Regional Wayfinding Programs Signs Construction Contract:

1. APPROVE the project plans and specifications;
2. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Executive Director, subject to approval by Agency Counsel and Caltrans Audits and Investigations, to execute a contract with Statewide Traffic Safety and Signs in an amount not to exceed $456,990, with an anticipated completion date of December 2022, for construction of the Regional Wayfinding Program Signs project throughout Monterey County;
3. AUTHORIZE the use of funds from the approved project budget for this work in an amount not to exceed $456,990, and $68,550 as a contingency fund for change orders; and
4. AUTHORIZE the Executive Director to take such other further actions as may be necessary to fulfill the intent of the contract, including approvals of future modifications or amendments that do not significantly alter the scope of work or change the approved contract amount or term.

The need for a wayfinding plan was identified in the Transportation Agency's 2011 Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan as a means for promoting bicycling and walking throughout the county. Wayfinding signs can ease navigation for bicyclists and pedestrians, reduce travel times and enhance a region's brand by publicizing key regional destinations.  When combined with secure bicycle storage and a network of bicycle paths and lanes, a wayfinding system can attract more bicyclists. 

In 2016, TAMC adopted the Regional Pedestrian and Bicyclist Wayfinding Plan for Monterey County.  The plan was developed in coordination with a Wayfinding Plan Advisory Committee with representatives from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, the County of Monterey, local cities, the Monterey County Health Department, Building Healthy Communities, the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, the Velo Club, Green Petal Couriers, Fort Ord Recreation Trails Friends, the Pebble Beach Company and Monterey-Salinas Transit. In addition, staff solicited public input on the proposed routes and sign designs using an interactive web page. The Wayfinding Plan specifies routes to be signed throughout Monterey County to enhance connections between neighboring cities and to various destinations in the region. The plan also provides standard sign design guidelines. Local jurisdictions are encouraged to use the sign guidelines to sign their own local bicycle and pedestrian routes beyond those contained in the Plan.

A regional funding agreement was developed and in March 2021, the Board authorized the Agency to execute funding agreements with participating jurisdictions. The agreement outlines the responsibilities of the Transportation Agency and the underlying jurisdictions. TAMC will fund the fabrication and installation of the wayfinding signs and the underlying jurisdictions will issue permits and accept ownership and maintenance of the installed signs.

In September 2020 an RFP was issued and in October 2020 a contract was executed with Whitson Engineers for the preparation of construction documents (plans, specifications and cost estimates) for the fabrication and installation of pedestrian and bicycle wayfinding signs throughout Monterey County.  On August 24, 2021, the project was advertised for construction bids. The bid opening was held on October 7, 2021. The submitted bids are as follows:

The average of all bids submitted is $ 678,363. The Engineer's Estimate is $ 368,900 and is within 19% of the low bid.  Supply issues and material cost increases during the COVID-19 Pandemic may be affecting the bids submitted resulting in a larger than usual difference between the Engineer's Estimate and submitted bids. Statewide Traffic Safety and Signs is the low bidder and TAMC staff recommends approving the contract with then for this work.

Attached is the draft contract for Regional Wayfinding Programs Signs construction.