City Council Meeting Date: February 12, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
Dave Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consideration of Authorization to Initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) for TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway Project.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council considers a Motion to approve authorization to initiate the Request for Proposals (RFP) for TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway Project.
Summary Report:
The adopted 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) includes the TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway Project. The City of Northfield performed an Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) on the TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway intersection in 2016. This ICE report concluded that a single-lane roundabout would provide the greatest safety and operation benefit at the intersection. City Council ultimately adopted the ICE study in early 2017, indicating the installation of a roundabout as the selected option.
From there, the City has been pursing grant opportunities for funding the Roundabout Improvement. The City was successful in two grants. The City received $483,480 from MnDOT’s Local Partnership Program (LPP) to be used on this project. These funds are appropriated for the 2020 fiscal year. In addition, The City of Northfield received $900,000 from MnDOT’s Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) appropriated for this project.
The City of Northfield also took a broader look at the Jefferson Parkway/TH 246 area, and performed a traffic impact analysis for the intersections surrounding the Jefferson Parkway/TH 246 intersection. This report identified additional near term improvements, and three long-term projects recommended for the area. One of the near term improvements identified the installation of a grade-separated pedestrian underpass to allow pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross TH 246. With Jefferson Parkway noted as the preferred alignment for the Mill Towns Trail, staff believes the exploration and analysis of this possible grade-separated pedestrian underpass should be included in the RFP Scope of Work. Additionally, the traffic impact analysis also indicated a sidewalk on the east side of TH 246 from Marvin Lane to a proposed marked Northfield High School pedestrian crossing. Staff has also included an analysis to address the pedestrian issues with design solutions included in the RFP.
In addition to the above-mentioned proposed project improvements identified, Staff believes an additional north/south grade-separated pedestrian underpass should be analyzed as part of the RFP Scope of Work. This north/south crossing of Jefferson Parkway would provide an additional safe crossing for pedestrian movements between the school campuses.
The proposed RFP would require 30% plans and cost estimate submittal. This preliminary design would determine the feasibility/constructability of the two pedestrian underpasses. Staff would then share this information with Council and look for direction in preparing the final design plans.
Alternative Options:
The City Council could decide not approve the RFP for the TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway Project; however, the awarded monies mentioned above are not guaranteed to be available for utilization at a future date.
Financial Impacts:
The proposed 2019 - 2023 CIP includes $1,860,000 in total project costs for the TH 246 and Jefferson Parkway Project (these cost do not include any underpasses). However, clarifying the feasibility and constructability of the underpass will assist the City in determining if those improvements should be included in the scope of this project.
There would be the opportunity to explore additional grant funding for the pedestrian underpass, particularly under TH246 if the Mill Towns Trail location is preferred in that area. A 2019 State of Minnesota capital bonding request could be an option to explore with State Legislators along with a Federal Recreation grant due at the end of February. Staff is exploring this option and is open to Council feedback on this area.
Tentative Timelines:
1. City Council Request for Proposal Authorization - February 5, 2019
2. Proposals Due - March 1, 2019
3. Proposal Award - March 19, 2019
4. 30% Design Plans - June 1, 2019
5. Approve Plans and Specifications - November/December 2019
6. Bid Opening - January 2020
7. Construction - Summer 2020