Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement with Skillings, Inc. for the Elliott Avenue Sidewalk Project.
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing an agreement with Skillings, Inc. for $988,928.00 for the Elliott Avenue Sidewalk Project.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing an agreement with Skillings, Inc. for $988,928.00 for the Elliott Avenue Sidewalk Project.
Staff Contact:
Brian Philumalee, Senior Engineer, Public Works Engineering, 360.753.8297.
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Elliott Avenue is a two-lane street with limited sidewalk and no bike lanes. Traffic calming devices exist along the street. The 2003 Sidewalk Program identified the need for a sidewalk along Elliott Avenue, and there have been requests from residents as well. The project is on a list of recreational sidewalk projects for completion using the Voted Utility Tax approved by the public in September 2004.
In February 2023, staff revised the project scope to construct the sidewalk, but in addition, construct a separated bike lane and stormwater swale on the north side of Elliott Avenue; including striping revisions at the intersection of Division Street and Elliott Avenue, and a fully designed streetlight system.
Skillings, Inc. was selected through a competitive request for qualifications process to provide design services. Total cost for their design services is $988,928.
Climate Analysis:
In the Thurston Region, transportation-related emissions are the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels in transportation is essential to lessening our impact on the climate. A reduction can be obtained by replacing gas-powered vehicle trips with trips made by walking, biking, and transit. The Elliott Avenue Sidewalk Project will make it safer and more inviting to make trips by walking or biking. For these reasons, this project supports strategy T2 (Increase the efficiency of the transportation system) and T5 (Increase the use of active forms of travel, such as walking and biking).
Equity Analysis:
Our current street system is oriented around the car. This project will help make our transportation system fairer by changing Elliott Avenue to better serve people who can’t, or who choose not to, drive. Further, this project will make it easier to walk, bike, and ride the bus for those members of the community that cannot afford a vehicle. Making it easier to get around without a car is a significant step towards achieving greater equity in our community.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Completion of this project will increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists along Elliott Avenue between Division Street and Crestline Boulevard.
Financial Impact:
The $988,928 engineering design services contract with Skillings, Inc. is funded with the Transportation Voted Utility Tax.
The total project cost, including construction, is currently estimated to be $5,850,000. Transportation Voted Utility Tax is planned to fully fund this project.
Options:
1. Move to approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Skillings, Inc. for $988,928.00 for engineering design services for the Elliott Avenue Sidewalk Project. This allows the project to move forward.
2. Direct staff to negotiate a contract with the second-place design consulting firm. This could result in delays to the project design.
3. Direct staff to design the project using City engineering staff. Public Works has determined that Engineering has insufficient staff to complete this project in a timely manner without impacting other capital projects.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement
Vicinity Map