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Item 5.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 05/28/2024 |
| Title: | W.O. 23-11: Downtown 2-Way Street Conversion Bid Award |
| Presented by: | Debi Meling |
| Department: | Public Works |
| Presentation: | Yes |
| Legal Review: | Not Applicable |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council award a contract for W.O. 23-11: Downtown Two-Way Street Conversion including all Schedules with Alternate Bs to Montana Lines Inc. in the amount of $6,104,793.15.
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 Ave N to 1st Ave S was completed in August 2019. The study recommended prioritizing the conversion of 2nd Avenue North, 3rd Avenue North, and the remaining north-south one-way streets from one-way to two-way traffic within downtown Billings. North 29th Street and North 30th Street were converted to two-way operation in 2021. This project included design of improvements for the remaining one-way north-south streets as well as 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North. Additionally, the project will complete necessary maintenance improvements to some City of Billings infrastructure in downtown Billings. Maintenance improvements, which are needed regardless of two-way conversion, include pavement preservation, upgrades to aging signal equipment (notably on Division Street and 3rd Avenue North, North 32nd Street and Grand Avenue/6th Avenue North, and North 32nd Street and 4th Avenue North), and upgrades to existing infrastructure to meet forthcoming changes to Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG). The conversion from one-way to two-way streets moves towards a consistent network of two-way streets within downtown Billings while increasing exposure for downtown businesses, multi-modal connectivity, and accessibility for users. In summary, the accessibility improvements, signal improvements, pavement preservation, and the two-way conversion are most efficiently constructed at the same time.
The project consists of improvements to 18 existing signals, a new signal at 2nd Avenue North and Division, and removal of two signals on North 32nd Street at 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North. Updates to signing will be provided. New striping will be installed, including the potential conversion of pull-in angle parking stalls to back-in angle parking stalls. Back-in angle parking stalls provide consistency for anticipated MDT requirements on Montana Avenue, as well as with improvements in the EBURD and on North 29th Street and North 30th Street. The project plans currently show back-in angle parking but city staff is evaluating the parking plan to ensure it is the best option. The cost of the project is not dependent on the decision for parking layout so the project can be awarded now and the striping can be changed prior to the work being done.
Bicycle infrastructure improvements are also included, enhancing bicycle connectivity to the downtown core. The project followed the Complete Streets Policy, considered recommendations from the Bike and Trail Master Plan, and is a planned project in the FY24 CIP. The project improvements are consistent with the design intent conveyed to City Council during the 30-percent design update at the July 17th, 2023 work session.
The project was bid in schedules based on location. Schedule 1 includes 2nd and 3rd Avenues N, N 31st, Broadway, N 26th and N 25th. Schedule 2 includes N 32nd St. Schedule 3 includes N 33rd, N 34th and N 35th. Schedule 4 includes all of the PROWAG accessiblity improvements. Alternates A and B were also included and are for a chip seal and a scrub seal, respectively. A scrub seal is the preferred alternative to award.
The project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2025, based primarily on long lead times for critical signal equipment and contractor schedules.
The project was advertised on March 8th, March 15th, March 22nd, March 29th, April 5th, and April 12th, 2024 in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website. Bids were opened on April 16th, 2024 and two bids were received. Montana Lines Inc. submitted the lowest, responsible bid. Action on this item was delayed during the May 13, 2024, City Council meeting.
The project consists of improvements to 18 existing signals, a new signal at 2nd Avenue North and Division, and removal of two signals on North 32nd Street at 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North. Updates to signing will be provided. New striping will be installed, including the potential conversion of pull-in angle parking stalls to back-in angle parking stalls. Back-in angle parking stalls provide consistency for anticipated MDT requirements on Montana Avenue, as well as with improvements in the EBURD and on North 29th Street and North 30th Street. The project plans currently show back-in angle parking but city staff is evaluating the parking plan to ensure it is the best option. The cost of the project is not dependent on the decision for parking layout so the project can be awarded now and the striping can be changed prior to the work being done.
Bicycle infrastructure improvements are also included, enhancing bicycle connectivity to the downtown core. The project followed the Complete Streets Policy, considered recommendations from the Bike and Trail Master Plan, and is a planned project in the FY24 CIP. The project improvements are consistent with the design intent conveyed to City Council during the 30-percent design update at the July 17th, 2023 work session.
The project was bid in schedules based on location. Schedule 1 includes 2nd and 3rd Avenues N, N 31st, Broadway, N 26th and N 25th. Schedule 2 includes N 32nd St. Schedule 3 includes N 33rd, N 34th and N 35th. Schedule 4 includes all of the PROWAG accessiblity improvements. Alternates A and B were also included and are for a chip seal and a scrub seal, respectively. A scrub seal is the preferred alternative to award.
The project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2025, based primarily on long lead times for critical signal equipment and contractor schedules.
The project was advertised on March 8th, March 15th, March 22nd, March 29th, April 5th, and April 12th, 2024 in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website. Bids were opened on April 16th, 2024 and two bids were received. Montana Lines Inc. submitted the lowest, responsible bid. Action on this item was delayed during the May 13, 2024, City Council meeting.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Award WO 23-11 Downtown Two-Way Street Conversion, Schedules 1 through 4; or,
- Not award a contract and reject all bids. If the project is not awarded, these critical maintenance updates and improvements to Downtown Billings will not be completed. The maintenance work cannot be awarded separately from the remaining work due to the way the schedules were bid. Rebidding will be necessary to reduce the scope of work to include only the maintenance work.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The following bids were received:
The project was budgeted in FY24. The construction contract will utilize $2,070,000 of Street Maintenance District funds, $1,135,558.47 of Gas Tax funds, and $2,899,234.68 of Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. There is sufficient budget to award this contract.
| Montana Lines, Inc | Askin Construction | |
| Schedule 1 | $3,971,317.55 | $5,619,691.50 |
| Schedule 1: Alt A | $671,445.00 | $630,080.00 |
| Schedule 1: Alt B | $427,730.00 | $363,200.00 |
| Schedule 2 | $1,098,146.70 | $1,408,161.20 |
| Schedule 2: Alt A | $106,382.00 | $122,670.00 |
| Schedule 2: Alt B | $79,325.00 | $83,480.00 |
| Schedule 3 | $199,623.90 | $253,965.00 |
| Schedule 3: Alt A | $159,205.00 | $160,745.00 |
| Schedule 3: Alt B | $121,900.00 | $117,910.00 |
| Schedule 4 | $206,750.00 | $384,541.00 |
| Total, All Schedules (Alt B) | $6,104,793.15 | $8,230,948.70 |
The project was budgeted in FY24. The construction contract will utilize $2,070,000 of Street Maintenance District funds, $1,135,558.47 of Gas Tax funds, and $2,899,234.68 of Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. There is sufficient budget to award this contract.