Title
Request to Issue a Solicitation for Final Design and a Solicitation for Construction of the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Corridor
Description
This report requests the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval to issue a solicitation for final design and a solicitation for construction of the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street BRT Corridor. Services under the resulting two contracts will provide final design, preconstruction tasks, and future construction of the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street BRT Corridor.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
In 2015, Phoenix voters approved Proposition 104, creating the 35-year street and transit plan known as Transportation 2050 (T2050). The plan identified BRT as a key component to continue expanding the City’s high-capacity transit network. BRT is a high-capacity bus service that focuses on improved speed, reliability, convenience, and the overall transit experience. There are common recurring elements found in successful BRT systems, such as advanced fare collection, enhanced stations, options for dedicated lanes, custom buses, transit spot improvements to improve traffic flow, and unique branding.
Based on robust technical analysis and community education and engagement efforts, the initial BRT corridor of 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street was approved by the Phoenix City Council in October 2021. In Summer 2025, center-running BRT with dedicated lanes was identified as the preferred lane option for the 35th Avenue portion of the corridor as a result of the Phase III Community Outreach. In Spring 2026, center-running BRT with dedicated lanes was identified as the preferred lane option for the Van Buren Street portion of the corridor as a result of the Phase IV Community Outreach. In August 2026, the 15% design plans for the corridor were completed, satisfying the requirements of a current contract the City has in place for initial design.
Procurement Information
Upcoming and future phases will include final design, preconstruction, and construction of the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street corridor. There will be two solicitations - one for final design and the other for construction. The project delivery method will be Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR), with the two contracts running concurrently. The final design will take approximately two years to complete, followed by approximately two years of construction. Having the construction contractor onboard in conjunction with the design firm will allow them to advise on constructability, engage in value engineering efforts, and offer solutions to mitigate construction impacts and manage costs. The anticipated revenue service date for the entire corridor is 2031.
At key milestones throughout the life of the final design and construction processes, staff will coordinate with City Council for awareness and approval on fundamental direction and decisions to advance the project. The designer and contractor will work closely with various City departments to ensure compliance and transparency throughout the life of the project. A business assistance program, via a separate contract, is also envisioned for the project in order to support local and small businesses to mitigate impacts throughout construction.
Anticipated milestones, which will be the same for both solicitations, include:
- Release Requests for Qualifications
- Proposals Due
- Evaluations by Qualified Staff
- Award Recommendation
- Contract Commencement
Contract Term
The resulting two contracts are expected to commence in Summer 2027 and will each have a five-year term with one two-year option to extend if necessary.
Financial Impact
The current estimate for design and construction of the entire 13.6-mile corridor is $916M. This is consistent with other dedicated lane BRT systems on a cost per mile basis. Funding is available in the Public Transit Department's budget using various funding sources including T2050 and regional funds.
Location
Citywide
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Cynthia Aguilar and the Public Transit Department.