For City Council Meeting July 22, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Assistant City Manager
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs for I-10/Riverside Avenue Interchange Phase II, City Project No. 140813, to Extend the Term of the Agreement; and (2) Authorize the City Manager or Their Designee to Execute all Related Documents.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests that City Council:
1) Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs for I-10/Riverside Avenue Interchange Phase II, City Project No. 140813 to extend the term of the Agreement; and,
2) Authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute all related documents.
BACKGROUND
In June 2012, the City of Rialto, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), previously coordinated and funded the completion of the I-10/Riverside Avenue Interchange Project (the “Interchange Project”).
The Interchange Project is located immediately adjacent to an existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) bridge crossing, a local bridge owned and maintained by the City of Rialto. This UPRR bridge crossing is located over the West Colton Yard, one of the largest railroad hubs for UPRR. With the understanding that the LA/Long Beach ports move 40% of the nation’s cargo throughout the United States, much of that cargo is offloaded onto rail cars traveling directly through the West Colton Yard and under the City’s UPRR bridge crossing.
During the design of the Interchange Project, decisions were made to construct a narrower overcrossing to “fit” the eastbound I-10 on/off ramps without impacting the immediately adjacent UPRR bridge to the south of the I-10 freeway. This design was based, in part, on minimizing the cost of the Interchange Project, as widening the UPRR bridge was estimated to cost as much or more than the Interchange Project itself. Additionally, the UPRR bridge was eligible for funding through the Highway Bridge Program (HBP) based on its assessment by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) at that time.
Progress on this project stalled due to Caltrans' determination that the project would not be funded in the HBP, with a 2016 cost estimate of $24 million for widening or $40 million for replacement. This fact eliminated all external State or Federal funding available for the project.
On October 05, 2021, the City of Rialto submitted a formal request to SBCTA to program funding for the Design and Right-of-Way Phases as part of SBCTA’s Update to its 10-Year Delivery Plan.
The City identified the “Widening Alternative” as the Preferred Alternative because replacement of the bridge is not necessary. Under the widening alternative, the bridge will be widened to allow for the extension of the dual northbound left-turn lanes for traffic entering the I-10 westbound on-ramps and related improvements. The total cost estimate to widen the existing UPRR bridge is $33.5 million.
On December 1, 2021, in response to the City’s request, the SBCTA Board of Directors approved the Update to the 10-Year Delivery Plan that programmed funding as follows:
On February 22, 2022, the City Council approved a Project Funding Agreement with SBCTA.
On March 2, 2022, the SBCTA Board approved the Project Funding Agreement.
On March 8, 2022, the City Council adopted a resolution amending the Capital Improvement Program to add I-10/Riverside Avenue Interchange Phase II, City Project No. 140813, appropriating a project budget of $7,153,107, and approving a Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for final design services in the amount of $2,618,927. The project has completed the 65% design milestone. A conceptual rendering is included as Attachment 1.
On November 12, 2024, the City Council approved a First Amendment to the Project Funding Agreement with San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). The amendment increased SBCTA’s total contribution from $5,193,196 to $5,863,181. As part of the council action, Resolution No. 8304 was adopted appropriating $922,900 to the project budget. A first amendment with Jacob Engineering Group, Inc., was approved in the amount of $537,288 for tasks essential to completing design, generally including the following:
1. City requested the addition of an exclusive right turn lane from southbound Riverside Avenue to westbound Slover Avenue, including cost and environmental analysis.
2. Surveying and site access required by UPRR due to new railroad track configurations.
3. Right of Way engineering and easement documentation due to a lack of agency and stakeholder information.
4. Related services to support the 2024 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) grant application.
Jacobs’s services related to the 2024 TCEP grant were successful. On July 6, 2025, the City received notification that the I-10/Riverside Avenue Interchange Phase II project was selected for funding. The project is anticipated to receive $29,800,000 towards the construction of the project.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
To finalize the design and meet the TCEP grant requirements for funding, the term of Jacobs Engineering Group’s agreement will need to be extended.
Staff recommends approval of a Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., to extend the term of their agreement to June 30, 2027. The Second Amendment will be a zero-cost change. Amendment 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Jacobs is included as Attachment 2. The City and Jacobs expect the project to be under construction by the second quarter of fiscal year 2026/2027.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). In accordance with the CEQA Guidelines, the City acting as "Lead Agency" pursuant to CEQA, previously completed an environmental analysis of the potential impacts resulting from widening the UPRR bridge. On April 1, 2015, the City of Rialto approved a Notice of Exemption determining that the project was exempt under Statutory Exemption Section 21080.13 of the California Public Resources Code that allows for an exemption for projects that reconstruct an existing grade separation.
The Project was initially funded, in part, by federal funds, requiring local oversight by the State of California, Department of Transportation (Caltrans). As a federally funded project at that time, the project was subject to environmental review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). On April 25, 2016, Caltrans, acting as the lead agency pursuant to NEPA, made an environmental determination that the project does not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the environment as defined by NEPA and is excluded from the requirements to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA') or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), has considered unusual circumstances pursuant to 23 CFR 771.117(b), and that it qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion under 23 CFR 771.117, activity (c)(27).
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto has outlined key Goals and Objectives through which the City looks to minimize congestion on the local road network and maintain a circulation system that supports local businesses’ needs. The proposed actions comply with the following Goal and Policy outlined in the City’s General Plan.
Goal 4-1: Provide transportation improvements to reduce traffic congestion associated with regional and local trip increases.
Policy 4-1.1: Establish and maintain standards for a variety of street classifications to serve both local and regional traffic, including Major Arterial Highways, Major Arterials, Secondary Arterials, Collector Streets, and Local Streets.
Policy 4-1.11: Pursue the replacement of the Riverside Avenue bridge over the Union Pacific rail lines with a wider structure to accommodate larger volumes of traffic or to increase safety of crossing traffic.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed Amendment 2 and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed action will not affect the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The proposed action will not affect the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
As part of the initial design, Jacobs has paid the Business License Tax.