Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:	Dave Corliss City Manager
From:	Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager Sheila Stogsdill, Interim Planning Director
cc:	Chuck Soules, Public Works Director Cliff Galante, Transit Administrator Keith Browning, County Public Works Director
Date:	May 3, 2007
Re:	Agenda item – T2030 Contract

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their May 8, 2007 meeting:

Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Parsons Brinckerhoff to develop a Long-Range Transportation Plan (T2030) for the Lawrence/Douglas County metropolitan area. 

Background

Federal law requires each Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) in the country to develop and maintain a transportation planning process, an element of which is a long-range transportation plan.  The long-range plan (T2030) must satisfy the requirements of SAFETEA-LU and fulfill minimum requirements (23 CFR Part 450) associated with conditions for receipt of Federal funds for planning, capital or operating assistance.  The long-range plan process currently underway for the Lawrence MPO is required to be adopted by September, 2007.  Due to staffing changes and shortages, we are behind schedule to meet this time frame, however, as long as the City/County Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) is kept up to date (and that is a priority for staff) there will be no financial repercussions. 

A Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed and submitted to appropriate consulting firms.  Staff from the City Manager’s Office, City and County Public Works departments, Public Transit office, and City/County Planning Department interviewed two firms (Parsons Brinckerhoff and LSA Associates, Inc.) and determined that Parsons Brinckerhoff was the most qualified and responsive to the RFP in terms of project approach, experience, ability to met schedule, and understanding of the important for public and stakeholder participation. 

Project Status

Staff worked with representatives from the FHwA and KDOT to develop an appropriate scope of services and estimated fee that fits within the MPO Unified Planning Work Program for 2007.  This Program provides the funding allocations and budget for this and other transportation related projects and activities.  The attached schedule has been provided by Parsons Brinckerhoff, and although we will be unable to meet the September, 2007 deadline, we will expect the consultant and City staff to devote the necessary effort to finalize a T2030 plan by the first of November.  We’ve received written assurances from FHwA that they will work with us if the completion date for T2030 slips to November, 2007.

Action Item

Staff recommends that the City Commission authorize the City Manager to enter into a contractual agreement for $150,614 with Parsons Brinckerhoff to complete the Long-Range Transportation (T2030).  Funding for this project is provided 80% by federal funds and 20% by the 2007 Planning Department operating budget.