Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

09/07/2021

BACKGROUND

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), with support from the City of Schertz, is working on a project to widen the right of way and paving of FM 1518 from FM 78 to IH 10 in the City of Schertz.

Before the roadway improvements enter the construction phase, most utilities (including City water and wastewater facilities) must be relocated outside of the ultimate pavement section. City Council, through Resolution 21-R-37, authorized an agreement with Halff Associates to provide engineering design services for relocation of utilities identified during the preliminary design of the road improvements. During the course of that work, it was identified that a segment of water main along FM 78 within the FM 1518 project area needs to be rerouted from FM 78, along Aztec Lane, to tie back FM 1518. That re-route was not anticipated to be necessary earlier in the process.

The relocation of City facilities that are currently within the existing TxDOT right of way are the responsibility of the City. Those facilities being relocated within the TxDOT right of way will be joint bid and constructed along with the roadway improvements and paid for by the City. If such facilities must be relocated outside the TxDOT right of way, they may not be included in a joint bid by TxDOT with the roadway construction project. Therefore, while this work is necessitated by the FM 1518 Improvement Project, but cannot be joint bid and constructed by TxDOT, the Aztec Lane water line relocation is being treated as a separate project for design and construction services to be contracted by the City.

Halff Associates, Inc., one of the City’s on call Engineers, is familiar with the location and operation of City utilities on FM 1518 and has experience with City utility relocation projects along TxDOT roadways and is fully equipped to provide these services to the City.

GOAL

The goal of Resolution 21-R-96 is to authorize an agreement with Halff Associates to complete the required design services required to relocate water lines prior to the construction phase of TxDOT’s FM 1518 road widening project.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The relocation of these lines will ensure the City utilities are provided in an alignment that allows adequate space for future maintenance.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Staff recommends approval of Resolution 21-R-96.

FISCAL IMPACT

Funding of $300,000 for the engineering services will come from the $2.48 million allocated for Category 5 Infrastructure from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. Funding for the construction of the utility relocations along with any easement acquisitions will be handled separately. The cost for acquisitions and construction is currently estimated to be $700,000.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council approve Resolution 21-R-96, authorizing a project agreement with Halff Associates, Inc., for design, bid, and construction phase engineering services for water relocations in advance of the FM 1518 roadway widening project.

Attachments
Resolution 21-R-96
Task Order Agreement