Huntington Drive and Second Avenue Bridge. 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