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Item 1.E.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 02/26/2024 |
| Title: | W.O. 24-21 1st Avenue North Two-Way Conversion Feasibility Study, Professional Services Contract |
| Presented by: | Debi Meling |
| Department: | Public Works |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Template Contract |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for WO 24-21 1st Avenue North Two-Way Conversion Feasibility Study to Sanderson Stewart in the amount of $102,000.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
A Downtown Traffic Study evaluating the current transportation network from Division Street to Main Street and 6th Avenue North to 1st Avenue South was completed in August 2019. The Study initially considered the conversion of 1st Avenue North, Montana Avenue, 4th Avenue North, or 6th Avenue North, but did not fully study the feasibility due to lack of interest from the advisory committee. The possibility to convert 1st Avenue North is now being considered, as the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) continues to design an improvement project for the 1st Avenue North road corridor from North 9th Street to Division Street. Montana Avenue, which is the existing one-way couplet for 1st Avenue North, will also be considered for two-way traffic. MDT has indicated that two-way traffic can be considered for 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue. However, the operational impacts need to be understood before a determination can be made. The feasibility study will be used by City and MDT staff in decision-making for the ongoing design of the 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue roadway corridors. MDT plans to construct the east segment of 1st Avenue North improvements from North 9th Street to North 22nd Street, which is currently a two-way configuration, in 2027. A construction schedule for the middle and west segments, which are currently a one-way configuration, is not known at this time.
The feasibility study will analyze existing and projected traffic data to develop alternatives for a two-way configuration on 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue. The alternatives will identify the required lane configurations to support two-way traffic (3-lane, 4-lane, or 5-lane). Lane configuration alternatives on other roadways are not included in this study. The study will analyze how a change to two-way traffic on 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue impacts the surrounding downtown streets and adjacent City of Billings commuter routes including 4th Avenue North, 6th Avenue North, North 27th Street, and Division Street. The feasibility study will include possible solutions for the Division Street / Broadwater Avenue / 1st Avenue North / Montana Avenue intersection and conceptual cost estimates for any viable lane configurations. Conceptual design or public outreach will not be completed with this project. Public outreach will be critical in decision-making for the road corridors; however, the intent of this study is to determine the operational feasibility of a two-way configuration on 1st Ave North and Montana Avenue. If the project is found to be operationally feasible, public involvement and design could be completed with a future project.
MDT staff attended a scoping meeting and provided comments on the scope of work. Planning Division staff were also involved in the development of the scope of work. This study will continue to be closely coordinated with MDT and will include monthly project update meetings with the project team and MDT staff.
The City requested proposals for professional services from the prequalified list derived from the established Statement of Qualifications. Sanderson Stewart was selected for the project using the proposal process. Two other proposals were received from KLJ Engineering and Kittelson and Associates. The Consultant selected was based on Project Team and Availability, Project Approach, and Firm Qualifications and Experience related to project needs.
The feasibility study will analyze existing and projected traffic data to develop alternatives for a two-way configuration on 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue. The alternatives will identify the required lane configurations to support two-way traffic (3-lane, 4-lane, or 5-lane). Lane configuration alternatives on other roadways are not included in this study. The study will analyze how a change to two-way traffic on 1st Avenue North and Montana Avenue impacts the surrounding downtown streets and adjacent City of Billings commuter routes including 4th Avenue North, 6th Avenue North, North 27th Street, and Division Street. The feasibility study will include possible solutions for the Division Street / Broadwater Avenue / 1st Avenue North / Montana Avenue intersection and conceptual cost estimates for any viable lane configurations. Conceptual design or public outreach will not be completed with this project. Public outreach will be critical in decision-making for the road corridors; however, the intent of this study is to determine the operational feasibility of a two-way configuration on 1st Ave North and Montana Avenue. If the project is found to be operationally feasible, public involvement and design could be completed with a future project.
MDT staff attended a scoping meeting and provided comments on the scope of work. Planning Division staff were also involved in the development of the scope of work. This study will continue to be closely coordinated with MDT and will include monthly project update meetings with the project team and MDT staff.
The City requested proposals for professional services from the prequalified list derived from the established Statement of Qualifications. Sanderson Stewart was selected for the project using the proposal process. Two other proposals were received from KLJ Engineering and Kittelson and Associates. The Consultant selected was based on Project Team and Availability, Project Approach, and Firm Qualifications and Experience related to project needs.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve award of a Professional Services Contract with Sanderson Stewart; or,
- Not approve contract with Sanderson Stewart. If this agreement is not approved, exploring alternatives for 1st Avenue North would not be done before 1st Ave N is reconstructed by MDT.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The professional services contract is $102,000. The project was budgeted in FY24 in the amount of $102,000 using SMD2 funds ($52,000) and MPO Transportation PL Funds ($50,000) associated with the Annual Travel Corridor Coordination and Travel Demand Modeling projects. There are sufficient funds to award the contract.