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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03071995 - 1.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR DATE: March 7, 1995 SUBJECT: Approve Plans and Specifications and Advertise for bids for the Olympic Boulevard Widening Project. Project No. 0662-6R4092-93, CP # 89 - 88. Specific Request(s) or Recommendation(s) & Background & Justification I. RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE the Plans and Specifications for the Project and ADVERTISE for bids to be received on Thursday, April 6, 1995, at 2:00 p.m. DIRECT the Clerk of the Board to publish the Notice to Contractors in accordance with Section 20392 of the Public Contract Code at least 21 days prior to bid opening. II. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated contract cost of the project is $1,042,000, funded by State and Federal funds (77%) and S. Walnut Creek AOB (23%). 111. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: The project is needed to improve the capacity of Olympic Boulevard and the Tice Valley Road intersection. The Public Works Director has filed with the Board of Supervisors the Plans and Specifications for the project. Continued on Attachment: X SIGNATUR�E� _RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON`r✓�an,c-Q� 7� I `� qS APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED_-%,""OTHER The Board APPROVED the above recommendations with the understanding that the left turn lane requested by Norman and Paul Borgwardt, owners of the Saranap Filling Station at the corner of Olympic and Tice Valley Boulevards, will be addressed by a change order, and REQUESTED the Public Works Director to report to the Board with an estimate of the additional cost of the.change,-order within two weeks. The following-persons appeared to address the matter: Norman Borgwardt and Paul Borgwardt; 1601 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek; Ed..Schaffer,-Norris & Norris, 3260 Blume Drive,Richmond, attorney for the Borgwardts, and Charles Abrams, Abrams Associates, Traffic Consultant. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS ✓ UNANIMOUS (ABSENT s ) AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MC:jlg c\BO:bo7.t3 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Orig.Div: Public Works(Design Division) Board of Supervisors on the date shown. Contact: Mike Carlson,(313-2346) cc: County Administrator ATTESTED: M1 7 I Gjt� At E.Kuevor PHIL BATCHELORClark of the Board IT Auditor-Controller ,of Supervisors and PW Accounting county Administrator Construction Community Development By �.,Deputy Approve Plans and Specifications and Advertise for bids for the Olympic Boulevard Widening Project March 7, 1995 Page 2 The general prevailing rates of wages, which shall be the minimum rates paid on this project, have been filed with the Clerk of the Board and copies will be made available to any interested party upon request. The Board reviewed and approved the project on December 5, 1989 and found, on the basis of the initial study and all comments received, that there is no substantial evidence that the project will have a significant effect on the environment and adopted the Negative Declaration in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. A Notice of Determination was filed with the County Clerk on December 5, 1989, IV. CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If the project is not approved for advertising, it will not be constructed. NORRIS RN NORRIS RICHARD E. NORRIS HILLTOP OFFICE PARK TELEPHONE M. JEFFREY MICKLAS DOUGLAS C. STRAUS 3260 BLUME DRIVE, SUITE 200 (510) 222-2100 CY N RICHMOND,CALIFORNIA 0480413-1.961. CO LININ J.J. COFFEYFACSIMILE JOSHUA.G. GENSER SHARON M. IVERSEN' (510) 222-5992 EDWARD L. SHAFFER March 6, 1995 e/� � DAVID S. SMITH - RECEIVED E® JUSTIN D. SCHWARTZ NOEL M. CAUGHMAN - J. ERICK DIMALANTA ROBIN A. BREWER Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors 651 Pine Street CLERK E OAM OF SUPERVISORS Martinez, California 94553 . �" COSTA CO �. , RE: Olympic Boulevard Project (Agenda Item 1.1) : , Saranap Filling Station Access Honorable Chair and Members of the Board: The Board agenda for Tuesday, March 7, 1995 includes Consent Item 1. 1, to approve plans and solicit bids for the Olympic Boulevard Widening Project. We request that this item be opened for comments by the public and discussion by the Board. Norman and Paul Borgwardt, owners of the Saranap Filling Station at the corner of Olympic and Tice Valley Boulevards, ask you to modify project plans to allow left turns into the station from Tice Valley Boulevard. The Public Works Department has conceptually approved this request, but wants to require private financing. We ask the Board to direct the Department to implement the left turn design, without cost to the Borgwardts. LEFT TURN CAN BE ADDED WITHOUT SAFETY PROBLEM 1. Long sight distance allows safe turns. 2. Turn has been used for many years"without problem. 3. Left turn eliminates u-turns, avoids traffic conflict. 4. Pocket separates left turns from through traffic. THE OWNERS SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS CHANGE 1. The owners offer to donate land for street widening. 2. Design and construction costs are minor. 3. The left turn should have been included originally. 4. The left turn will actually improve safety and traffic flow. \DOC\80130001\117210 Board of Supervisors March 6, 1995 Page 2 Attached is my March 1st letter to Public Works making this request, with a left turn design prepared by Charles Abrams, a traffic consultant. Included was a letter from the California Trade and Commerce Agency, which provided a loan in 1993 to renovate the station. Attached is a Petition that has been signed by 700 customers and Rossmoor area residents during the past 7 days. These people value the service of Saranap Station, and support a left turn. We understand the importance of this road project and County concerns over timing and funding. The County may begin the bid process and then prepare a minor amendment, or instead use a change order after the contract is awarded. The Borgwardts do not wish to delay bidding or construction schedules. BORGWARDTS WILLING TO DONATE LAND Our plan requires a piece of the station's property. The Borgwardts will dedicate this land to the County without payment, in return for the proposed left turn. This represents a significant public benefit, more than offsetting the cost and inconvenience of revising project plans to include the left turn. The County originally planned to take this same piece of land, in order to widen Tice Valley Boulevard and eliminate the curbline bend south of the station. However, an alternate plan was selected that took only property across the street. While the current plan improves the intersection, it does not correct the bend. Our proposal cures that problem. COUNTY SHOULD PAY FOR LEFT TURN Mr. Abrams estimates that revising plans and specifications to include the left turn would cost approximately $3, 000-5,000 if done by a private engineering firm. We assume that the County's actual cost will be less, since redesign will be done by Public Works engineers. Mr. Abrams also estimates that the change in design may only increase construction costs by $5,00.0. The County decided to close off left turns in 1990, despite the Borgwardts' objections. If the County had accepted their arguments that left turns can be allowed safely, the project would have been designed with a left turn at full County cost. The cost to implement this left turn should be absorbed by the County. It is a fair trade for the land being donated by the \DOC\60130001\117210 Board of Supervisors March 6, 1995 Page 3 Borgwardts. It also is a reasonable expense to better serve Rossmoor-area residents and to help the station stay in business. LEFT TURN NEEDED TO MAINTAIN STATION'S BUSINESS More than 60% of the station's customers live in Rossmoor, and many more live along Tice Valley Boulevard. U-turns will be inconvenient or intimidating to many drivers. Eliminating the left turn may cause a substantial loss of business. The Borgwardts completely renovated the station in 1993, including removal of old underground tanks. This work was financed by a large loan from the California Trade and Commerce Agency. Repayment of the loan and continued operation of the station depend on maintaining the expected volume of customers. LEFT TURN IS SAFE Drivers waiting to make the left turn will have more than 180 feet clear line-of-sight toward oncoming cars, allowing for safe turns during gaps in traffic. Rossmoor area residents have made this turn for many years with almost no accidents. Charles Abrams studied the intersection and finds no safety hazard. It is not necessary to prohibit left turns. LEFT TURN ACTUALLY IMPROVES TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY Current plans provide a u-turn at the signal for cars wishing to enter the station. U-turns will delay traffic waiting to make left turns onto Olympic Boulevard travelling toward Pleasant Hill. Cars making u-turns also may risk accidents with other traffic entering southbound Tice Valley Boulevard. Our left turn proposal has several benefits: cars waiting to enter the station are separated from through lanes; u-turn conflicts are avoided, and intersection operation will improve. Our plan also straightens out Tice Valley Boulevard and eliminates an awkward bend in the curbline south of the station. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. We will be available at the March 7 meeting to answer any questions. Very truly yours, NORRIS & NO S, P.C. BY EDWARD L. SHAFFER \DOC\B0130001\117210 NORRIS '�44 NORRIS RICHARD E. NORRIS HIL:TOP OFFICE PARK TELEPHONE M. JEFFREY MICKLAS (5101 222-2100 DOUGLAS C. STRAUS 3260 BLUME DRIv E. SUITE 200 CY EPSTEIN _ COLIN J. COFFEY RICHMOND,GAL1F0S-I_k 94806-1961 FACSIMILE JOSHUA G. GEN5ER IVERSEN (510) 222-5992 EDWARD L. SHAFFER March 1, 1995 DAVID S. SMITH JUSTIN D. SCHWARTZ NOEL M. CAUGHMAN J. ERICK DIMALANTA ROBIN A. BREWER VIA FACSIMILE AND MAIL Michael Carlson Associate Civil Engineer Contra Costa County Department of Public Works 255 Glacier Drive Martinez, California 94553 RE: Olympic Boulevard Widening Project: Saranap Filling Station Access Dear Mr. Carlson: Thank you for meeting with me on February 28 regarding County plans to improve the intersection of Olympic and Tice Valley Boulevards. As we discussed, I am requesting a design modification to allow left turns from Tice Valley Boulevard northbound into the Saranap Filling Station at the southwest corner of the intersection. Current plans would install a divider along Tice Valley Boulevard south of the intersection, preventing left turns into the station. The Public Works Department asserts that left turns cannot be permitted for public safety reasons. However, Rossmoor residents have made left turns into the station for years without recording a history of accidents. We have consulted with Charles Abrams of Abrams Associates in Walnut Creek, a well-known and respected traffic consultant. Mr. Abrams examined the site and reviewed County plans. He concludes that left turns can be allowed without violating generally accepted traffic standards or causing safety hazards. Attached is a copy of the rough design for a left turn prepared by Mr. Abrams, which I gave you at our meeting. Drivers waiting to turn into the station will have a clear line of sight measuring at least 180 feet -- which provides enough advance warning to allow safe turns. His design creates a turning pocket to hold waiting cars without blocking through traffic. The proposed design also blocks drivers leaving the station from trying to turn left across the divider into northbound Tice Valley Boulevard, avoiding a possible safety hazard. This plan can be built by using a portion of the Saranap Station property along Tice Valley Boulevard to widen the roadway \DOC\80130001\117139 Michael Carlson March 1, 1995 Page 2 (matching the wider street in front of the property next door) . The added pavement will accommodate the turning pocket and enlarged median. The owner will cooperate regarding both placement of the entry driveway into the station and use of his frontage property, to allow reasonable operation of the business. The County proposes u-turns at the intersection instead of allowing the left turn, for traffic coming from Rossmoor. The station currently serves approximately 240 Rossmoor residents daily. Drivers making u-turns may delay traffic queued in the same lane for left turns, causing a backup. Although your u-turn design may satisfy technical standards, it may not provide enough turning space to allow comfortable u- turns by larger automobiles. Rossmoor residents may be reluctant to attempt a u-turn, and instead will go elsewhere for service. Saranap Filling Station relies on Rossmoor for more than 60% of its business. The owner fears that much of this business will be lost without an easy left turn. This may result in closing the station and defaulting on the state loan used in 1993 to remediate pollution and rebuild the station (see attached letter from the California Trade and Commerce Agency) . Closure would leave the Rossmoor area with only one gas station. Our solution will allow Saranap Station to remain in business, better serve local residents, and facilitate traffic movements at the intersection -- all without causing any public safety hazard. We understand that the Board of Supervisors will vote on March 7 to approve plans and authorize bids for the Olympic Widening Project. We hope to receive a decision before then, to avoid the need to raise this issue before the Board. You may call Mr. Abrams (945-0201) or me to discuss our proposed design. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Very truly yours, NORRIS & NORRIS, P.C. BY EDWARD L. SHAFFER ELS:slh encl. cc: Steve Kersevan, County Traffic Engineer Ronald Berkhimer (Rossmoor representative) R. Norman Borgwardt, property owner Charles Abrams, Abrams Associates \DOC\80130001\117139 MAR-06`95 MOH 11: 15 ID: TEL 110: 402-1 P02 sw 3 4 J f v Olympic GLIFORNTATRADE AND COMMERCE AGENCY �ti•(rrp (916)445-6733 Pete Wilsnn (916)322-5084 FAX Governor February 23, 1995 Julie Meier Wright Serre-!C!-3, Mr. I Michael Wolford Department of Public Works County of Contra Costa 255 Glacier Drive Martinez, CA 94533-4897 Re: Tice Valley Boulevard Widening Project j Dear Mr. Wolford: Contra Costa County plans to re�esign the intersection of Ti Valley and Olympic Boulevards outside of Walnut Crock. This letter is to requcs that the County give maximum deference to permitting customer access to Saranap Fi ling Station as part of this project. A majority of the funds to rebuild Saranap Filling Station in 1993 came from a loan from this agency,through the Replacing Underground Storage Tanks(RUST) Program of the California Trade and Corruuerce Agency. We understand from our j borro%-cr that replacement of the county's road project threatens the economic viability of the station, placing a quarter million dollars of taxpayer money at risk. The rebuilding of Saranap Filling Station has been a model of successful public support for private enterprise. This success is threatened if the County installs a median strip w+Iudh prevents customers from entering the station. In that event,the loan from this a&%mcy could go into default. My Agency, of course, has not rriade any investigation or determination that access will be excessively restricted under the current pians. We request, however;that the County carefully oversee this project to ensure that such a detrimental course of action does not occur. Thank you. I i 801 K Street S rCly, Suite 1700 Sucramentu. CA S A. Y UNGZ' 95814-3520 ' enior Developmen pec' ist I ; cc_ Saranap Filling Station I '