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AMENDMENT NO. ONE TO CONTRACT K-1213-165: BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AND CABBINESS ENGINEERING L.L.C., INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $160,000 FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $225,300 FOR ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE PORTER AVENUE AND ACRES STREET INTERSECTION
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BACKGROUND: The intersection of Porter Avenue and Acres Street has been the subject of much discussion and study over the years, due to concerns over traffic and pedestrian safety. A recent evaluation of traffic control needs revealed that traffic volumes have reached levels that justify the installation of a new traffic signal. Approximately 20,000 vehicles pass through the intersection every day. An aerial photograph of the location is provided in Figure 1, Contract Amendment #1.
On April 25, 2012, staff presented a summary of a report prepared for the Porter Avenue intersection with Acres Street to the City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee. In the presentation a number of improvement alternatives were discussed for this location. The presentation included discussion related to the existing in-pavement lighted crosswalk, a recent Safe Routes to School project for Longfellow Middle School and Jefferson Elementary School, and the most recent intersection evaluation including the traffic signal warrant analysis. The alternatives discussed included:
• Staffing the existing pedestrian crossing across Porter Avenue at Acres Street with a Norman Public Schools crossing guard;
• A project to encourage school children to cross Porter Avenue at existing signalized intersections (e.g., Johnson Street or at Gray Street);
• The installation of a mid-block pedestrian signal on the Porter Avenue corridor in reasonable proximity to Acres Street;
• Signalization of the Porter Avenue intersection at Acres Street;
• Construction of a roundabout at the Porter Avenue intersection and Acres Street (as suggested in the Porter Avenue Corridor Study)
Following the presentation, the feedback provided to staff was that the most logical approach to solving the neighborhood issues with the intersection of Porter Avenue and Acres Street would be to install a traffic signal for vehicular and pedestrian use. Accordingly, Council authorized $20,000 toward the development of a conceptual plan for the intersection in the fiscal year 2012-2013 (FYE 2013) budget.
In September 2013, Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C, submitted the Conceptual Plan Report for Porter Avenue and Acres Street Intersection Improvements. This plan compared three (3) design options. Based on the comparison of design features, Design Option No. 2 - Offset Centerline was recommended due to Estimated Total Project Cost, with Option 2 being the least expensive, while still meeting the desired design outcome. In addition, Option 2 requires less Right-of-Way Acquisition.
DISCUSSION: This proposed Council action is to amend the current contract (K-1213-165) with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C., increasing the contract amount to include engineering and delivery of Final Design Plans for the Porter Avenue and Acres Street intersection improvement project, based on the recommended Design Option 2 - Offset Centerline.
The design services included in this amendment are as follows:
• Public Meeting to present Final Design Option;
• Preliminary Design Plans;
• Right-of-Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation Plans;
• Final Design Plans;
• Final Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) Submittal;
• As-built Plan Services
Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. has proposed a design fee of $160,000 to provide these amended design services. The original contract with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. for the conceptual design was in the amount of $55,300. The City currently has $160,000 in Capital Fund project funds budgeted for this purpose in Intersection Widening with Signals, Design (account 050-9079-431.62-01; project TR0097).
Design plans should be complete by December 2017. Right-of-Way acquisition is programmed for FYE 2020 and Utility Relocation in FYE 2021. Construction is scheduled to begin in FYE 2022 if a grant of federal transportation funds can be acquired through the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG). The total overall project cost is estimated to be $2,610,000. The current construction estimate is $2 million. Federal participation is 80% of construction cost, or $1.6 million. The City is responsible for Right-of-Way Acquisition, Utility Relocation and Design, totaling an estimated $1,010,000. This is approximately 38.7% of the total estimated project cost.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract K-1213-165 with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. (a local firm with an office in Norman), in the amount of $160,000, to develop Final Design Plans for the improvement of Porter Avenue and Acres Street Intersection.