Title
a. Approve Utility Agreement No. DRB-36002 between the County and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for the relocation of electric transmission poles for 79.5% of the actual net cost to PG&E estimated at $2,495,316 for the relocation of overhead distribution lines and electrical transmission poles needed for construction of the Davis Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening Project, Project No. 3600; and
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks to execute Utility Agreement No. BRD-36002 and future amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve Utility Agreement No. DRB-36002 between the County and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for the relocation of electric transmission poles for 79.5% of the actual net cost to PG&E estimated at $2,495,316 for the relocation of overhead distribution lines and electrical transmission poles needed for construction of the Davis Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening Project, Project No. 3600; and
b. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks to execute Utility Agreement No. BRD-36002 and future amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work.
SUMMARY:
Approval of the Utility Agreement No. DRB-36002 (“Agreement”) with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is necessary to relocate the overhead distribution lines and electrical transmission poles (utility poles) located adjacent to Davis Road between Blanco Road and the Salinas River. The utility poles are in conflict with the widening of Davis Road as proposed by the Davis Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening Project (“Project”).
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks (PWFP) is working on the right-of-way and utility relocation phase of the Davis Road Bridge Replacement and Road Widening Project. The Project consists of replacing the existing two-lane, low-level Davis Road Bridge (Bridge No. 44C-0068) over the Salinas River with a longer bridge that meets current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) requirements. The existing Davis Road Bridge is located approximately two (2) miles south of the City of Salinas. The Project also proposes to widen Davis Road from two (2) lanes to four (4) lanes for approximately 2.1 miles between Blanco Road on the north and Reservation Road on the south. The Project’s primary purpose is to construct an all-weather crossing over the Salinas River on Davis Road. The current river crossing is a low-level crossing that is overtopped during larger flows of the Salinas River. The concept of widening Davis Road to four-lanes resulted from the need to provide further carrying capacity between the Salinas area and the Monterey Peninsula.
On July 11, 2016, the Board of Supervisors certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project and directed the former Resource Management Agency (RMA) to proceed with the Project’s final design and related activities to be able to construct the Project. An EIR Addendum for the Project was prepared to amend the Project design details to incorporate design modifications following the Value Analysis Study Report prepared in 2017. The EIR Addendum was filed and approved by Caltrans on May 8, 2020.
The PG&E pole relocations are needed to construct the Project and PG&E cannot begin the relocation of the overhead electrical distribution lines and poles until “Utility Agreement No. DRB-36002” is approved and fully executed. The Agreement outlines the costs and responsibilities of the County and PG&E as it relates to the pole relocations. Given that most of poles are located on pre-existing PGE easements, the County has to pay most of the relocation cost of the electrical transmission line. The County’s share of cost has been calculated to be 79.5% and PG&E’s share cost is 20.5%. The total cost estimate for relocation of the overhead distribution lines and poles is $3,138,762. The County’s share will be approximately $2.5 million. PG&E will request the County reimburse PG&E for the County’s share following the completion of the work.
The full execution of the agreement is also necessary to meet the requirements for the right-of-way certification to Caltrans for the project. The Project is scheduled for construction for Spring 2024, following the acquisition of all the easements and issuance of the regulatory permits for the Project.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel-Risk Management has reviewed and approved the proposed Agreement between the County and PG&E as to form.
FINANCING:
The Project’s estimated total cost, including engineering, environmental, right-of-way and construction, is $77.1 million. The Project is currently unfunded in the amount of $24.1 million. Staff is actively pursuing additional funding sources to fully fund the Project before initiating the construction phase. If full funding is not obtained for the Project by the time final design has been completed, staff will analyze options for phasing the Project’s construction.
Funding from various Federal, State and local revenue has been authorized for the design and right-of-way portion of the Project. Sufficient appropriations of $1,303,154 are available for this Project phase in the Public Works Annual Work Program for FY 2022-23 Budget for Fund 002, Unit 8558. Therefore, there is no planned General Fund contribution for this Project.
The total estimated Project cost for the right-of-way phase of the Project is estimated at $6.5 million. This phase of the Project is partially funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Bridge Program (HBP) in the amount of $1,850,089. The Project is also funded by Local Funds comprised of funds from the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) and development impact fees. There are sufficient appropriations adopted in the FY 2022-23 Road Fund 002 to finance the right of way phase of the Project for the current fiscal year. The HBP funds will reimburse the County the portion of relocation cost, approximately $499,063, associated with the bridge construction. Staff is actively seeking to secure a funding source to cover the relocation costs (approximately $1,996,253) for the non-bridge portion of the Project. Should an alternative funding source not be secured, the costs would be borne by the Road Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The Project will replace the existing seismically deficient Davis Road Bridge with a new four (4) lane bridge that meets AASHTO and Caltrans Design Standards and widen the road to four-lanes to meet traffic needs. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’
Strategic Initiatives:
__Economic Development
__Administration
__Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works, (831) 755-8970
Reviewed by: Tom Bonigut, PE, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks
Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Project Budget
Attachment B - Location Map
Attachment C - Utility Agreement No. DRB-36002