June 1, 2004

SUBJECT: Award of Bid No. F0303-55 to Connect North and South Sunnyvale for Bicyclists and Budget Modification No. 41     

REPORT IN BRIEF

Approval is requested for the award of a contract to Prism Engineering, Inc. of Hollister to complete phase one of the Connect North and South Sunnyvale Bicyclists project for the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, Project Administration Unit (City Project No. TR-02/01-030).  Phase one of the project includes the installation of shared lane markings, overhead signs, and Class III Bike Route signs at Mathilda Avenue from Moffett Park Drive to Bordeaux Drive and at Wolfe Road from Maria Lane to Reed Avenue.

Approval is also requested for Budget Modification No. 41, to accept the State Bicycle Transportation Account grant of $113,580, and appropriate the grant monies and the local match requirement of $12,620 in regional traffic mitigation monies to the Connect North and South Sunnyvale Bicyclists project.   Acceptance of this grant award will help complete phase one of the project (Award of Bid No. F0303-55), and fund phase two of the project which is currently under development.

BACKGROUND

The City's Bicycle Opportunities Study and Bicycle Capital Improvement Program provides a basis for long-term planning for bike facilities on all arterial and collector streets in Sunnyvale.  This study established the bike facilities on Wolfe Road between Maria Lane and Old San Francisco Road as a priority for the City.  This section of Wolfe Road has also been identified by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as a Countywide Bike Route which designates it as part of a concept network to “provide direct and convenient bicycle routes throughout the County.”

The Bicycle Opportunities Study included a parking study that concluded that the on-street parking on Wolfe was only 10% utilized and that parking removal or restriction would be required to install bike lanes along Wolfe Road in the project location.  However, staff recommends bike routes be constructed instead of bike lanes for the following reasons:

·         Since the Bicycle Opportunities Study was undertaken, more detailed project specific studies have been completed; and staff has now determined that the parking is much more heavily utilized than the 10% originally included in the Bicycle Opportunities Study. These later studies concluded that a more accurate parking usage figure is 30-35% during the day and 50% at night.

·         In addition, it appears that the overwhelming majority of the neighborhood oppose the removal of on-street parking on Wolfe Road within the project location.  Staff conducted a public meeting that was attended by approximately 45 residents, the majority of which spoke out in opposition to parking removal.  Staff has also received numerous emails and phone calls expressing concern about the potential removal of on-street parking.  

It should be noted that the availability of off-street parking to replace or absorb the parking demand should on-street parking within the project location be removed was not studied in detail.  Off-street parking in this area is private single-purpose parking for residences and serves a different purpose and need than public on-street parking.  Users of on-street parking include visitors, guests, and other non-resident motorists.  It cannot be assumed that all potential users of on-street parking could park off-street if the on-street parking were removed. At the April 15, 2004 meeting, in response to an Information Only item on this project, the Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee moved to support the study of off-street parking availability in the project area.  Staff, however, believes that such a study would not yield information relevant to the conclusions already drawn regarding on-street parking and the project design and would unnecessarily delay this project.

Staff is aware of the importance of this project in the County Bike Route system and believes that the recommended project meets the objectives of the Countywide Bicycle Plan.  The Countywide Bicycle Plan calls for the establishment of routes which is accomplished by this project.  Staff looked at a number of possible alternatives that would retain parking while also providing a bike lane. The alternatives considered include:

·         Removal of the sidewalk park strip and relocation of the curb and gutter to provide right of way for a bike lane;

·         Reconfiguration of the street to provide for bike lanes on either side, one travel lane in each direction and a reversible direction commute hour lane; and

·         Acquisition of right of way to provide for the increased roadway width needed for the bike lanes.

The cost of all identified alternatives far exceed existing grant funds and would have considerable traffic, property, construction, aesthetic and other environmental impacts.

In order to use the grant funding to improve Wolfe Road for bicyclists, staff recommends the use of shared lane pavement markings in conjunction with high visibility "Share the Road" signs.  This approach allows the continuation of on-street parking while improving visibility and motor vehicle awareness of bicyclists using the roadway section.  These markings are an augmentation of standard Class III bike route signs and are currently recommended for adoption to the California Traffic Control Devices Committee.  The City of San Francisco has completed a detailed study of these markings and is now recommending their use; and they have been used for some time in approximately ten other jurisdictions across the country.   In addition, the device is identified in the VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines.

Staff believes the use of this marking is consistent with the City’s policy to maximize the provision of bicycle transportation improvements.  The basis for City policy is Federal Highway Administration research which shows that providing comprehensive bikeway networks can actually double bicycle use in communities.

It should be noted that the Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee considered this project at its July 17, 2003 meeting.  The Committee recommends that on-street parking be removed at least during commute time to accommodate a bicycle lane because of concern regarding the effectiveness of the shared-use arrow.  The BPAC also believes that the Wolfe Road Bike project would jeopardize the safety of bicyclists, discourage bicycle use and compromise the integrity of the County bike route system. 

DISCUSSION

The FY 2003/2004 budget for Connecting North and South Sunnyvale for Bicyclists project is $169,732, funded by Federal Surface Transportation grant of $150,000 and Gas Tax monies. At this time, the remaining unspent funds available to complete phase one of the project is $149,000. 

The City has received a new grant award from the State Bicycle Transportation Account in the amount of $113,580.  The State Bicycle Transportation Account grant award requires local matching funds of $12,620, which staff proposes to be funded by regional traffic mitigation reserves.  Acceptance of the State Bicycle Transportation Account grant would allow full funding of phase one of the project (Award of Bid No. F0303-55), which includes the installation of shared lane markings, overhead signs, and Class III Bike Route signs at Mathilda Avenue from Moffett Park Drive to Bordeaux Drive and at Wolfe Road from Maria Lane to Reed Avenue.  The State Bicycle Transportation Account grant will also fund phase two of the project, which include improvements for bicyclists in the Wolfe Road and Mathilda Avenue corridors.  The project scope for phase two is currently under development, pending consultation with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

FISCAL IMPACT

Approval is requested for Budget Modification No. 41, to accept the State Bicycle Transportation Account grant of $113,580, and appropriate the grant monies and the local match requirement of $12,620 in regional traffic mitigation monies to the Connect North and South Sunnyvale project.  

BUDGET MODIFICATION NO. 41

FISCAL YEAR 2003/2004

		Current			Increase (Decrease)		Revised
Gas Tax Fund Project 823700 Connecting North and South Sunnyvale for Bicyclists
Revenues
State Bicycle Transportation Account	$0				$113,580		$113,580
Regional Traffic Mitigation	$0				$12,620		$12,620
Expenditures
823700 Connecting North and South Sunnyvale for Bicyclists	$169,732				$126,200		$295,932
Capital Projects Fund/Traffic Mitigation Reserves
Capital Reserve Regional Traffic Mitigation	$148,424				($12,620)		$135,804

 

Award of Bid

Approval is requested for the award of a contract to Prism Engineering, Inc., of Hollister to complete phase one of the Connect North and South Sunnyvale Bicyclists project for the Department of Public Works Engineering Division, Project Administration Unit (City Project No. TR-02/01-030).  Phase one of the project includes the installation of shared lane markings, overhead signs, and Class III Bike Route signs at Mathilda Avenue from Moffett Park Drive to Bordeaux Drive and at Wolfe Road from Maria Lane to Reed Avenue.

Bid specifications incorporating staff recommendations were prepared by Public Works and Purchasing staff.  The Notice Inviting Bids was published in The Sun on March 17, 2004.  The bid package was distributed to Bay Area Builders Exchanges and broadcast to potential contractors through the DemandStar by Onvia procurement network.  Four contractors requested bid documents.

Sealed bids were publicly opened on April 7, 2004.  One responsive bid was received:

Bidders	Total Bid
Engineer’s Estimate	$135,860
Prism Engineering, Inc., of Hollister	$130,770