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TO: Mayor Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Trevor Dick, FAICP LEED AP, Assistant Director
Jason Bauer, Assistant Director of Public Works / Assistant City Engineer
DATE: December 11, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to execute a professional services agreement with Walker Consultants in the amount of $93,470 for a Downtown Parking Study.
PURPOSE:
Today, Downtown Aurora has a stable parking system that is in need of both a goal oriented and technological upgrade to help accomplish our goals. Our goals are to make the Downtown a great place both to visit and to live in by making vehicular traffic/parking a convenience and asset, not a burden and impediment to improved pedestrian experience in our downtown.
BACKGROUND:
The timing is excellent for a new Downtown Parking Study. One of the largest parking demand generators in the Downtown, the Hollywood Casino, will be relocating outside of the Downtown with an expected move date in 2025/26. IDOT is also reviewing a renovation of US Route 25 (Broadway Avenue) through the Downtown that will likely result in fewer on-street parking spaces. Two new residential projects (totaling nearly 500 new rental units) are also about to begin construction just north of Downtown on the east and west banks of the Fox River. These upcoming changes, when coupled with the other changes that have occurred in the downtown since the last parking study in 2012, point towards the need for a new comprehensive study of the parking throughout the downtown.
DISCUSSION:
Staff utilized the Qualification Based Selection (QBS) process earlier this year. Six consultants responded and Walker was selected as the firm most qualified to provide these services. The summary of the QBS results are attached. The key contract tasks include: existing conditions assessment, future parking needs analysis, public engagement plan, parking policy improvements, electric vehicle best practices, comparable review and preli...
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