 UPDATE
ON MOVABLE MEDIAN BARRIER - August 13, 1999
Authorize Execution of Professional Services Agreement for
Preliminary Engineering, Golden Gate Bridge, Movable Median
Barrier
This
item was presented to the Building and Operating Committee
on August 6, 1999, and subsequently approved by the Board
of Directors on August 13, 1999.
The
Board of Directors authorized a Professional Services Agreement
with Parsons Brinckerhoff in an amount not to exceed $35,000
for the following preliminary engineering for the movable
median barrier:
- Develop
movable barrier end treatment and anchorage, including
a cushioning system, at the Toll Plaza.
- Evaluate
transfer vehicle storage requirements at the north end
of the Bridge.
- Evaluate
lane markings on the Bridge.
- Develop
emergency response procedure for accident or incident
that requires emergency response across a barrier.
The
recommendation has been developed based on questions raised
and concerns expressed at the July Building & Operating
Committee meeting. At that time, the Committee forwarded
the initial proposal from staff to the Full Board without
recommendation. Due to the changed nature of the recommendation,
the Full Board referred the item back to the Building &
Operating Committee for further consideration.
SUMMARY:
The
Board of Directors, by Resolution No. 98-116 (refer to Attachment
A), authorized conceptual approval for the installation
of the 1-foot-wide movable median barrier on the Golden
Gate Bridge premised on the conclusion that, on balance,
the expected benefit that will be achieved by installation
of the barrier – virtual elimination of cross-over accidents
– outweighs the various detriments, risks, and uncertainties
installation would involve. At the July 1, 1999, meeting
of the Building and Operating Committee, the Committee members
expressed three areas of concern regarding the scope of
Phase I, Preliminary Engineering, specified in the Building
and Operating report for the movable median barrier: 1)
that an extensive amount of work must be completed to determine
the feasibility of the movable median barrier; 2) that it
appeared a conflict of interest for Barrier Systems Inc.
to perform preliminary engineering; and, 3) that if the
District paid for development of the barrier system, it
should receive royalties.
In response
to the Committee's concerns, it is proposed that the first
phase of the preliminary engineering be reduced to only
items required to determine feasibility and that the preliminary
engineering be performed by a consultant to the District.
Mr. Edward Wood, Vice President of Barrier Systems Inc.
(BSI) agrees to assist the District and its Consultant,
at no cost, in the movable median barrier feasibility analysis
and determination. I have negotiated a scope of work with
Parsons Brinckerhoff to address key issues that will provide
a basis for determination of feasibility. It is proposed
that Parsons Brinckerhoff be used to perform this work for
the District because of their experience in the preparation
of the U.S. Route 101 HOV feasibility Study Dynamic Capacity
Alternative Study, which analyzed utilizing a movable median
barrier. In addition, Engineering Department staff will
analyze movable median barriers on other bridges comparable
to the Golden Gate Bridge in length, lane width, curvature
and traffic volume, and that evaluation will be included
in the District Engineer’s feasibility determination.
I'm
also negotiating with BSI for royalty payments to the District
should the 1-foot-wide movable median barrier developed
for the Golden Gate Bridge be used on other bridges. To
date, BSI has offered only to reimburse the District for
the cost of the crash tests conducted for the barrier, provided
it is used on the Golden Gate Bridge. Upon completion of
negotiations, I will report to Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds
are available for the proposed scope of work in the amount
of $35,000 in the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 Bridge Division
Capital Budget, Movable Median Barrier.
BACKGROUND:
The
Building & Operating Committee, at its July 1, 1999,
meeting, forwarded the staff recommendation to the Board
without recommendation. The Committee Chair approved moving
the agenda item for movable median barrier to the last Board
meeting of the month, July 23, 1999, to allow staff time
to respond to Committee members’ concerns. The Board, at
its July 23, 1999, meeting, returned the revised staff recommendation
in this report to the B&O Committee.
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