REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 8, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Plans and Specifications for the Needles Highway Segment 1B Project in the Needles Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve plans and specifications for the Needles Highway Segment 1B Project, in the Needles area, as signed and sealed by a registered civil engineer.
2. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to advertise the Needles Highway Segment 1B Project, in the Needles area, for bids.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). There is minimal financial impact to the Department of Public Works (Department) for approval of the Needles Highway Segment 1B Project (Project) plans and specifications and authorization to advertise for competitive bids. The Project will be funded by Federal Public Lands Highways (PLH) funds. Sufficient appropriation is included in the Department’s 2021-22 Road Operations budget (6650002000 14HF0010).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project includes pavement reconstruction on Needles Highway, from 500 feet south of Park Road to one mile north, in the Needles area. Other improvements include constructing a cutoff wall, shoulder backing and placing pavement striping and markings. All work for the Project will be done within the existing road right-of-way and no additional right-of-way will need to be acquired.
The entire Needles Highway Improvement Project is approximately 16 miles, from “N” Street in the City of Needles (City) to the California/Nevada state line. Needles Highway has become a major north/south route for travelers going from and to Interstate 40 between the City and the Town of Laughlin, Nevada. This Project is the third segment of the Needles Highway Improvement Project that has been federally funded for construction.
On April 10, 2001 (Item No. 11), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Contract No. 01-257 with the City authorizing the County to act as the lead agency in the design and construction of the Needles Highway Improvement Project within City limits. On August 9, 2016 (Item No. 29), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 01-257 with the City to update various terms surrounding the entire Needles Highway Improvement Project, including, but not limited to, the limits of the Project, funding source, contribution amount, and maintenance responsibilities.
As part of the Needles Highway Improvement Project, the County took the lead in the design and construction phases of the following segments of Needles Highway located in the City and which have already been constructed: Segment N, from “N” Street to 600 feet north of Balboa Place; and Segment 1A, from 600 feet north of Balboa Place to 500 feet south of Park Road. The County is also taking the lead in the design and construction phase on Segment 1B, from 500 feet south of Park Road to one mile north. Segment N, Segment 1A, and Segment 1B are the first, second, and third phases, respectively. These three segments represent approximately four miles of pavement rehabilitation and/or reconstruction on the Needles Highway Improvement Project. Construction of Segment N was completed on October 10, 2017 and construction of Segment 1A was completed on February 19, 2020.
On August 19, 2014 (Item No. 38), the Board adopted the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Notice of Determination for the Needles Highway Improvement Project, as well as directed the Clerk of the Board to file and post said notice. This action fulfilled the County’s obligation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The Needles Highway Improvement Project is subject to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) because it is federally funded. The United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the federal lead agency for purposes of NEPA review. The FHWA has adopted and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Needles Highway Improvement Project.
As additional federal funds are allocated for Needles Highway, the Department will return to the Board for approval of plans and specifications to construct additional segments of the highway.
The Project aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of providing for the safety, health and social service needs of County residents and operating in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by designing the project to improve the highway and moving towards its implementation.
The Project’s specifications include an allowance in the amount of $30,000 for unforeseen differing site conditions associated with pavement conditions and/or utility conflicts.
PROCUREMENT
The Project will be advertised to invite formal bids in accordance with Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code. The Department anticipates returning to the Board for an award of the construction contract in Spring 2022.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 20, 2021; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on January 3, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 7, 2022.