Consent 1.E.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 11/13/2017
- TITLE
- Consulting Agreement with Kittelson & Associates - Billings MPO Travel Demand Model
- PRESENTED BY:
- Wyeth Friday
- Department:
- Planning & Community Services
Presentation:
No
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
The City Council is being presented with a consultant agreement for the development of a Travel Demand Model (TDM) for Billings and the urban area. The TDM will allow in-house traffic modeling of existing and future transportation systems based on local data. Currently, the Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Travel Demand Model is maintained by the Montana Department of Transportation. The model does not assess conditions to the degree desired to evaluate modal shifts, development impacts and transportation project impacts at the local level. The local model will include transit and bike/ped considerations that are not currently available with the MDT model. A staff training component is included with the intent to assist staff in the development and operation of the model.
In September of 2017, the Planning Division solicited proposals from qualified consultants to complete the travel demand model. Three proposals were received and reviewed by a selection committee including City, County, and the Montana Department of Transportation staff. The consultant selected was Kittelson & Associates from Boise, Idaho. Kittelson has worked on several projects in Billings for both the City and MDT, including the 2014 Long Range Transportation Plan.
This project is identified in the recently adopted 2018 Billings Urban Area Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The UPWP is developed each year and identifies tasks to be completed through the use of Federal Planning dollars allocated to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. This project will require a Scope of Work and Documentation package to be completed within 8 months of contract signing.
In September of 2017, the Planning Division solicited proposals from qualified consultants to complete the travel demand model. Three proposals were received and reviewed by a selection committee including City, County, and the Montana Department of Transportation staff. The consultant selected was Kittelson & Associates from Boise, Idaho. Kittelson has worked on several projects in Billings for both the City and MDT, including the 2014 Long Range Transportation Plan.
This project is identified in the recently adopted 2018 Billings Urban Area Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The UPWP is developed each year and identifies tasks to be completed through the use of Federal Planning dollars allocated to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. This project will require a Scope of Work and Documentation package to be completed within 8 months of contract signing.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the consultant agreement as proposed, or
- Not approve the consultant agreement. Not approving the agreement means the City Council is not approving completion of a funded project in the 2018 UPWP that was already approved by the Policy Coordinating Committee, or
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Kittelson & Associates and return a revised agreement
- Approve the consultant agreement as proposed, or
- Not approve the consultant agreement. Not approving the agreement means the City Council is not approving completion of a funded project in the 2018 UPWP that was already approved by the Policy Coordinating Committee, or
- Direct staff to negotiate specific changes with Kittelson & Associates and return a revised agreement
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The estimated cost of this study is $125,000. The costs are detailed in Exhibit B of the consultant agreement. The source of funding is from the Billings Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Federal Planning funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the consultant agreement with Kittelson & Associates to complete the MPO Travel Demand Model.