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CONTRACT NO. K-1213-164: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND CARDINAL ENGINEERING IN THE AMOUNT OF $36,000 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE ALAMEDA STREET AND FINDLAY AVENUE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION.
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BACKGROUND: Alameda Street, from Porter Avenue/Classen Boulevard to 12th Avenue East, was widened to five lanes in 1996, with the continuous middle lane provided for left turn maneuvers. Due to ever increasing traffic volumes and the resulting increase of accidents, the intersection of Alameda Street and Findlay Avenue has recently become eligible for a traffic signal in accordance with the City's traffic ordinance. The intersection has public streets on the west, north and east sides, and three commercial driveways not aligned with the intersection on the south side. An aerial photo is included as an attachment.
On November 22, 2011, City Council adopted resolution R-1112-71 requesting federal funds for the construction of the new traffic signal and its interconnection to signals along Alameda Street between Porter Avenue/Classen Boulevard and 12th Avenue East.
Transportation federal safety funds ($265,200) to pay for 100% of the construction costs have been secured in Federal Fiscal Year 2014. The project will be included in the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments' (ACOG's) 2014 Transportation Improvement (TIP) Plan.
DESCRIPTION: The original estimate of costs to prepare plans for the intersection was $15,000. For enhanced safety at the intersection, however, city staff believes it would be prudent to evaluate the commercial drives south of the intersection with the possibility of consolidating them to line up with the new traffic signal. Also, to interconnect the new signal with the signals at the Alameda Street/Porter Avenue and Alameda Street/12th Avenue East intersections, a layout of fiber optic cable will need to be added to the project scope.
The Public Works Department prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit the engineering services necessary to evaluate traffic flow and to develop traffic signal plans for the Alameda Street and Findlay Avenue intersection. This project was included as one of four separate intersection projects in RFP 1213-54. Seven proposals were submitted for consideration for this project. A Selection Committee was formed consisting of Angelo Lombardo - Transportation Engineer, Rick Schlechter - Storm Water Engineer, Michael Rayburn - Capital Projects Engineer, and two citizens (Mr. Jim Rose, a retired ODOT engineer, and Mr. Kyle Hamburger, a concerned area resident). The proposals were reviewed, and Cardinal Engineering, with offices in Norman, was selected as the best suited firm for the project.
Cardinal Engineering proposes a $36,000 contract fee to provide the previously mentioned design services. When the budget for the project was established, the scope of work was underestimated by city staff because no provision was made to interconnect the traffic signals on Alameda Street or to consolidate driveways on the south side of the intersection.
If Council wishes to proceed with the project, an additional appropriation of $21,000 from Capital Funds Balance Account No. 050-0000-253.20-00 will be needed to cover the negotiated contract fee. The additional fee will address the additional design requirements of the traffic signal interconnect system, driveway realignment/consolidation, sidewalks and wheelchair ramps. Completion of the design is anticipated for December of 2013 with a bid by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in the spring of 2014 and completion of the improvements in the fall of 2014.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends an appropriation in the amount of $21,000 from the Capital Fund balance (050-0000-253.20-00) to Project No. TR0079, Alameda/Findlay Signalization, Design (050-9076-431.62-01)
Staff also recommends approval of Contract No. K-1213-164 with Cardinal Engineering, in the amount of $36,000, for the development of construction plans for a new four-way traffic signal at the Alameda Street and Findlay Avenue intersection with fiber optic cable interconnect.