Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
STATUS UPDATE - DOMINGUEZ PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE AT SANTA FE AVENUE (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
The pedestrian bridge at Santa Fe Avenue next to Dominguez Elementary School is temporarily closed for repair due to damage sustained from a truck trailer that was carrying heavy equipment which exceeded the posted height restrictions while traveling southbound on Santa Fe Avenue (Exhibit No. 1). Staff is coordinating the necessary repairs with the bridge owner, Los Angeles Unified School District to make sure the bridge is structurally sound before it is re-opened for pedestrian access.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following action:
1. RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
1. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the
requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
On August 7, 2018, a truck trailer that was carrying heavy equipment which exceeded the posted height restrictions hit the bottom of the pedestrian bridge located at Santa Fe Avenue next to Dominguez Elementary School. The bridge is owned by the Los Angeles Unified School District (District). The accident, which appeared to be a hit and run, resulted in damaged concrete and exposure of the steel reinforcing bars on the underside of the pedestrian bridge. .
The license plate of the vehicle involved in the accident was provided to the Sheriffs Department for further investigation. Staff immediately requested the assistance of the Los Angeles County Bridge Maintenance Division (LA County). LA County provided a Bridge Specialist (AECOM) who inspected the pedestrian bridge and evaluated its structural integrity. Based on AECOM’s preliminary structural evaluation of the bridge, it was determined that a repair procedure was needed as opposed to a girder replacement. AECOM also recommended that for safety reasons the pedestrian bridge remain closed until repairs can be made. As recommended by AECOM, Public Works staff installed barricades to prohibit access to the bridge until the necessary repairs are completed.
This bridge is heavily used by students and parents to reach Dominguez Elementary School and Dominguez Park. To ensure the safety of the pedestrians who now have to cross the street, City Public Safety has placed two crossing guards at the intersection of Van Buren Street and Santa Fe Avenue, and the Sheriff’s Department has placed two mobile electrical signs on both the North and South entrances of the bridge to alert motorists and pedestrians in the area.
After confirming per an executed agreement dated July 21, 1953 (Exhibit No. 2), that the bridge is owned by Los Angeles Unified School District (District), City staff notified the District of the damage, provided them with the preliminary evaluation report, and advised them of the construction documents needed to complete the repairs that will make the bridge structurally sound for pedestrian use.
Instead of having AECOM proceed with a final evaluation report, the District opted to perform its own structural evaluation. The District submitted a traffic control plan to the City for the travel lane closure that was necessary to perform their structural evaluation. This plan was reviewed and approved, and an encroachment permit was issued by the City.
The District Project Manager has indicated that the plans and specifications for the recommended repairs have been completed and that he received the repair proposal from his contractor on December 19, 2018. Currently the District Project Manager is working with the District Risk Manager to secure funding from the truck’s insurance company.
At this time, the District has not provided a schedule related to the start of construction, but the District Project Manager has been advised of the City’s requirements associated with any work performed in the public right of way - including the need to review and approve the construction plan by the Building and Safety Division, and to obtain a construction permit in advance.
The City’s Risk Management Division has retained the services of Carl Warren & Company to subrogate for the costs incurred by the City including the work completed by the Public Works crew that amounted to approximately $3,000, and Public Safety’s on-going provision of two crossing guards that amounts to approximately $2,000 per month.
On December 6, 2018 the City submitted its subrogation demand to the truck’s insurance company. On February 12, 2019, the City’s Risk Management Division received an update from Carl Warren & Company explaining that the truck’s insurance company cannot entertain a final demand or claim until the repair of the pedestrian bridge has been completed by the District, but they have advised that once complete there should be no issue with a policy limit for the City’s claim.
It has been over six months since the pedestrian bridge at Dominguez Elementary School sustained damage by the truck trailer. When the District secures funding for the necessary repairs, City staff is committed to assisting the District by expediting the construction plan approval and the permit issuance processes. City staff will remain in contact with the District as they work to complete the repairs.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
All expenses associated with the incident and the necessary repairs will be borne by either the Los Angeles Unified School District or the truck’s insurance company. The expenses incurred by the City to date total approximately $12,000, and subrogation is in process.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Location Map (pg. 4)
2. Bridge Maintenance Agreement (pgs. 5-9)
Prepared by: Gilbert M. Marquez, P.E., City Engineer