To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Agreement between Contra Costa County and the City of Walnut Creek for the San Miguel Drive Pedestrian Path Project, Walnut Creek area.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (Agreement) between Contra Costa County and the City of Walnut Creek (City) for the design and construction of the San Miguel Drive Pedestrian Path Project (Project No. 0662-6R4174), Walnut Creek area. (District IV)
FISCAL IMPACT:
8% Transportation Development Act (State) Funds, 55% City of Walnut Creek Funds, 37% Central County Area of Benefit Funds
BACKGROUND:
The San Miguel Drive Pedestrian Path Project is a joint project with the City that consists of constructing an all-weather, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant pedestrian path on the south side of San Miguel Drive from Newell Avenue to Blackwood Drive. The scope of work includes two primary components: (1) an asphalt pathway and berm within unincorporated County from Blackwood Drive to Adeline Drive; and (2) concrete sidewalk, curb, and gutter within the City from Newell Avenue to Blackwood Drive. In addition, the project scope includes installation of storm drain lines within the City from Andrea Drive to Blackwood Drive.
San Miguel Drive currently has two travel lanes with narrow shoulders and horizontal curves and are absent pedestrian pathways, resulting in pedestrians walking close to or within the travel lane. In the summer of 2022, County staff issued a survey to the Walnut Heights community to determine which of two multi-modal projects should be prioritized in the community - the other being a path along Mountain View Boulevard - and this project was selected as the one to move forward for implementation. The survey responses revealed that this project is supported by both pedestrians and drivers and that safety for walking is a resounding concern due to the speeding cars around the curves in the road.
The purpose of this Agreement is to set forth the parties’ financial and project responsibilities pertaining to design, environmental clearance, right of way acquisition, and construction of the roadway improvements. The City of Walnut Creek will contribute a maximum of $125,000 towards design engineering and real estate costs. The Agreement is structured to allow design activities to commence, including right of way activities, with the construction phase only to begin by written agreement of both parties’ authorized representatives.
A previous version of the Agreement was approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 12, 2023, but the City of Walnut Creek requested additional changes to the Agreement language related to insurance and termination provisions. The revised Agreement has been approved as to form by the City of Walnut Creek’s legal counsel and County Counsel.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Public Works Department is not authorized to execute the Joint Exercise Powers Agreement, the design and construction of the project will be delayed and funding will not be available for improvements within the City’s portion of the project.
c: Warren Lai, Public Works Director
Steve Kowalewski, Chief Deputy Public Works Director
Jerry Fahy, Transportation Engineering