Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Award of the System Construction of the Valley View Street / Bolsa Chica Street Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project.
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publichearing
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From: Jake Ngo, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Long Tran, Associate Engineer
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Approve an increase to the Revenue for Account No. 55030-34490 (Traffic Impact Fee, I/Gvt-County-Other) in the amount of $478,080; and
B. Approve an increase in CIP Account No. 55031-312101 (Bolsa Chica Traffic Signal Sync) in the amount of $478,080; and
C. Transfer the balance from Account No. 55005 (Gas Tax) to a newly created CIP Project Account Number 55036-362503 (Bolsa Chica/Valley View RTSSP) in the amount of $140,365; and
D. Approve the award of contract to AET & Associates for the grant-funded System Construction of the Valley View Street / Bolsa Chica Street Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project in the amount of $668,259; and
E. Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $66,826 for potential change orders; and
F. Authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
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BACKGROUND
The Cities of Westminster, Garden Grove, and Huntington Beach (lead city) were awarded a Comprehensive Transportation Funding Program (“CTFP”) grant from the Orange County Transportation Authority (“OCTA”) to implement the Valley View Street/Bolsa Chica Street Corridor Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project (“RTSSP”). The Mayor and City Council approved Cooperative Agreement No. C-1-2765 at the Council meeting on September 14, 2022.
The Valley View Street/Bolsa Chica Street Corridor RTSSP consists of traffic coordination improvements from Chapman Avenue in the City of Garden Grove to Warner Avenue in the City of Huntington Beach. The goal of the project is to optimize traffic signal timing based on existing traffic patterns with the intent to:
• Reduce stops and delays.
• Reduce travel times.
• Lower fuel consumption.
• Increase average speeds.
• Improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gases.
In Westminster, the project will include hardware and software upgrades to traffic signal equipment, CCTV camera replacements, battery back-up systems, fiber optic communication equipment upgrades, rewire intersections, and traffic signal controller replacements at six (6) signalized intersections along Bolsa Chica Road from Old Bolsa Chica Road to Rancho Road. The project also includes the installation and integration of communication equipment to the Westminster Traffic Management Center (“TMC”).
All newly installed equipment will become the property of the City of Westminster.
Following the preparation of the design plans for the project, which was led by the City of Huntington Beach, the installation and integration of communication equipment requires the expertise of a transportation engineering consultant firm.
On April 24, 2025, staff issued a Request for Proposal (“RFP”) for Engineering and Professional Consulting Services to seek a qualified consultant firm for the construction task of the project. Staff received two (2) formal proposals. Proposals were then evaluated and ranked by a review panel of three (3) staff members. The top firm selected, AET & Associates, is the most experienced and qualified, as well as the lowest cost proposer for this project.
AET’s project manager has over 22 years of experience managing traffic signal and ITS improvement projects, including Traffic Signal Synchronization Projects (“TSSP”) programs through OCTA; notably the Westminster TSSP, Garden Grove TSSP, and Magnolia TSSP. AET is familiar with the City’s fiber optic communication network. Together with Yunex Traffic, which is currently the City’s traffic signal maintenance contractor, the team provides sufficient qualifications, knowledge, and experience for the task.
The grant application for this project was submitted in October 2019, and OCTA approved the funding in April 2020, for a total of $1,871,400 for Fiscal Years 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023.
With inflation, and the project being delayed due to the pandemic, the construction costs have escalated. In February 2023, OCTA approved additional grant funding consistent with the increases from Engineering News Record (“ENR”) and Construction Cost Index (“CCI”), bringing the total project cost to $2,343,900.
The City of Westminster’s portion of the grant amount was $478,080 with a match of $122,153.68. The current cost of the project is $668,259; with 10% contingency, for a total of $737,085. Any remaining unused project funds may be redistributed between the participating cities.
Due to changes in the OCTA funding process and the RTSSP project management, each participating city is now required to pay the construction cost directly to its consultant/contractor. OCTA, through the City of Huntington Beach, as the lead city for the project, will reimburse the cost later toward the completion of the project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Award of the subject contract requires the following proposed budget adjustments:
• Increase to the Revenue for Account No. 55030-34490 (Traffic Impact Fee, I/Gvt-County-Other) in the amount of $478,080.
• Increase in CIP Account No. 55031-312101 (Bolsa Chica Traffic Signal Sync) in the amount of $478,080.
• Transfer the balance from Account 55005 (Gas Tax) to a newly created CIP Project Account Number 55036-362503 (Bolsa Chica/Valley View RTSSP) in the amount of $140,365
• A portion of the City’s matching funds, in the amount of $116,640, was budgeted in the CIP Account No. 55031-312101 (Bolsa Chica Traffic Signal Sync) in Fiscal Year 2021/2022.
Funding for the contract with AET & Associates, including the 10% contingency, in the amount of $735,085, will be available in the following CIP accounts:
• Account No. 55031-312101 (Bolsa Chica Traffic Signal Sync) in the amount of $594,720.
• Account No. 55036-362503 (Bolsa Chica/Valley View RTSSP) in the amount of $140,365
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the Mayor and the City Council approve the award of contract to Architectural Engineering Technology, Inc. (AET & Associates) for the grant-funded System Construction of the Valley View Street / Bolsa Chica Street Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement
2. Cooperative Agreement No. C-1-2765
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager