Staff recommends the City Council approve Amendment 29 with Morrison-Maierle, Inc. for the engineering services associated with the MET Transit driver training lot project for the amount of $151,347.

On April 10, 2017 the City Council approved a five-year contract with Morrison-Maierle, Inc. to provide for the Aviation and Transit Department's engineering needs including project designs, surveys for the development of the project plans, and contract administration following the design criteria required by the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. The five-year term contract is amended each time a project is undertaken. Amendment 29 for $151,347 will provide the final design and specifications, bidding process, survey, and construction management for the MET Transit Driver Training Lot project; this lot is located to the west of the METroplex, the primary MET Transit facility. This training lot is being constructed to provide a dedicated area for the training of transit operators, including cone-course work in transit buses and other vehicles. The construction project being designed will include soil preparation, paving, curb, stormwater management, and security features such as fencing and an automated lift gate. This project will support multiple regulatory requirements including ongoing operator training outlined in the Public Transit Agency Safety Plan as well as entry-level driver training required by the Federal Motor Carrier Services Administration for new commercial driver's license holders. Through fulfilling these requirements, MET Transit will stay in compliance with Federal Transit Administration regulations as well as gain an increased ability to ensure operators receive high-quality ongoing training; the project will also enhance MET Transit's ability to hire and train new operators. The Engineering services will be funded using Federal Transit Administration funds at a rate of 20% local and 80% federal. 

The scope of work and associated engineering fees for these services have been reviewed by T-O Engineering and negotiated by staff to ensure the proposed rates are fair and reasonable. T-O Engineering was contracted to perform the secondary review, providing staff with a second engineering number to negotiate the fees with.

City Council may:

• Approve Amendment 29 with Morrison-Maierle for the final design and construction management of the MET Transit Driver Training Lot project; or,
• Not Approve Amendment 29 with Morrison-Maierle and delay the project. 

The total cost of Amendment 29 with Morrison-Maierle for engineering services for the MET Transit Driver Training Lot project is $151,347. This project will be funded using Federal Transit Administration grant funds at 80% federal ($121,077) and 20% local ($30,270). This project is included in the City of Billings CIP within the Aviation and Transit Department and local funds are available in MET Transit's capital account.