HomeMy WebLinkAbout29. 13-247MAY 14, 2013 13 -247 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED 6 -0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN
PURPOSE: APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR
DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR MULTI -USE TRAIL
ALONG WASHBURN STREET / STRAND ASSOCIATES
($177,800.00)
INITIATED BY: TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh that the proper
City officials are hereby authorized to enter into and take those steps necessary to
implement an appropriate professional services agreement with Strand Associates for
design engineering services for a multi -use trail along Washburn Street in the amount of
one hundred seventy -seven thousand eight hundred dollars ($177,800.00)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that money for this purpose is hereby
appropriated from:
Acct. No. 531 - 1040 - 7216 -07386 TID #9 Fund — Pedestrian Infrastructure
City of Oshkosh - Transportation Department
926 Dempsey Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 232 -5342 (920
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Christopher Strong, P.E., Director of Transportation
DATE: May 8, 2013
( 0
O WO H
ON THE WATER
RE: APPROVAL OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR
DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR MULTI -USE TRAIL ALONG
WASHBURN STREET / STRAND ASSOCIATES ($177,800)
Background
In the 2013 Capital Improvement Program, the Common Council approved the use of TIF
District 9 funds toward developing a multi -use trail on the west side of Washburn Street, between
State Highways 44 and 26. The City issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a design
consultant for this work. Strand Associates from Madison was selected, based on their
experience with similar projects and their depth of understanding of the specific challenges with
this location. The cost of the initial award was less than $20,000.
The RFP was issued assuming that the best alignment for the trail was to be within existing right -
of -way. As Strand proceeded with its initial scope of work, they analyzed the advantages of
disadvantages of alignments inside and outside of the right -of way. A location within the right-
of-way, it turns out, would be in the way of the future reconstruction of Washburn Street,
meaning that the trail would need to be re -built in the next 10 -20 years. This would reduce the
life cycle of this investment. Moreover, a location within the right -of -way would reduce the
separation between vehicles and bicycles and pedestrians, and could introduce difficult drainage
challenges at some locations.
In reviewing this information, staff concluded that the best way to ensure the trail could be a
viable long term investment was to construct the trail parallel to Washburn Street, with little or
no use of existing right -of -way. This alignment introduced new challenges which required a new
scope of work. Because Strand has relevant experience in working with these types of issues,
staff requested Strand submit a proposal to design this trail, based on the new alignment.
Anal
The proposed trail is consistent with both the plan for TIF District 9 and the 2011 Pedestrian and
Bicycle Circulation Plan. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan encourages the use of
diverse funding sources, as well as taking advantage of construction and financing opportunities,
in order to build a complete bicycle and pedestrian network over the long -term. This is similar to
City of Oshkosh — Department of Transportation
Approval of Professional Services Agreement for Design Engineering Services
for Multi -Use Trail Along Washburn Street I Strand Associates ($177,800)
the way that the City has constructed the Riverwalk over the last few years.
Through the limited time availability of this TIF funding, the city is able to construct this
particular trail segment. The proposed trail will connect into the intersection of STH 44 and
Washburn Street, where it will connect with sidewalk being constructed this year on the west
side of Washburn Street between STH 44 and 20 Avenue.
Strand's proposal encompasses a wide scope of engineering services to ensure that the proposed
trail can be located outside of the right -of -way and will not be impacted by future street
construction or property development. The biggest single expense in the scope of work relates to
the efforts needed to acquire property and/or secure permanent easements for the location of the
trail. Additional tasks include permitting, coordination with WisDOT, culvert design, bridge
design, traffic signal modifications at STH 44, preliminary and final drawings, public
information meetings, and bid documents and plan sets. The scope excludes some other pre -
construction costs, such as property or easement acquisition costs and specialized environmental,
historical and archeological assistance, for which the City will need to contract separately.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed fee is $177,800. This project would be paid for out of TIF District 9, in which
roughly $3.3 million is available. The construction cost for the trail will need to be determined
through the design and bidding process, but is anticipated to be less than the funding currently
available.
The proposed fee could be lowered depending on how the property or easement acquisition
process proceeds.
Recommendation
I recommend the Common Council approve this professional services agreement with Strand
Associates for design engineering services for the proposed multi -use trail along Washburn
Street.
Respectfully submitted, Approved:
/hristopher
Strong, P.E. Mark A. Rohloff
Director of Transportation City Manager
City of Oshkosh Department of Transportation 2