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PUC updates WISIP: program on track; committee asked to release $256.3M for Irvington Tunnel
Summary
PUC presented a quarterly Water System Improvement Program update showing strong bid results, $4.61 billion program forecast and a request to release $256.3 million in reserves for the Irvington Tunnel construction; supervisors asked for a clearer historical cost comparison and project-by-project variance breakdown.
Julie Labonte, director of the Water System Improvement Program, briefed the Budget & Finance Committee on the program—s first-quarter progress and asked the committee to release reserve funds for the Irvington Tunnel.
Labonte said WISIP shows momentum across project phases, with several projects in construction and recent contract awards that produced low bids; she reported a forecasted overall program budget of about $4.61 billion (roughly $24 million above the July 2009 approved budget) but noted recent bid savings that could reduce earlier variances. She described regional versus local project definitions and said the forecasted program completion remains December 2015.
Irvington Tunnel details: Labonte presented the tunnel scope (east Bay routing between Sunol and Fremont), a total estimated cost of $338 million, an estimated construction bid of $253 million and a requested release of $256.3 million currently on reserve to cover construction and associated staffing/consultant costs. She said the project would need an additional $47 million appropriation later to complete contingencies and closeout work and that planning commission and PUC approvals are in hand.
Supervisor concerns: Supervisors pressed for better historical context to compare original budgets to current estimates and requested a breakdown of cost variances by project (Calaveras and Harry Tracy were cited as major drivers). Labonte agreed to provide a timeline comparing the original 2005 baseline to subsequent rebaselining in 2007 and July 2009 and to return with more detailed variance reporting.
Action: The committee agreed to continue Item 1 to the call of the chair, released reserve funds for the Irvington Tunnel (Item 2) and moved Item 3 forward to the full Board with recommendation.
