RECEIVE an update on the Salinas Rail Station Package 1 Bid Opening.

TAMC held a bid opening for the Salinas Rail Station Package 1 project on March 19, 2019.

The Monterey County Rail Extension Kick Start project, estimated at $81 million, includes the capital improvements needed to bring new peak hour rail service to Salinas.  At their December 5-6, 2018 meeting, the California Transportation Commission awarded TAMC $11.2 million in state funding for the construction of Package 1 improvements, which include the extension of Lincoln Avenue for signalized access to the Salinas Train Station, circulation and parking improvements, bicycle and pedestrian access, landscaping and lighting improvements.  Submitted bids range between $7,487,989 and $9,844,656.

The Transportation Agency for Monterey County, as the local lead agency, grantee agency and owner of the Monterey County Rail Extension Kick Start project, proposes to extend passenger rail service from Santa Clara County south to Salinas.  The rail extension project provides an alternative to the highly congested US 101 corridor to access to jobs, education, and health care, and will improve interregional transportation and regional air quality.

TAMC advertised for construction bids on December 11, 2018 for Package 1 of the Monterey County Rail Kick Start Project - the Lincoln Avenue Extension, circulation improvements and parking at the Salinas train station.  Other parties under separate contract with the Transportation Agency are providing engineering and construction management services.  Demolition of structures at the station was completed by Bowen Engineering and Environmental in November 2018.  The City of Salinas is preparing to relocate the Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drain lines from the existing Station Place to the new Lincoln Avenue Extension.  After utility relocation, the TAMC-hired construction team may begin the staged construction of Package 1.

The bid opening was held on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 12 noon.  The submitted bids are as follows:

The average of all bids submitted is $8,598,640.  The Engineer's Estimate is $8,569,021, within 0.34% of the average bid.  Staff anticipates taking this matter to the Board on April 24, 2019 for authorization to enter into a contract with the lowest responsive responsible bidder.  The bid documents and tabulated bid results are available online at http://bit.ly/TAMC_Bids.