Adopt Resolution #21-022 Approving Plans and Specifications and Authorizing Advertisements for Bids for Riverdale Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #21-00

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider adopting Resolution #21-022 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for the reconstruction of Riverdale Drive NW between Feldspar Street NW and Sunfish Lake Boulevard, Improvement Project #21-00. 

Background:
City Improvement Project #21-00 proposes to reconstruct Riverdale Drive NW between Feldspar Street NW and Sunfish Lake Boulevard in 2021 per the 2021 - 2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
 
The segment of Riverdale Drive that is proposed to be reconstructed totals approximately 2,925 lineal feet (0.55 miles). A figure showing the location and scope of the proposed improvements is included on the attached cover sheet of the plans. The pavement on this segment of Riverdale Drive is in very poor condition and Public Works Staff spend an excessive amount of time each year patching the pavement. In addition, Staff has received numerous complaints from the public in recent years regarding the poor condition of this pavement.

On November 24, 2020, City Council accepted a proposal from Bolton & Menk, Inc. to provide design services for this project including collecting topographic survey data, completing geotechnical evaluations, preparing plans and specifications complying with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) State Aid standards, providing required submittals to State Aid, and bidding services. Riverdale Drive is part of the City’s Municipal State Aid (MSA) system and is therefore required to meet 10-ton pavement design strength standards, as well as other applicable MnDOT State Aid standards.
 
Municipal utilities (water supply and sanitary sewer) exist in the project area. Sanitary sewer improvements are not proposed with this project as the sanitary sewer lines were cleaned and televised and the results verified that repairs are not immediately needed or anticipated to be needed during the 60-year design life of the improvements. Water supply improvements are also not proposed. However, water service lines extending from the trunk line to individual properties are proposed to be inspected at the right of way to confirm that each service line is properly tied back to the trunk line. This work will help ensure that service line repairs will not be needed during the design life of the proposed improvements, and is being proposed as repairs to several water service lines were made recently along this segment of Riverdale Drive. The water supply system was recently tested for leaks and the results indicate that repairs are not immediately needed or anticipated to be needed during the design life of the improvements.
 
Storm sewer improvements are proposed with this project. This includes adding trunk storm sewer under Riverdale Drive to better convey stormwater runoff from the Dolomite Street intersection area to the Mississippi River, as well as adding a pollution control structure to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff before it is discharged to the river.

Riverdale Drive is currently 44-feet wide from face-of-curb to face-of-curb, but is proposed to be reduced by 10-feet throughout the corridor to a width of 34-feet from face-of-curb to face-of-curb. To accomplish this, two existing 6-foot wide on-street bike lanes on the west end of Riverdale Drive are proposed to be removed, along with the on-street parking lane along the north side. An 8-foot wide on-street parking lane is proposed along the south side of Riverdale Drive to accommodate over-flow parking for adjacent properties, and could accommodate parking for trail users and the proposed Mississippi River overlook, east of Dolomite Street. Drive lanes are proposed to be 12-feet wide, with an additional 2-feet provided along the curb on the north side to better accommodate truck traffic and to mitigate loss of useable pavement in the winter due to snow and ice accumulations.

A 10-foot wide off-street bituminous trail exists north of Riverdale Drive and west of Sunfish Lake Boulevard. This trail terminates approximately 300 feet east of Dolomite Street, where it connects to Riverdale Drive. This trail is proposed to be extended to Feldspar Street to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to use the off-street trail, which will be separated from Riverdale Drive by a boulevard between 6 and 8-feet wide that will better accommodate snow storage and reduce drifting of snow along the corridor, compared to the existing 0 to 2-foot wide boulevard.
 
Attached is sheet 7 from the 90-percent plans that show the proposed typical section in more detail.

Removing the segment of Dolomite Street between Riverdale Drive and Highway 10 was considered with this project as identified in the Highway 10 Access Planning Study and as carried forward in the Ramsey Gateway Plan. However, removing this segment of Dolomite Street would cause significant delays in delivering this project. Though this work is not eligible for State Aid funding, alternate funding sources have been identified for completing this work when the need or benefit warrants it.
 
A 6-foot wide concrete sidewalk was contemplated along the south side of Riverdale Drive between Dolomite Street and Feldspar Street to enhance pedestrian access to Riverdale Park for pedestrians with origins or destinations south of Riverdale Drive. However, these improvements are estimated to cost $110,000, which far outweigh the benefits so the sidewalk is not proposed to be constructed as part of this project.   

Also contemplated was construction of a Mississippi River observation deck and trail connection included in the 2021 - 2030 CIP. However, since constructing the overlook with this project would not reduce construction costs the observation deck and connecting trail should instead be considered at the time the private property is developed.  
 
Access to abutting properties will be maintained throughout construction as best as practical. Staff will work with property owners as needed to ensure they are informed in advance of access interruptions, if needed. Access for emergency services will be maintained throughout construction.

Project schedule
January 26 – Approve Plans and Specifications / Authorize Ads for Bids
January 29, February 5 – Publish Ads for Bids
March 2 – Bid opening
March 9 – Accept Bids / Award Contract
Late May / early June – Begin construction
Early September – Substantial completion (open to traffic)
2022 – Final completion  

Public notifications were not required in advance of this case.

Upon Council authorization, advertisements will be published in the Anoka Union Herald and in Finance & Commerce on January 29 and February 5, 2021, as required per State Statute. Bids will also be advertised electronically on QuestCDN.    

Observations:
The only public comment received to date has been that the pavement is in dire need of repair/replacement. It should be noted that a public information meeting was not conducted for this project because plans were developed quickly and the current COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for large in-person gatherings. Instead, the project web page is being populated with lots of information and links to allow the public to learn as much about the project as they want, including reviewing construction plans and watching a presentation that was prepared and narrated by City Staff. Contact information is also provided in case anyone has questions or wants to discuss anything in detail with City Staff. Letters were recently mailed to abutting property owners informing them of the project and the web page. Staff will update the Council on any public comments received when bids are presented in March for award of a construction contract.
 
The proposed improvements should have a serviceable life of 60 years, assuming that proactive maintenance operations are performed on a regular basis during the life of the improvements.

This project will be bid electronically through QuestCDN. The Engineering Department moved to full electronic bids using QuestCDN in 2019 to help streamline the bidding process for both the City and the bidders. However, this also allows bids to be opened “publicly” on-line, which is critical at this time considering that in-person bid openings are not a viable option during the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution #21-022 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for Riverdale Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #21-00.

Alternative #2 – Motion to deny adoption of Resolution #21-022 at this time.  

The Engineer’s opinion of probable construction costs for the proposed improvements based on 90-percent plans is $900,000.  Estimated project costs include an additional 23-percent for indirect costs (administrative, engineering, finance and legal), which totals $1,107,000.
 
Municipal State Aid (MSA) Funds are proposed to pay for street and trail improvements, and Stormwater Funds are proposed to pay for stormwater improvements. Any costs related to sanitary sewer and/or watermain will be paid through the respective enterprise fund.  

Staff recommends alternative #1 in accordance with the approved 2021 – 2030 CIP.
 
On January 19, 2021, the Public Works Committee unanimously recommended approval of alternative 1. 

Motion to adopt Resolution #21-022 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for Riverdale Drive Reconstruction, Improvement Project #21-00.