DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract With Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. And Execute Joint Powers Agreement With City Of Rosemount For Intersection Modification, County Project 42-179, And Trail Gap Feasibility Along County State Aid Highway 42, County Project 42-180
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the execution of a consultant contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) for preliminary and final design services for County Projects (CP) 42-179 and preliminary design services for CP 42-180. Execute a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Rosemount to establish cost share and project responsibilities.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system throughout the County and the region, Dakota County and the City of Rosemount are partnering on CP 42-179 to modify four intersections along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42 from west of Business Parkway to 800 feet east of Auburn Avenue. The intersection improvements project is the result of ongoing coordination with the City of Rosemount and Independent School District 196 regarding a proposed Rosemount Middle School at the southeast quadrant of CSAH 42 and Biscayne Avenue. CP 42-180 is a study of the trail gap feasibility along CSAH 42 from Trunk Highway (TH) 3 to County Road (CR) 73/Akron Avenue. These improvements align with the adopted recommendations from the County Highway 42 Management Plan (2022). (Attachment: Location Maps).
County Project 42-179 includes intersection improvements along CSAH 42 at the intersections of Business Parkway, Biscayne Avenue, 145th Street, and Auburn Avenue. The intersection of CSAH 42 and Biscayne Avenue includes geometry modifications to reduce the existing skewed crossing and provide safe sight lines. The consultant will take necessary actions to verify the intersection traffic control.
County Project 42-180 work includes preliminary engineering analysis to determine feasibility and recommendation for shared-use trails along CSAH 42 from TH 3 to CSAH 73 (Akron Avenue). The project includes determining recommendations for the location of a grade-separated trail crossing of CSAH 42 to facilitate pedestrian crossings of the principal arterial road system and the proposed Rosemount Middle School opening in Fall of 2027.
A joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Rosemount is necessary to establish responsibilities and cost following the County’s current adopted policy. Dakota County is the lead agency.
Staff issued one request for proposals for both CP 42-179 and CP 42-180 on January 13, 2025, to eight consultants. City and County staff received and rigorously evaluated five proposals. The table below shows the hours and costs associated with each proposal received.
|
|
SEH |
KHA |
BAM |
WSB |
KLJ |
|
Hours |
5,611 |
5,531 |
5,594 |
4,187 |
3,994 |
|
Cost |
$866,161 |
$888,850 |
$949,077 |
$901,062 |
$558,632.20 |
|
Cost/Hour |
$154.37 |
$160.70 |
$169.66 |
$215.21 |
$139.87 |
Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. has been selected based on their comprehensive understanding of the project and their approach, which offers the most balanced, cost-effective, and best overall value. The SEH project management team has integrated both intersections and trail improvements under a unified version, and their deep familiarity with the CSAH 42 corridor and their well-structured engagement plan with ISD 196 and local stakeholders have instilled confidence in County and City staff regarding their ability to effectively manage both projects. The complete evaluation of the consultant selection can be seen in the Attachment: Consultant Evaluation Summary.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends executing a JPA with the City of Rosemount to establish cost participation and responsibilities and executing a consultant contract with SEH for design engineering services in an amount not to exceed $574,831 for CP 42-179 and in an amount not to exceed $291,330 for CP 42-180.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2025 Transportation CIP adopted budget for CP 42-179 includes $1,959,960, and CP 42-180 includes $500,000, carried over from previous years, bringing the estimated total budget for both projects to $2,459,960. Sufficient funding is included for these design services contracts. The design contract costs will be shared between the County and City of Rosemount in accordance with adopted County policy.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, to provide a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County, in partnership with the City of Rosemount, is proceeding with County Projects (CP) 42-179 and CP 42-180; and
WHEREAS, CP 42-179 is the preliminary and final engineering design for the modification of four intersections along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 42 from west of Business Parkway to 800 feet east of Auburn Avenue in Rosemount; and
WHEREAS, CP 42-180 is the preliminary engineering design for the trail gap feasibility from Trunk Highway (TH) 3 to CSAH 73/Akron Avenue in Rosemount; and
WHEREAS, County staff evaluated the proposed middle school traffic impact assessment in conjunction with the County Highway 42 Management Plan (2022) and the area growth in development to determine recommendations for the improvements of CP 42-179; and
WHEREAS, the primary needs identified for CP 42-180 include feasibility and recommendation for shared-use trails along CSAH 42 from TH 3 to CSAH 73 (Akron Avenue) and determining recommendations for the location of grade-separated trail crossing of CSAH 42 to facilitate pedestrian crossings of the principal arterial road system; and
WHEREAS, improvement of the CSAH 42 through these two projects will enhance pedestrian and traffic safety and intersection operations; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for these projects; and
WHEREAS, staff sent a request for proposal to eight qualified professional consultants; and
WHEREAS, five proposals were received and evaluated by City and Dakota County staff; and
WHEREAS, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. was unanimously selected as the preferred professional design engineering consultant based on the following criteria: best value cost proposal, project approach, project understanding, key project personnel expertise, quality management plan, and past performance on similar projects; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends the execution of a contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. for engineering design consulting services for CP 42-179 and CP 42-180 for actual costs not to exceed $574,831 and $291,330 respectively; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemount concurs with the consultant selection; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Transportation Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted budget for CP 42-179 includes $1,959,960, and CP 42-180 includes $500,000, carried over from previous years, bringing the estimated total budget for both projects to $2,459,960; and
WHEREAS, a joint powers agreement with the City of Rosemount is necessary to establish project responsibilities and cost share.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute the contract with Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. to perform design engineering for County Projects 42-179 and 42-180 in the amount not to exceed $866,161, including reimbursement, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a joint powers agreement with the City of Rosemount, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: CP 42-179 and CP 42-180 Location Map
Attachment: Consultant Evaluation Summary
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Imran Ahmed