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CC - Authorization to Release a Request for Proposal for Engineering Design Services for the Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Project
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Meeting Date: September 16, 2019
Contact Person/Dept: Heba El-Guindy/Public Works Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5628
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Council Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: 09/16/2019
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council/BPAC (9/10/19)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, PW Director/City Engineer (09/05/19)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends the City Council authorize the release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Engineering Design Services for the Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Project.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
While the density of people, transit, and destinations make Culver City a potentially very walkable and bikeable community, some areas are currently not conducive to creating a sense of safe cycling. Streets in the project area have no dedicated bicycle facilities and large volumes of auto traffic. When traffic isn’t backed up, the wide arterial streets experience high travel speeds that do not support riding a bike comfortably.
The Expo-Downtown project aims to provide a safe and comfortable connection to the Expo Line Station from Downtown Culver City for the growing number of people walking and biking in the area. By creating a bike facility that is fully separated from automobile traffic, it is more likely that people of all ages and abilities will choose to use a bicycle for trips along this route, making the improvement more inclusive and viable.
This project was a product of three studies: The 2010 Culver City Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP), The 2017 Culver City Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Feasibility Study (EDBC), and the 2017 Culver City TOD Visioning Study (TODV). The policies and goals defined by the BPMP were developed through a community-led process that included five public workshops and extensive participation from a City Council-appointed Public Advisory Committee as well as a Technical Advisory Committee. Combined, the three projects hosted more than 15 community stakeholder meetings, with more than 300 attendees. The TODV study established goals and recommendations for a bikeway on Washington Boulevard through a series of 8 public workshops, as well as numerous interviews and focus group meetings. A total of 170 people participated and over 450 unique comments were received on the TODV plan alone.
The project’s current alignment represents the most direct connection between many key destinations, adding to the project’s usefulness and appeal. The Downtown to Expo Class IV Bikeway project will design a 1.2 mile physically-separated Class IV bike facility along segments of Culver Boulevard, Washington Boulevard, and South Robertson Boulevard between Helms Avenue and Duquesne Avenue. The route is already used by many cyclists, even without adequate bike facilities, because it is the most direct connection between the City’s main commercial district and the light rail station. It should be noted that an alternative connection between Culver Boulevard and Washington Boulevard will be via the Downtown Plaza. This travel path through the Plaza can be for multi-use (Bike/Ped) during the off-peak traffic periods, while cyclists would have to walk their bicycles during the peak pedestrian traffic periods or special events.
The proposed RFP (Attachment No. 1) is seeking proposals from qualified consulting firms that can undertake the project management, conceptual design, community consultation, environmental review, and preparation of construction drawings and technical specifications for the Downtown to Expo Class IV Bikeway Project.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is currently no financial impact. Staff is expecting to return to City Council in January 2020 for Council consideration and approval of award of the professional engineering services contract. At that time, staff will provide detailed cost estimates of the different project tasks. It should be noted that the project is currently budgeted in the CIP as Project # PF024. If needed, additional funding sources can be allocated from Mitigation funds from the Cumulus and Culver Studios projects. Such potential budget amendment will be requested at time of contract award in January 2020.
ATTACHMENT
1. 2019-09-116_ATT - Expo Downtown Connector RFP
2. 2019-09-116_ATT - RFP Attachment 1 - Project Area Map
3. 2019-09-116_ATT - RFP Attachment 2 - 2017 Feasibility Study
4. 2019-09-116_ATT - RFP Attachment 3 - TOD Visioning Study
MOTION
That the City Council:
Authorize the Release of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Engineering Design Services for the Expo-Downtown Bicycle Connector Project.