Daly City council approves $5.46 million contract for Northern City Smart Corridor expansion

Daly City — The Daly City Council on Monday approved a $5,464,692.50 construction contract to Tennyson Electric of Livermore for the Northern City Smart Corridor expansion, a regional intelligent-transportation project that will add vehicle detection, cameras, changeable message signs and fiber to corridors feeding U.S. 101 and I-280.

Staff presented the project and its recent bid history, saying the city re-advertised after an initial bid withdrawal and that the low responsive bid is roughly 33% above engineering estimates. ‘‘Staff recommends that the city council approve the design documents for the Northern City Smart Corridor expansion project, accept all responsive bids, and award the construction contract for the base bid to Tennyson Electric… in the amount of $5,464,692.50,’’ the presenter told the council.

The project is sponsored by the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) of San Mateo County, which will reimburse Daly City for construction costs and provide inspection and contract management services. City staff said the total estimated construction cost is $6,838,596, which includes the contract amount plus about $1,370,000 for contingency, inspection and administration. Staff said the shortfall relative to the adopted capital improvement program is roughly $1,038,596 and that C/CAG staff will request the additional appropriation at their Sept. 12 meeting.

Council members asked whether the contractor is a union signatory and whether prevailing wages would apply; staff and a C/CAG representative confirmed the recommended contractor is signatory. Audrey Cheramuzzi of C/CAG summarized the technology: ‘‘there’s fiber underground that connects these cameras and these changeable message signs… [so] our operators at the local traffic management centers can see what’s going on, and manage regular congestion on a day-to-day basis.’’

Mayor Jocelyn C. Manalo moved the item and the motion was seconded by the vice mayor. A roll-call vote recorded DiGiovanni, Doctor Rod, Peranio, Glenn Sylvester and Manalo as voting "Aye," and the measure passed unanimously.

Construction is anticipated to begin in October 2024 and reach completion by August 2025, subject to C/CAG final funding authorization. The City will amend its funding agreement with C/CAG and the city manager was authorized to execute contracts contingent on C/CAG board approval of the additional funds.

The council discussed regional traffic-management benefits and labor protections during the meeting. The council’s action authorizes the city manager to execute the contract and ancillaries once the additional C/CAG appropriation is secured.