Downtown Transit Alt. AnalysisMEMORANDUM
August 13, 2002
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Downtown Dubuque Transit Alternatives Analysis Contract for Services
On April 22, 2002, the City of Dubuque issued a notice for Request for Proposals for a
Transit Alternatives Analysis Study. The study will aid the City of Dubuque in continuing
to provide safe and efficient access to the Ice Harbor in light of the long-term
transportation demands created by the America's River project and downtown
Dubuque.
The RFP Review Committee, which consisted of Chad Ruhberg, Transportation Director
ECIA; Mark Munson, Transit Manager; Bill Baum, Economic Development Director;
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager; Laura Carstens, Planning Services
Manager; and Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering Assistant, recommends that the
contract for the Downtown Dubuque Transit Alternatives Study be awarded to
URS/BRW, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $247,472.23.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Chad M. Ruhberg, Transportation Director, ECIA
TO:
FROM:
EAST CENTRAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATION
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Chad M. Ruhberg, Transportation Director
Suite 330
NeslerCentre
799 Main Street
PO Box 1140
Dubuque, lA 52004-1140
DATE: July 29, 2002
SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN DUBUQUE TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum presents for City Council review and approval a Resolution authorizing the
execution of a contract with URS/BRW, Inc. to perform the Downtown Dubuque Transit
Alternatives Analysis. The contract is not to exceed $247,472.23.
BACKGROUND
On April 22, 2002, The City of Dubuque issued a notice for Request For Proposals for an
Alternatives Analysis Study. The study is funded from a congressional earmark of $197,978 in
federal transit funds and $49,494 in local match. On June 7, 2002, two proposals were received
from URS/BRW of Minneapolis, MN and P~rsons Brinckerhoff also of Minneapolis, MN. Both
proposals were evaluated by the following RFP Review Committee members:
Chad Ruhberg, Transportation Director ECIA
Mark Munson, Transit Manager
Bill Baum, Economic Development
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Laura Camtens, Planning Services Manager
Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering Assistant
Additional comments and suggestions were received from Iowa Department of Transportation
staff and Federal Transit Administration concerning the Alternatives Analysis process and
requirements and the RFP development and selection guidelines. DMATS staff is serving as the
project administrator,-working in close conjunction with the City of Dubuque, and under the
guidance of the DMATS Policy Board and the Steering Committee.
The study will aid the City of Dubuque in continuing to provide safe andeffiCient access to the
Ice Harb°r ~n light of the long-term transportation demands created by the America's River
Project and downtown Dubuque. Transit alternatives must be considered to accommodate the
PHONE (563) 556-4166 IO~'A ONLY (800) 942-4648 FAX (563) 55643348 E-?dAtL ecia@ecia.org WEB SiTE www.ecia.org
Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Stud~/o Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Ruthoriaj o Region I Employment and Training
· ECIR Regional Planning Rffiliafion · £ClR Business Growth, Inc. =
anticipated hundreds of thousands of visitors to this location which faces difficult challenges due
to limited access and parking.
It is the unanimous opinion of the steering committee that both the URS/BRW and the Parsons
Brinckerhoff (PB) teams are excellent firms. The Committee feels both teams are technically
proficient and also found their proposals quite comparable with regard to their responsiveness to
the RFP. The deciding factors are as follows:
URS/BRW showed more experience with projects similar in scope in comparably
sized communities.
URS/BRW displayed a much more developed public participation process which
meets our requirements.
PB repeatedly in their proposal and their presentation gave the impression of a
specific alternative as already being the locally preferred alternative, whereas
URS/BRW focused upon the development and analysis of the alternatives for
local selection.
The majority of the Committee found these factors to be decisive in our
recommendation of URS/BRW over PB to perform this study.
RECOMMENDATION
It is the recommendation of the Steering Committee that the contract be awarded to URS/BRW,
Inc. in the amount, not to exceed, $247, 472.23 to perform the Downtown Dubuque Transit
Alternatives Study.
ACTION STEP
The action for the City Council is to adopt the attached resolution awarding the contract to
URS/BRW, Inc.
RESOLUTION NO. 425-02
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SELECTION OF A CONSULTANT TO
PREPARE A TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS FOR THE PORT OF
DUBUQUE AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
CONTRACT FOR SAID STUDY.
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, Iowa has identified the need for redevelopment of the city's
riverfront as a top community priority; and
Whereas, the City of Dubuque, Iowa has received a Congressional appropriation for
$197,978 through the Federal Transit Administration to study transit alternatives in the Port of
Dubuque and its connection with Downtown; and
Whereas, a Request for Proposals solicited consultant services to prepare a Downtown
Dubuque Transit Alternative Analysis; and
Whereas, URS/BRW, Inc. is recommended to complete the Analysis;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the selection of URS/BRW, Inc. as the consultant to prepare a
Downtown Dubuque Transit Alternatives Analysis for the City of Dubuque is hereby approved.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute, on behalf of the City
Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, a contract with URS/BRW, Inc. for consultant services not to
exceed $247,472.23.
Passed, approved and adopted this 19th day of August 2002t~/
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk