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CONTRACT K-1415-128: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND GARVER L.L.C., IN THE AMOUNT OF $149,991 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES TO PREPARE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR WIDENING, LIGHTING, AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE INTERSECTION OF 24TH AVENUE N.W. AND TEE DRIVE.
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BACKGROUND: The ever increasing volume of traffic and the resulting increase of crashes at the intersection of 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive have exposed the need for new traffic signals and roadway modifications. The intersection has recently met warrants for signalization. An aerial photo of this area is included as an attachment.
Installing the northbound and southbound left turn lanes will require widening of the existing four-lane section at the intersection. Also included with this project will be an upgrade to light-emitting diode (L.E.D.) fixtures in the street lighting system from Tee Drive to Robinson Street. Due to the construction, it will be necessary to relocate the 24th Avenue NW fiber optic traffic signal interconnect in this area.
On November 26, 2013, City Council adopted Resolution R-1314-61, 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: City staff 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 plans. The intersection at 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive was one of two separate intersection projects in RFP No. 1415-44. Nine 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 citizens (Dr. Jim McCaskill, a volunteer area professional, and Mr. Robert Cobianchi, a volunteer citizen). The proposals were reviewed by each of the committee members and Garver LLC was selected as the most qualified firm for the project. Funding in the amount of $150,000 is currently available in Intersection Signalization/Widening, Design (account 050-9079-431.62-01; project TR0053). The construction of the project is estimated to ultimately cost $1,500,000.
If approved by Council, Garver LLC 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 to ACOG in December of 2015 with a request for funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2019. If funding is secured, construction could start as early as the fall of 2018.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract K-1415-128 with Garver LLC (a regional engineering firm with offices in Norman) in the amount of $149,991, for the development of construction plans for traffic signals, street widening improvements at the 24th Avenue NW and Tee Drive/Tee Circle intersection, and LED street lighting from Tee Drive to Robinson Street.