Posting Language
Title
Authorize additional contingency for the construction contract for the 2018 Bond Stassney Lane/South Congress Avenue Intersection Safety Improvements project with Austin Underground, Inc., in the amount of $795,620 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $3,978,102.
[Note: This request is for additional expenditure authority only. MBE/WBE goals will be established if a change order is requested].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Managing Department
Transportation and Public Works Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Capital Budget of the Transportation and Public Works Department.
Purchasing Language:
Additional Authorization.
Prior Council Action:
February 9, 2023 - Council approved a construction contract with Austin Underground, Inc. for the 2018 Bond Stassney Lane/South Congress Avenue Intersection Safety Improvements.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
This project will implement critical safety and multi-modal improvements on South Congress Avenue between Mockingbird Lane and Little Texas Lane, funded through the 2018 Mobility Bond. This project is designed to reduce crashes for all transportation modes, increase safety, and improve mobility and accessibility for those walking, biking, or taking transit. The scope of work will include:
• Adding a second left turn lane for vehicles traveling on southbound South Congress Avenue to eastbound Stassney Lane;
• New raised concrete medians on South Congress Avenue;
• New left turn lane on northbound South Congress Avenue to Ainsworth Street;
• Modified existing triangular median islands at the northeast and southeast corners to slow right turn speed;
• Six new Capital Metro bus stops;
• New high-quality separated bicycle and pedestrian paths
• New American with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps
• Signal infrastructure upgrades and signal timing upgrades to improve operations, and
• New pavement surface treatments and new permanent markings, including new high-visibility crosswalks and signage.
To date, Transportation and Public Works Department (TPWD) has completed construction of safety improvements at 22 high-crash intersections throughout Austin, funded by various sources. Early results from completed projects show a 30% overall reduction in total crashes and a significant reduction in serious injury crashes.
The Texas Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over this portion of South Congress Avenue. TPWD received a Letter of Authority on July 15, 2022, with the approval to issue a construction contract to construct this project. A Local On-System Improvement Project Agreement was also executed on January 17, 2022.
Construction started in Spring 2023, and the project duration is 10 months, barring no weather delays or other unforeseen circumstances.
The additional contingency is required due to increased construction costs to complete critical signal work improvements at South Congress Avenue at Little Texas Lane. A contingency is an additional amount of money added to the construction budget to cover any unforeseen construction costs associated with the project. By authorizing the additional contingency funding, Council is authorizing any change orders within the contingency amount.
This project is located within zip code 78745 (Council District 2 and 3).