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HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 West River Street Bridge TRUCKEE - AGENDA ITEM # 16 Public Utility District MEETING DATE: April 5, 2023 TO: Board of Directors FROM: Neil Kaufman, Water System Engineer Chad Reed, Water Utility Director SUBJECT: Additional Authorization for the Agreement with the Town of Truckee Concerning Installation of a Water Pipeline as Part of the Truckee River Legacy Trail Phase 4 Project APPROVED BY � �7- Brian C. Wridht, General Manager RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to execute an amendment to increase the amount of the reimbursement agreement between the District and Town of Truckee for construction of a water pipeline as part of the Truckee River Legacy Trail Phase 4 Project in the amount of $620,972, plus a ten percent change order allowance of $62,098 for a total authorization not to exceed $683,070. BACKGROUND: The Truckee River runs northeasterly through the District's service area. The river presents a significant barrier to the movement of vehicles and the provision of utility services. The District has ten active potable water wells that are used to supply water to customers. Airport Well and Martis Valley Well (two of the District's three largest production wells) are located in the Martis Valley groundwater basin to the south of the Truckee River. The Water System Master Plan also envisions the construction of additional wells south of the river to serve future growth. There are currently two water pipelines that cross the Truckee River in the downtown area, allowing transmission of water from these wells to a large portion of the District's service area north of the river. Page 1 of 4 The Town of Truckee is undertaking the Truckee River Legacy Trail — Phase 4 project. This project involves the construction of a paved recreation trail that runs southwesterly along the south side of the Truckee River from the Hilltop area near the Cottonwood Restaurant to the Nevada County— Placer County line near State Route 89. One component of the project involves the construction of a new pedestrian bridge across the Truckee River approximately 1,100 feet west of the existing vehicle bridge. This bridge will provide a connection to the planned park that will be located at the old Nevada County Public Works Yard on West River Street. During the design process of the project, the District worked with the Town of Truckee and the Truckee Donner Land Trust to install a water pipeline on this new pedestrian bridge in order to improve the ability to move potable water across the Truckee River and to provide redundancy in case a problem develops with one of the existing pipes across the river. The engineers estimate for the overall project is $8.2 million not including any contingencies. Based on this engineer's estimate, the District's share of the project was projected to be approximately $450,000. The Town of Truckee began advertising for bids in February 2022, with a bid opening on April 15, 2022. The apparent low bidder was Mercer-Fraser of Eureka, California with an overall bid price of just under $12.4 million. The great majority of difference between the engineer's estimate and the bid price involved the pedestrian bridge ($5.5 million actual vs. $2.0 million estimate). The bid item associated with the water pipe portion of the bridge also showed a sizeable increase ($107,400 actual vs. $71,600 estimate), with the District share of the overall project totaling approximately $477,000, not including any contingencies. The bid opening information was presented at the Town of Truckee Council Meeting on April 26, 2022. Four potential options were presented to the Town Council. 1. Award the contract to the low bidder and work with the contractor to develop a less costly design for the bridge by change order. 2. Reject all bids and rebid the trail project without the bridge. A revised bridge design would then be developed as part of a separate project or contract. 3. Accept the higher bid price and proceed with the project as currently designed with the Town covering the additional costs. 4. Accept the higher bid price and proceed with the project as currently designed with the Town and TDLT revising their cost sharing agreement and financial arrangements. In May 2022, the Board authorized a reimbursement agreement between the District and the Town of Truckee for this project with a total authorization not to exceed $600,000. Page 2 of 4 After discussions between Mercer-Fraser and the Town of Truckee, they decided to move forward with Option 1 as described above. Mercer-Fraser was awarded the contract and has begun construction of portions of the project. The Town also awarded a contract to Lumos & Associates (who was the original engineer for the project) to develop a less expensive alternative bridge design. The selected design is a metal truss structure similar to the existing pedestrian bridges on the Trout Creek Trail near Tahoe Donner and on the Legacy Trail near Glenshire. This revised bridge design will provide a few significant advantages over the original design: 1) The original design required the water pipe to be installed along an arch. This resulted in a high point at the center of the bridge, requiring an air release valve (ARV). ARVs are problematic in Truckee because they are subject to freezing and are difficult to insulate properly. The revised bridge design has a constant upward slope to the south and eliminates the need for the ARV. 2) The original design had the pipe fastened between two arch ribs using 2" x 2" support members and brackets. These arch ribs were below the bridge deck and access to the pipe for any repairs or maintenance would be difficult. The revised bridge design will has the pipe located within a casing hung under the bridge. This type of installation is more typical and will allow for easier maintenance of the water pipe in the future. The casing methodology is also being used for the Pioneer Trail Pipeline crossing of Trout Creek. Lumos has completed the final design for the revised bridge and Mercer-Fraser has provided revised costs. The Town of Truckee is currently estimating the District's share of the project at $620,972. However, due to the Districts limited control on this project and potential change orders staff is requesting $700,000. This total includes the revised bridge cost from Mercer-Fraser, engineering costs associated with the bridge redesign, construction management and contingencies. It should be noted that the overall bridge cost has been reduced, but the District's cost associated with the water pipe has increased. This cost increase to the District is relatively minor and the current design will result in an improved final installation for the District. Goals and Objectives: This item is in support of the following goals and objectives: District Code1.05.020 Objectives: 1. Responsibly serve the public. 3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet current and future needs 5. Manage the District in an environmentally sound manner 6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient and fiscally responsible manner. Strategic Goals: 1. Manage for Financial Stability and Resiliency Page 3 of 4 FISCAL IMPACT: An overall cost, including contingency, of $600,000 is currently estimated. While this project was not specifically budgeted in the Water CIP, the project qualifies for Water Facility Fees Funding. Water Facility Fees balance was $2.632 million as of December 31, 2022, and the Water CIP has only $1 .0 million currently identified for water facility fee funded capital expenditures. Water Facility Fees are also utilized for a portion of the 2006 COP bond debt of approximately $359,000 per year through 2036. The 5- year average in Water Facility Fee revenues is $833,000 per year. The Financial Master Plan (FMP)for current budget utilized a conservative average water facility fees revenues of$385,000 per year for 2022 to 2031, has 1 project of $1.0 million (2023 portion of 6170 tank), and the COP debt service of $359,000 per year. The FMP ending balance projected for 2031 is $1.7 million. Accordingly, water facility fee funds are sufficient to fund this project. Based on the conservative estimates in the FMP and adequate funds, this project is recommended to be funded solely from Water Facility Fees. Alternatively, this project could be funded from the FY 2023 budget which includes about $3.9 million for pipeline replacement and new pipeline construction. This $3.9 million total does not include the Pioneer Trail Pipeline project, which is a separate budget item. It is not recommended that the $700,000 cost of this project be funded from the FY2023 new debt funded projects, nor is it recommended that existing system replacement capital expenditures be lowered to accommodate this new system capital project. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1 - Bridge Figure — Profile Plan Page 4 of 4