Explanation
This ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Michael Baker International, in the amount of $211,086.00, to provide professional engineering services for the Downtown Connector Trail Improvements Project.
Background: The Downtown Connector Trail (DCT) is a vital connection link and active transportation corridor for the City. Totaling approximately 4.1 miles in length, the DCT is a combination of greenway trail, bicycle boulevards, and shared use paths which link the Alum Creek Trail and Eastside neighborhoods to Downtown Columbus and Scioto Trail. Scaling out further, the DCT is part of the state-spanning Ohio to Erie Trail, which connects Columbus to Cleveland and Cincinnati. In addition to the Shepard, Mt. Vernon, and Woodland Park neighborhoods that are in reach to the trail, several important organizations and education centers are along the DCT. Beatty Park Elementary School, Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center, Columbus State Community College, and OSU Outpatient Care East are among the many important organizations along the trail. The overarching goal with improving the DCT is to enhance the trail to create a safe, accessible, and enjoyable greenway experience for the community. The significance of the trail is self-evident, and CRPD recognizes the urgency to improve trail conditions for the nationally-recognized trail.
The Project involves making design improvements to approximately 2.8 miles of the DCT greenway, including but not limited to; pavement widening, curb ramp replacement, signalization/intersection/crosswalk improvements, bridge joint modifications utility coordination, storm water analysis, trail artwork coordination, street tree additions, and the potential inclusion of landscape improvements. The Project begins at N Nelson Road and ends at Cleveland Avenue. Due to project size, the project is broken into two phases based on scope complexity, and each ...
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