Approval of Cross Town Water Pipeline Project: Engineering and Outreach

By Sheryl Hamlin

This massive project, 8000 linear feet of 20 to 24 inch pipe moved ahead one step with the approval of Carollo Engineers in the amount of $622,925 for design services. The project includes a sub-contractor charged with public outreach, presumably because the massive amount of construction and detours could create confusion. Carollo Engineers chose Devon Cichoski for the outreach, but the bid did not segregate the outreach costs from the design fees.

According to John Ilasin, Interim Public Works Director, the design phase will take at least one year and will include identification of open trenches and detours. During this time, the public will be informed of the project via outreach. When complete, the pipeline will improve water for “fire flow” and support East Area 1, said Ilasin.

Water Pipeline Route

The Project contemplates installing a new 8,065 linear feet water pipeline which would connect the discharge pipeline from the Steckel Water Conditioning Facility at the Steckel Drive/Santa Barbara Street intersection to the Pleasant Street/Tenth Street intersection. The pipeline would start at Steckel Drive, extend east on Santa Barbara Street, across Fagan Barranca, then north on Seventh Street, then east on Pleasant Street, and finally to Tenth Street where it would connect to an existing 14-inch pipeline. The Project would be installed by open trench methods, excluding the Fagan Barranca pipeline crossing which would be installed using trenchless methods or other alternative methods.
Source: Staff Report

Google Maps 7th and Santa Barbara looking west

Vice Mayor Gherardi asked if the affected streets would be completely repaired. Ilasin said it is their goal to repair affected streets “curb to curb”.

Additional Features of Project

• A new 2,915 linear feet, 18-inch diameter storm drain. The new storm drain would connect the storm drain system at the Main Reservoir to an existing storm drain at the Mill Street/Railroad Avenue intersection;
• A new 600 linear feet, 12-inch diameter PVC water pipeline along Virginia Terrace between Park Street and Mill Street;
• A new 1,500 linear feet, 12-inch diameter PVC water pipeline connecting the Main Reservoir to the City’s existing water distribution system at the Tenth Street/Virginia Terrace intersection;
• Removal and replacement of approximately 360 linear feet of sanitary sewer pipeline on Santa Paula Street from Mill Street to Tenth Street;
• Removal and replacement of approximately 1,100 linear feet of sanitary sewer pipeline on Tenth Street from Santa Paula Street to Virginia Terrace;
• Removal and replacement of approximately 1,055 linear feet of sanitary sewer pipeline on Santa Barbara Street from Fifth Street to Palm Avenue; and
• Pavement resurfacing or rehabilitation of all the streets receiving the pipeline improvements.

There was no discussion about the final cost of this massive project and how it would be funded, although this was previously given in the Planning Commission at about $3,000,000. This phase would be funded from Water Enterprise Fees and Water Bond Proceeds. Ideally there will be a report of these funds in the near future.

There was no discussion about burying compatible utility cables in the open trenches.

This item was previously discussed at the Planning Commission. For a report, click here.

Santa Paula Public Works website information.

For more information about the author, visit sheryhamlin.com

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