SCCRTC approves contract for scaled down bridge repair project

A ribbon cutting celebration and community event to commemorate public ownership of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.

SCCRTC

The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) approved a $4.2 million contract to make repairs to four bridges that "require attention more immediately" along the Santa Cruz Branch Line in California.

Last year, SCCRTC received bids to rehabilitate 20 bridges along the line, but decided to reject all bids and modify the project package after estimates came in significantly higher than expected. The modified bid package removed a requirement that La Selva Beach bridge be in operation during the months of November and December 2013 and reduced the required amount of work by forces of the primary contractor from 50 percent to 30 percent.

Stacey and Witbeck, Inc., submitted the winning bid of $6.83 million. Although the bid is still higher than the work estimate, SCCRTC structured the bid package to award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder for only the work that can be performed with the available budget. SCCRTC said the lowest bid included work for the La Selva Beach trestle and the Priority 1 bridges at a cost that was more than $400,000 lower than the first round of bids.

In October 2012, SCCRTC completed the purchase of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line and was awarded $5.35 million in State Transportation Improvement Program from the California Transportation Commission to make improvements to the line.