Title
Phoenix Bus Rapid Transit Program Planning Support Services Contract Amendment
Description
Request the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval to execute amendments to the Phoenix Bus Rapid Transit Planning Support Services Contracts with HDR Engineering, Inc. (Contract 149143) and AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (Contract 149145) to extend the terms of both contracts by 36 months, additional funding is not needed at this time.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT
Report
Summary
In 2015, Phoenix voters approved Proposition 104, creating the 35-year street and transit plan known as Transportation 2050 (T2050) which identified Bus Rapid Transit (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, the potential for dedicated lanes, custom buses, transit spot improvements, and unique branding.
In 2019, the Phoenix BRT team was tasked by the CTC and City Council with reevaluating the BRT corridors as originally outlined in the T2050 plan. The reevaluation was sought as the result of the passage of time since the development of the T2050 plan, whereby Phoenix has experienced significant changes in residential and commercial developments, population growth and density, in addition to ongoing regional efforts to identify additional BRT corridors that may travel through Phoenix.
Based on a robust technical analysis and community education and engagement efforts, in 2021, the initial BRT corridor of 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street was approved by the Citizens Transportation Commission, the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee, and City Council.
The overall structure of the BRT Program includes two contract packages to provide transportation planning services:
- Package A was awarded to HDR Engineering Inc. (HDR), to focus on project management, transit planning, and community education and engagement services. In March 2022, the contract with HDR was extended through March 14, 2025 and in May 2023 City Council approved additional professional services and funding with HDR to continue robust community education and engagement and engineering oversight.
- Package B was awarded to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM), to focus on conducting an alternatives analysis, developing conceptual designs and the 15 percent preliminary engineering design plans. In April 2022, City Council approved an extension and additional funding to AECOM’s contract through Sept. 6, 2024, to further develop and design the approved BRT corridor.
Currently, the BRT Program is conducting an Alternatives Analysis process, developing conceptual designs for the corridor, strategizing BRT funding sources, and coordinating with correlating projects and agencies to develop feasible design options to support all transportation modes to comply with recent state legislation (S.B. 1102) and continuing phases of community and business engagement. These efforts are in advance of the continuing coordination and design efforts with ongoing and correlating projects along the corridor, preparing efforts for Phase 3 of community and business engagement and the completion of the 15 percent design plans.
Contract Term
The Package A contract with HDR, started March 15, 2019, and expires March 14, 2025. The Package B contract with AECOM, started Sept. 6, 2019, and expires on Sept. 6, 2024. Both contracts would be extended for an additional 36 months.
Financial Impact
These time-only amendments do not require additional funds to the existing contract amounts of $8.5 million with HDR and $4.35 million with AECOM.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
In October 2018, the City Council approved the initial agreements with HDR and AECOM.
The most recent contract extension with AECOM was approved by:
- Citizens Transportation Commission on Febr. 24, 2022, by a vote of 11-1.
- The City Council on April 20, 2022, by a vote of 8-1.
The most recent contract extension with HDR was approved by:
- Citizens Transportation Commission on April 27, 2023, by a vote of 11-0.
- The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee on May 17, 2023, by a vote of 4-0.
- The City Council on May 31, 2023, by a vote of 9-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.