Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager
Date:	January 8, 2014
RE:	Agenda Item - Authorize the City Manager to Amend the Existing  Professional Services Agreement with Olsson and Associates to include Traffic Engineering Associated with Potential Transit Center Sites

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the January 14, 2014 meeting:

Authorize the City Manager to Amend the Existing  Professional Services Agreement with Olsson and Associates to include Traffic Engineering Associated with Potential Transit Center Sites

Background:

In February 2013 Olsson and Associates were brought under contract to perform a “Transit Center Location Analysis” for the City of Lawrence and Lawrence Transit. In doing so Olsson’s staff was able to bring considerable knowledge and expertise to this analysis having performed several recent transit center studies and designs. This analysis was designed to be accomplished in three phases and take approximately six months to complete.

On June 25, 2013 Olsson and Associates provided an overview to City Commission on the first two phases of the analysis. As part of this overview Olsson’s staff presented the process that was being used for the technical analysis, as well as, the criteria used in determining potential candidate locations. Based on the analysis from the first two phases three possible candidate locations were presented to Commission that were staff believed to meet the preliminary criteria and merited further analysis. These three sites were:

• 925 Iowa
• 2029 Becker Drive
• 1101 Mississippi

After considerable discussion City Commission directed staff to focus the remainder of the consultant’s work on one of the three locations, 925 Iowa. Immediately following this decision the University of Kansas approached the City about the possibility of considering additional sites that would provide a greater benefit to those working or attending classes on campus. In working with KU staff an additional site was identified. This site, owned by KU Endowment, is located at 2021 Stewart Avenue.

2021 Stewart

On December 2, 2013 a neighborhood meeting was held at Fire Station #5 to acquire public feedback on the Stewart Avenue location as a potential site for a transit center. A notice of the meeting was sent to residents and property owners within the area which was bounded on the north side by 19^th Street, the east by Naismith Boulevard, the south 23^rd Street, and the west Iowa Street.

The meeting was well attended by those in the neighborhood. The primary concerns and issues raised at the meeting were on the following topics:

• The amount of through traffic that would be generated by a traffic light at 21^st and Iowa.
• The safety and security of the neighborhood that would result from having the activity of transit center near a residential area.
• The amount of noise and pollution that would result from a transit center close to residences.
• The effect that a new traffic light would have on the surrounding access point such as shopping areas south of the site.

The majority of issues and concerns were associated with increases in traffic and activity in the general area of the site. The existing contract with Olsson and Associates has a very limited scope and does not include any elements associated with traffic.

925 Iowa

Prior to the June 25, 2013 City Commission meeting staff had met with the property owners for the site at 925 Iowa to discuss the possible use of their property for a transit center. At that time the property owners were open to the possibility. In attempting to set up a neighborhood meeting to acquire public feedback on the 925 Iowa site as a potential site for a transit center staff set up a meeting with property owners for December 10, 2013. The meeting was cancelled by the property owners at the last minute without providing a reason. Staff has been attempting to contact the property owners via telephone and mail (see attached) since December 10^th to no avail.

Staff Recommendation:

Since the majority of the issues that were raised during our public meeting are associated with traffic staff is recommending that the existing Olsson and Associates contract be amended to allow for additional traffic engineering work. Olsson and Associates are well qualified to perform these additional elements and will be able to respond relatively quickly since they have been involved in the study.

Project Funding:

The original contract for professional services with Olsson Associates is for $39,917.28. This amendment would amount to $25,795. Both the original contract and the amendment will be funded by dedicated Transit Sales Tax funds (.05% Transit Equipment).

Action Requested:

Staff requests that City Commission authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to a Professional Services Agreement with Olsson Associates, whereby Olsson Associates will agree to perform traffic engineering work associated with potential transit center locations.