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Section 6 - PROJECT COST ESTIMATES

(a) TYPES OF COSTS INCLUDED IN PROJECT COST ESTIMATES
Within each PLAN SUBAREA, specific projects have been identified as regional transportation facilities. The project costs associated with each project identified in THE PLAN are for additional traveled roadway only and include engineering, environmental, right-of-way, utility relocation, construction, and administrative overhead costs. Environmental impact mitigation such as purchase of habitat for endangered species is not included. Where another local agency shares jurisdiction with the County for a project, costs are prorated between the jurisdictions based upon actual road miles within each jurisdiction, and only the County’s share of the project cost is identified in THE PLAN.

(b) PROJECT CATEGORIES
All projects listed within THE PLAN are categorized into one of four Project Categories. The four Project Categories are defined as 1) Major Arterials, 2) Traffic Signals, 3) Freeway Interchanges, and 4) Railroad Grade Separations. Project Categories are utilized in distributing fees equitably toward projects listed in PLAN SUBAREAS to insure that no single project category and its projects receives more than its fair-share of revenues generated by THE PLAN. To accomplish this, each fee shall be distributed and deposited among the four category funds of a PLAN SUBAREA based upon a pro-rated share of total project costs by project category. For example, in the Chino sphere PLAN SUBAREA, of a required fee paid for a single family residence, 81% will be deposited into the Major Arterial fund, 10% into the Freeway Interchange fund, and 9% into the Traffic Signal fund. No portion of the fee will be deposited into the Grade Separation fund because this PLAN SUBAREA does not have any grade separation projects within its boundaries. To program projects in the most efficient and cost effective manner, Public Works may loan funds between the Project Categories within a PLAN SUBAREA or between PLAN SUBAREAS

(c) METHODOLOGY


(1) MAJOR ARTERIAL ROADWAY PROJECTS


County Public Works’ staff conducted a Project Cost Estimate Study (hereafter “Cost Study”) to determine an average lane-mile cost for major arterial road improvement projects included in THE PLAN (Appendix 3). THE PLAN is intended to address increasing capacity needs resulting from increased vehicular traffic caused by new development; therefore, other roadway improvements, such as curb, gutter, sidewalks, storm drains, and match-up pavement not related to vehicular traffic increases and improvements will remain the responsibility of the developing property owners adjacent to the roadway. All estimates include resurfacing existing lanes to the centerline. Assumptions and Methodology used in performing the Cost Study are summarized as follows.
For the purpose of calculating a “fair share” fee to be applied to new development under THE PLAN, it was necessary to develop planning level estimates of the cost to complete improvements to the County Maintained Road System (CMRS) of Highways and Arterial roads to adequately accommodate future growth. The planning level cost estimates have been established by collecting data for anticipated changes identified by field assessment between existing Highway and Arterial road configurations and the identified improvements of these same roads at the standards established by the San Bernardino County Master Plan of Highways; improvements that would provide additional capacity needed to mitigate cumulative regional traffic impacts of new development.
As part of the Cost Study, the field Assessment team established a methodology or protocol to quantify data collected so that data may be aggregated by areas or regions but retain the ability to identify the characteristic planning estimate costs for any individual road. The protocol as developed is intended to provide consistency and accuracy in data collection and efficiency in terms of minimizing the length of time staff needed to be in the field.
All roads and road segments in the County Maintained Road System that the County Master Plan of Highways identifies as a Secondary Highway or higher function road were tabulated by area or region. Most of these roads and road segments are not currently constructed to the ultimate configuration. Many of the roads have differential development; some traverse areas where no right-of-way has been perfected. The existing road conditions were recorded by a Field Assessment team from the Department of Public Works. In establishing costs for the Cost Study, a data matrix has been constructed where the quantified data is applied to costs established by current (fiscal year 2005-06) historic contracts and unit prices.
In the aggregation of data and averaging of costs for application to all projects in THE PLAN, analysis of the results suggested the need to address regional differences in existing levels of development, especially in regards to right-of-way and utility relocation costs. As such, PLAN SUBAREAS in THE PLAN were grouped into three regions: West San Bernardino Valley, East San Bernardino Valley, and Victor Valley. An average cost estimate per lane-mile was then calculated for each region and applied to all PLAN SUBAREAS within that region. As determined by the Cost Study, the average major arterial estimated cost for each region is:

  • West San Bernardino Valley $2,013,127 per lane mile

  • East San Bernardino Valley $1,469,488 per lane mile

  • Victor Valley $1,827,611 per lane mile
    		•

    (2) FREEWAY INTERCHANGE AND GRADE SEPARATION PROJECTS


    For freeway interchange projects, THE PLAN utilizes the SANBAG Nexus Study. The SANBAG Nexus Study describes the methodology used in establishing project cost estimates for freeway interchanges and grade separation projects:
    “The SANBAG Nexus Study used the most recent Project Study Report (PSR) prepared, if available, or other updated costs from local jurisdictions. If necessary, these costs were updated to 2004. In some cases, PSR cost estimates for one interchange were used to estimate costs for other interchanges where the improvement needs were expected to be similar…. In addition, the interchange costs were reduced by the amount of federal earmarks, where specifically identified.
    Where PSRs or updated costs from local jurisdictions were not available, an assessment was made of reconstruction needs for each interchange. Interchanges were classified as to whether the arterial crossed over or under the freeway, whether the bridge would need to be replaced or kept (for underpasses), whether there was involvement with a rail line, and whether right-of-way acquisition would likely be limited or extensive….
    It should be understood that these planning-level estimates are based on the best available information…. Cost estimates may vary…depending on other circumstances in the vicinity of each interchange.”
    For Grade Separation projects, the Nexus Study report states:
    “Costs were taken directly from local jurisdiction estimates submitted for the 2004 RTP, with updates provided by local jurisdictions in early and mid-2005. Again, costs were reduced based on federal earmarks, where specifically identified.”

    (3) TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION PROJECTS


    For traffic signal installation projects, costs were calculated based upon historical contracts and unit prices and fiscal year 2005/2006 engineer’s estimates for signal installation projects currently in progress but not yet awarded for construction. The average cost for the ten FY 2005/2006 projects, based upon the engineer’s estimate, was calculated to be $559,242. This amount was applied to all traffic signal projects in the plan.
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