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CONTRACT K-1516-7: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND WHITE HAWK ENGINEERING & DESIGN, L.L.C., IN THE AMOUNT OF $184,379.70 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE WIDENING AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE INTERSECTIONS OF ROCK CREEK ROAD AND 12TH AVENUE N.W. AND ROCK CREEK ROAD AND TRAILWOOD DRIVE.
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BACKGROUND: The ever increasing volume of traffic and the resulting increase of crashes at the intersections of Rock Creek Road with 12th Avenue NW and Trailwood Drive have exposed the need for new traffic signals and roadway modifications in the near future. The intersections are anticipated to justify warrants for signalization. An aerial photo of this area is included in Attachment No. 1.
Installation of eastbound and westbound left turn lanes on Rock Creek Road will require widening of the existing four-lane section at these intersections. The existing two-lane section on 12th Avenue NW will be widened to five lanes (including southbound left turn lane) plus bicycle lanes, as required in the City’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan. In addition, the narrow-lane four lane section between the two signals will be widened to meet current standards. Sidewalks along Rock Creek Road from Flood Avenue to Trailwood Drive will be constructed/replaced as needed. Fiber optic traffic signal interconnection of the new signals to other signals along Rock Creek Road, from Flood Avenue to Porter Avenue, will be installed as well.
On February 13, 2007, City Council adopted Resolution R-0607-85, which was later forwarded to both the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), requesting federal funds to pay for 80% of the construction cost. In the resolution the City agreed to the terms and conditions of a federally funded project by stating its willingness to assume the responsibility for the preparation of engineering plans, the purchase of any additional right-of-way, the relocation of public utilities and funding of the local share of the construction cost, which is 20% of total construction cost.
DISCUSSION: The Public Works Department prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit the engineering services necessary to develop street improvement and traffic signal plans. The project for intersections of Rock Creek Road at 12th Avenue NW and at Trailwood Drive was one of two separate intersection projects in RFP No. 1415-44. Twelve proposals were submitted for consideration of this project. A Selection Committee was formed consisting of David Riesland - Traffic Engineer, Scott Sturtz - City Engineer, Michael Rayburn - Capital Projects Engineer, and two volunteer citizens (Dr. Jim McCaskill and Mr. Robert Cobianchi). The proposals were reviewed by each of the committee members, and Wilson and Company, Inc. was selected. However, due to some employee changes at Wilson and the subsequent closing of their Oklahoma office, the City decided to re-open the selection process, and the next three highest-rated firms gave interview presentations to the Selection Committee on June 8, 2015. From these three firms, White Hawk Engineering and Design was selected as the best suited firm for the project.
White Hawk has proposed a $184,379.70 contract fee to provide the previously mentioned design services. Funding in the amount of $195,000 is currently in Account No. 050-9079-431.62-01(Project No. TR0059). The construction of the project is estimated to cost $1,770,000.
If approved by Council, White Hawk will begin work on the design of the project immediately. Completion of all pre-construction project development activities (e.g. design, environmental review and clearance, right-of-way acquisition and relocation of utilities) is critical in the application process for federal funds. City staff will submit such application in December of 2015 with a request for funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2019. If funding is secured, construction could start as early as October of 2020.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract No. K-1516-7 with White Hawk Engineering and Design (a firm with an office in Moore, OK) in the amount of $184,379.70, for the development of construction plans for traffic signals and street widening improvements at the Rock Creek Road intersections with 12th Avenue NW and Trailwood Drive.