Through a competitive selection process conducted in August, 2012, Fehr & Peers was chosen as the consultant to complete the Hospitality Corridor Planning Study. The scope of work includes a Corridor Study along Highway 87 (Main Street) beginning at the Lockwood I-90 Interchange, to its intersection with Airport Road. This area is being called “The Hospitality Corridor” given the potential for land uses in the area focused on large events at METRA Park, including conference, dining, and lodging opportunities.

The study will provide an access plan for the Hospitality Corridor, including identification of recommended streetscape improvements throughout the corridor, review of impacts of land use on the transportation system, which would include a traffic flow plan, bike/pedestrian amenities along the corridor, and a detailed discussion of potential designs of the intersections of Main Street and 1st Avenue North, Main Street and 4th Avenue North, and Main Street and 6th Avenue North. Extensive community input will be obtained during the study. This study will also look at the transportation interface between the Main Street corridor and the EBURD transportation network. A separate EBURD planning effort, known as the Exposition Gateway Master Plan, is underway directly adjacent to the study area of this RFP. The Exposition Gateway Master Plan will contemplate future land uses and policy changes to incentivize redevelopment of that particular area. The Hospitality Corridor Study will interface with this plan in that the access points to be analyzed as part of the Hospitality Corridor Study will be directly tied to the planning effort of the Exposition Gateway Master Plan. Both projects are expected to be completed in about one year.

The City Council may:

- Approve the agreement as proposed
- Not approve the agreement
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Fehr & Peers and return a revised agreement

The estimated cost of this study is $69,910.00.  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.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Consultant Agreement with Fehr & Peers to conduct the Hospitality Corridor Planning Study.