Title
Recommendation to Approve the Project Plans and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Rapid Grading Services for Construction of Paving Project Phase 44, Project No. P.W. 04-26-02 in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $1,861,295, including a 10% Contingency, and to Delegate Authority to the City Engineer to Approve Issued Amendments and Addenda to the Project Plans and Specifications, and to Authorize Field Changes through the Change Order Process.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). (Public Works)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Gerry Beaudin, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) has over 147 centerline miles of roadway that provide access and circulation for every resident and business in the City. The City’s pavement management program, in combination with the City’s Maintenance Services Center, maintains this network through a range of activities, including an annual capital project. Paving Project Phase 44 will improve 1.63 miles of roadway via treatments, such as pavement base failure repairs, cape seal, and slurry seal improvements. The project will include safety improvements on Fernside Boulevard, such as buffered bike lanes and installation of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs).
After a competitive solicitation, staff recommends that City Council approve the Project Plans included in Exhibit 1 and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Rapid Grading Services for a total amount of $1,861,294.12, which includes a 10% contingency, as outlined in Exhibit 2.
BACKGROUND
The City implements an annual pavement rehabilitation program to maintain and improve the City’s roadway network. Staff uses StreetSaver, a pavement management program used by all Bay Area municipalities, as a planning tool to assist with project selection and support the City's long-term roadway asset management.
Paving Project Phase 44 is in the western section of Alameda Island. It includes preventive maintenance treatments, including repair of localized pavement failures, concrete curb and gutter repairs for drainage improvements, sealing of pavement cracks, and slurry seal and cape seal. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), concrete curb ramps will be reconstructed along Cape Seal streets to conform to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines. After the completion of concrete repairs and pavement maintenance, striping improvements will be installed, including painting red curbs within 20 feet of intersection crossings to improve visibility and provide daylighting of intersections, consistent with California Vehicle Code section 22500.
The following streets were selected for Cape Seal:
|
Street |
Begin Location |
End Location |
|
Benton Street |
Encinal Avenue |
Buena Vista Avenue |
|
Cottage Street |
Central Avenue |
Santa Clara Avenue |
|
Morton Street |
Encinal Avenue |
Pacific Avenue |
|
Paru Street |
San Antonio Avenue |
Santa Clara Avenue |
|
Paru Street |
Lincoln Avenue |
Buena Vista Avenue |
The following streets were selected for slurry seal:
|
StreetBegin LocationEnd Location |
|
|
|
Fernside Boulevard |
Versailles Avenue |
High Street |
On March 18, 2025, City Council endorsed the design concept that included near-term safety improvements on Fernside Boulevard, between Versailles Avenue and High Street, including quick-build pedestrian median islands, RRFBs at crosswalks, and buffered bike lanes as part of Paving Project Phase 44.
On November 18, 2025, City Council approved quick-build traffic-calming plans in the neighborhood around Gibbons Drive, including interim safety measures at the Gibbons/High/Fernside intersection, which will be implemented as part of Paving Project Phase 44, by installing a paint-and-post bulb-out at the southwest corner of the intersection. The improvements to Fernside Boulevard and at the Gibbons/High/Fernside intersection will not restrict existing vehicle movements. The Project Plans included in Exhibit 1 incorporate the quick build concepts approved on November 18.
DISCUSSION
Award Construction Agreement to Rapid Grading Services
To solicit the maximum number of bids and the most competitive prices, plans and specifications for construction were provided to 15 builder exchanges throughout the Bay Area. Notices were also sent to contractors on the Public Works Department contractor’s list. In addition, notices were placed on the City’s website and published in the Alameda Journal. Bids were opened on June 4, 2026. Four contractors submitted bids. The bid results are as follows:
|
Bidder |
Bid |
|
Rapid Granding Services |
$1,692,085.56 |
|
Radius Earthwork Inc. |
$1,749,276.15 |
|
McGuire and Hester |
$1,762,350.00 |
|
Bay Cities Paving |
$1,883,130.00 |
All bids received were within the Engineer’s Estimate of $1,890,000. Staff recommends awarding an agreement to Rapid Grading Services for a total amount of $1,861,294.12, including a 10% contingency of $169,208.56. The contractor is not guaranteed any of the contingency amount, and use of the contingency will be at the sole discretion of the City for work not originally anticipated in the plans and specifications. The specifications also informed the successful bidder that they shall pay not less than the prevailing per diem rate of wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. The Construction Agreement is attached to Exhibit 2.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Project Plans included as Exhibit 1 and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement attached as Exhibit 2. In accordance with Alameda Municipal Code section 2-59.2, staff further recommends that City Council delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve issued amendments and addenda to the project plans and specifications, and to authorize field changes through the change order process.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award the Agreement and project plans and specifications, as recommended
• Modify the scope/budget of the proposed Agreement before awarding.
• Do not award the Agreement and provide an alternative direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Pavement Management is a recurring rehabilitation project in the Capital Budget, and any unspent funds from one budget cycle may be available in the next. Any unspent funds from one budget cycle may be available in the next. The funds for this project are budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program (Project No. C11000) in the Fiscal Year 2025-27 Capital Budget. The project is funded with monies allocated from Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation (Fund 212), Vehicle Registration Fee (Fund 213), Measure BB Local Street and Roads (Fund 231), Waste Management (Fund 261), and Sewer Services (Fund 501). There is no impact on the General Fund.
Table 1: Funding Allocation
|
CIP Fund |
Construction Costs |
Available Budget |
|
C11000 - Pavement Management |
$1,861,294 |
$5,028,078 |
Remaining available budget funds for C11000 will be used for the construction of future paving projects, including Grand Street Phase 2 (Otis to Encinal), anticipated for 2027.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
General Plan Objective 4.4.4 prioritizes the maximization of capital investment and the efficiency of the existing street system. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
CLIMATE IMPACT
This project is consistent with the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan and the Alameda Municipal Code by requiring a 95% recycling rate for asphalt and concrete, and a 65% recycling rate for all other construction and demolition debris. In addition, since vehicles' vehicle miles traveled are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Alameda, better-maintained streets, refreshed striping, buffered bike lanes, and reconstructed streets make walking and bicycling more accessible, efficient, and safer.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Project Plans and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Rapid Grading Services for the construction of the Paving Project Phase 44 Project No. P.W. 04-26-02 in an amount not-to-exceed $1,861,294.12 including contingency.
In accordance with Alameda Municipal Code section 2-59.2, staff further recommends that City Council delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve issued amendments and addenda to the project plans and specifications, and to authorize field changes through the change order process.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer
Brendin Christolear, Supervising Civil Engineer
Ali Hatefi, Senior Engineer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Paving Project Phase 44 Plans
2. Agreement with Rapid Grading Services