Explanation
As a requirement of funding for the construction of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange (SSI), the City of Columbus entered a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (OSHPO), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). The MOA requires the City of Columbus to mitigate traffic impacts created by the construction of SSI on abutting historic neighborhoods as recognized by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The MOA committed the City to establish an Overall Traffic Management Plan (OTMP) through consensus in a public forum. A Traffic Task Force (TTF) was created in March 2000 and through a series of working groups meeting from October through December 2002, the TTF and City of Columbus achieved an OTMP that is fiscally responsible and meets the requirements of the MOA. The overall implementation plan will span a five-year period (2003-2008) and contains five recommendations dealing with mitigation of SSI-related traffic impacts; a plan to monitor, identify, prioritize and relieve traffic problems that are linked to SSI and an ongoing overall traffic management plan using various tools and strategies.
This ordinance authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into a professional services contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc., in the amount of $325,000.00 for various engineering and surveying tasks and traffic studies. The selection process for the professional services contract was completed in accordance with provisions of Chapter 329.14 of Columbus City Code 1959. Six firms submitted proposals: Columbus Engineering Consultants; E.P. Ferris; R.D. Zande & Associates; ms consultants; ME Companies; and Barr Engineering. The evaluation committee determined that E. P. Ferris, Inc., Contract Compliance Number 31-1194974 (expiring August 23, 2004) submitted the best overall proposal for this work.
Emergency action is requested to commence design activities as soon as possible in order to construct the traffic calming features in 2004 per commitments made in the OTMP.
The sum of $325,00.00 is available in the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund from the November 2002 bond sale for this purpose.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to enter into contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc., to provide Spring Sandusky Interchange - Overall Traffic Management Plan-related engineering, survey, and design services for the Transportation Division; to authorize the expenditure of $325,000.00 from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($325,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is required per a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (OSHPO) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to mitigate traffic impacts created by the construction of the Spring-Sandusky Interchange on abutting historic neighborhoods as recognized by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and
WHEREAS, the Public Service Director has identified the need to enter into a professional service contract with a consulting firm to perform various engineering and surveying tasks and traffic studies related to the Spring-Sandusky Interchange Overall Traffic Management Plan (SSI OTMP); and
WHEREAS, a selection process for this professional service contract has been completed in accordance with provisions of Chapter 329.14 of Columbus City Code, 1959, and the evaluation committee determined that E. P. Ferris, Inc., submitted the best overall proposal for this work; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to commence design work in order to construct the traffic calming features in 2004 as committed to in the OTMP, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contract with E. P. Ferris and Associates, Inc., 880 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43212 in an amount not to exceed $325,000.00 for various engineering and survey tasks specifically related to the Spring-Sandusky Interchange Overall Traffic Management Plan (SSI OTMP).
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost thereof, the sum of $325,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Fund 704, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6682, OCA Code 644385 and Project 530282.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.