Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into contract for the Roadway Improvements - Downtown Action Plan project with Burgess and Niple, Inc.
The City of Columbus adopted the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan via Resolution 0098X-2010 on July 19, 2010. Two key recommendations of the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan call for supporting a healthier retail investment along High Street through the restoration of on-street parking along portions of High Street, and establishing a Bus Transit Center in the Downtown. COTA has been studying the Transit Center, and while preliminary findings of the effort do not support a Bus Transit Center, COTA is committing to further evaluating and reducing its reliance on High Street as the principal corridor for bus routes in the Downtown. Prelinminary analysis by COTA finds that it will be necessary to convert Front Street north of Broad Street to two-way operation to support the redistribution of some bus routes from High Street. It is necessary to conduct traffic modeling and engineering in a manner consistent with Complete Streets ideology to analyze the impacts of implementing High Street on-street parking and redistributed bus routes, and to determine any mitigation necessary to manage and balance the needs of motor vehicular traffic, buses, pedestrians and bicycles in the downtown. Because of this, it is necessary to acquire professional services that will provide the resources needed to aid in the design and implementation of these projects.
Work to be performed as part of this contract consists of the following:
1. Update the 2006 Downtown Columbus Circulation Study traffic model to include planning and construction since 2005
2. Determine how and when to implement parking on High Street
3. Determine what roadway improvements are acceptable around the LeVeque Tower
4. Determine where downtown peak hour parking restrictions can be eliminated
5. Determine improvements to be made to remaining one-way streets to promote complete streets and economic vitality
6. Determine phasing of recommended downtown transportation projects coordinated with freeway construction
7. Provide construction plans for improvements necessary to implement the roadway improvements.
2. SOLE SOURCE INFORMATION
This contract is being authorized per the source provisions of the Columbus City Code. Burgess and Niple, Inc. (B&N) has been the traffic modeling subconsultant to the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) for the Downtown Columbus Circulation Study (DCCS) since 2006. Among other things, the City has used the DCCS as an effective tool in coordinating with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on its I-70/I-71 freeway project. The DCCS was an outgrowth of the 2002 Downtown Business Plan, which recommended converting many downtown streets from one-way to two-way operation, and improving accommodations for pedestrians and bicycles, and to better support downtown revitalization and downtown residential development. B&N has also provided traffic modeling to ODOT for the I-70/I-71 freeway project. In addition, B&N is presently working with MORPC and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on an update to MORPC's regional traffic model, which will be needed for the work the City needs accomplished for the Downtown Action Plan.
Through its roles with the DCCS and the ODOT I-70/I-71 freeway project design and planning teams, B&N has maintained the traffic model for the downtown and the freeway. Contracting with any other consultant would require duplication of efforts already undertaken by B&N. In addition, contracting with any other consultant, despite their qualifciations, would result in the loss of knowledge concerning the functionality of the downtown street system and the ODOT freeway project that B&N already possesses, and which would require significantly more funding and unreasonably delay the completion of the Downtown Action Plan.
3. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Burgess and Niple, Inc. is 31-0885550 and expires 11/26/2012.
4. PLANNED CONTRACT MODIFICATION:
This ordinance authorizes funding for the first 4 tasks of the Downtown Action Plan. A planned contract modification to fund the remaining tasks is expected to be executed by the Spring of 2012.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the project schedule for this contract to proceed as scheduled.
6. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project is available within the Streets and Highways G.O Bonds Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Burgess and Niple, Inc. for the Roadway Improvements - Downtown Action Plan contract for the Department of Public Service, Division of Mobility Options per the sole-source provisions of the Columbus City Codes, 1959; to amend the 2011 C.I.B.; to authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $500,000.00 from the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan adopted by Resolution 0098X-2010 on July 19, 2010 identifies, among other transportation-related initiatives, the need for healthier, more vibrant retail along High Street in the Downtown, and recommends that the on-street parking be established on High Street in the Downtown; and
WHEREAS, it is important that consultant services be acquired to provide resources necessary to complete a Downtown Action Plan that will include the engineering analyses, implementation strategies and the preparation of designs and plans for changes to Downtown streets as recommended in the Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan; and
WHEREAS, due to their past and current role in other relevant roadway planning, design and traffic engineering efforts or ongoing projects in the Downtown, it is economically practically and advantageous to the City to contract the services with Burgess & Niple, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, this contract will be awarded to Burgess and Niple, Inc. per the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Code with respect to professional services due to the consultant's unparalleled knowledge and understanding of this project; and
WHEREAS, an initial sum of $500,000.00 will be authorized to be expended in this ordinance with a planned modification to occur in the Spring of 2012; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Mobility Options, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize said contract to meet community and stakeholder interests and concerns, as well as to meet schedule and timeline commitments; 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 Director of Public Service be authorized to enter into contract with Burgess & Niple Inc., 5085 Reed Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220, for an amount up to $500,000.00 or so much thereof, for the Division of Mobility Options for the purpose of providing professional services for the Roadway Improvements - Downtown Action Plan project.
SECTION 2. That the 2011 Capital Improvements Budget established within ordinance 0266-2011 be and hereby is amended to provide sufficient authority for this project as follows:
Fund / Project Number / Project / Current CIB Amount / Amendment Amount / CIB Amount
704 / 590910-100002 / SciTech-OSU research park (Voted 2008) / $2,500,000.00 (Carryover) / ($500,000.00) / $2,000,000.00
704 / 530161-100021 / Roadway Improvements - Downtown Action Plan (Voted 2008) / $0.00 (Carryover) / $500,000.00 / $500,000.00
SECTION 3. That the transfer of cash and appropriation within the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund, No. 704, be authorized as follows:
Transfer From
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 590910-100002 / SciTech-OSU research park / 06-6600 / 749102 / $500,000.00
Transfer To:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530161-100021 / Roadway Improvements - Downtown Action Plan / 06-6600 / 746121 / $500,000.00
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed be and is hereby authorized from Fund 704, The Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund, Department 59-10, Project 530161-100021, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6682, and OCA Code 746121 to pay the cost of these consultant services.
SECTION 5. That this expenditure be made per the sole source provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code, 1959.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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.