Gardena, California’s transportation service is seeking for approval for a project to obtain new environmentally friendly buses, according to the Gardena City Manager at a Council Meeting on May 14, 2019.
Edward Medrano, former Gardena chief of police, now city manager, was given the floor by Mayor Tasha Cerda to discuss the Departmental Items on the Gardena City Council Meeting agenda.
One of the items to be discussed was about the Gardena transit service, otherwise known as GTrans, a request of approval for a plan made in Feb. 2017; a plan in which the transit wished to add a mixed fleet of 18 buses that will use either compressed natural gas (CNG), or electric motors.
“GTrans will be constructing a CNG fueling station and upgrade its maintenance facilities in order to accommodate this new technology,” said Medrano to the rest of the city council.
Stated by the city manager, the CNG fueling station will also allow for fueling of the transit’s upcoming orders for the 18 buses, and all other future orders for CNG buses.
“The station will be adjacent to the current fueling facilities located at GTrans.” said Medrano. “GTrans is in need of a professional service agreement for design, engineering, consulting services for its CNG fueling station and vehicle maintenance facility upgrade project”
Prior to the agreement, Medrano added, the transit company had engaged Fuel Systems Inc, back in 2006, in order to provide initial specifications in preparation for a grant application for their new facility.
“This firm will assist with the conceptual design, an engineering document, precurmative support responding to technical questions, and commissioning/performance testing when the project is completed.”
The whole project will have a cost not exceed $66,964, added by the city manager, along with GTrans recommending a contingency fee for said project for an additional total of $13,391 incase of “any unforeseen circumstances.”
Outside of this approved plan for the transit, Medrano had also made an announcement of a secondary plan for GTrans involving their pursuit for a mixed bus fleet. Said plan will involve having the National Resource Manager (NRM) and its associates acting as project management.
“GTrans is in need of a professional service agreement for project management consulting services,” The city manager told the council. “NRM & Associates will serve as the overall project manager for the project, and the project manager will be involved in all aspects of the project including: Assisting GTrans staff and day-to-day management of the project including the development of the scope of work and the design build of the project coordinated with utilities and other stakeholders involved ”
The NRM has experience in working through unique circumstances presented by transit in the past; along with municipal fund-related projects.
They had also successfully worked with GTrans, according to Medrano, in terms of project management capacity for the installation of a maintenance management system; along with the installation of surveillance cameras on their buses.
“The contract will be formed on time and at a cost not to exceed $50,000; which includes project management and precurmative assistance throughout the project,” Medrano said.
GTrans will also be making a second request for 20% contingency for the project, or an additional $10,000, for any and all unforeseen expenditures that may occur in the future.
“There is no general fund impact,” according to the city manager. “GTrans, CNG fueling and Maintenance project is, once again, funded using existing federal and local grants obligated specifically for the CNG project.”
After finishing his explanation of each plan to the city council, Mayor Cerda would ask for any comments or questions from the council regarding the departmental items stated by Medrano; to which none would speak up.
The first approval of agreement, with Fuel Solutions Inc., was moved by Council Member, Rodney G. Tanaka, and Mayor Pro Tem, Art Kaskanian. The second approval of agreement, with NRM & Associates, would be moved by Council Member, Mark E. Henderson, and Kaskanian once more
After gaining approval, however, it was not specified by either Medrano, or the city council itself, as to when these new transit buses would expected to be released for public use; leaving for us to wait until any other information may become available.
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