Approve Request for Proposals for Permitting, Geotechnical Engineering and Final Design Services - Mississippi Skyway

In 2012, the City was successful in receiving two, Transit Orientated Development (TOD) grants from Metropolitan Council, one of which was for the proposed Mississippi Skyway.  The pedestrian bridge, if constructed,  will connect residents and regional facilities on both sides of U.S. Hwy's #10 & #169 from the existing trail at Mississippi West Regional Park, directly to the Northstar Station, Ramp and Municipal Center.

Certainly the skyway will be the nexus of the regional trail and recreation systems - but it also will provide connectivity for residents on the south side of the highway directly into The COR's existing and future housing, retail and commercial destinations, and as such, promote a quality, affordable housing stock, economic development and jobs.  The project represents a substantial part of the justification for the TOD investment as it provides a connection between these land uses and to larger recreational and alternative transportation modes on the south side of Highway 10.  Additionally, using the established formula for determining the ridership ' travel-shed' the Mississippi Skyway will add more than eight (8) resident commuters for the Northstar train from the south side of the highway. 

Ramsey is unique in having the most renown river in North America as its southern border - and this corridor along the river is also a very unique National Park in the United States known as the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area or MNRRA.  The City continues to work with the Park Service and other public agencies in developing recreational amenities that serve all residents, like trails to and along the river as well as parks. 

Presently, the National Park Service's focus is building upon a network of 'Alternative Transportation' systems for accessing parks; which includes trail networks, Nice Ride bikes, water access and water trails, electric vehicle charging stations and of course the Northstar and Metropolitan Transit systems.  As the proposed Mississippi Skyway literally connects, or will connect all these systems and amenities, it has 'risen to the top' of all the proposed Alternative Transportation projects within the 72-mile National Mississippi River and Recreation Area.  Attached to this case is NPS' 5-year Alternative Transportation Plan, which includes important details; including a $480,000 application for the local match funding for the Mississippi Skyway in 2014-15.

As Congress regularly appropriates funds for Alternative Transportation in National Parks (specifically for parks, and not available to be used for streets, roads and highways), the TOD grant's deliverables of site investigation will position the City of Ramsey and Metropolitan Council to partner with the National Park Service to access this funding - as a project that is truly shovel-ready.

At the same time as the proposed Mississippi Skyway would provide all the connections, access, safety benefits, and choices for mobility in the center of Ramsey and The COR; it is also apparent that this project requires a great degree of planning and coordination to be ultimately constructed efficiently, at the best cost, and with the greatest utility - such that the pedestrian overpass adds value to all the transportation systems it interfaces with.

So as to meet the goals of the Transit Orientated Development grant and deliver the myriad of site investigation, permitting, soil condition information and all the engineering and design required, Staff has developed the attached Request for Proposal.  The RFP is approximately 95% complete, with additional review required from various City Staff members and also subject to review and approval by Metropolitan Council's staff as well. Additionally, one of the conditions of receiving the TOD funding was to conduct an Alternatives Analysis.  This will identify if the proposed skyway is the most effective solution for pedestrian movement and connections in the city as it relates to Hwy's #10 & #169, and the county roads on either side of The COR.  This review and report will be done concurrently with the scope of work and deliverables identified within the RFP.

The purpose of this case is for Council to approve the scope of work the 25-page RFP outlines, such that Staff may complete the document and issue it for consultant and engineering firm consideration.

Key deliverables of the RFP (summarized) are:

• Design Coordination
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Structural Design (Structural design will include an Independent Design, Detail, and Quantity Check per MnDOT Bridge Design)
• Civil Engineering (Roadway and Drainage)
• Site Development / Urban Design
• Traffic Engineering
• Right-of-Way analysis
• Utilities mapping
• Electrical Engineering
• Project and Structure Phasing
• Final Proposed Plans (not Bid docs), Specifications and Cost Estimate
• Final Design Review Meeting with affected agency representatives
• Written authorization from MnDOT and BNSF Railway for future construction based upon Final Design; (and document that the final design ensures the skyway will work upon construction without amendments, with BOTH the existing highway footprint and that of future upgrades presently being discussed for the highway)
• Detailed Engineer’s cost estimate for 2016 construction 

The final design process includes coordination and permitting from all stakeholders and agencies in the vicinity of the proposed Mississippi Skyway, with MnDOT clearly being the most critical agency involved.  Because there will be substantial discourse with MnDOT on all aspects of the skyway's siting, Staff anticipates there will be ample opportunity to make progress on the question of the future footprint for U.S. Hwy's #10 & #169 (deliverable highlighted above, verbatim from page 8 of the RFP).

In summary, Staff feels that the outcomes of the TOD funded planning and design for the pedestrian overpass accomplishes or addresses many overlapping municipal goals, including boosting economic activity and improving transportation safety for both motorists and pedestrians when constructed.

After City Council authorization to proceed with the issuance of the RFP, and proposals are vetted and ranked, the top consultant will be brought forward for Council approval.

Funding for the Permitting, Geotechnical Engineering and Final Design Services for the Mississippi Skyway, are from a Transit Orientated Development grant by Metropolitan Council.  Additionally, city staff time allocated within the 2014 General Fund budget will be tracked for the above deliverables, as well as the 25% in-kind matching requirement for various aspects of administering the process and hosting public workshops.

The grant funding breakdown is as follows:
 

Amount	Uses
$35,000	Geotechnical soil analysis and documentation
$30,000	Alternatives analysis, with clear graphics to communicate design ideas
$35,000	Design workshops to complete the planning process, secure approvals on final alignment, coordinate with all agencies, refine play layout, and detailed design to receive Mn/DOT approval.
$100,000	Total

Above it is stated that the RFP includes approximately 95% of the detail and content.  It should be mentioned here, that one amendment to be added to the RFP process will be instructions to proposers to break-out the major category deliverables by cost, such that if all qualified proposers exceed the available $100,000, the City can identify those tasks that are critical to the TOD grant's intent, and also assemble the best palate of those deliverables that are in the City's best interest.  Staff recommends City Council approval of the RFP and issuance, pursuant to the details this case discusses.

Motion to approve the Request for Proposals for Permitting, Geotechnical Engineering and Final Design Services for the Mississippi Skyway, subject to the City Administrator and Metropolitan Council's final approval on details within the RFP.