Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning Department

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Sheila M. Stogsdill, Interim Planning Director
CC:	Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
Date:	March 1, 2007
RE:	Agenda Item – T2030 Consultant Selection

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the March 6, 2007 meeting:

Background

Due to the Transportation Planner staff vacancy, in early January the City issued a Request for Proposals for transportation planning consultants to assist in the completion of the update to the Long Range Transportation Plan [LRTP].  Responses were received from the following five firms:  Iteris/Olsson Associates/Patti Banks Associates; URS Corporation; Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation; LSA Associates; and Parsons Brinckerhoff/Patti Banks Associates. 

Following review by staff from Planning, City & County Public Works, Transit, and KDOT, two firms were invited to interview.  On Friday, February 23rd, staff from those departments/agencies along with the Assistant City Manager and MPO representatives from the Technical Advisory Committee & the T2030 Committee met to hear presentations from LSA and Parsons Brinckerhoff.  LSA Associates prepared the last LRTP and is under contract for on-call modeling.  The review committee determined that each firm had strengths and could complete the update by the September 2007 deadline.  With the current staff vacancies, the committee concluded that Parsons Brinckerhoff (with staff located in Kansas City) could provide more support to the overall transportation planning effort and has more experience in developing plans in communities facing similar time constraints.

At their meeting on Monday, February 26th, the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission acting in their role as the MPO endorsed the selection of Parsons Brinckerhoff/Patti Banks Associates for completion of the Long Range Transportation Plan. 

Recommended Action:   Authorize the City Manager to enter into negotiations with Parsons Brinckerhoff/Patti Banks Associates for completion of the Long Range Transportation Plan.