Title
Contract Award for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant for the Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Corridor (Ordinance S-49594)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a contract with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to provide consultant services to assist with the implementation of the Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Transit-Oriented Development Grant for the Public Transit Department. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The total value of this contract will not exceed $1.5 million.
Report
Summary
In December 2020, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) selected the City of Phoenix to receive a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning Grant to plan for future development along the Northwest Extension Phase II (NWEII) Project. The FTA awarded Phoenix with funding of $1 million, which is further supported by a $500,000 local match from Phoenix’s Transportation 2050 (T2050) Fund. The Grant’s purpose is to support the FTA’s mission for the improvement of America’s communities with public transportation by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning through a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment, such as a light rail extension.
The Grant will assist City staff with research, community/stakeholder engagement, and urban design services for a TOD Policy Plan and Active Transportation Implementation Plan. The land use planning will advance TOD in the corridor and the region by working with residents, business/property owners, and community organizations/leaders to create a comprehensive plan that lays the groundwork for urban, mixed-use development built to a pedestrian scale. This includes an integrated network of routes and connections for pedestrians/bicyclists, a theme for streetscape improvements, and an outline of resources and actions needed for implementation. The Grant provides resources to work closely with the community to develop and implement policy plans in the corridor by: collecting a detailed inventory of existing land uses, hosting community stakeholder workshops/meetings, working with the community to develop a community vision, and identifying strategies and performance measures to implement an overall vision. The proposed work will ensure that the NWEII community and stakeholders have an opportunity to develop their own community-driven vision and implementation plan.
Procurement Information
By Formal Action on Nov. 3, 2021, City Council approved staff’s request to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for consultant services to assist with the research, implementation, and execution of the Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Transit-Oriented Development Grant. The RFP was issued Sept. 12, 2022, and by addendum the proposal-submission deadline was extended by six days to Oct. 17, 2022 to address vendor-submitted inquiries.
Two proposals were received in response to the RFP, with one offer determined non-responsive for failure to submit all federally-required certifications. An evaluation panel comprised of staff from the City of Phoenix, Valley Metro and a member of the public reviewed the proposal based on the following criteria:
Method of Approach (350 points)
Team Qualifications and Experience (350 points)
Personnel Qualifications and Experience (200 points)
Price (100 points)
The evaluation committee reached consensus to award the contract to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
Contract Term
The contract's term will begin on or about May 1, 2023 for an initial two-year period, with an option to extend the contract's term up to one additional year to coincide with project completion. The extension option will be exercised by the Public Transit Director only if it is in the City's best interest to do so and the contractor has performed satisfactorily during the initial two-year contract term.
Financial Impact
The contract value will not exceed $1.5 million, and funds are available in the Public Transit Department Capital Improvement Program budget from the following funding sources:
- Federal Transit Administration TOD Grant - $1 million
- City of Phoenix Transportation 2050 Funds - $500,000
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was recommended for approval at:
- The Citizen’s Transportation Commission Meeting on Feb. 23, 2023, by a vote of 9-0.
Location
The Northwest Extension Phase II TOD planning project area is generally bounded by 19th Avenue on the east, 35th Avenue on the west, Peoria Avenue on the north, and Butler Road on the south.
Council Districts: 1, 3, and 5
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.