DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2 and 10
SUBJECT:
Contract Award: Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors (2017 Bond Project)
SUMMARY:
An ordinance accepting the lowest responsive bid and awarding a construction contract to Capital Excavation Company in an amount not to exceed $22,575,600.40 of which funds in an amount not to exceed $1,300,847.61 will be reimbursed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS); an amount not to exceed $726,276.00 will be reimbursed by CPS Energy and an amount not to exceed $15,218,822.00 will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for construction of the Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors Project, a federally and 2017 Bond funded project, located in Council District 2 and 10.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Project Background
On May 6, 2017, voters approved the 2017 Bond Program which authorized $3,000,000.00 for the Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors Project located in Council District 2 and 10.
The Project was also established and funded through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) as a Local Agency Managed (LAM) project by TxDOT and the City of San Antonio. LAM projects are managed by the City, but receive federal funds administered through TxDOT.
In 2013, a preliminary engineering report and schematic design was prepared for Harry Wurzbach Road, also known as TAPS Memorial Boulevard, which presented a plan to improve mobility along the Harry Wurzbach corridor from Fort Sam Houston to Loop 410 currently lacking connectivity between Harry Wurzbach Road and Austin Highway. During design, it was determined a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) would be the most reasonable option for the area.
The SPUI will have connector ramps between both roads to facilitate traffic and provide direct routes for motorists. Once completed, the project will improve traffic flow and functionality of the roadway for businesses and the public. This project is anticipated to begin in February 2020 and estimated to be completed in February 2022.
Previous Council Action
An Advanced Funding Agreement (AFA) between the City of San Antonio and TxDOT authorized funding to improve mobility along the Harry Wurzbach corridor from Fort Sam Houston to Loop 410 including design of entrance and exit ramps, retaining walls, sidewalks, signage and drainage enhancements, as well as payment to TxDOT for oversight services was approved by City Council through Ordinance 2015-05-07-0367
TxDOT funding was authorized for additional project modifications including improvements to curbs, driveways, sidewalks on both sides of Harry Wurzbach Road, a 10-foot shared-use path, roadway illumination, traffic signal improvements, bridge widening, retaining walls, utility adjustments/relocations and striping was approved by City Council through Ordinance 2017-06-08-0415.
Procurement of Services
This project was advertised on July 12, 2019 for construction bids in the San Antonio Hart Beat, on the City’s website on the City’s website, on the Texas Electronic State Business Daily, on TVSA, through the electronic bidding site CivCast and through the TCI Small Business Office. Plans were available for review by potential bidders at the office of Civil Engineering Consultants, Inc. located at 11550 IH 10 West, Suite 395 San Antonio, Texas 78230. Bids for this project were opened on August 13, 2019 and two (2) bidders responded. Of these, Capital Excavation Company submitted the lowest responsive bid. A summary of the bid outcome is included as an attachment.
Due to the utilization of federal funding, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program of the State of Texas is utilized in place of SBEDA. The DBE goal for this project is 7.5%. This construction contract was developed utilizing the low bid process; therefore, a Discretionary Contracts Disclosure Form is not required.
ISSUE:
This ordinance accepts the lowest responsive bid and awards a construction contract to Capital Excavation Company in an amount not to exceed $22,575,600.40 of which funds in an amount not to exceed $1,300,847.61 will be reimbursed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS); of which an amount not to exceed $726,276.00 will be reimbursed by CPS Energy; and of which $15,218,822.00 will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors Project, a federally funded project, located in Council District 2 and 10.
Traffic studies and input from surrounding residents identified key issues with the management of traffic near Fort Sam Houston, most notably at the Harry Wurzbach Road and Austin Highway intersection. With no direct connection between both roads, traffic must exit at Eisenhauer Road or another street making the route longer than necessary. In some instances, motorists are driving through the H-E-B or Lowe’s parking lots to avoid traffic. The Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors Project was established to address the lack of connectivity at this intersection.
The Project will construct connectors between Harry Wurzbach Road and Austin Highway to facilitate traffic between the two roads. Once completed, the project will improve traffic flow and functionality of the roadways for businesses and the public. This project is anticipated to begin in February 2020 and estimated to be completed in February 2022.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, City Council could choose not to award this contract and require staff to re-advertise this project; however, re-advertising the project does not guarantee a lower bid and considering the additional time required for another solicitation process would adversely affect the timely completion of the project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is one-time capital improvement expenditure in the amount not to exceed $22,575,600.40 payable to Capital Excavation Company in which funds in the amount not to exceed $1,300,847.61 will be reimbursed by San Antonio Water System (SAWS); an amount not to exceed $726,276.00 will be reimbursed by CPS Energy; and an amount not to exceed $15,218,822.00 will be reimbursed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the construction of the project. Funds are available from previously authorized debt funds and are included in the FY 2020 - FY 2025 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends awarding a construction contract in the amount not to exceed $22,575,600.40 to Capital Excavation Company for the Harry Wurzbach Road/Austin Highway Connectors Project.