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AMENDMENT NO. TWO TO CONTRACT K-1213-165: BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND CABBINESS ENGINEERING, L.L.C., INCREASING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT BY $185,500 FOR A REVISED CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $400,800 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE PORTER AVENUE STREETSCAPE BOND PROJECT.
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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 at 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 $55,300 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 2 - Offset Centerline - was recommended, due to lower estimated total project cost and less required right-of-way acquisition (see Exhibit A).
In July 2017, the Norman City Council approved an amendment to the contract with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C., in the amount of $160,000 for Final Design Plans for the Porter Avenue and Acres Street Intersection Improvements (project TR0097).
On April 2, 2019, the citizens of Norman voted in favor of a General Obligation Bond Issue to finance the local share of nineteen transportation improvement projects. Two of the nineteen 2019 bond projects are the Porter Avenue and Acres Street Intersection Bond Project and the Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project. The Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project consists of design and construction of streetscape elements along the Porter Avenue corridor between Robinson Avenue on the north and Hughbert Street on the south. Proposed improvements include:
• New sidewalks;
• Driveway consolidation or elimination (“access management”);
• Decorative roadway and pedestrian lighting;
• Landscaping;
• New curb and gutter;
• Street furniture (e.g., benches, trash receptacles, ash urns, etc.).
The Porter Avenue and Acres Avenue Intersection Project is scheduled to begin construction in FYE 2020. The Porter Avenue Streetscape project is scheduled for construction in FYE 2021.
DISCUSSION: This proposed Council action is to amend the current contract (K-1213-165) with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C., increasing the contract scope and amount to include engineering design for Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project (BP0418).
The Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project consists of constructing streetscape elements along both east and west sides of Porter Avenue from Robinson Street to Hughbert Street (2,200 linear feet). Existing sidewalk along both sides of the road will be removed and replaced with ADA-compliant sidewalk and variable width amenity and pedestrian zones. The existing curb along the entirety of the project will be replaced and street trees, decorative lighting, and street furniture will be added. Drainage improvements are not included in the project.
The proposed streetscape improvements will tie together with the Porter Avenue and Acres Avenue Intersection bond project. The intersection project is already under design by Cabbiness Engineering, Inc., and that design contract (K-1213-165) includes the same streetscape elements required with the Porter Avenue Streetscape improvements.
Staff believes it would be prudent to combine the design of the Porter Avenue Streetscape and the Porter and Acres Intersection improvement projects under the same design contract by amending the current contract with Cabbiness Engineering to include the streetscape design for the Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project. In doing so the City would see the following benefits:
• Increased consistency of design
• Elimination of duplication of design services
• Accelerated design schedule
• Reduction of cost
• Elimination of need for coordination between consultants
The design services include:
• Public Meeting to present Final Design Option
• Preliminary Design Plans
• Right-of-Way and Utility Plans
• Final Design Plans
• Final Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) Submittal
• As-built Plan Services
Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. has previous experience designing streetscape projects both for the City of Norman and for other municipalities. A brief list of some of their relevant experience is as follows:
• Norman West Main Streetscape (joint design with R.L. Shears Company)
• Downtown Edmond Streetscape and Drainage Improvements (Phases 1-3 and 2018 additions)
• Downtown Okarche Streetscape
• Downtown OKC Connectivity (sidewalks and bike lanes)
• Envision 240 Pedestrian Improvements and Accessibility
• OKC Maps 3 Lake Stanley Draper Trail
• Original Bricktown Canal Infrastructure Improvements (Phases 1&2)
• Bricktown Zone G Improvements and ADA Accessibility Upgrades
Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. has proposed a fee of $185,500 for this additional design work. The original contract with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. for the conceptual design of the Porter and Acres Intersection Bond Project was in the amount of $55,300. Amendment No. 1 increased the design fee by $160,000 for final design of the Porter and Acres Intersection Bond Project. Amendment No. 2, if approved, would result in a total contract fee of $400,800. The bond funds are available in the Capital Fund, 2019 General Obligation Bond Roadway Improvements, Design (account 050-9419-431.62-01; project BP0418) to fully fund Amendment No. 2.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 2 to Contract K-1213-165 with Cabbiness Engineering, L.L.C. of Norman, Oklahoma in the amount of $185,500, for design services for the Porter Avenue Streetscape Bond Project (BP0418).