TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
Gilbert Gamboa, Principal Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Resolutions Making a Determination that the Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal (MBATS) System Project Qualifies for a Categorical Exemption Pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 (c) of the State CEQA Guidelines; Approving the Plans and Specifications; Awarding a Construction Agreement to Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc. for $15,028,763, Including Contingency; and Approving the Professional Services Agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. for $1,111,741 for Construction Management and Inspection Services (No Budget Impact) (Public Works Director Lee).
A) ADOPT RESOLUTION NOS. 25-0032 AND 25-0033
B) MAKE A DETERMINATION OF EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO CEQA
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 25-0032:
a. Making a Determination of Exemption Pursuant to Sections 15301 Class 1 of the State CEQA Guidelines Section;
b. Approving the final plans and specifications for the Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal System Project (MBATS System Project);
c. Awarding a Construction Agreement to Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc. for the MBATS System Project for $13,662,512; and
d. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement and authorizing the City Manager and/or his or her designee to approve extra work contingency up to $1,366,251.
2. Adopt Resolution No. 25-0033:
a. Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. in the amount of $1,111,741 for Construction Management and Inspection Services for the MBATS System Project; and
b. Authorizing the City Manager and/or his or her designee to execute the agreement.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Sufficient funds of $17,713,000 are currently available for the MBATS System Project in the Measure M Fund with expenditures anticipated to be fully reimbursed from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) through awarded grants in their Multi-Year Sub-Regional Improvements Program (MSP). There is no requirement for City matching funds. A Budget and Expenditures Summary Report for the project is attached.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s MBATS System Project is an extension of the South Bay Cities Council of Government’s (SBCCOG) South Bay Fiber Network Project (SBFN). The SBFN will provide a fiber-optic broadband infrastructure “ring” that offers cost-effective, high-speed broadband to municipal facilities throughout the South Bay sub-region. This ring will help improve the region’s transportation and accessibility systems and the networks providing community services to South Bay residents.
Currently, the traffic signals along the City’s main corridors are activated using one or more standard traditional technologies including loop detection, video detection, and pre-set signal timing. These intersections experience significant incoming, outgoing, and through traffic during peak commuting hours each day. The traffic signal controls are limited by dated technologies, and advanced traffic signal synchronization is not implemented.
Traffic signal synchronization is a traffic engineering technique of matching the green light times for a series of intersections to enable the maximum number of vehicles to pass through, thereby reducing stops and delays experienced by motorists. With traffic signal synchronization, the intersections along a traffic corridor will coordinate with a designated master intersection to optimize signal timing.
The City’s traffic signals are physically maintained and programmed on-site by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works through a long-standing maintenance service agreement. Using traditional technologies, signal malfunction incidents are not automatically detected or alerted to the signal maintenance team. The County’s signal maintenance team’s response time to incidents usually depends on requests from staff and motorists who observed the incidents.
The City’s MBATS System Project proposes to upgrade and connect signal controller equipment through a fiber optic backbone infrastructure that will support emerging traffic management technologies, such as dynamic signal timing, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, autonomous vehicles, public safety preemption, and other smart city initiatives that can improve traffic signalization and operational efficiencies. The infrastructure will enable enhanced signal timing, relieve congestion during peak hours, improve traffic progression, allow the system to be more responsive to changes in traffic conditions, and prepare for the future of more Internet of Things (IOT) communications. The project will allow City staff and a semi-autonomous control system to remotely monitor and control the signalized intersections to maximize synchronization and minimize backups through real-time data analysis and timing changes. A map of the proposed fiber network is attached.
In addition to the transportation improvements, there is an intent to eventually connect City facilities to the new fiber optic infrastructure. The MBATS System Project includes fiber connections to City Hall, Fire Station No. 2, the Public Works Yard, and Marine Avenue Park. Future connections could include additional park sites, utility systems, and Mira Costa High School. Connecting these facilities to the network would likely reduce the City’s reliance on leased fiber and lower costs.
On April 6, 2021, the City Council awarded a professional services agreement to DKS Associates, Inc. (DKS) for engineering design services. This agreement was subsequently amended twice: Amendment 1 (Contract Extension) in May 2023 and Amendment 2 (Compensation Increase) in November 2024.
DKS assisted the City in developing designs for discussion with stakeholders, including Metro, SBCCOG, LA County, the cities of El Segundo, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Beach, internal City departments, residents, businesses, and the school district. As the Design Engineer of Record, the DKS team will provide construction technical support services and respond to any questions associated with the fiber optic network plans prepared during the construction period including the preparation of issued construction documents, responding to Requests for Information (RFI), submittal reviews, construction meetings, the evaluation of as-built construction, bid document changes, and related construction support services.
In addition to the above contract actions, the City Council has reviewed and taken various actions on this project at multiple stages. Review dates include:
• June 2019 - Measure M Grant Application Update
• May 2020 - Approval of Measure M Funding Agreement
• April 2022 - Amendment 1 Funding Agreement (Additional Funds)
• April 2022 - Dynamic Messaging Signs (not approved)
• September 2023 - Amendment 2 Funding Agreement (extension of funds lapsing date)
• November 2024 - Amendment 3 Funding Agreement (Additional Funds)
DISCUSSION:
In April 2024, design for the MBATS System Project was completed. The project involves installing conduit infrastructure with interduct and 432-count Single-Mode Fiber Optic (SMFO) mainline cabling, pull box and splice enclosures. It also involves traffic signal controller and cabinet replacements, interconnecting approximately 30 intersections within the City. The existing traffic signal controller will be replaced with a 2070 Advanced Transportation Controller (ATC).
Additionally, the project includes the installation of Roadside Units (multi-band compatible), a Travel Time/Origin-Destination System, Ethernet Hub Switches, and access management software for ITS network monitoring, management, and alerts.
Furthermore, the project includes the installation of a new video detection and IP CCTV system, installing 12 to 48-count SMFO lateral drop cables from the splice enclosure to the new controller cabinet, splicing the drop cable to enable a redundant system, and implementing a new Touchless Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) system with audible walk indications.
Lastly, five traffic signals will be upgraded along Highland Avenue at Marine Avenue, 33rd Street, Rosecrans Avenue, 40th Street, and 45th Street. Three traffic signals will be upgraded along Artesia Boulevard at Prospect Avenue, Meadows Avenue, and Aviation Way.
Construction Bids
Bids for the MBATS System Project were solicited on a competitive basis following the provisions of the California Public Contract Code at the end of July 2024. The Project was advertised on the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department Bid Opportunities webpage and the City’s Bid Portal with PlanetBids (an online service that connects vendors, suppliers, and contractors to government procurement opportunities).
Five bids were received and opened on December 5, 2024, as follows:
Contractor Total Bid Amount
Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc. $14,277,987
DBX, Inc. $15,699,125
Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. $15,977,160
International Line Builders, Inc. $16,987,923
Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc. $19,848,165
All bid packets were analyzed by staff for arithmetical errors, completeness, accuracy, etc. Staff reviewed the bid, contractor’s license, and references for the apparent low bidder, Crosstown Electrical & Data Inc. (Crosstown). The bid and license are in order. Representatives from agencies where Crosstown has performed work have indicated that it was comparable to the MBATS System Project scope and met their satisfaction. The current project was discussed with the firm's representatives, who expressed confidence in their bid and a desire to complete the work in a timely and acceptable manner.
The original bid included four bid additives (A, B, C, and D). The basis for the low bid included the base bid plus all additives. The bid additives allowed for additional traffic signal upgrades to several intersections and connections to the main LA County hub that will provide a more robust system. However, there are not sufficient funds available to construct all additives included in the bid package. Staff is recommending deleting Additive C, traffic signal modification at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Poinsettia Avenue. Contingency funds are being set aside, which, if not used, can be allocated to this additive later. Removing this additive will not affect the operation of the system or compliance with the grant application.
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council award a construction agreement to Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc. for $13,662,512 and authorize the City Manager and/or his or her designee to approve change orders for additional work up to $1,366,251 (10% of construction contract cost), if necessary.
The Notice to Proceed to fulfill preconstruction requirements and order materials will be issued as soon as the construction agreement is executed. Construction is anticipated to start in late summer 2025 and end in 2027. Allowable construction hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with modifications to working hours during school days.
Construction Management and Inspection Services
The City issued a Request for Proposals in July 2024 seeking full-time construction management and construction inspection services for the MBATS System Project. The scope of work includes but is not limited to:
• Ensuring the contractor complies with the plans, specifications and applicable standards;
• Overall contract compliance, change order review, schedule changes;
• Quantity calculations and verification;
• Performing field project oversight;
• Documenting the daily work performed by the contractor;
• Verifying the completed work; monitoring, providing supporting documentation and inspecting any additional work performed; and
• Preparing a list of items for correction.
Five proposals were received by the December 5, 2024 deadline. An evaluation committee of City staff evaluated these proposals according to the following selection criteria:
• Demonstrated understanding of the Scope of Services requested;
• Firm qualifications and experience performing similar work;
• Project/Construction management methods and quality control;
• Qualifications and experience of key personnel; and
• Consultant’s familiarity with local (sensitivity) conditions
The evaluation committee interviewed Ardurra Group, Inc. (Ardurra), the top-ranked proposer, on February 20, 2025. The proposer delivered a presentation during the interview, followed by a question-and-answer session. Ardurra submitted the most responsive and comprehensive proposal based on the selection criteria and interview performance. Their assigned staff has excellent experience on similar projects, identified and understands the key project issues, and proposed an appropriate level of staffing for the size and complexity of the project. Ardurra’s methodology for executing the scope of work was clear and organized. Additionally, their interview presentation was well thought-out, and their responses to questions were knowledgeable and thorough. Per Government Code Section 4526, Professional Services Consultants are selected based on qualifications. Therefore, staff recommends that City Council award a construction management and inspection services agreement for $1,111,741 to Ardurra for the MBATS System Project.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Public outreach meetings have been conducted during the MBATS System Project's design phase to inform the public of the project improvements and their benefit to the community and regional traffic circulation system. All public comments and recommendations regarding the systematic design and equipment details were considered, as appropriate, during the design phase. Targeted outreach will occur before the start of construction for residents and businesses located near or adjacent to construction activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed Project and associated contract for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). City staff has determined that the Project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines since the Project proposes to upgrade and connect the existing traffic signal controller equipment through a fiber optic backbone infrastructure which is a negligible expansion of the existing use. Therefore, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the agreement as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 25-0032
2. Plans and Specifications (Web Link Provided)
3. Agreement - Crosstown Electrical & Data, Inc.
4. Resolution No. 25-0033
5. Agreement - Ardurra Group, Inc.
6. Budget and Expenditure Summary Report
7. Location Map