Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	David Cronin, P.E., City Engineer
FROM:	Nicholas Voss, P.E., Project Engineer
CC:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Director of Public Works Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works
Date:	May 19, 2015 – Corrected 06/01/15
RE:	Award Bid for Project PW1412: CDBG Sidewalk Gap, City Bid No. B1526

Background

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), a federal aid program, is intended to improve the quality of life and environ in the low to moderate income areas. The Sidewalk Gap Program has made a positive impact by closing many critical gaps and thereby improving the walk-ability and safety for pedestrians. 

Project Description

The City of Lawrence is committed to a multi‐modal transportation network by providing sidewalks, bike lanes, bike routes and shared‐use paths throughout the city. Providing sidewalks where they are needed contributes to the safety and well being of Lawrence residents and is in line with the cities complete streets policy.  The CDBG sidewalk gap program has made a significant contribution in improving the livability of Lawrence neighborhoods in low-mod areas of the city by closing sidewalk gaps.

In November 2013 a request was sent to Lawrence neighborhood associations to recommend locations where sidewalk gaps could be filled.  A list of proposed sidewalk locations was compiled from the list of neighborhood association requests, requests from residents, and known areas where pedestrians currently walk without sidewalk.

The sections that were selected for this project focused on one or more of the following:

• Completion of small sections of sidewalk to fill gaps between existing sidewalk segments
• Adding sidewalk that connects residents with schools and universities
• Adding sidewalk to one or both sides of arterial and collector streets
• Completing sidewalk connections to transit facilities
• Adding sidewalk connections to shared use paths and trails
• Areas that adjacent property owners are agreeable to the project

Proposed gap sidewalk locations were then submitted for CDBG funding in December of 2013.  The plans for this project were designed in-house by public works staff.  Locations of the project include:

Street	Side	Location	Needs Met
16th Street	North	Rhode Island to Barker Avenue	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to Liberty Memorial Central Middle School
Winona Avenue	North, South	West of Barker Avenue	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to Transit, Connection to Haskell University
Naismith Drive	East	South of 23rd Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to Transit, Connection to Grocery Stores
W 27th Street	North	Naismith Bridge to Arkansas Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to Naismith Valley Park, Trail
Ridge Court	East West	27th to 26th Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to United Way Building
26th Street	South	East of Iowa	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to business along Iowa Street
26th Street	South	East and West of Ridge Court	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to business along Iowa Street
19th Terrace	North	Ousdahl To Naismith Drive	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to University of Kansas
Arkansas Street	West	10th to 9th Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to University of Kansas
Michigan Street	West	7th to 6th Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to business along 6th Street
Ridge Court	East	In front of the United Way building	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to United Way Building
Cedarwood Ave	West	South of 25th Street	Fills gap in sidewalk, Connection to Cedarwood Development
Iowa	South, East	Southeast corner of 9th and Iowa	Adds sidewalk ramp to the southeast corner of 9th and Iowa

Letters have been mailed to all residents adjacent to proposed sidewalk explaining the sidewalk gap project and showing the locations of the proposed sidewalk.  Property owners with questions or concerns have been met with at their residence to inform them about the construction process and address any concerns.  Areas where property owners have opposed the addition of sidewalk were not included in this project.

Project Funding

This project will be funded with CDBG funds.  Staff has evaluated the bid proposal to check for accuracy, completeness and other applicable criteria. As shown in the Summary Table, the bid proposal from R.D. Johnson Excavating Co., Inc. offers the lowest and best total bid price for this project. Staff recommends awarding the bid to R.D. Johnson Excavating Co., Inc.

VENDOR	TOTAL
Engineer's Estimate	$178,318.00
R.D. Johnson Excavating Co., Inc.	$161,868.50

Project Schedule

This project is scheduled to begin this summer and complete in late summer/early fall of 2015.

Action Request

Award City Bid No. B1526, City CDBG Sidewalk Gap, to R.D. Johnson Excavating Co., Inc. in the amount of $161,868.50 provided the contractor can meet the terms established in the contract documents.