COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

 

DATE:

January 16, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 4, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Adoption of the Standard Plans and Specifications of the State of California, Department of Transportation, as the Standard Plans and Specifications for the County of San Mateo

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution approving the Standard Plans and Specifications of the State of California, dated July 2002, as the Standard Plans and Specifications for the County of San Mateo.

 

Previous Board Action

Adopted the State's Standard Plans and Specifications, dated July 1999, as the Standard Plans and Specifications for the County of San Mateo.

 

Key Facts

Adoption of the 2002 Standard Plans and Specifications will allow us to meet the State's requirements for plans and specifications for projects that have to be approved by the State, and allow us to refer to the updated administrative provisions of the Standard Specifications by reference instead of including them as special provisions in our contracts.

 

Discussion

The Federal Highway Administration as part of the Federal Surface Transportation (ISTEA) legislation in 1988, had set October 1, 2000, as the date by which "all construction contracts advertised for bids must contain only metric measurements for any Federal lands highway or Federal-Aid highway construction projects" in order to be eligible for Federal funding. This requirement was repealed as part of the Federal TEA-21 legislation which replaced ISTEA.

 

Caltrans, in response to the original Federal mandate, implemented a transition metrication program on January 1, 1996, and had been requiring all plans and applications to be in either metric or dual (U.S. Customary and metric) units. Caltrans then moved to require that all plans and specification be solely in metric for projects requiring their approval. Currently, Caltrans has reverted to accepting dual units of measure for plans/specifications detailing work within the State Right-of-Way or for projects that are administered by Caltrans.

 

The 2002 Standard Plans and Specifications are in both English and Metric units of measure, and therefore using these as the Standard Plans and Specifications for our projects will allow us to meet Caltrans' requirements as stated in Key Facts above.

 

Vision Alignment

We believe our recommendation is consistent with the Shared Commitment to "ensure basic health and safety for all" and Goal Number 7, "maintain and enhance public safety of all residents and visitors", as adopting the standard plans and specifications will allow County projects that will improve the County's transportation system that are subject to Caltrans review to be approved and constructed.

 

Fiscal Impact

There will be a cost savings as the size of plans and specifications for an individual project are reduced by referencing and standard plans and specifications. This reduces staff time in developing plans and specifications and the cost of printing the specific plans and specifications.

 

There is no impact to the General Fund.

 

A form of resolution has been approved of by County Counsel.