To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
.title
Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached plans and specifications for the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 project;
2. Accept Resolution No. 22-116 Final Environmental Impact Report for the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project pursuant to CEQA; and,
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to advertise the above-mentioned project as required by Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, with bids to be opened on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Road Fund (1200), Federal Highway Administration Highway Bridge Program, California Transportation Commission (Proposition 1B)
DISCUSSION:
The Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project will replace a historic bridge located in the community of Honeydew at the junction of Wilder Ridge Road and Mattole Road. Built in 1920, the existing bridge is a single-lane, two (2) span Camelback truss with timber decking and rails. On May 6, 1997, the Board of Supervisors passed Resolution No. 97-56 which stated the need for the bridge to be replaced. The need for replacement was evident during and after severe winter storms where the existing bridge limited access to heavy equipment and emergency responders because of size and weight restrictions placed on the bridge by the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”). On Sept. 15, 2009, Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) received approval from Caltrans to replace the bridge and proceed with preliminary engineering.
On Jan. 24, 2012, the Board of Supervisors executed a Design Engineering and Environmental Document Development contract with Morrison Structures, Inc., to develop plans and specifications for bridge replacement. The project has progressed through environmental studies and document approval, an extensive historical analysis, Caltrans’ type selection report and structure review, plans and specifications development, right of way certification and construction funding approval. The proposed bridge will be a two (2) lane, two (2) span composite welded girder bridge that minimizes impacts to the Mattole River ecosystem and meets community transportation needs.
On Aug. 3, 2023, Public Works received authorization by the Federal Highway Administration Highway Bridge Program to proceed with construction. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and is expected to take two seasons to complete. The first season will consist of constructing a temporary detour and river crossing, constructing the foundation piles at the pier and the abutments, and then removal of the river crossing. The second season will begin with constructing the temporary river crossing, removal of the existing bridge, constructing the abutments, pier and retaining walls, construction of the bridge superstructure, bridge railing and bridges approaches, and finally, removal of the temporary detour and river crossing. Included in the construction of the bridge are Mattole Road intersection with Wilder Ridge Road and with Burrel Road improvements that meet current federal design standards, a five (5) year extensive revegetation planting and monitoring, installation of a historical monument and plaque, and a plan that is compliant with regulatory agency conditions for protection of plants, animals, birds, and fish.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Analysis:
CEQA requires preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) if there is substantial evidence in light of the whole record that a project may have a significant effect on the environment. Due to the historic eligibility of the bridge, it was determined an EIR would be the appropriate CEQA document to prepare. A Draft EIR was prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15084 in October 2021. No comments were received during the public review period and no new significant information was brought to light, therefore, recirculation of the Draft EIR was not required prior to certification. The Final EIR was prepared in January 2022. The Final EIR was presented to the Board of Supervisors in its entirety and the Board reviewed and considered it before taking action to certify the Final EIR and approving the Project. A Notice of Determination (NOD) was filed with the Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder’s Office and Office of Planning and Research pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15094 on Sept. 28, 2022. Resolution 22-116 was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Sept. 27, 2022, and thoroughly describes the aforementioned CEQA processes.
Accordingly, Public Works recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the attached plans and specifications; accept Resolution No. 22-116 Final Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA; and advertise the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY23-24 * |
FY24-25 * |
FY25-26 * |
|
Engineer’s Estimate of Contract Items |
$2,100,00.00 |
$7,200,000.00 |
$6,993,000.00 |
|
Contingencies (10%) |
$210,000.00 |
$720,000.00 |
$699,300.00 |
|
Construction Engineering (15%) |
$315,000.00 |
$1,080,000.00 |
$1,048,950.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$2,625,000.00 |
$9,000,000.00 |
$8,741,250.00 |
|
Funding Sources (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY23-24 * |
FY24-25 * |
FY25-26 * |
|
Federal Funds 88.53% |
$2,323,912.50 |
$7,967,700.00 |
$7,738,628.62 |
|
Road Fund (1200) 11.47% |
$301,087.50 |
$1,032,300.00 |
$1,002,621.38 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$2,625,000.00 |
$9,000,000.00 |
$8,741,250.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
There is no financial commitment until the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project is awarded. This project is being funded by Federal Highway Administration Highway Bridge Program Funds (88.53%) and the Humboldt County Road Fund (11.47%). The engineer’s estimate for contract items for the project is $16,293,000.00. The total construction costs are estimated to be $20,366.250.00. The Humboldt County Road Fund will be responsible for $2,336,008.88 of the total construction costs associated with the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project.
Expenditure appropriations related to completion of the Mattole Road (F3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project are included in the approved fiscal years 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26 budget for Road-Engineering budget unit 1200-321.
Projects are paid in arrears. The FY 2021-22 Annual Road Report, completed by the State of California, reflected an estimated negative fund balance of $8.8 million in the county’s Road Fund. Even after allocating nearly $6.8 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Road Fund in order to reduce the negative fund balance, the current estimated fund balance remains negative by approximately $11 million.
This negative balance is partially due to the timing of Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements to the county, which can take years for the county to receive repayment. The current outstanding repayments are approximately $11.5 million. The department utilizes other state and local funding, such as Regional Surface Transportation Program funds, for the Humboldt County Road Fund match for reimbursable projects. Despite those additional funding sources, Road Fund projects are underfunded and will very likely have a negative impact on the General Fund if additional revenue sources are not secured.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no impact to current staffing levels related to the advertisement of the Mattole Road (3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263 Project.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Provide for and maintain infrastructure
New Initiatives: N/A
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Not approve the project; however, staff does not recommend this alternative since the project will replace a bridge that will provide unrestricted access for public, commercial, emergency responders and maintenance services to the community of Honeydew and surrounding areas. The project uses federal funding that would not otherwise be available to the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Plans for Mattole Road (3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263
2. Special Provisions Mattole Road (3D010) over Mattole River Bridge No. 04C0263
3. Resolution No. 22-116 Certification of Final Environmental Import Report Honeydew Bridge Replacement Project
4. Resolution No. 97-56 Need to Replace Honeydew Bridge
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-22; C-7; C-14; C-13; D-26; C-17; D-12; D-17; D-29
Meeting of: May 6, 1997; Jan. 24, 2012; May 13, 2014; Mar. 22, 2016; Sep. 20, 2016; Dec. 6, 2016; Apr. 19, 2022; Sep. 27, 2022; Apr. 25, 2023
File No.: N/A; N/A; 14-0221; 16-1063; 16-6852; 16-8800; 22-410; 22-1193; 23-489