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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Gibson Transportation Consulting for the Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Traffic Study Phase 2 for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $154,500.
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Meeting Date: February 24, 2025
Contact Person: Andrew Maximous, Mobility & Traffic Engineering Manager
Public Works Department
Phone: (310) 253-5628
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (02/19/2025)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (02/05/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a professional services agreement with Gibson Transportation Consulting for the Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Traffic Study Phase 2 for an amount not-to-exceed $154,500.
BACKGROUND
The Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) is the City Council’s adopted policy to address traffic concerns in residential neighborhoods. The process contained in the NTMP was followed with the Rancho Higuera residential neighborhood, which is situated in the northeastern part of Culver City, just east of Downtown. The neighborhood is bounded by Washington Boulevard on the west, National Boulevard on the north, Hayden Avenue on the east and Ince Boulevard and Higuera Street on the south (see Attachment 1).
Findings and recommendations of the NTMP Phase 1 were approved by the City Council on November 18, 2019. Some of the traffic calming measures such as curb extensions and traffic circles were installed with quick build materials to allow for future evaluation, consideration, and fine tuning. Permanent measures installed included high-visibility crosswalks, signing and striping enhancements, and speed cushions. These traffic calming measures were installed along Higuera Street, Lucerne Avenue, National Boulevard, and Ince Boulevard.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of a travel lane on Washington Blvd for the Move Culver City project have delayed the start of the Phase 2 evaluation. Modifications to the Move Culver City corridor have been completed, and the City is ready to move forward with this study.
The Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Association and a group of residents articulated their concerns about excessive speeding, high traffic volumes, and cut-through traffic. It was reported that cut-through traffic uses the neighborhood streets, as well as the streets in the Hayden Tract area, to travel between destinations south and east of the neighborhood, the I-10 freeway, and arterials to the west.
DISCUSSION
On December 12, 2024, a Request for Proposals (RFP) #2546 was released and advertised through PlanetBids inviting qualified firms to submit proposals to assist with the Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Traffic Study Plan Phase 2. The scope of the study includes four community workshops, two surveys, traffic data collection, developing mitigation scenarios, and a preliminary cost estimate of improvements. The overall goal of the traffic study is to achieve community consensus on a set of traffic improvements for the neighborhood.
Three firms responded with proposals. Staff evaluated each firm’s proposal using the criteria below, which was also provided in the RFP:
• Qualifications & Experience, Ability to Meet Project Schedule;
• Response to Scope of Services;
• Cost; and
• References & Required Forms
Staff recommends awarding this project to Gibson Transportation Consulting given their extensive, relevant experience with community traffic studies, competitive cost, experience and familiarity with the City, and flexible approach to the project schedule.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 includes sufficient funding to cover the costs for the proposed agreement in an amount not-to-exceed $154,500 in CIP Project No. PO008 (Rancho Higuera NTMP). PZ923 has funding allocated from multiple funds including the Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 420) and the Measure M Fund (Fund 435) which can be found in the Capital Improvements section of the budget book on pages 479 and 481. If approved, staff will use dollars allocated from these two funds for the agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Project Area Map
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Approve a professional services agreement with Gibson Transportation Consulting for the Rancho Higuera Neighborhood Traffic Study Phase 2 for a Total Amount Not-to-Exceed $154,500;
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.