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CONTRACT NO. K-1213-162: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND ENGINEERING SERVICES AND TESTING (EST), INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $79,510 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR STREET WIDENING IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT 36TH AVENUE N.W. AND HAVENBROOK STREET AND BUDGET TRANSFER.
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BACKGROUND: In 1996, the 36th Avenue NW and Robinson Street intersection was improved including the widening of 36th Avenue NW south to a point approximately 300 feet north of Havenbrook Street. Since then, the increasing volume of traffic and the resulting increase in accidents have exposed the need for a traffic signal with dedicated left turn lanes at the 36th Avenue NW and Havenbrook Street intersection. Recently, that intersection has become eligible for a traffic signal based upon Norman's Traffic Ordinance. An aerial photo of this area is included as an attachment.
Installing left turn lanes will require widening of the present four-lane section of 36th Avenue NW. North of the intersection, the area along 36th Avenue NW from Havenbrook Street to Robinson Street is entirely commercial, with several driveways that access the Brookhaven Village Shopping Center to the west and the various businesses to the east. This project will additionally address the possible safety enhancements provided by a continuous center lane (5th Lane) for left turn maneuvers where only four lanes currently exist in this area. This project also provides the opportunity for the City to upgrade its present traffic signal interconnect cable along 36th Avenue NW to fiber optics.
DESCRIPTION: The Public Works Department prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit the engineering services necessary to evaluate traffic flow in the area and to develop street improvement and traffic signal replacement plans. The 36th Avenue NW and Havenbrook Street project was one of four separate intersection projects in RFP 1213-54. Ten 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 EST Inc., a full service engineering company in Norman, was selected as the best suited firm for the project.
EST, Inc. proposes a $79,510 contract fee to provide the previously mentioned design services. The Council Finance Committee directed staff in October of 2012 to hasten the readiness of this project by making available unused funds from the fiscal year 2012-2013 capital budget. At the Council Finance Committee, staff estimated the cost of this engineering design contract to be $80,000.
A construction project of this magnitude could exceed $1,000,000. The services provided by this engineering contract will enhance the City's chances to gain readiness points during the application process administered by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments for disbursement of federal funds in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the transfer of allocated funds in the amount of $79,510 from Cedar Lane Widening, Land (050-9079-431.60-01; project TR0235) to 36th Avenue & Havenbrook Drive Signalization, Design (050-9079-431.62-01; project TR0050) to pay for the design services.
Staff also recommends approval of Contract No. K-1213-162 with EST Inc., in the amount of $79,510, for the development of construction plans for street widening improvements and new traffic signals at the 36th Avenue NW and Havenbrook Street intersection.