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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Kenneth Schroth, Public Works Director
Dan Feltman, New Development Coordinator
Bill Wiet, Chief Development Services Officer
Stephane Phifer, Planning Director
DATE: June 12, 2015
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Execute a Professional Engineering Contract with WBK Associates Ltd for Phase I Engineering for construction of the Aurora Transportation Center (ATC) Regional Facility Enhancements Project.
PURPOSE:
Attached is a resolution authorizing the professional engineering services by the team of Wills Burke Kelsey Associates, Ltd. (WBK), T.Y. Lin International Group (T.Y. Lin), and Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. (CBBEL), in an amount not to exceed $386,500, plus reimbursables. The team will perform the Phase I Engineering required to qualify for a potential $8.626M in grant funding for the ATC Regional Facility Enhancements Project. Funding for the engineering services will come from a budget amendment in TIF #5 and #6 for CIP A051. However, a $2M pledge by the Kane County Forest Preserve for the pedestrian bridge will reimburse the TIF funds up to $350,000 for engineering services.
BACKGROUND:
In March of this year, the Public Works Department and Development Services Departments worked cooperatively to submit an application for the FY 2016-202 CMAQ Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvements (CMAQ program). To achieving the objectives of the “GoTo 2040” Regional Plan and succeed in the goals of the CMAQ program, the grant application proposes to implement the Aurora Transportation Center (ATC) Facility Enhancements. The full application is attached for your reference however, the general elements of the project are as follows:
1) Relocating Pace bus staging area to the east side of the commuter parking lot to improve safety and reduce bus delay into and out of transit center. Currently there are 8 Pace bus services that utilized this transit facility. Moving the buses closer to the platform and providing designated drop off area for bus-only will improve safety by reducing vehicle/bus/ pedestrian conflicts and increase bus efficiency, as well as improving ADA access. Under current conditions, passage vehicles routinely enter the Pace Pulse staging area or the pulse point access due to the untraditional intersection design. Relocating Pace staging area will necessitate the need for moving the existing traffic signal to the south ATC entrance. With the relocation of Pace staging area, the City can construct a parking lot that will add 74 more commuter parking stalls, new drive isle, sidewalk, and taxi and kiss-n-ride area within the current bus staging area for commuters.
2) Constructing 930’ pedestrian bridge over the Fox River to provide direct access to the ATC and connectivity to the surrounding neighborhoods and regional bike trail. The pedestrian bridge will be a catalyst for promoting the use of this transit center and will increase ridership, with the addition of the west parking lots that are accessible and walkability. For example, the pedestrian bridge will:
a) Provide direct access to three existing under-utilized parking lots on the west side of the Fox River (715 parking stalls)
b) The pedestrian bridge will allow for the connection of the east and west side Fox River Trail and will direct pedestrians and bicyclists to the proposed signalized access at the ATC as described above and will thus promote ridership.
c) Advance and promote multi-modal access to the Aurora Transportation Center by mean of mass transit, walking and biking. Increase transit use will result in improve air quality and reduce congestion.
d) Support City’s long term vision for Fox River corridor and transit area. This pedestrian bridge has been identified in the City’s Seize the Future Downtown Mater Plan, RiverEdge Park Master Plan, Kane County DOT Complete Street Report and the City’s Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
3) Constructing a new parking lot on the west side of the Fox River (715 available parking spaces) to increase ridership. RTA 2014 parking count noted 1,633 available parking spaces (public and private lots -307). Metra study indicated that there is a 93% utilization of the existing parking lots, prior to the recession in 2007, there was 100% parking utilization. To promote transit use and ridership, the City proposes the expansion of parking Lot X, which will add 90 new parking stalls. In addition, three (3) existing underutilized public parking lots (A, X and W) will be available to transit commuters. A total of 715 free public parking spaces on the west side of the Fox River, with direct connection via the proposed pedestrian bridge will be available to commuters. The proposed work will consist of new asphalt pavement, curb and gutter, parking lot lightings, grading, utilities relocation, and landscape.
4) Installing new traffic signals on IL Rte. 25 (Broadway Street) and intersection improvements into the ATC parking lot to improve access capacity. These improvements will significantly reduce congestion during peak time and minimize intersection delays for commuters. The proposed work consist of; updating existing traffic interconnect, installing traffic signal, consolidating access points, installing streetlights within a proposed raised median and ADA accessible sidewalk. Without these intersection improvements, Pace staging area cannot be relocated and improvements to the ATC parking lot cannot be accomplished.
The Aurora Transportation Center (ATC) Facility Enhancements are proposed in the grant application to take twelve months to engineer at a cost of approximately $1.2M, and nine months to construct at a cost of approximately $13.5M, with additional local ancillary costs of $2M. The project is projected to be completed in 2017 for a total project cost of $16.7M, of which $8.626M is projected to be awarded from the grant, $2M has been pledged by the Kane County Forest Preserve District, $2M from a combination of Transit Enterprise Funds, and TIF Funds, and the remaining $4M will be raised through a fundraising campaign and naming rights for the bridge.
DISCUSSION:
The Contract and Scope of Services (attached) to be performed by the design team for the Phase I engineering required for the grant, and for construction, involves a comprehensive preliminary engineering study. Included in this Phase I scope will be supplemental topographic survey, soil sampling, utility coordination, stream hydraulic analysis and Hydraulic Report, wetland report, environmental survey, preliminary bridge design, Location Drainage Study (Route 25) and Location Drainage Analysis for all other areas of the project, Intersection Design Studies permitting coordination and submittals, preliminary engineering of roadway and parking improvements, drainage design, path concepts, and a Project Design Report (PDR).
The tasks to be accomplished by the team include:
• TASK 1 - EARLY COORDINATION AND DATA COLLECTION, including coordination with local agencies, review of existing data and preparing a photo log.
• TASK 2 - SUPPLEMENTAL TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY, including a topographic survey east of the Fox River, a topographic survey west of the Fox River, and the integration into the previously completed surveys.
• TASK 3 - GEOTECHNICAL SOIL, including a Structure Geotechnical Report, site visits, coordination with sub-contractor, and a soils profile.
• TASK 4 - UTILITY IDENTIFICATION AND COORDINATION, including an Existing Conditions base map, site visits, coordination with utilities, coordination with sub-contractors and subsurface utility exploration.
• TASK 5 - STREAM HYDROLOGY / HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS AND REPORT, including site visits, review existing models, develop Natural and Existing Hydraulic Models, review existing records, impacts to floodplain fill/ compensatory storage, develop Hydraulic Model and waterway information table (WIT), a HEC 18 Scour Analysis, a final report and any modifications required by IDOT review.
• TASK 6 - WETLAND DELINEATION AND REPORT, including collection and review of preliminary information (aerial photos, wetland maps, USGS, soils mapping, FEMA map, hydrologic atlas etc.), a Wetland Delineation, field staking, Wetland Report, and a Wetland Impact Evaluations (WIE) form.
• TASK 7 - ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS, including a Special Waste Assessment (SWA), a potential Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA), and an Environmental Survey Request (ESR).
• TASK 8 - PRELIMINARY BRIDGE DESIGN, including providing type, size and location for desired alternative and coordination with the rest of the design team.
• TASK 9 - LOCATION DRAINAGE ANALYSIS, including Site Drainage Design and Drainage Connection Submittal east of the Fox River, a Drainage Connection Checklist, Site Drainage Design and Proposed Drainage Improvements west of Fox River, and a comprehensive report.
• TASK 10 - PERMIT AGENCY SUBMITTALS, including with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois Department of Water Resources - Office of Water Resources, the Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District and the City of Aurora.
• TASK 11 - INTERSECTIONS DESIGN STUDIES, including data collection, an Intersection Design Studies (IDS) - Spring Street and ATC Entrance, and consultation during the design process.
• TASK 12 - PARKING AND CIRCULATION CONCEPTS, including preliminary roadway/parking lot design east of the Fox River, preliminary parking lot design and ADA compliance west of the Fox River, and coordination.
• TASK 13 - PATH ALIGNMENT AND RETAINING WALL CONCEPTS, including path improvements (horizontal alignment, profile options, typical section, and PNP sheets), and analyze pedestrian bridge retaining walls (safety improvements, design parameters, and preliminary design).
• TASK 14 - PROJECT DEVELOPMENT REPORT AND ACTIVITIES, including traffic data and crash analysis,
• list of variances, cost estimate, Draft Project Development Report, disposition of comments, and Final Project Development Report.
• TASK 15 - PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, one (1) public coordination meeting, including organize meeting, advertisement and mailings, prepare displays, exhibits, and handouts, attend meeting and record public comment, respond to comments, and coordinate with team members.
• TASK 16 - MEETINGS AND COORDINATION, including an anticipated 12 meetings with 2 people per meeting at 3 hours per meeting, meeting agendas and exhibits, and prepare meeting minutes.
• TASK 17 - ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT, including project schedule, progress reports, general design review, budget, and quality control.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The proposed project supports the regional priorities to reduce congestion and improve air quality, as the improvements support an existing public transit center; increase transit use with a bicycle/pedestrian transit connection; support the local agency comprehensive plan; improve transit safety; encourage new high density development near an existing transit center; and expand the transit orientated area of influence of an existing transit center by enhancing the multi-modal access for a larger number of existing residential neighborhoods.
The Public Works Department and Development Services Department staff would anticipate that this project will increase the City’s overall tax base and viability by facilitating investment and development. The upfront financial investment by the City in this Phase I Engineering will be considered part of the local match if the grant is awarded. Also, all or part of the engineering costs are eligible for reimbursement by the Kane County Forest Preserve pursuant to the approved Intergovernmental Agreement regarding pedestrian bridge. .
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval of the A Resolution to Execute a Professional Engineering Contract with WBK Associates Ltd for Phase I Engineering for construction of the RiverEdge Park and ATC Pedestrian Facility Improvements in an amount not to exceed 386,500, plus reimbursables to be funded from TIF #5, 235-1830-465.80-57, and TIF #6, 236-1830-465.80-57 for CIP A051 with a reimbursement of up to $350,000 from the Kane County Forest Preserve.
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit "A" Contract and Scope of Work
CMAP FY 2016-2020 CMAQ Project Application - Transit Project Category
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Mesiacos, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to Execute a Professional Engineering Contract with WBK Associates Ltd for Phase I Engineering for construction of the Aurora Transportation Center Regional Facility Enhancements Project.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora seeks to engage a professional engineering and design firm to assist with the Phase I Engineering for construction of the RiverEdge Park and Aurora Transportation Center Pedestrian Facility and Parking Lot Improvements; and
WHEREAS, has submitted a proposal in the amount of $386,500 plus reimbursable for said services, included herein as Exhibit “A”; and
WHEREAS, this item shall be funded from TIF #5, 235-1830-465.80-57, and TIF #6, 236-1830-465.80-57 for CIP A051 with a reimbursement of up to $350,000 from the Kane County Forest Preserve, in the total of $386,500 plus reimbursable; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois does hereby authorize the execution of the professional service contract with as attached hereto.