Petaluma council awards $2.88 million Rainier Avenue paving contract after safety-focused debate

Petaluma — The City Council voted Feb. 2 to award a construction contract for the Rainier Avenue pavement restoration project to Argonaut Constructors, approving the award after a lengthy staff presentation and public comment on safety, parking and budget implications.

Bjorn Grepenberg, the city’s transportation planner, told the council the project covers Rainier Avenue from North McDowell Boulevard to Snow Mountain Parkway and builds on an earlier pilot that converted a westbound segment from two lanes to one. "Paving projects represent crucial once in 20 plus year opportunities to make significant design changes to our streets," Grepenberg said, and he cited pilot survey results showing the converted segment produced higher compliance with the 35-mile-per-hour limit and "no injury collisions in that section" for more than three years.

Staff said six firms bid on the construction contract; the engineers’ estimate was about $3 million and the recommended award was "just shy of $2.9 million". The staff report and presentation list an updated total project budget in the neighborhood of $3,600,000, which includes design, a proposed $300,000 contingency and the recommended construction award. Grepenberg summarized key design elements the project will deliver: a 4-to-3 lane conversion with a dedicated left-turn lane, protected bike lanes (with an asphalt curb on…