Title
Downtown Street Improvement Projects Next Steps
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the contract amendment with KPG, Inc. to complete the design of improvements on Legion Way and Franklin Street and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract amendment.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a contract amendment to complete the design of improvements on Legion Way and Franklin Street.
Staff Contact:
Sophie Stimson, Senior Planner, Public Works Transportation, 360.753.8497
Presenter(s):
Sophie Stimson, Senior Planner
Background and Analysis:
The City’s pavement management system identified four downtown streets that need to be re-paved. The Downtown Strategy process explored the opportunity to make broader improvements to these streets. These projects will go beyond paving to include place-making and multimodal improvements. They will advance many goals for the downtown and are significant City investments in downtown infrastructure.
Since the acceptance of the Downtown Strategy by City Council, staff has advanced the concepts for these streets. The proposals are as follows:
• Legion Way: raised intersection, resurfacing and bicycle facility extensions
• Franklin Street: repaving, sidewalk replacement and curb bulb-outs
• Washington Street: protected bike lane and festival street
• Capitol Way: lane reconfiguration and wider sidewalks
The City’s Construction webpage describes these projects in more detail.
In October 2017, staff presented the design proposals for the four streets to the City Council and sought concurrence to proceed with a public outreach process. In the fall of 2017 and winter of this year, staff conducted an outreach process for stakeholder groups including the boards of the Olympia Downtown Association, Parking and Business Improvement Area, and Downtown Neighborhood Association. In January, staff held an open house to share the design concepts, followed by an online survey. The City received over 120 individual survey responses.
From the stakeholder outreach, open house comments and online survey responses, there was strong support to proceed with the proposed design concepts for all four streets. As a result of the positive public feedback, staff proposes the construction of the Legion Way and Franklin Street projects beginning in 2019 and 2020. Washington Street and Capitol Way are long-term projects, with construction proposed beyond 2020.
KPG, Inc. is working under contract to design the Legion Way and Franklin Street projects. The contract for KPG’s work contained two stages: Phase I for predesign and more detailed project scoping and Phase II to complete design. Staff structured the contract in this way because there was not enough information to determine a cost for completing the full design work. Phase I was needed to develop design concepts and estimate the costs of the projects. Phase II of the contract can now reflect the amount of design effort needed to bring the projects to construction. In order to construct the Legion Way and Franklin Street improvements in 2019/2020, staff proposes amending the contract with KPG, Inc. to complete the design of these two streets.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Public outreach was conducted in fall and winter 2017/2018. There was support to proceed with the design concepts for all four streets. Public outreach, with an emphasis on downtown businesses, residents and property owners, will continue in 2018 and 2019 as the design for Legion Way and Franklin Street is refined.
Options:
1. Approve the contract amendment with KPG, Inc. to complete the design of improvements on Legion Way and Franklin Street and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract amendment. The projects will proceed as planned.
2. Do not approve the contract amendment and direct staff to resolve any issues identified by Council before proceeding with the design. This may delay construction of these projects.
Financial Impact:
The cost to complete the design of both Legion Way and Franklin Street is $707,718, bringing the total contract amount to $807,608. Street Repair and Reconstruction funding is available to complete these projects.
Attachments:
Contract Amendment
Link to Downtown Street Improvement Projects