Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

Shoeb Uddin, David Woosley, Mark Thiel, Robert Lewis

Date:

July 7, 2010

RE:

July 13, 2010 Agenda Item

Iowa Street, (US-59 Highway), Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway

Street Reconstruction and Geometric Improvements

PW1012 – RFQ 1002

Consultant Selection

 

Introduction

The original pavement of this section of Iowa Street (from Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway), was built in 1952, and has been milled and overlaid several times. The original pavement is at the end of its design life and has been requiring more frequent maintenance measures in recent times. Although milled and overlaid as a KLINK project in the summer of 2006, the City’s Street Maintenance Division has been performing routine maintenance (fixing potholes, base repair, full depth patching etc.) on this section of Iowa on a continuous basis. The extensive pavement deterioration caused by this past winter could not be addressed by routine maintenance alone. Therefore, comprehensive maintenance was undertaken in March 2010, which in turn is expected to extend the life of the pavement for a couple more years. On April 27, 2010 the City Commission authorized staff to proceed with the process to reconstruct Iowa from Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway and begin the selection process for a design engineer.

 

Schedule /  Financing

Because Iowa is part of the City Connecting Link (US 59) this project will have to be administered and reviewed by KDOT. KDOT review of project plans and specifications typically takes up to two years. Due to the various complexities in this project (namely, analysis and design of pavement structure, sub-grade treatment options, turn lane or no turn lane, soil analysis, stakeholder participation, power pole relocation, presence of ground water in the sub-grade, intersection geometric improvements on the side streets, etc.), the city will need to hire a consultant to provide the engineering design services and preparation of construction plans. It is anticipated that this project can be ready for bid letting by December of 2011 with construction to begin in early spring of 2012 and anticipated completion by December 31, 2012. Traffic will be carried through the construction site. In order to meet this schedule, engineering design needs to begin immediately. Complete reconstruction of Iowa (Yale Road to the intersection at Bob Billings Parkway), estimated construction cost at $5.5 million, plus engineering and right-of-way, could be financed as summarized below:

$1,000,000 - from City Sales Tax for annual street maintenance projects.  (Sales Tax Spending Plan)

$  800,000 - Federal Aid Safety Funding (will be eligible only if there are safety improvements   included in the scope of the project, such as center turn lane or median island.

$3 million -   Surface Transportation Program (STP) (federal funds the City receives annually for transportation projects).

$1.25 million-General Obligation Bonds.

 

 

 

Project History

March 9, 2010

City Commission approved revisions to the 2010 Maintenance Program to include immediate repairs to Iowa.

March 29, 2010

Public meeting to discuss improvements and center turn lane.

April 27, 2010

City Commission authorized Iowa Street reconstruction.

May 6, 2010

Mailed RFQ 1002 for engineering services.

May 14, 2010

Received six qualification statements:  Bartlett & West, BG Consultants,  PEC, DR&G, Landplan Engineering, and Schmidt Engineering.

May 18, 2010

City Commission approved Resolution 6889 authorizing issuance of General Obligation bonds in an amount of $1.25 Million (commitment of 2011 CIP Budget)

June 22, 2010

Consultant interviews

 

Selection 

Bartlett & West and BG Consultants were selected for interviews.  The interview committee included Charles Soules, Shoeb Uddin, David Woosley, and Robert Lewis (West Hills Neighborhood Association).  The interview committee recommends the selection of Bartlett & West for the design of this project for the following reasons:

·         Successful prior projects, i.e. Kasold Drive, Bob Billings Parkway to W. 22nd Street; 25th Terrace, O’Connell Road to Franklin Road; and O’Connell Road, 23rd to 31st ,

·         Familiarity with KDOT procedures,

·         Knowledgeable / qualified staff,

·         Familiarity with project area and issues,

·         Ability to work with the public / good communication plan,

·         Schedule – Bartlett & West can meet the City’s timeline,

·         Construction sequencing – Bartlett & West designed the Kasold Drive project in which construction was carried through the project and access to side streets and driveways was also maintained,

·         Constructability reviews – Bartlett & West works closely with local contractors soliciting their input on how the project can be built quickly and most economically,

·         Bartlett & West has preliminarily looked at several project issues, including:

o   Traffic control / project sequencing,

o   Sidewalks on both the east and west side of Iowa,

o   Intersection improvements at Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa for existing and projected traffic,

o   Possible intersection improvements at Yale Road and University Drive, and

o   Bartlett & West has a thorough understanding of the existing utilities and has worked well with the utility companies on previous projects.

 

Action Requested:  Authorize staff to negotiate a project scope and fee for engineering services for the Iowa Street, Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway (15th Street) project.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je

 

Attachment:  Bartlett & West – Pages from Submittal