TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Prem Kumar, City Engineer
Helen Shi, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consider Adopting a Resolution to Approve a Funding Agreement Between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and City of Manhattan Beach for the Recently Awarded Measure M Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal (MBATS) System Project for $5,440,000 (Public Works Director Katsouleas).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 20-0055
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution No. 20-0055:
1. Approving a Measure M Funding Agreement between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and City of Manhattan Beach for $5,440,000 to fund development of design plans and specifications and construction of the Manhattan Beach Advanced Traffic Signal (MBATS) System Project; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the Measure M Funding Agreement and any subsequent administrative amendments.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This $5.44 million Measure M project was awarded through LACMTA’s competitive grant in the Multi-Year Sub-Regional Improvements Program (MSP). These funds will be paid by LACMTA to the City on a reimbursement basis. There are no required City matching funds for the project. These funds will be programmed in the Capital Improvement Plan budget under Measure M.
BACKGROUND:
Currently, the City’s traffic signals along the arterial corridors throughout Manhattan Beach are activated using one or more standard traditional technologies, including loop detection, video detection and pre-set signal timing. These intersections carry a significant amount of outbound, inbound and through traffic during peak commute periods of the day. The traffic signals’ controls are limited by current technologies and the signals are physically maintained and programmed on-site by LAC-DPW through a long standing maintenance service agreement.
The City’s MBATS System Project proposes to upgrade signal controller equipment and connect them through a fiber optic backbone infrastructure that will support emerging traffic management technologies, such as dynamic signal timing, vehicle to vehicle connections, autonomous vehicles, public safety preemption and other smart cities initiatives that can improve traffic signalization and operational efficiencies. The infrastructure will enable enhanced signal timing, relieve congestion during peak hours, allow the system to be more responsive to changes in traffic conditions, and prepare for the future of more Internet of Things (IOT) communication. The City’s MBATS System Project is an extension of the SBCCOG’s SMART-Net project, which will construct a fiber-optic broadband infrastructure “ring” that provides cost-effective, high speed broadband to City Halls throughout the South Bay sub-region. Ultimately, this ring will support enhancements to the region’s mobility and accessibility systems, and to the networks that provide community services to South Bay residents.
On June 18, 2019, the City Council received a staff update from Public Works regarding a $5,440,000 Measure M MBATS System Project grant application that was submitted for consideration. The application identified Phase I of the fiber network that would connect traffic signals throughout Manhattan Beach to Los Angeles County’s Traffic Management Control Center. This MBATS System (see Network Map attached) scope of work was subsequently expanded to include the specific traffic signal equipment that is most compatible with the County’s regional network given our long-standing maintenance agreement. The cost of this additional equipment necessitated reducing the scope of how many signals could be connected to the fiber network. Therefore, staff informed LACMTA that, due to the expanded scope of work, the City would request additional funding to complete the remaining signalized intersections at a later date under Phase II. LACMTA informed City staff that modifications to this original funding request can be made through future grant applications and the budget amendment process after LACMTA Board’s initial approval.
In September 2019, the LACMTA Board took formal action to award $5,440,000 in Measure M Funds to the City of Manhattan Beach for design and construction of the Phase I MBATS System Project, subject to the terms and conditions of a fully executed Funding Agreement (FA). In February 2020, LACMTA staff finalized and approved a FA for City approval and execution.
DISCUSSION:
In order to accept and utilize these Measure M grant funds, City Council must adopt a resolution approving the LACMTA Funding Agreement. The attached Funding Agreement outlines the scope of work, expenditure and reporting requirements as well as the expected timeline for implementation. The Agreement contains standard boiler plate agreement language similar to previous LACMTA Funding Agreements approved by City Council for previous City projects. The attached resolution also authorizes the City Manager to sign the Agreement and any subsequent administrative amendments, if necessary, due to minor variations or adjustments to the terms and conditions therein.
The approved grant funding for $5,440,000 is designated for the MBATS System Project Phase I improvements. The Phase I improvements involve the design of the complete City fiber network and construction of a portion of the fiber backbone infrastructure, as well as a connection to the Los Angeles County fiber network hub near the Hawthorne Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard intersection, as shown in the attached network map. The specific work entails:
• Design engineering services to lay out the complete City fiber network;
• Preparing construction plans and specification for Phase I deployment, which includes bidding and installation of fiber conduit to each signal;
• Installation of supporting cabinets with switches via fiber patch; and
• Operating equipment.
Future Phase II improvements involve the deployment of the remaining fiber network improvements to reach all traffic signals in Manhattan Beach. Phase II is not currently funded. A funding request will be submitted once substantial work has begun under Phase I.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the attached Measure M agreement with LACMTA and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A community meeting will be scheduled during the design phase of the MBATS System Project to inform the public of the project improvements and its benefit to the community and regional traffic circulation system. All public comments and recommendations to the systematic design and equipment details will be considered, as appropriate, during the design phase. Targeted outreach will occur prior to the start of construction for residents and business located near or adjacent to construction activities.
ENVIROMENTAL REVIEW:
It is anticipated that the proposed project is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1(c). Based on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, a Notice of Exemption will be filed for the project with the Los Angeles County Clerk’s office prior to the construction phase.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 20-0055
2. Agreement - LACMTA
3. Map of Signals and Proposed Fiber Network Map