Title
AMENDMENT NO. ONE TO CONTRACT K-1213-163: BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND GARVER, L.L.C., INCREASING THE CONTRACT BY $38,900 TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR STREET WIDENING AND TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE 12TH AVENUE NE AND HIGH MEADOWS DRIVE INTERSECTION AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE CAPITAL FUND BALANCE.
Body
BACKGROUND: The intersection of 12th Avenue NE and High Meadows Drive is a three legged intersection that was signalized in 1993, but without roadway improvements to provide a southbound left turn on 12th Avenue NE onto High Meadows Drive.
The intersection is located north of Robinson Street. High Meadows Drive provides access to Eisenhower Elementary School and surrounding residential neighborhoods. The ever-increasing volume of traffic and the resulting increase of accidents have exposed the need for a dedicated turn lane and new traffic signals at this intersection. An aerial photo of this area is included as an attachment.
Installing the southbound left turn lane requires widening of the existing four-lane section at the intersection. This project also provides the opportunity for the City to upgrade the signal interconnect system along 12th Avenue NE with fiber optic cable (between Robinson Street and Rock Creek Road).
12th Avenue NE in Norman also serves as U.S. Highway 77. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) maintains jurisdiction over maintenance and improvements to the highway. However, 12th Avenue NE also serves as a major arterial street in Norman and intersects with many other city streets. While the City is responsible for the design of intersection signalization projects on 12th Avenue NE, any future construction costs must be coordinated and negotiated with ODOT.
On February 26, 2013 City Council approved contract K-1213-163 with Garver, LLC to design the roadway and traffic signal modifications necessary to add a dedicated left turn lane and a southbound protected left turn arrow display.
On November 25, 2015 City Council approved Resolution R-1415-59, which was later forwarded to 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.
On August 1, 2017, City Council/Norman Municipal Authority held a study session to discuss the Griffin Park Sports Complex Master Plan, which includes recommended additional improvements to the adjacent transportation network.
DISCUSSION: One of the transportation network improvements recommendations in the Griffin Park Sports Complex Master Plan calls for a new access point to the east side of the Griffin Complex, off of 12th Avenue NE. This new recommended access affects the on-going design of the improvements at the High Meadows intersection.
City staff worked with the firm (PDG) that is developing the Griffin Park Sports Complex Plan to identify the safest and most appropriate eastside access point to the Complex, while considering the restrictions for arterial roadways (of which 12th Avenue NE is one) outlined in the City’s Engineering Design Criteria. This discussion led to the identification of the most appropriate and safest access point, which would take advantage of the traffic signal at the High Meadows intersection and add a fourth leg to the existing three-legged intersection.
In order to accommodate the new access, 12th Avenue NE will need to be widened south of High Meadows Drive to create a northbound left turn lane. Additionally, the traffic signal will need to be further modified to include a fourth pole and mast arm for eastbound traffic exiting Griffin Park. Including this work as part of the ongoing project will save money in the long run, minimize the traffic congestion associated with road construction and avoid having to reconstruct parts of the roadway, while at the same time leveraging federal funds to complete the work.
Garver, LLC proposes a $38,900 amendment to contract K-1213-163 to add the design of the 12th Avenue NE improvements to the current High Meadows/12th Avenue intersection project. The services will include the additional topographical survey, roadway and traffic signal design services, as well as the additional project management support associated with this work.
The cost to construct this project in the future could approach $1,400,000. Staff is working with ODOT to secure 80% of the construction cost from federal funds. Staff anticipates that the needed funds can become available in calendar year 2018.
If the contract amendment is approved by Council, Garver, LLC will modify the current plans by adding the northbound left turn lane and additional traffic signal pole, without project delay. With future funding from ODOT and the City, this project could be constructed in less than 12 months from the bid letting date.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 1 to Contract K-1213-163 with Garver, LLC (a regional firm with offices in Norman) in the amount of $38,900 for design services associated with the addition of a northbound left turn lane at the intersection of 12th Avenue NE and High Meadows Drive and the associated traffic signal modifications.
Staff also recommends an appropriation of $38,900 from the Capital Fund Balance (050-0000-253.20-00) to 12th Avenue NE & Highway Meadows Signal, Design (account 050-9079-431.62-01; project TR0051) to pay for the design services included in Amendment No. 1 to Contract K-1213-163.