Central Avenue and White Street Corridor Traffic Study Recommendation for Selection of Professional Consultant ServicesCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 05.
Copyrighted
March 4, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Central Avenue and White Street Corridor Traffic Study
Recommendation for Selection of Professional Consultant Services
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval in the selection of
Bolton & Menk, Inc. as the first -ranked Consultant and that the City be
authorized to negotiate a Professional Consultant Services Agreement to
complete a corridor study for Central Avenue and White Street and the
feasibility of corridor solutions based on public engagement and a holistic
approach using traffic calming and urban design elements.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Central Avenue and White Street Corridor Traffic Study
Recommendation for Selection of Professional Consultant Services
DATE: February 29, 2024
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos is recommending City Council approval in the selection of
Bolton & Menk, Inc. as the first -ranked Consultant and that the City be authorized to
negotiate a Professional Consultant Services Agreement to complete a corridor study
for Central Avenue and White Street and the feasibility of corridor solutions based on
public engagement and a holistic approach using traffic calming and urban design
elements
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Justine Hull, Traffic Engineer
THE CITF
Dubuque
DUjB_ E
III -America M4
r
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2017*2019
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Central Avenue and White Street Corridor Traffic Study
Recommendation for Selection of Professional Consultant Services
DATE: February 28, 2024
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to request Mayor and City Council concurrence in
the selection of Bolton & Menk, Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa as the Professional Services
Consultant to complete a corridor traffic study for Central Avenue and White Street. The
purpose of this corridor study is to produce corridor solutions which calm traffic, to create
more livable neighborhoods, to increase the economic vitality throughout the corridor, to
create a comfortable public realm walking and biking, to leverage the design of the
recently completed Central Avenue Streetscaping Plan, while at the same time providing
reasonable efficient traffic flow on these two primary north/south routes downtown.
BACKGROUND
Central Avenue and White Street initially started over 150 years ago as platforms for
building wealth within Dubuque's neighborhoods. Over time these streets were added
into the State of Iowa's highway network and were modified, and their purpose converted
into providing a higher -speed connection between productive places. There is concern
with safety for users who utilize transportation modes other than cars and trucks. In
January 2023, the Dubuque City Council adopted the Central Avenue Corridor
Streetscape Master Plan.
Through the adoption of the plan, the City Council made investing in the Central Avenue
corridor a high priority and sought to preserve the corridor's history and to spur economic
revitalization. These corridors have historically been the "main street" for the Washington
Neighborhood, one of Dubuque's oldest neighborhoods. These streets are lined with
historic buildings offering commercial and retail opportunities on the ground floor and
residential spaces on upper floors.
In January 2021, as a part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the
State of Iowa, jurisdictional control of Central Avenue and White Street was transferred
from the State of Iowa to the City. The transfer of jurisdictional control provides the City
with an opportunity to evaluate the possibility of converting Central Avenue and White
Streets to a two-way street and to implement best practices for complete streets and
urban design elements to accomplish the goal of the Central Avenue Corridor Streetscape
Master Plan.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The community has a stable and diversified manufacturing base and a growing service
sector. Dubuque is the major retail, medical, education and employment center for the
tri-state area. Tourism continues to be a major economic force in the community. City
government works in collaboration with the private sector to promote economic
development. The job creation and unemployment numbers show that Dubuque is
growing steadily in the current economic climate. Dubuque's construction numbers reveal
an even more encouraging picture. The City has formed strong relationships with the
local business community to promote continued economic growth and success.
With these two corridors spanning from 4t" Street to 22nd Street, a holistic approach to
review the corridors and engage each different area on Central Avenue and White Street
to evaluate desired outcomes and feasibility. A robust public outreach and corridor
engagement with the residents, stakeholders, and the private sector (business, trucks)
will be needed to establish potential solutions and opportunities.
The stated outcome will be achieved by analyzing and accounting for the study
influencing factors and using all variables in a wholistic approach with traffic engineering
and urban planning.
Traffic Related Factors
• Corridor limits
• Existing & Purposed Traffic Volume & Distribution
• Signalization
• Mobility Technology
• Signage
Mobility Related Factors
• Bike Lanes
• ADA Access
• Alleys
• Comfort of Users
• Transportation
Roadway Related Factors
• On -street parking
• Trucks
• Roadway lighting
Urban Design Related Factors
• Visual interest
• Vegetation/Landscape
• Lighting
Other steps influencing the outcome will include, analyzing how other major on -going
downtown roadway infrastructure projects will impact vehicular and biking traffic on these
two corridors, seeking and understanding community and city staff stakeholder fears and
desires through multifaceted engagement, and developing several alternatives that can
be evaluated by the community before a final recommendation is made to and selected.
CONSULTANT SELECTION COMMITTEE
The Consultant Selection Committee for the Central Avenue and White Street Corridor
Traffic Study includes the following:
• Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
• Robert Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
• Justine Hull, Traffic Engineer
• Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
• Anderson Sainci, Director Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support
• Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
• Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
• Duane Richter, Traffic Engineer
• Rick Dickinson, Greater Dubuque Development Corp., President & CEO
• Joe Kirk, Prairie Farms Distribution Manager
• Terry Mozena, Mozena Realty Group, Realtor & Owner
CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS
The consultant selection was based upon the consultant's qualifications and experience,
and the Selection Committee's determination of the consultant best suited for this specific
design project.
On December 5, 2023, the City issued solicitations for competitive proposals from
qualified professional consulting engineering firms or project teams to determine interest
and capabilities providing Professional Consultant Services that will include project
management, public involvement and engagement communications/visual animations
and displays with the public and private sector, and traffic report with alternative for
feasible options on both corridors.
On January 19, 2024, seven (7) consultant response proposals were received and are
listed as follows (in alphabetical order):
• Anderson Bogart
• Bolton & Menk, Inc.
• Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC
• ITERIS Inc
• Olsson
• Sam Schwartz
• Strand Associates, Inc.
The Consultant Selection Committee reviewed the proposals, conducted an initial
screening, and invited Bolton & Menk, Foth, and Strand to participate in presentations
and interviews on February 9, 15 & 16, 2024.
Following the consultant interviews, the Consultant Selection Committee met to evaluate
and rate each of the consultants. The Committee carefully deliberated each consultant's
strengths and weaknesses. Although each of the consultants was uniquely qualified, the
Selection Committee selected Bolton & Menk, Inc. of Des Moines, Iowa as the first -ranked
consultant. The selection ranking was based upon the overall strength of information
provided in the Consultant's response proposal submitted, the Consultant's presentation
and interviews, and the Consultant's demonstrated competence, experience, and
qualifications. The final consultant selection ranking and the recommended order of
preference to initiate contract negotiations is as follows:
• No. 1 — Bolton & Menk, Inc.
• No. 2 — Strand Associates, Inc.
• No. 3 — Foth Infrastructure & Environnent, LLC
PROJECT TEAM
The Bolton & Menk, Inc. firm provides infrastructure solutions that include traffic
engineering, urban planning, engagement, and public information, along with mobility
solutions and financial funding aid to clients around the country. Corridor studies
analyzing the feasibility of one-way to two-way conversion with urban design and mobility
aspects are areas of expertise for this in-house team. With recent projects dealing with
these same corridor questions for solutions with older cities who have great opportunity
to create spaces that are shared, engaging, and valuable (placemaking) for their
community has Bolton & Menk at the forefront in this specific experience with corridor
studies.
Bolton & Menk's has recent, within the last 3 years, experience with corridor studies in
the state of Iowa and other Midwest communities, along with subcontractor work with our
own Smart Parking and Mobility Management Study.
Bolton & Menk's workflow includes the understanding that one value/outcome cannot be
seen without the interconnection or success of another. These urban systems and values
are interconnected whether it's economic development or sustainable infrastructure.
Safety, economy, mobility, community and placemaking are key components that this
team will include to create feasible corridor solutions for Central Avenue and White Street.
CONSULTANT TEAM QUALIFICATIONS
Bolton & Menk assembled an in-depth, in-house, multidisciplinary project team with the
capability, talent, qualifications, and experience to successfully complete the traffic and
mobility elements, engage the community, and create feasible corridor recommendations.
PROJECT MANAGER
An important evaluation criteria were the qualifications and experience of the lead
consultant's Project Manager. Bolton & Menk has designated Ms. Jennifer McCoy, PE,
PTOE as Project Manager to lead the project team.
24 years of professional experience in both the public and private sector, serving
most recently at the City of Des Moines city traffic engineer from 2011 to 2019.
While at the City of Des Moines, she worked on several road -diet and streetscape
projects and implemented four (4) one-way to two-way conversions.
Expertise in traffic operations studies and design, safety analysis and multimodal
studies with neighborhood traffic calming, on -street parking and parking ramp
operations, and policy development, budgeting, and grant writing.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
The anticipated remaining schedule for the Central Avenue and White Street Corridor
Traffic Study scope of services, fee proposal negotiations and contract approval are as
follows:
• Council Approve RFP Issuance
• RFP's Released to Consultants
• Consultant Response Proposals Due
• Selection Committee Review
December 4, 2023
✓ Completed
December 5, 2023
✓ Completed
January 19, 2024
✓ Completed
January 26, 2024
✓ Completed
• Consultant(s) Invited to Interview
• Consultant Presentations / Interviews
• Recommendation to City Council
• Negotiate Scope of Services / Fees
• City Council Approve Contract
• Consultant - Notice to Proceed
RECOMMENDATION
January 30, 2024
February 5-16, 2024
March 4, 2024
Mar 5 - Mar 26, 2024
April 1, 2024
April 2, 2024
✓ Completed
✓ Completed
Based on the review of proposals, the presentations, and interviews, and qualifications,
the Consultant Selection Committee recommends the selection of Bolton & Menk, Inc. as
the first -ranked Consultant and that the City be authorized to negotiate a Professional
Consultant Services Agreement to complete a corridor study for Central Avenue and
White Street and the feasibility of corridor solutions based on public engagement and a
holistic approach using traffic calming and urban design elements.
BUDGETIMPACT
The current available funding for the Central Avenue and White Street Corridor Traffic
Study and the estimated Professional Consultant Services fee is summarized as follows:
Project Code
Fund Description
Fund Amount
5524000038
Central/White Traffic Study
$ 265,000.00
Total Project Funding
$ 265,000.00
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council concurrence in the selection of Bolton &
Menk, Inc. as the first -ranked Consultant and that the City be authorized to negotiate a
Professional Consultant Services Agreement to complete a corridor study for Central
Avenue and White Street and the feasibility of corridor solutions based on public
engagement and a holistic approach using traffic calming and urban design elements.
Prepared by: Justine Hull, Traffic Engineer
CC' Robert Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Duane Richter, Traffic Engineer
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Anderson Sainci, Director Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Support
Arielle Swift, Public Works Director
Rick Dickinson, GDDC
Joe Kirk, Prairie Farms Distribution Manager
Terry Mozena, Mozena Realty Group, Realtor & Owner