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CONTRACT K-1415-113: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND OKLAHOMA GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY (OG&E) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,308,917 TO RELOCATE THEIR FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT ON WEST LINDSEY STREET.
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BACKGROUND: On November 22, 2011, the Norman City Council approved Programming Resolution R-1112-63, requesting federal funds for the widening and reconstruction of Lindsey Street, between 24th Avenue SW and east of Berry Road. This Resolution states the City’s commitment to adhere to the terms and conditions of a federally funded project. Through the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG,) the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) agreed to provide 80% of the construction cost, up to $9.7 million, and administer the construction with the matching share (20%) from the City of Norman. In order to receive the federal funding, the City of Norman is required to enter into an agreement with ODOT to complete the design, acquire all necessary rights-of-way, relocate utilities and remove encroachments at the City’s cost.
On August 28, 2012, the citizens of Norman voted in favor of a General Obligation Bond issue to finance the local share of eight transportation/storm water improvement projects. One of the projects is Lindsey Street from 24th Avenue SW to Berry Road. Attached is a map showing the project boundaries. On December 18, 2012, Council approved the design contract for this project with Leidos Engineering LLC, (formally SAIC, LLC).
The roadway portion of the project includes transportation and aesthetic improvements to Lindsey Street. The segment between Interstate 35 and Berry Road is the most congested corridor in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. This section of Lindsey Street has a traffic accident rate three (3) times the national average.
Proposed improvements for the roadway project include:
Widening Lindsey Street from 3 lanes to 4 lanes with a raised center median
New bridge over Imhoff Creek
Continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street
Access management to adjacent properties
Multi-modal improvements including bicycle lanes
Aesthetic enhancements including decorative pavement, landscaping, and roadway lighting
Underground utilities
Accessibility improvements for disabled individuals
The storm water portion of the project addresses the flooding problems along West Lindsey Street, most notably at the Lindsey Street and McGee Drive intersection. Storm water from a 3.4 square mile watershed will be conveyed to an underground storm water system which will discharge directly into the Canadian River. Phase 1 of the drainage box construction between State Highway 9 and the river is complete, and Phase 2, between Briggs Street and State Highway 9, began with the I-35 construction in April of 2015.
On January 13, 2015 Council approved Contract K-1415-86, a Right of Way, Utility and Encroachment agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. This agreement stipulates that the City will acquire all right-of-way required for the project, grant ODOT access to and the use of the right-of-way for this project, relocate all utilities and encroachments from the construction area and to indemnify and hold ODOT harmless. On April 14, 2015 Council approved Contract K-1415-118 to install a Common Utility Trench on the north side of Lindsey Street.
DISCUSSION: One of the City’s key obligations of this project is to relocate all existing utilities in the corridor that may be in conflict with the street and storm water improvements. Public right-of-way is limited to 100 feet of width along Lindsey Street. In order to fit all existing and proposed utilities into that limited space; the project design team has developed the concept of a “common utility trench”. Rather than placing the relocated utilities in separate trenches located horizontally along Lindsey Street, multiple utilities will be relocated to one trench, and stacked vertically in separate conduits. The City is required to construct the trench, and to coordinate with each utility company including OG&E, AT&T and City fiber network.
OG&E’s electrical distribution system is designed to be overhead. However, to enhance the aesthetics and provide opportunities for a more “walkable” street, the City requested that the power lines be installed underground in the Common Utility Trench. Since the City is requesting OG&E to install their system underground, the City is required to pay the difference in the cost between relocating their system overhead versus installing the system underground. OG&E is requesting the City approve a project agreement related to this installation. Staff has reviewed and recommends approval of the project agreement and resolution.
In summary, the OG&E's responsibilities in this agreement are:
Provide labor and material to relocate its existing facilities
Provide required insurance for the project
Installed facilities will remain the property of OG&E
In summary, City’s responsibilities are:
Grant OG&E permission to use the City’s rights-of-way to install, operate, maintain and remove its electrical facilities
Pay the total actual difference in cost for the relocation of OG&E distribution facilities to the underground trench, estimated at $1,306,590.
Funding for this project is available in Lindsey Street - 24th Avenue SW to Berry Road Roadway Utilities (account 050-9552-431.67-01; project BP0189). This account currently has $1,561,691 in available funds for the relocation of utilities. The cost attributable to this project is $1,306,590. If approved, the relocation of OG&E’s facilities should be complete by November 12, 2015.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract K-1415-113 between the City of Norman and OG&E for the relocation of their facilities on the Lindsey Street Bond Project, for $1,306,590.