Consent 1.B.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 04/08/2013
- TITLE
- Consulting Agreement with Kittelsen & Associates - 2014 Billings Urban Long Range Transportation Plan
- PRESENTED BY:
- Candi Beaudry
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
Information
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The Yellowstone County Board of Planning (YCBP) is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Billings Urban Area. The YCBP is required to develop a Long Range Transportation Plan every four years to meet the requirements of the Federal Highway Administration. The previous transportation plan was updated in 2009, but a full re-write of the plan is now required to ensure the plan is in alignment with local, State, and Federal transportation planning efforts and requirements.
Through a competitive RFP and selection process conducted in February and March 2013, Kittelsen & Associates is the recommended consultant to complete the 2014 Billings Urban Area Long Range Transportation Plan. The scope of work includes elements to bring the plan into compliance with all MAP-21 requirements. Some of the elements included within the plan development include: updating all required elements identified in the MAP-21 Transportation Bill, review and update the short and long range transportation projects and update and expand the freight, rail, and transit sections. To maintain the schedule for the Transportation Plan, the contract requires the Scope of Work and Document package to be completed in draft form by December 31, 2013. The entire scope of work is outlined in detail within Exhibit A of the Consultant Agreement.
Through a competitive RFP and selection process conducted in February and March 2013, Kittelsen & Associates is the recommended consultant to complete the 2014 Billings Urban Area Long Range Transportation Plan. The scope of work includes elements to bring the plan into compliance with all MAP-21 requirements. Some of the elements included within the plan development include: updating all required elements identified in the MAP-21 Transportation Bill, review and update the short and long range transportation projects and update and expand the freight, rail, and transit sections. To maintain the schedule for the Transportation Plan, the contract requires the Scope of Work and Document package to be completed in draft form by December 31, 2013. The entire scope of work is outlined in detail within Exhibit A of the Consultant Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the agreement as proposed
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Kittelsen & Associates and return a revised agreement
- Not approve the agreement, which would jeopardize future transportation planning and construction funding.
- Approve the agreement as proposed
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Kittelsen & Associates and return a revised agreement
- Not approve the agreement, which would jeopardize future transportation planning and construction funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The estimated cost of this transportation plan is $174,924. The costs are detailed in Exhibit B of the consultant agreement. The source of funding is through the Billings Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Federal PL (planning) funds administered by the City-County Planning Division. The funding for this project was included in the 2013 Unified Planning Work Program that the Division develops in coordination with the Yellowstone County Board of Planning (MPO) and the Policy Coordinating Committee made up of representatives of the City, County, Planning Board, and Montana Department of Transportation.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Consultant Agreement with Kittelsen & Associates to conduct the 2014 Billings Urban Area Long Range Transportation Plan.