DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract With SRF, Design Services For County Project 56-14, Concord Boulevard Pedestrian And Bicycle Safety Improvements And Amend 2022 Transportation Capital Improvement Program Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a contract with SRF for consulting services for County Project (CP) 56-14, the Concord Boulevard Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements, in the Cities of South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights (Attachment: Project Location Map). Amend the 2022 Transportation Budget by $60,000 to fund the cost of the contract.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system for all users, Dakota County (County) is proceeding with CP 56-14, the Concord Boulevard Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements project in South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights. County Project 56-14 will include evaluation to identify crossing improvement locations along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 56 (Concord Boulevard) between Trunk Highway 55 and I-494, selection of enhancements at each location, and design of the selected improvements. This segment of Concord Boulevard also includes a portion of the Mississippi River Greenway (MRG) from Cahill Avenue to 66th Street East in Inver Grove Heights. The improvements designed in this project will be constructed in conjunction with a 2023 Dakota County Pavement Preservation mill and overlay project on Concord Boulevard.
Scope of Work and Issues to be Addressed The scope of work for County Project 56-14 final design includes public involvement and agency coordination, corridor evaluation, data collection, permits, approvals, surveys, and detailed design of the trail, pavement, pedestrian crossing enhancements, and lighting.
There are currently no stop-controlled locations for vehicle traffic along the 4.5 miles of Concord Boulevard from Cahill Avenue in Inver Grove Heights to Richmond Street East/Dale Place in South Saint Paul, and Concord Boulevard is a high-speed multi-lane roadway in the project area. These factors present a barrier and a safety concern for cyclists and pedestrians looking to cross Concord Boulevard to access the MRG and other destinations including parks, businesses, schools, and housing on both sides of Concord Boulevard.
The presence of the MRG adjacent to Concord Boulevard in the project area leads to a higher volume of people who walk, bike, and roll in the area-an estimated 200,000 users per year currently use the MRG, and users are expected to rise to over 500,000 per year once the Greenway is complete. There are user comfort, accessibility, and safety concerns with the present configuration of intersections where the Greenway crosses local streets intersecting with Concord Boulevard. Additionally, there is a history of crashes along this corridor, with eight pedestrian and bicycle-involved crashes, including one fatality, between 2012 and 2021.
Crossing location selection and the design of improvements will follow the guidelines implemented as part of the Dakota County Pedestrian Crossing Safety Assessment (update presented at Physical Development Committee of the Whole on April 12, 2022), as well as the most recent Minnesota Department of Transportation bicycle and pedestrian guidelines. The 2018 Connecting People to the Mississippi River Study (update presented at the Physical Development Committee of the Whole on January 15, 2019), will also be referenced in the process of locating crossing improvements in the project area.
Consultant Selection and Roles Dakota County issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the above-noted services on July 12, 2022. The County’s cost-share in the contract is 100 percent. Three proposals were received and evaluated by staff representing the County and Cities. SRF was selected as the preferred professional engineering consultant based on the following criteria: project understanding, project approach, public involvement, team expertise, quality control, performance on similar projects, and best-value cost. The consultants submitted cost proposals as follows:
Consultant Amount Hours Cost/Hour
|
Bolton & Menk |
$ 97,281.00 |
670 |
$145.20 |
|
SEH |
$194,502.00 |
1,395 |
$139.43 |
|
SRF |
$139,281.00 |
1,033 |
$134.83 |
The proposals were evaluated to determine whether the work plan, hours, and rate structure were sufficient and reasonable to successfully complete the final design and related work. The proposal from SRF provided the most responsive and complete work plan, including the hours needed to successfully complete work. The SRF costs proposed were considered the most realistic among the three proposals, and the total contract cost was within the range anticipated by staff. More documentation of the proposal process, review team, evaluation criteria and results, and best-value cost evaluation is included (Attachment: Consultant Evaluation Summary).
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends execution of a contract with SRF for professional design services for CP 56-14 for actual costs not to exceed $139,281.00.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2022 Adopted Transportation Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget includes $100,000 for CP 56-14 for consulting services. The CIP originally assumed a 15 percent local cost share; however it was later determined that the proposed improvements fall under the safety category which is 100 percent County. A transfer of $60,000 from the 2022 Transportation Safety and Management Setaside fund balance will cover the additional contract cost. (Attachment: Financial Summary). Construction of the designed improvements will be included in the 2023 Dakota County Transportation Pavement Preservation project. Sufficient funds are available for this contract and additional work if needed.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County is proceeding with County Project 56-14, the County State Aid Highway 56 (Concord Boulevard) Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements in South St. Paul and Inver Grove Heights; and
WHEREAS, County staff sent a Request for Proposal to three qualified professional consultants; and
WHEREAS, the proposals received were evaluated by County staff; and
WHEREAS, the proposal from SRF has the best value costs for the Project and provides all the services needed; and
WHEREAS, the 2022 Adopted Transportation Capital Improvement Program includes $100,000 for County Project 56-14 engineering consulting services; and
WHEREAS, the 2022 Transportation Safety and Management Setaside includes sufficient funds to cover additional costs for County Project 56-14; and
WHEREAS, the County’s cost share is 100 percent of the consultant contract according the County’s adopted cost share policy for Transportation safety projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a contract with SRF to perform final engineering design consulting services for County Project 56-14 in an amount not to exceed $139,281.00, 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 amends the 2022 Transportation Budget as follows:
Expense
CP 56-14 $60,000
Safety and Management ($60,000)
City Portion CP 56-14 ($15,000)
Total Expense ($15,000)
Revenue
County Funding (CP 56-14) $60,000
Safety & Mgmt - County Funding ($60,000)
City Revenue ($15,000)
Total Revenue ($15,000)
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location Map
Attachment: Financial Summary
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
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Bryce LeBrun