MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT:

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1 MEETING DATE: February 15, 2017 PREPARED BY: Diane S. Langager, Principal Planner MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT: Steve Chase DEPARTMENT: Planning & Building CITY MANAGER: Karen P. Brust SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution approving an off-cycle budget appropriation of $64,000 to provide additional funding for the Coastal Mobility and Livability Study (CMLS) to prepare a Grade Separation Study for a pedestrian rail-crossing (undercrossing and at-grade) at or near Verdi Avenue. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the Council: 1. Adopt Resolution No (Attachment 1) approving an off-cycle budget appropriation of $64,000 to the Rail Corridor Vision Study (RCVS) component of the CMLS (WC15A) project budget; and 2. Authorize the City Manager to, in consultation with the City Attorney; prepare a contract amendment with Parsons Brinckerhoff to prepare a Grade Separation Study for a pedestrian rail-crossing at or near Verdi Avenue. STRATEGIC PLAN: This CMLS relates to 1) the Community Planning focus area which strives to maintain safe and livable communities through well-maintained infrastructure and facilities and strong public safety; 2) the Recreation focus area which promotes active lifestyles and community health by furthering access to trails, parks, beaches and other recreational opportunities; and 3) the Transportation focus area which is to provide effective, safe, and easy transportation for all modes of movement and for all demographics. Additionally, the CMLS is part of the Council s approved Work Program. FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS: The CMLS is composed of three elements, a coastal corridor parking study, an Active Transportation Plan, and the RCVS. The total funding previously allocated to the CMLS is $434, Item 8N 1 of 7

2 An off-cycle budget appropriation of $64,000 is requested at this time based on Council direction to prepare a Grade Separation Study for a pedestrian rail-crossing (undercrossing and at-grade) at or near Verdi Avenue. This would bring the total budget for the RCVS to $325,700 resulting in an overall total for the CMLS of $498,500, which includes a Caltrans grant of $175,000. Any new CIP projects that result from the CMLS will require funding. BACKGROUND: On January 25, 2017 a presentation on the progress of the CMLS and public outreach effort was received by the City Council. After receiving public testimony and general discussion, the Council provided the following direction: 1. Proceed with the quiet zone and other improvements at the Chesterfield crossing in Cardiff-by-the-Sea and the implementation of the El Portal pedestrian undercrossing in Leucadia. 2. Proceed with further analysis for Quiet Zone implementation for other existing at-grade crossings in the City and include a funding request for the work effort as part of the next CIP budget. 3. Authorize additional funding ($64,000) to develop conceptual options for an undercrossing at or near Verdi in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The options will be considered by the Coastal Mobility Livability Working Group (CMLWG) to assess potential undercrossings at both Verdi and Montgomery to ascertain the best grade-separation alternative. 4. Develop a long-term plan for the corridor that includes: the evaluation of trenching, recommendations on design guidelines, and recommendations for additional crossings, particularly in Leucadia. 5. De-emphasize the working group s time spent on non-controversial issues and focus the CMLWG s attention on deliberating the difficult decision making points. The off-cycle budget appropriation being considered as part of this agenda report is in response to Council direction noted above in Item 3. ANALYSIS: The grade separation study for a pedestrian rail-crossing (undercrossing and at-grade) at or near Verdi Avenue will be presented to the Coastal Mobility and Livability Working Group (CMWLG) in conjunction with information on a crossing at Montgomery in order to make a recommendation to Council on the appropriate location and type of crossing in the Cardiff-bythe-Sea community. The CMLWG requested the additional information in order to fully assess the matter. While the CMLSWG only requested that the undercrossing alternative be investigated, City staff recommends the analysis of both an at-grade and an undercrossing be developed. Analyzing both types of crossings, will give an overall assessment of the Verdi site, for either type of crossing, at an incremental increase in the study cost. A scope of work and cost estimate for the work effort necessary to prepare a grade separation study for an At-Grade and Undercrossing adjacent to Verdi Avenue was prepared by Parsons Item 8N 2 of 7

3 Brinckerhoff as previously requested by staff (Attachment 2). Based on the estimate prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff, the estimated cost of the study is $64,000. This effort includes conceptual alternatives, cost estimates, report preparation, and two visual simulations. If it is necessary to develop topographic mapping for the study, an additional $6,000 - $8,000 will be needed. With Council direction to proceed, staff will return to Council with the appropriate budget resolution. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), which exempts organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. The action before the Council is to authorize an off-cycle budget appropriation to fund costs associated with the preparation of concept plans for a pedestrian rail crossing at or near Verdi Avenue as part of the CMLS. Any future projects resulting from the work effort, will require compliance with CEQA prior to decision by Council. The CMLS is related to the Climate Action Plan; the most relevant measure is T-4: Bikeway Master Plan implementation and action items. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Draft Resolution No Parsons Brinckerhoff scope of work and cost estimate to a Grade Separation Study for an at-grade crossing and undercrossing at or near Verdi Avenue Item 8N 3 of 7

4 Attachment 1 RESOLUTION NO A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENCINITAS AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WHEREAS, on June 22, 2016 the City of Encinitas City Council adopted Resolution No appropriating the budget for Fiscal Year ; and WHEREAS, changes in anticipated revenues and/or expenditures of the City of Encinitas necessitates a revision of the appropriations for Fiscal Year ; and WHEREAS, budgeted expenditures do not exceed anticipated revenue and available fund balance; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the proposed Fiscal Year budget amendments; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the City Council of the City of Encinitas does, hereby, adopt the amendments for Fiscal Year as shown in Exhibit A to this resolution. wit: PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15 th day of February, 2017, by the following vote, to AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: Catherine S. Blakespear, Mayor City of Encinitas Kathy Hollywood, City Clerk Item 8N 4 of 7

5 Fund Name Organization Code 1. General Fund Capital Projects Fund Exhibit A to Resolution Object Code Project No. (String) Description 3. Capital Projects Fund WC15A-101-BUDGET-FY2017 Revenue/ Transfer In Increase (Decrease) Expenditure / Transfer Out Increase (Decrease) Transfer additional funds to Capital Improvement Fund for preparation of conceptual plans for ped rail-crossing (undercrossing and at-grade) at or near Verdi Ave $ 64,000 Transfer funds from General Fund for preparation of conceptual plans for ped railcrossing (undercrossing and atgrade) at or near Verdi Ave $ 64,000 Additional funds for the preparation of conceptual plans for ped rail-crossing (undercrossing and at-grade) at or near Verdi Ave $ 64,000 Total $ 64,000 $ 128, Item 8N 5 of 7

6 Attachment 2 1/20/2017 SCOPE OF WORK CITY OF ENCINITAS VERDI AVENUE GRADE SEPARATION STUDY The Scope of Work will consist of the following tasks and deliverables: Conceptual Plan alternatives The consultant will provide a conceptual plan for a pedestrian only crossing of the LOSSAN railroad tracks at or near Verdi Avenue in the City of Encinitas. This crossing will take pedestrians from San Elijo Avenue on the east side of the tracks to Highway 101 on the west. Two alternatives will be studied. The first alternative concept study will be an at-grade crossing, the second alternative will be an undercrossing of the tracks. An alternative for a pedestrian overcrossing of the tracks is not included. Services to prepare the concept plans include research of existing utilities in the immediate area and obtaining the proposed alignment of the Coastal Rail Trail and double track alignment from SANDAG; providing typical sections of the proposed undercrossing structure and profile of the ramps; typical section of the proposed at-grade crossing showing potential improvements and railroad safety devices required; and 2 site visits to obtain site photographs and assess the concept design. It is assumed that the aerial and topographic survey will be provided by the City of Encinitas or from SANDAG resources therefore aerial topography and survey services are excluded from this scope of work. Preliminary Cost Estimate The consultant will provide one preliminary project cost estimate for both alternatives described above for a total of 2 estimates Item 8N 6 of 7

7 Visual Simulations The consultant will produce two (2) aerial oblique photo-simulations depicting a pedestrian undercrossing at Verdi Avenue. The simulation will illustrate the structural details of the project including portal entrance and exit, retaining walls and connecting sidewalks. Additionally we will add people into the simulation to help communicate scale. The simulation will be developed based on the conceptual project alternatives and a single high resolution digital image for the background plate (google earth). To ensure accuracy of placement and scale a 3D computer model of the future condition will be generated and view matched to the background image to act as a guide for the structural details of the project. Digital paint techniques will be used to add details to the 3D model and remove elements from the background image to depict the future condition realistically. A basic draft rendering of the underpass will be provided to ensure the location and scale of the structure. An additional draft will be provided at 90% complete for review followed by the final simulation. Drafts and the final simulation will provided as high resolution JPEG or PDF formats. Deliverables One Grade Separation Study that includes discussion on the two pedestrian crossing alternatives and the associated preliminary cost estimate. The study will describe the key understandings and assumptions, the development of each alternative, design considerations, and conclusions. Two visual simulations showing the undercrossing alternative only. Fee Estimate Preparation of the Conceptual Alternatives, Cost Estimate, and Grade Separation Study: $54,500 Visual Simulations: $9,500 TOTAL FEE ESTIMATE: $64,000 Exclusions and Assumptions: Aerial topography is excluded from the scope of work. it is assumed this will be provided by the City of Encinitas or SANDAG It is assumed that the Study will utilize the Pedestrian Crossing Assessment data provided as part of the Draft Montgomery Avenue Grade Separation Study shown in Appendix C dated April 2016 prepared by HDR. Field survey to identify property lines and Right-of-way is not included. It is assumed the property line and Right-of-Way information will be provided by SANDAG in Autocadd format and/or obtained from the SANDAG GIS Data Warehouse. 2 / Item 8N 7 of 7