HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - 7272 ENHANCED TRAVEL CORRIDOR MASTER PLAN FOR HARMONY ROADFELSBURG
HOL T &
ULLEVIG
September 12, 2011
submitted by: in association with:
Enhanced Travel Corridor
Master Plan
for Harmony Road
Proposal #7272
September 12, 2011
Mr. John Stephen, LEED AP, Senior Buyer
City of Fort Collins
Purchasing Division
215 North Mason Street, 2nd Floor
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Re: Request for Proposal – 7272 Enhanced Travel Corridor Master Plan for Harmony Road
Dear Mr. Stephen:
Over the past several years, the City of Fort Collins has made great strides to transition the Mason Corridor from a
typical freight rail corridor into a unique, vibrant multi‐modal corridor with economic development opportunities and
high‐quality transit service; goals identified in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig (FHU)
worked collaboratively with the City during the environmental assessment and preliminary engineering of the Mason
Corridor as well as during the design of the Mason Trail. The Enhanced Travel Corridor Master Plan for Harmony Road
is the next step in achieving the City’s larger vision of a network of Enhanced Travel Corridors that tie the community’s
economic vitality and environmental sustainability to major transportation investments.
We have assembled a team with strong ties to Fort Collins as well as national expertise to work with the City in
developing the ETC Master Plan for Harmony Road. Nelson\Nygaard, a nationally recognized transit planning firm, and
BHA, a local urban designer, have joined FHU to provide the City with the breadth and depth of knowledge to bring
this next corridor to life.
Our proposal focuses on two areas that we think are of utmost importance for this planning effort:
Working collaboratively with the City to create a vision for this corridor – FHU has had many successful
relationships with our clients in which we have worked collaboratively to cost‐effectively complete transportation
projects. We recognize and commend the City’s desire to fulfill an active role in the Harmony Road ETC Master Plan
and we will happily work cooperatively with your staff, capitalizing on their strengths.
Following a process that will smoothly flow into the NEPA process and can be funded and implemented – our team
has worked on numerous Planning Environmental Linkage studies with FHWA and Alternatives Analysis reports
with FTA. We understand these processes and how they relate to the requirements of NEPA. Based on this, we
have developed an approach that will enable this plan to transition smoothly into NEPA and limit the backtracking
that can often occur.
We look forward to working with you on this exciting project. We acknowledge receipt of Addendum 1 and have
carefully reviewed its contents along with the RFP’s in crafting our submittal. Both Holly and Jenny are available if you
have any questions on our proposal.
Respectfully,
FELSBURG HOLT & ULLEVIG
D. Holly Buck, PE, PTP Jenny A. Young, PE, PTP
Project Manager Deputy Project Manager
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PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
The City of Fort Collins has successfully positioned itself to implement the
first bus rapid transit (BRT) system in the state of Colorado, with the
Mason Corridor MAX BRT scheduled to begin service in 2014. The
concepts of the Mason Enhanced Travel Corridor (ETC) that will soon be
reality began with a corridor plan in October 2000. The City is now
embarking on a corridor plan for the next Enhanced Travel Corridor –
Harmony Road.
The Harmony Road corridor has a rich history, beginning as the main
street of the “Harmony” community in the 1870s. The Harmony Road
corridor has experienced a great deal of growth and evolution from its
simple beginnings. Its role in the region has changed from a rural road
south of Fort Collins characterized by crops, orchards, and small farming
communities to become the major arterial roadway that it is today, serving as a gateway into the City and as one of the primary east-
west routes in Fort Collins. Shrewd long-range planning has shaped the character of the corridor as a primary employment center for
the City. As a result the corridor houses key employment, commercial, healthcare, educational and retail destinations for the growing
residential area that surrounds it. This Enhanced Travel Corridor Master Plan is intended to position the Harmony Road corridor for
continued evolution. The next phase of Harmony Road will integrate the multi-modal and sustainable culture that is valued by the Fort
Collins community.
Not only is Harmony Road an important route for east-west travel and for access to the
many employment centers and the Front Range Community College, but it will ultimately
be one in a series of Enhanced Travel Corridors that traverse the City. With the growth in
the region and the implementation of the Mason ETC, it is clear that the Harmony Road
corridor will continue to function as a primary connection between I-25 and US 287, the
Mason BRT system, and central Fort Collins. It will also continue to be used as a
connection for local movements between the major commercial, medical and
employment destinations along its length.
The existing Harmony Corridor Plan developed setbacks and design guidelines to create
an image of wide, bermed landscaped edges to Harmony Road carrying pedestrians
along a wide multi-use path. But with development, this 80-foot setback area is also often
seen as an opportunity to carry major utility facilities, ditches, storm drainage facilities,
and auxiliary lanes for Harmony Road. Is the original vision for the character of Harmony
Road valid with its changing role as a primary transportation link? This master plan must
address how each of these uses can best be provided for along this important regional
route. It also should address how the image of the corridor can support its role as a
primary gateway into south Fort Collins.
APPROACH
One critical measure of success for the Harmony Road ETC Master Plan will be the ability of the City to efficiently move through the
subsequent processes into FTA Project Development, NEPA, and design/engineering. We have structured our approach to include key
elements and processes that will minimize backtracking in these subsequent project phases. Our team brings national experience in
completing the FTA Alternatives Analysis (AA) process, successful linking of transportation and environmental planning through our
involvement in five of the six corridor PEL studies in Colorado, and a positive history of working with the City to develop effective
transportation solutions. Together, these team qualifications will benefit the City of Fort Collins by providing a thorough process and
product that will position you for successful next steps toward implementation.
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Task 1: Work Plan
Finalize Scope and Budget
The first objective of this task will be to ensure that the City
staff and the FHU Team begin and proceed with a common
understanding about the goals, work plan, and schedule for the
project. Each element of the proposed work plan will be
discussed at a scoping meeting with critical staff. Based on the
Project Managers’ expectations, a final work plan will be
developed that will include a schedule of key milestones and
deliverables, meeting schedules, communication methods, a
public involvement plan, and the revised/final project budget by
task. An important element of the final work plan will be
definition of the division of project responsibilities between the
City staff and the consultant team. Based on our knowledge of
City staff strengths and resources, we provide an initial division
of labor for the project following our approach.
A Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will be established at
the onset of the project to guide the development of the ETC
Master Plan and to serve as a sounding board for the technical
aspects of the project. In addition to the City departments and
stakeholder agencies listed in the Request for Proposals
(RFP), we highly recommend including an FTA representative
as a member of the TAC. FTA’s involvement early in the
planning process will help to ensure compliance with the AA
process and buy-in to successfully move into FTA Project
Development.
Public Involvement Plan
The FHU team
will work
closely with
City staff at the
onset of the
project to
finalize an
innovative
Public
Involvement
Plan that
seeks to solicit meaningful input from a broad cross-section of
people through the master planning process.
Public involvement is the cornerstone of a good master plan. It
is essential that members of the community are part of the
planning process with a sense of ownership in the final plan,
which will facilitate progress toward implementation of the
Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). The Harmony Road
corridor has a diverse set of stakeholders, all of whom need to
be reached through the public involvement efforts of the
ETC Master Plan. In addition to the residents, employees, and
students using the corridor, Harmony Road also carries
regional traffic with origins and destinations outside of Fort
Collins, recreationalists (including both motorists and cyclists,
often destined for Horsetooth Reservoir), freight movement,
and traditionally underserved populations including the
Harmony Road Community Mobile Home Park and two senior
housing facilities.
In order to reach out to and receive valuable input from these
varied stakeholder groups, a multi-faceted public involvement
plan is essential. We propose the following elements that
would work together to create a comprehensive outreach
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stakeholders are technology-savvy – it will be important to also
provide more traditional public outreach opportunities. There
are public libraries located on both ends of the Harmony Road
corridor that would serve as ideal locations for public open
house forums to present project information and to solicit input.
We also suggest hosting focus group meetings with business
owners and other community groups to discuss their particular
interests.
We have identified three key phases of the planning process at
which time public input will be crucial:
Developing the Purpose and Need Statement and
Corridor Vision
Presenting alternatives and preliminary technical
evaluations
Presenting the Locally Preferred Alternative and
Implementation Plan
Task 1 Deliverables
Final Work Plan/Budget/Schedule
Public Involvement Plan
Task 2: Corridor Understanding
Planning for our transportation future is one of the most
important things we do as transportation professionals. We use
our prediction and analysis tools to gain insight into what the
future holds so that we can properly plan for the forthcoming
needs of the traveling public. As with many major
transportation corridors, Harmony Road has been studied
throughout the years to evaluate what improvements should be
planned to satisfy the growth of the Fort Collins area and the
northern Colorado region.
This process of periodic transportation planning is extremely
important since the wants, needs and desires of each new
generation of travelers will change over
time. The next generation will likely
seek the benefits that a wide variety of
land use types can provide; ones that
are more densely constructed so as to
take advantage of the convenience of
nearby commercial and employment
opportunities. We must involve all age
groups and traveler types so that the
ETC Master Plan benefits everyone. As
the population of Fort Collins and
northern Colorado continues to grow, a higher level of need
and desire for fast and efficient transit will become more
evident. We must properly plan for the next generation of
travelers with transportation infrastructure that meets not only
the transit needs of a corridor, but the overall mobility needs of
motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
The FHU team will provide the City with information, materials
and technical evaluations to formulate an understanding of
Harmony Road’s past and its current physical and operational
conditions, while also providing insight into what the future
holds. This information will be documented in a corridor
summary paper that will provide the basis for creating the
vision of what Harmony Road can be, for developing
benchmark criteria for meeting the vision, goals and objectives,
and for the development and evaluation of project alternatives
that reflect this vision.
History – But where do we begin to develop a base set of
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conduct a thorough review of the planning documents that
were identified in the project RFP. Knowing that a new transit
center is being planned by Transfort near Timbeline Road, or
that the Engineering Department is beginning to develop plans
to widen part of Harmony Road to a six-lane roadway, is
critical to formulating a base understanding of the opportunities
and constraints that can and will exist along Harmony Road.
Existing Conditions – To set ourselves up for
success during the visioning and master-planning phases, it
will be important to understanding both the existing operational
conditions that the traveling public must face as well as their
projected future demands on the transportation system. This
process must begin with a thorough understanding of existing
travel conditions for motorists, transit patrons, pedestrians, and
cyclists.
We will work alongside City staff to formulate a data collection
program that will be the basis for predicting future travel
demands. Travel movements, when combined with the
physical and operational corridor attributes, will provide a
vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle level of service understanding
that provides insight into current operating conditions. FHU is
experienced in conducting multi-modal operational analyses of
both individual intersections and entire corridors. We propose
gathering data and conducting analyses as described by travel
mode below.
Roadway
Roadway cross-section in various segments of
corridor (number and width of travel lanes and
auxiliary lanes, median type and width, etc.)
Daily traffic volumes at critical links
AM and PM peak hour turning movements at critical
intersections
AM and PM peak hour level of service analyses at
critical intersections
Crash history and identification of notable crash
patterns
Transit
Identification of Transfort routes utilizing Harmony
Road
Current ridership
Bus headways
Service hours
Stop locations
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Bike lane widths
Sidewalk widths and buffer widths
Roadway and traffic characteristics that affect cyclists’
and pedestrians’ level of comfort (lane widths, traffic
volumes, travel speeds, etc.)
Bicycle and pedestrian levels of service using the
City’s established methodologies and the
methodologies presented in the 2010 Highway
Capacity Manual (HCM)
Additionally, we will obtain a clear understanding of the
existing physical opportunities and constraints of the corridor
that will help determine which potential corridor alternatives
may have physical limitations that could either eliminate an
alternative or have an impact on an alternative’s cost and/or
public acceptance. Physical issues such as the number and
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Transit operating statistics including ridership, service
hours, and frequency/headways as well as fleet
requirements and other planned capital investments
based on recommendations identified in Transfort’s
Strategic Operating Plan
Bicycle and pedestrian levels of service based on
future traffic volumes and on planned roadway
modifications
The summary of future baseline conditions will be used to
determine deficiencies in the ability of the transportation
system to accommodate future travel demands. It will also help
to establish the project Purpose and Need Statement, the
corridor vision, and the alternatives for consideration.
Task 2 Deliverables
The issues that are investigated, evaluated and analyzed in
Task 2 will set the groundwork for the project tasks that come
after. Good data equals good project decisions. We will
summarize the collected data, projections, and subsequent
analyses into the Corridor Understanding Summary Paper as
noted in the RFP; we will provide the summary paper to the
project TAC for review and we will modify the paper
accordingly for eventual public consumption.
Existing Conditions Technical Paper
Future Conditions Technical Paper
Corridor Understanding Summary Paper
Task 3: Corridor Vision
Develop Purpose and Need Statement
Establishing a tangible and well-vetted Purpose and Need
Statement for the Harmony Corridor is an essential step in
moving toward implementation of the LPA. An effective
Purpose and Need Statement lays the groundwork for
alternatives development and analysis, and will facilitate
moving components of the LPA through subsequent FTA
Project Development and NEPA process(es).
Although the RFP lists the Purpose and Need Statement as an
element of the Work Plan Development (Task 1), we have
included it as an element of the Corridor Visioning task based
on our previous AA, PEL and NEPA experience. A thorough
understanding of the corridor today and in the future (as
established in Task 2) by the project stakeholders will facilitate
the development of a sound Purpose and Need Statement.
Issues and concerns should be solicited from the public and
agencies early in the planning process. Obtaining this
information early allows the Purpose and Need Statement to
be as comprehensive and specific as possible, which allows
for pinpointing and refining alternatives that pass screening.
Ultimately, the result of this approach leads to fewer issues
arising as the project moves through subsequent planning and
design phases.
Establish Enhanced Travel Corridor
Vision
While the Purpose and Need Statement will essentially act as
a problem statement (with respect to existing and projected
future conditions), the corridor vision will define the
community’s desires for the Harmony Corridor in the future.
The FHU Team will identify the opportunities and challenges
that exist along the corridor, which will inform development of a
realistic vision. For example, one of the challenges of making
the Harmony Road a transit-oriented corridor is the 80-foot
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Task 4: Master Plan Development
In order to ensure that this Master Plan moves the City toward
its ultimate vision for Harmony Road, we propose developing
and evaluating alternatives in a manner consistent with the
processes outlined in FTA’s AA and FHWA’s PEL programs.
Following these processes will require regular coordination
with FTA and comprehensive documentation of the
alternatives development and screening process. Following
these processes now will require less backtracking and costly
reevaluation in the future.
Our suggested approach to developing and evaluating
alternatives for the corridor is outlined in the three-step
process below.
Step 1: Define the Baseline Alternative –
This alternative is often referred to as the Transportation
System Management (TSM) Alternative. While this alternative
typically does not fully address the vision nor the Purpose and
Need for the corridor, it is an important first step because
rating of other alternatives will be based on a comparison to
the Baseline Alternative. This alternative reflects the best that
can be done to improve transit in the corridor without a major
capital investment. It can include route restructuring, increased
frequency, expanded park-n-rides, express/limited stop service
and/or traffic signal operating improvements.
Step 2a: Development of Tier 1 Build
Alternatives – Initially up to five build alternatives will be
developed for the corridor. We will develop these alternatives
through our technical work, collaboration with the TAC, and
through the stakeholder input process. They will be developed
with the intention of addressing the Purpose and Need for the
project and achieving the corridor vision. We will ensure that
context sensitive solutions, such as historic district sensitivity,
will be incorporated into each alternative. The following
elements will be defined for each of the alternatives:
Road Network – The initial set of improvements may
consider changes to the number of lanes, lane use,
access control and signal spacing to meet the desired
mobility needs of the corridor. We will evaluate each
of the subject intersections both as traditional
intersections and also as roundabout intersections.
Transit Network – It is anticipated that the initial set of
build alternatives will be wide ranging from light rail
and streetcar, to bus rapid transit and express bus.
Station spacing, frequency and headways will be
defined.
Bike and Pedestrian Improvements – This could
include both on-street and off-street improvements to
better accommodate pedestrian and bicycle travel
along the corridor. Bike/ped improvements could
extend onto parallel routes.
Comparative cost ranges will be prepared for the major
elements of each design alternative.
Step 2b: Evaluation of Tier 1 Build
Alternatives – Alternatives will be evaluated based on
their ability to meet the project’s Purpose and Need,
environmental impacts and their comparative costs. Screening
criteria will include a combination of quantitative and qualitative
measures that will be directly tied to the Project Vision/Goals
and Objectives. Performance measures derived from the
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Example screening criteria from AA in Kansas City
Project Goal Screening Criteria
Connect
C1: Improve circulation within the Downtown Corridor; Improve transportation options
C2: Improve connections between existing downtown activity centers
C3: Improve pedestrian and bicycle environment
Develop
D1: Support development and redevelopment; provide catalyst for new development and redevelopment
D2: Increase number of downtown residents
D3: Support development of new activity centers
Thrive
T1: Support existing residential and employment centers
T2: Support visitor and special event activities
T3: Reflect public and stakeholder input
Sustain
S1: Develop cost-effective transit solutions; improve effectiveness and efficiency of existing transit services
S2: Provide reliable transit services
S3: Reduce the amount of surface space devoted to parking
S4: Impact on utilities and their potential need for modification or relocation
Step 3a: Development of Tier 2 Build
Alternatives – The most promising alternatives will be
developed more completely through conceptual design. Road,
transit and bike/ped improvements will be brought together into
two sets of comprehensive improvement packages.
Preliminary cost estimates will be refined.
Road Network – Design will include horizontal
alignments and cross-sections along the corridor.
Transit Network – Additional details about the transit
alternatives will be provided including capital bus
needs, operating and maintenance costs, and other
resulting measures such as cost per rider, and riders
per hour.
Bike and Pedestrian Improvements – Additional
information will be provided about how bike and
pedestrian improvements would connect to the transit
system and to existing and future land uses along the
corridor.
The opinion of probable costs will include major items such as:
removals, pavement, structures, drainage facilities, retaining
walls, traffic signals, etc. Percent allocations will be added to
account for other design elements such as erosion control,
mobilization, traffic control, signing & striping, engineering,
utility relocations, etc. Construction costs will be developed at
a conceptual level, i.e., based on an approximate 10% design
level from drawings that will be prepared on existing aerial
photography. We will rely on City and Transfort staff to provide
information relative to the typical operations and maintenance
costs associated with new transit facilities and for new capital
infrastructure. Consideration of critical environmental
resources at this stage is important in order to identify fatally
flawed alternatives that impact resources beyond mitigation.
Step 3b: Evaluation of Tier 2 Build
Alternatives – We will evaluate the Tier 2 alternatives
using the same set of criteria identified in Step 2b, but at a
more detailed level in a manner that will be consistent with
FTA AA guidelines. The criteria will also be sufficient to assess
whether proposed improvements would be categorically
exempt from environmental review, or whether an
Environmental Assessment (EA) would be required.
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If desired, the cost estimate for the LPA can be structured in
FTA’s Standard Cost Category Worksheet format for future
use in applying to FTA to move into Project Development. FHU
is intimately familiar with this format having structured the
Mason Corridor Preliminary Engineering cost estimates in this
form.
Task 4 Deliverables
Alternative Development Technical Report
Evaluation Technical Report
Preferred ETC Master Plan
In addition, this process will set the City up to develop the
following required documents when applying for FTA’s Small
Starts:
Project Description Template
The Case for the Project
Project Maps
Documentation of Project Elements
Project Justification
Other FTA Small Starts reports
Task 5: Implementation Plan
Fort Collins’ Transportation Master Plan (TMP) sets forth
implementation strategies that tie directly to its vision,
principles, and policies in order to ensure that short-term
actions help to achieve the long-term vision of the TMP and
the City. As part of this project, we will develop an
implementation plan that ensures that Harmony Road
improvements are consistent with the City’s TMP. This work
will include:
Development of necessary information to allow the
City to evaluate proposed improvements with its CIP
tool.
Development of funding strategies, including steps
required to obtain FTA Small Starts funding.
Description of the specific steps that the City would
need to take to implement all components of
recommended improvements, and inter-relationships
between components.
A recommended schedule for implementation that
also specifies which components are dependent upon
others.
Once the physical and operation elements of LPA are fully
understood, it is important to understand how the project can
be constructed over time.
The reality of the current economic climate is that cities such
as Fort Collins may not have the fiscal opportunity to construct
all of the elements of the LPA at the same time, even with
financial commitments that may come from the FTA.
As such, it is critical to understand how the LPA can be
structured into phases that meet the operational goals of the
project, while still providing significant operational
improvements. Basic phasing options could include:
Constructing corridor-wide elements that provide
corridor-wide benefits, but constructed in such a
manner as to layer one improvement onto another
until all of the LPA elements are completed.
Constructing all LPA elements on a segment-by-
segment basis. For example, the Shields Street to
College Avenue segment could be constructed first to
provide transit continuity between Front Range
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We have found in over 25 years in business that there is no job
too big or too small when it comes to documenting a project.
While each project is unique, they each require attention to
detail so that the final report and its materials are easily
readable and are useful. Each report should be a reference
guide that is consulted each time a new project is proposed.
We want to make sure that the report for this project is one that
City staff truly uses.
Task 6 Deliverables
Draft and Final Master Plan Reports and Executive
Summary
In addition to the deliverables identified in the RFP, we
recommend completing FHWA’s PEL questionnaire. The
questionnaire is a summary of the planning process and is
intended to ease the transition from planning into NEPA. It was
designed by FHWA to document key efforts that take place
during the PEL process to minimize the amount of work that is
redone during NEPA. The questionnaire requests information
about the following:
The decision-making process
Agency coordination
Evaluated environmental resources
Public outreach efforts
Corridor visioning process
Range of alternatives considered
Evaluation/screening process
The questionnaire is used as a guide throughout the planning
process and is provided as part of the final documentation.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control
As noted in the introduction to our approach, one of the most important factors of this project is to conduct the project tasks in such as
manner that these efforts are structured to move forward into the next phases of the FTA Project Development process with limited
backtracking. As such, a good Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process is critical to these efforts. The FHU team will apply
our QA/QC process to each of the tasks described in the previous sections.
Of course, good quality control starts with good documentation of the project as it proceeds through the various analysis, discussion,
and recommendation steps. While it is understood that any decision could be questioned if project direction changes, good
documentation of each step of the process will limit course changes as this project moves through the next phases of the FTA process.
When considering different options to meet the quality standards that are necessary for this project, it should be considered that a
relatively high level of quality will be assured through normal City of Fort Collins processes. Through the structure of a TAC, land use
assumptions, project reports, environmental concerns, design options, cost estimates, and other project aspects will be fully vetted.
The public involvement process, coupled with workshop
presentations to City Council, Transportation Board, and/or
others, will assure that the project vision is not getting lost in
some of the more finite details. Two other QA/QC processes
may also have value:
1. Peer Review Program – Certain elements of the
project may lend themselves to obtaining input from
other planning or engineering firms that are not part of
the project team. Peer review should be limited to those
project elements that will be scrutinized by FTA the
most.
2. Value Engineering Session – FHU has been
involved in numerous value engineering sessions over
time; ones that bring great value to project decisions by
involving a defined, structured and independent review process by a value engineering professional. If used, we would
recommend that this session be conducted once a LPA is agreed upon.
These two QA/AC options are only offered as potential processes to assure good quality control. We have not included the cost of
these options in our proposal.
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DIVISION OF PROJECT LABOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The FHU Team has developed an estimate of the division of labor responsibilities as noted in the project RFP. We understand that this
division will be discussed and refined during the Scope of Work and contract negotiation process with the selected consultant. It is
necessary for us to formulate a Draft understanding of this division so that we can provide you with a reasonable estimate of project
fees as a starting point. As such, we offer the following tabular summary of labor responsibilities that is based on information contained
in the RFP and on our experience and judgment.
Project Task Responsibility Division
Prime
City Staff Consultant Staff Consultant(s)
Task 1
Project Management
Conduct overall project
management; provide City staff
direction
Provide consultant staff direction FHU
Work Plan Preparation Have collaborative discussions of project responsibilities between City and consultant staffs
Public Outreach Process
Organize outreach process; set
meeting locations/times;
announce meetings; develop
project web page and coordinate
postings
Develop graphical displays,
handouts, mailers, concept
drawings, presentation boards,
concept renderings, etc.; provide
content for project website
All
Task 2
Corridor Understanding
Data Collection
Provide land use data, traffic
counts, development plans, plans
of City capital projects
Collaborate on data collection
needs/ locations; conduct data
review for accuracy
All
Harmony Road History &
Regional Context
Provide collaborative input and
discussions
Provide collaborative input and
discussions; prepare summary
documentation
FHU
Existing Conditions Reporting
Provide City signal timing
data/Synchro files, Transfort
service plan; provide report input
and review comments
Inventory physical attributes of the
corridor; conduct vehicle,
pedestrian and bicyclist LOS
calculations; prepare Technical
Paper
FHU
Transportation Modeling; Obtain
Approval From FTA
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Project Task Responsibility Division
Prime
City Staff Consultant Staff Consultant(s)
Task 3
Corridor Visioning Process
Purpose & Need Statement,
Development of Opportunities
and Constraints, Establish
Corridor Vision
Provide collaborative input, guidance, and discussions - all City departments and consultant
staffs
Task 4
Master Plan Development
Develop Baseline Alternative –
Obtain Approval From FTA
Develop baseline alternative;
coordinate with FTA for Baseline
Alternative approval
Develop baseline alternative;
support FTA discussions/approval
process
FHU/NN
Develop Context-Sensitive Array
of Project Alternatives
Provide input at alternatives
development workshop
Conduct alternatives development
workshop; establish project
alternatives
All
Prepare Conceptual Drawings of
Proposed Alternatives
Provide aerial photo of project
corridor; provide concept design
input; review concept drawings for
engineering compliance
Construct design alternatives on
aerial photo background – corridor-
wide and site-specific; identify
environmental impacts
FHU/BHA
Conduct Economic Generator
Study
Conducted by independent City
department Provide support information All
Conduct Alternatives Evaluation Collaborate on alternatives
screening process
Provide comparison data of
evaluation indices including transit
ridership, patron accessibility,
traffic analyses, cost estimates,
environmental impacts, etc. ;
provide comparative performance
measures; complete Alternatives
Development Technical Paper and
Evaluation Technical Paper
FHU
Finalize Preferred Master Plan
Facilitate concurrence amongst
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DELIVERABLE TOOLS/PRODUCTS
Felsburg Holt & Ullevig and our team members take pride in being able to present project information
to our clients and to the public in easily understood and aesthetically pleasing formats. Project
deliverables can come in several forms:
Reports/technical memorandums
Public outreach displays
Handouts/mailings
Visual renderings
Web page materials
We use the latest technologies and software versions to prepare these products. Specific details on
each type include:
Reports/Technical Memorandums – The final project product must be easily
readable since it will be the project resource for years to come. It is our understanding that the City will
be responsible for the final plan preparation. Written documents will be originally prepared in Microsoft
Word and we would anticipate providing these documents to the City in the original format and/or in a
PDF format.
Concept Drawings – As project alternatives are developed, they will be created in graphical
programs or AutoCAD. These drawings will be used for project team meetings and at public open
houses or other meetings with project stakeholders. Concept drawings, phasing plans, or other
drawings that represent design concepts will be created in AutoCAD but can also be provided in a PDF format for web page display
and for use in a final report.
Land Use/Socioeconomic/Environmental Data – GIS overlay tools in ArcGIS 10 will be used to perform
environmental analyses of recommended corridor improvements. Conceptual improvements created in AutoCAD will be converted to
footprints in GIS for evaluation against environmental resources. The City’s extensive GIS layers will be used to the greatest extent
possible to create an environmental database for the project. Maps from GIS will be used for public coordination and for figures in the
final report. An ArcGIS Geodatabase can be provided at the conclusion of the project with the analyses and layers used to perform the
study.
Media Materials – Our media department will create many of the
graphics needed to present the project to the public throughout its life.
These materials could include mailers/postcards, display boards,
PowerPoint shows or handouts for public open houses, progress
meetings or one-on-one meetings. In addition, we can produce materials
for a website and for the final report. Production of these materials is
completed with the widely accepted graphical programs Adobe Illustrator,
Photoshop, and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Visual Renderings – One of the best ways to convey project
ideas is through a rendering of what a concept or idea can look like.
Visual renderings of aspects of the project corridor can be prepared via
free-hand sketches or though the latest photo-simulation technology.
All deliverables, regardless of use, can be provided in a format that is
downloadable to the City’s web page.
14
TEAM PROFILE
Firm Overviews
We are excited to introduce the Felsburg Holt & Ullevig (FHU) team – one that offers unique benefits to complete the Harmony Road
Enhanced Travel Corridor Master Plan. Key strengths of the team include:
National transit expertise
A long history of working in the City of Fort Collins and along the Harmony Road corridor
Successful AA and PEL experience
A strong understanding of the key issues and required next steps
Our team’s strengths translate to two primary benefits to the City of Fort Collins:
1. Innovative solutions to continue the Harmony Road corridor’s evolution, and
2. A thorough process and product that will position the City for successful next steps toward implementation.
Felsburg Holt & Ullevig
Felsburg Holt & Ullevig is a consulting firm specializing in multi-modal transportation planning, traffic engineering, civil engineering
design, and environmental services. The philosophy of the firm is to provide high quality professional services on a wide range of
transportation and design projects, with emphasis on developing creative, cost-effective and environmentally sensitive solutions. The
strength of our firm comes from our highly qualified professional staff of 88 people (75 in Colorado).
Multi- modal transportation planning has been one of FHU’s core areas of expertise since
our founding in 1984. FHU has earned the reputation as one of the state’s leading
consultants in this field by delivering high-quality, technically sound plans that have served
as blueprints for transportation system improvements for clients throughout Colorado.
FHU has played a significant role in, or is currently involved in, five of the six PEL
multi-modal corridor studies in Colorado. This experience provides us a unique
understanding of integrating environmental components early in the corridor
planning process to advance subsequent NEPA and design elements of a project.
We’ve successfully completed numerous transit feasibility studies, transit corridor
studies, commuter bus studies, transitway and station area designs. We will use
this experience to help Fort Collins develop innovative, cost-effective transit solutions along the Harmony Road corridor.
We have completed municipal, corridor, and transit station bicycle and pedestrian plans, and we are currently assisting CDOT
with the development of Bicycle and Pedestrian chapter of their Roadway Design Guide as well as the Statewide Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plan. This experience will be used to create meaningful bike and pedestrian connections along Harmony Road that
complement the planned transit and roadway improvements and connect users to the greater Fort Collins area.
FHU has worked with the City of Fort Collins in several capacities over the years. We have helped you with varied planning exercises
such as the Mulberry, Mountain Vista, and South College land use plans, with the design of pedestrian and bicycle facilities such as the
Mason Trail and the bike lanes along South College Avenue, and with the preliminary and/or final design of North College Avenue and
the Mason BRT Corridor. We have an understanding of the energy, vision and thought that the City puts into each and every project
and we know we can bring the same enthusiasm to this project.
Nelson\Nygaard
Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. is a nationally recognized firm that is
distinguished by their development of transportation systems that build vibrant,
sustainable communities. With seven offices covering North America, they have
one of the largest groups of transportation planners that focuses entirely on
planning for transit and non-auto modes. This dynamic has allowed them to
15
become a leader in transit planning and operations, TOD, accessible
transportation planning, and TDM. They plan bus services, streetcar systems,
light rail, BRT, high-speed rail, ferries and commuter rail. They work with
some of the largest transit agencies, as well as some of the very smallest,
developing mobility solutions that have been implemented in North America
and around the world.
A hallmark of every Nelson\Nygaard project is a fully multi-modal approach
drawn from real world experience. Their transit staff have worked at transit
systems and as consultants, and are also transit riders. They understand the
constraints that transit systems operate under, as well as the expectations of
the riding public and other constituents. They pride ourselves on finding
common ground between competing priorities to develop plans for significant
transit service improvements—plans that are practical and implementable,
and that achieve a high level of public support.
BHA Design Incorporated
BHA Design Inc. is a landscape architecture firm established in 1993. They provide a wide variety of design
and entitlement services to their clients ranging from landscape architecture, land use planning, urban
design, streetscape design, sign design, image development, master planning, public outreach and
entitlements to both public and private clients.
Operating Philosophies - From an operational perspective they focus on two basic tenets: Innovation and Customer Service. Innovation
means striving to provide their clients with responsive designs that are unique, attractive, economically sound, and contextually
sensitive. Their second major philosophy, Customer Service, means more than just meeting deadlines and budgets, although those
certainly are significant. It also means providing their clients with constructive recommendations and constantly searching for ways in
which to provide better solutions. Friendliness and courtesy are essential ingredients of their means of communication.
BHA has extensive local experience, including projects such as the Fort Collins Downtown Transit Center, the South Transit Center
and the Harmony Road/College Avenue intersection improvements. Having worked on these projects, along with many others
completed on behalf of Fort Collins, BHA brings a comprehensive understanding of the City’s goals for access and circulation to
transportation facilities as well as providing landscape designs that reflect the City’s sustainable ethos. BHA Design’s office lies within
the project area, and they have been involved with many of the planned and built projects on the corridor including PHVS Harmony
Campus, Front Range Village, Harmony Technology Park, and projects in Oakridge Business Park and on the Front Range Community
College Campus. They offer an unmatched level of experience in the corridor and understanding of its key issues.
Relevant Experience
Mason Transportation Corridor –
Environmental Analysis and Preliminary
Engineering
FHU was the lead consultant
to complete the
Environmental Analysis and
Preliminary Engineering
(EA/PE) phase of the Mason
Corridor ETC, a unique
project that combines a new
BRT facility with bicycle and
pedestrian trails along an
existing rail and automobile
corridor. The EA/PE phase
was the second step of a four-step process that began with the
Master Plan vision, proceeding into final design and
construction.
This project will use the rail corridor right-of-way to implement
BRT and trail facilities to provide the City’s residents with an
alternative travel choice.
There were two primary goals to this project: 1) Complete an
environmental analysis, following FTA and NEPA guidelines
and procedures, and 2) Prepare preliminary engineering plans
that refine the alignment concepts of the Master Plan.
FHU assisted the City with the development of several
management documents to meet FTA objectives and to obtain
a Construction Grant Agreement for the project. These
16
A Project Management Plan was developed as a
guidebook for the completion of the final design and
construction of the project as well as to summarize
the City’s organizational structure and personnel
responsibilities.
A Risk Management Plan was prepared to identify,
analyze and plan responses to potential project risks.
The service, maintenance, spare ratio, and
procurement of the BRT vehicles, and maintenance
personnel, tool requirements and overall operational
parameters of the bus fleet are summarized in the
Fleet Management Plan.
Reference: Kathleen Bracke, City of Fort Collins
Transportation Planning, 970-224-6140
Federal Boulevard PEL Study (5th Avenue to Howard Place)
FHU, on behalf of the City and County of Denver and in cooperation with FHWA and CDOT conducted a PEL study to evaluate
transportation improvements along Federal Boulevard from 5th Avenue to Howard Place. In addition, FHU has prepared a non-
programmatic Categorical Exclusion (CatEx) for a portion of the project from 5th Avenue to 7th Avenue due to project funding
constraints for construction. Throughout the process, FHU has been able to utilize environmental studies previously conducted for the
area and capitalize on an extensive public and agency involvement program for the I-25 Valley Highway, Federal Boulevard (Alameda
Avenue to 5th Avenue), and West Corridor Light Rail projects. Federal Boulevard is an urban corridor with a number of constraints,
such as parks, right-of-way, potential historic structures, hazardous material sites, and limited north to south regional continuity, which
have directly affected alternatives development. FHU identified these constraints early on to facilitate the PEL and CatEx processes
and work towards successful completion of both processes.
Reference: Karen Good, AICP, City and County of Denver Public Works Policy and Planning, 720.865.3162.
North I25 EIS
FHU conducted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
more than 60 miles of the I-25 corridor from Wellington to the
Denver metro area. CDOT commissioned the study in
partnership with the FHWA and FTA. The EIS includes
evaluation of a wide-range of transit and highway alternatives
to meet the future travel needs of northern Colorado and to
identify their potential impact to environmental resources.
Modal alternatives included, but were not limited to, commuter
rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, express bus, toll lanes, and
general purpose freeway lanes.
Values and priorities regarding transportation varied widely
among the 40 agencies/communities
involved with some strongly
supporting regional rail transit service
in lieu of any highway widening and
others supporting the opposite
approach. FHU developed a workshop
series for a multi-agency coordinating
committee, providing an evaluation of
safety, mobility and infrastructure
improvements for each of the phasing
alternatives. Consensus on a fiscally-
constrained set of improvements was
reached over the course of three
committee meetings. As a result, CDOT Region 4 is moving
forward with construction of two park-n-ride facilities and final
design of two sections of I-25.
A multi-step QA/QC process was used during the EIS to
produce high-quality documents which have been approved by
CDOT and FHWA, and have been well received by local,
regional and federal agencies.
Reference: Carol Parr, CDOT Region 4, 970.350.2170
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Academy Boulevard Corridor Great Streets Plan
The study was initiated by the City of Colorado Springs to create a more accessible
and vibrant multi-modal corridor. Improvements would support the needs of existing
residents and businesses in the area while encouraging reinvestment, revitalization
and long-term sustainability along the six-mile corridor of Academy Boulevard. As part
of a multi-discipline team, FHU led the effort to develop and evaluate various transit
and roadway access solutions for the corridor and to determine how these alternatives
would influence land use patterns, vehicular traffic, pedestrian and bike travel, and
transit ridership. Service plans and associated operating and maintenance costs were
developed for each alternative as well as conceptual design for corridor improvements
and capital costs. The study was conducted as a precursor to an alternatives analysis
for FTA and was conducted with the Small Starts and Very Small Starts criteria in
mind. Transit alternatives ranged from streetcar to local bus service and included a
spectrum of potential bus rapid transit alternatives.
Reference: Carl Schueler, City of Colorado Springs, 719-385-5391
Providence Core Connector Alternatives (Nelson\Nygaard)
A multi-modal transportation system is
a key part of Rhode Island’s vision for
economic growth and environmental
sustainability. Nelson\Nygaard is
working to determine how to best
implement streetcar service in
Providence between College Hill
(Brown University), downtown, the
Jewelry District, and the Hospital
District.
The Providence Streetcar is being
developed as the centerpiece of a
large number of systemwide
improvements, and will provide
linkages to rapid bus, commuter rail,
Amtrak, Kennedy Plaza (the “last mile”
of the trip), as well as circulation
between key destinations and
neighborhoods, and consists of the
following elements:
1. Engage the community: Identify the
best transit option for Providence’s
urban core using an open planning
process marked by public input.
2. Select a route: A screening process will compare the three
potential routes to contrast their strengths, weaknesses,
benefits, and costs.
3. Choose a technology: The
selected route will then undergo
more rigorous analysis, including a
complete environmental
assessment and development of
ridership and cost estimates to
contrast the streetcar and bus
options.
4. Develop a Financial Plan:
Essential to long-term success is a
solid financial plan. The study
includes estimating conceptual
costs and identifying both public
and private sources of funding for
construction and ongoing
operations and maintenance.
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Kansas City Downtown Corridor Alternatives Analysis (Nelson\Nygaard)
Downtown Kansas City, Missouri is experiencing an urban renaissance. Cultural and entertainment amenities have blossomed in the
last decade and residential options are increasing. The development of the Sprint Center, the Power & Light District, the impending
opening of the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the re-development of the River Market and the Crossroads areas, and
other projects will all add to this Renaissance.
To sustain these recent investments, and to carry
out the community’s vision, the downtown corridor
will need to become better connected. To
determine how to best accomplish this, the Mid-
America Regional Council, the city, and the Kansas
City Area Transportation Authority have hired a
team to conduct the Downtown Corridor
Alternatives Analysis, which will examine streetcar
service between downtown and Crown Center, as
well as other alternatives.
Nelson\Nygaard’s role in the project is to lead the
development and screening of streetcar and other
alternatives, the selection of the shortlisted
alternatives, the development of streetcar and bus operating plans, integration with local bus service, and the development of operating
cost estimates.
Reference: Tom Gerend, Assistant Director of Transportation Planning, Mid-America Regional Council, 816-701-8303
West Elizabeth Streetscape
Improvements (BHA Design)
BHA Design worked with the City of Fort Collins Transportation
Planning and Engineering departments on the development of
streetscape improvements for the Campus West area of West
Elizabeth Street. The project included widening of this arterial
street to allow for bike lanes and sidewalk connections that
previously did not exist. The design provided improved
circulation for an area that mixes the highest bicycle activity in
the City with high pedestrian activity and high daily vehicle
trips. In addition, the project created a streetscape image that
unifies the commercial district and provides a gateway to
Colorado State University. The improvements were
constructed during the summer of 2004.
Reference: Kathleen Bracke, City of Fort Collins, 970.224.6058
Harmony/College Intersection (BHA Design)
BHA Design worked with the City of Fort Collins to create streetscape design and pedestrian
improvements at one of Fort Collins’ primary intersections. Working closely with the Engineering
Department and the City Manager, BHA developed a combination of median enhancements,
ornamental railings, flowering pots and iconic lighted columns to create a unique gateway for south
Fort Collins.
Reference: Rick Richter, City of Fort Collins, 970.221.6798
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Key Personnel
We have a assembled a team of individuals from FHU, Nelson\Nygaard and BHA who bring the right combination of expertise to
successfully assist you in developing the Harmony Road ETC Master Plan. Brief biographies for each individual are provided in the
following section, along with their years of experience and the percent of their time over the next 15 months that is available to commit
to this effort. The team Organizational Chart follows.
Holly Buck, PE, PTP – Project Manager
Holly Buck is a Principal at FHU and has more than 18 years of experience in transportation and transit
planning. Holly has worked with communities throughout Colorado to develop creative, cost-effective transit
solutions that meet the unique needs of their communities. Holly was the deputy Project Manager and Lead
Transportation Planner for the North I-25 EIS which recommends express bus transit service along the Harmony
corridor connecting I-25 to Mason’s South Transit Center. In addition, Holly recently completed the Academy
Corridor Great Streets project in Colorado Springs which looked at opportunities to use transit to create a more
vibrant, multi-modal and sustainable corridor.
Holly will be your Project Manager. She will ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
Additionally, Holly will take the lead on the alternatives development and evaluation process.
Planning Experience: 18 years; Experience at FHU: 10 years; Availability: 25%
Jenny Young, PE, PTP – Deputy Project Manager
Jenny Young’s background is in multi-modal transportation planning and travel demand modeling. Having worked
on a multitude of regional and municipal transportation plans, Jenny is adept at developing creative solutions to
travel needs, working with divergent interests to prioritize improvement needs, and overseeing conceptual
design. Jenny’s multi-modal planning experience includes a particular emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian
accommodation; she is currently serving as the Project Manager for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Chapter of
CDOT’s Roadway Design Guide and is the Deputy Project Manager for CDOT’s Statewide Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plan. Jenny has continuously assisted the North Front Range MPO on a variety of planning tasks
over the past ten years, including the development of the last three cycles of the Regional Transportation Plan
and the TIP project selection process.
As Deputy Project Manager, Jenny will work closely with Holly to manage day-to-day activities of the project. She will lead the Corridor
Understanding task and will facilitate the development of the Corridor Vision. Jenny completed a research study for CDOT on
innovative public outreach technologies in 2010. The knowledge gained from this research study, and from her experience leading
many public outreach efforts for various transportation projects, will be essential in working with City staff to develop and implement an
effective and meaningful public involvement program for this project. Jenny will also lead the bicycle and pedestrian component of the
alternatives development and analysis.
Planning Experience: 13 years; Experience at FHU: 13 years; Availability: 35%
Rich Follmer, PE, PTOE – Traffic Operations and Conceptual Design Task Leader
Mr. Follmer has 25 years of diversified experience in the transportation planning and traffic engineering field. His
experience ranges from the design of bicycle and pedestrian facilities, to the planning and analysis of diverse
land uses, to the operational analysis of travel corridors, and to the design of Intelligent Transportation Systems.
He brings a wide range of experience in Fort Collins to this project. Rich has developed guidelines, conducted
traffic analyses, and prepared design plans for a variety of projects in your City including the Harmony Road
Access Control Plan Update (2000), Mason Corridor Preliminary Engineering/Environmental Assessment,
Mason Street/Howes Street Two-Way conversion, Mason Trail - Fossil Creek Trail to Prospect Road,
US 287/South College Avenue Bicycle Lanes, NRRC Grade Separation, Grade-Separated Pedestrian, Bicyclist
and Equestrian Structure Guidelines, and North College Avenue/Riverside Avenue Improvements.
20
Rich will manage several key components of the Harmony Road Enhanced Travel Corridor project. He will be responsible for the traffic
engineering and conceptual design aspects of the project, including the evaluation of existing and future operational conditions, the
conceptual design of proposed corridor improvements, cost estimating of those improvements, and for developing a phasing plan that
meets with the City’s objectives and with available funding streams.
Engineering Experience: 25 years; Experience at FHU: 25 years; Availability: 20%
Jessica Myklebust, LEED AP – Environmental Task Leader
Ms. Myklebust has eleven years of extensive experience as a NEPA specialist with a focus on transportation
projects and sustainability opportunities within those projects. During her career she has provided services for
CDOT and RTD. Jessica’s skills include successfully managing and obtaining approval signatures for
Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Reevaluations, and Findings of No Significant Impacts.
Jessica is proficient in NEPA policy, analysis, and management at all levels as was demonstrated in her
management and completion of the 2009 CDOT NEPA Manual and instructor for the CDOT Advanced
Environmental Project Manager Training. She is specifically experienced with analysis for alternatives, Purpose
and Need development, parks/recreations, 4(f), environmental justice, visual resources, hazardous materials,
and cumulative impacts. Jessica is a LEED-AP BD+C and plays a key role in identifying and integrating
sustainable strategies into projects from planning through construction. She recently worked with FTA and more than 20 other agencies
to develop a common language and framework for implementing sustainability into projects.
Environmental Experience: 11 years; Experience at FHU: 7 years; Availability: 20%
Geoff Slater – Transit Planning
Mr. Geoff Slater, a Principal in Nelson\Nygaard’s Boston office, has 30 years experience working as a
consultant, in senior management at Boston's MBTA, and for MPO's. Mr. Slater has extensive experience
throughout the United States and internationally. Notable projects have included redesign of Pittsburgh's transit
service, the development of one of the country's first BRT lines (Boston's Silver Line) and the redesign of
commuter rail service throughout post-apartheid South Africa. Other projects have included a number of bus
and rail corridor studies, the redesign of bus services in many American cities, and the development of new rail,
BRT, and bus services.
Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Slater served as Director of Planning for the MBTA, the fifth largest transit agency in the
United States. There, he was responsible for all MBTA planning activities, including strategic planning, service planning, operations
planning, and scheduling. Prior to the MBTA, Mr. Slater served as the Manager of Transit Service Planning for Boston's Central
Transportation Planning Staff. He also worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in Oakland, California, and the
California Department of Transportation.
Planning Experience: 21 years; Experience at N\N: 4 years; Availability: 15%
Jason Schrieber – Multi-modal Planning Support
Jason Schrieber is also a Principal in Nelson\Nygaard’s Boston office leading downtown planning, demand
management, and transit-oriented development projects around the U.S. With 15 years of private and public
sector national experience, Jason provides multi-modal planning and design skills with a unique understanding
of municipal needs, community concerns, and institutional priorities. Jason comes from the City of Cambridge
where he worked extensively to integrate non-auto modes into the built environment and develop some of the
nation's most progressive demand management programs. He has since used these skills to integrate transit
priority corridors into historic Portland ME and Newcastle AU; to develop TOD strategies for developers in
Denver and the transit agency in Rochester NY; and to initiate TDM programs for RIPTA in Providence and large businesses, such as
Google and Amgen. Jason's skill at revealing and balancing trade-offs and costs of different modes has helped clients target resources
efficiently while greatly reducing the cost of moving people.
Planning Experience: 15 years; Experience at N\N: 5 years; Availability: 20%
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Angela Milewski, ASLA – Land Use and Urban Design
Angela is a landscape architect and President of BHA Design. She has over 18 years of experience in
landscape architecture including streetscape projects, urban design projects, schools, hospitals, parks, and
corporate campuses. She has frequently dealt with the unique issues related to city processes and public
participation in municipal projects. She is a LEED Accredited professional, actively pursues design innovations
for sustainable sites, and has managed several projects that have obtained LEED certification. She also serves
on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Water Innovation Cluster.
Angela will assist with corridor design efforts including alternatives for pedestrian and bicycle facilities, corridor
character definition and urban design enhancements, land use issues, and facilitating an interactive and
effective public process for the design.
Representative project experience in Fort Collins includes the South Transit Center, Harmony Road/College Avenue Intersection
Improvements, Downtown River District Redevelopment Project , Linden Street Improvements, West Elizabeth Bike Lane and
Streetscape Improvements, East Prospect Road Improvements, and Harmony Road Widening Project.
Professional Experience: 19 years; Experience at BHA: 16 years; Availability: 30%
Brian Wiltshire, PE – Conceptual Design & Cost Estimating
With more than 12 years of diversified experience in the transportation design and construction engineering
field, Mr. Wiltshire will prepare all of the concept drawings for the considered alternatives and he will also
prepare the construction cost estimates. Brian’s design experience includes the design of projects both small
and large, from simple intersection projects to the design of a major interstate re-alignment.
His most recent roadway design experience includes the conceptual design of 61 miles of Interstate 25 for the
North I-25 Environmental Impact Study. Design elements ranged from a four-level interchange at US 34/I-25 to
a partial cloverleaf interchange at SH 7, and many miles of I-25 and crossroad re-construction in-between.
Coordination with many different stakeholders presented the team an opportunity to communicate effectively
across many disciplines and interests. Brian was responsible for the concept design of this project as well as the preparation of the
project cost estimates.
Brian is experienced as a construction inspector also. This experience provides him with relevant insight into the nuances of a
construction project which will serve him well when estimating the cost of the Harmony Road alternatives.
Engineering Experience: 12 years; Experience at FHU: 12 years; Availability: 20%
Steven Marfitano, EI – Travel Demand Modeling and Operational Analysis
Steven Marfitano will provide technical assistance to the project in supporting the City of Fort Collins in
transportation modeling efforts, and he will also conduct capacity analyses of intersection and corridor
operations. Steven joined FHU in 2008 after earning his Master’s degree in transportation engineering and he
has gained a wealth of experience in these two disciplines since joining FHU.
Mr. Marfitano’s experience with travel demand modeling includes using a variety of tools and processes,
ranging from the application of large regional models to development of forecasts for small communities. His
experience has included work with automated four-step models, many designed by MPOs, and this experience
has focused on those developed with the TransCAD software.
Steven has also obtained valuable experience in the development of Synchro capacity analysis networks for the analysis of intersection
operations. He recently assisted Mr. Follmer in the evaluation of future development conditions for Sterling Ranch, a 3,400 acre
development in Douglas County that extrapolated daily traffic volume information from the DRCOG transportation model for use in the
NCHRP 255 procedure to develop intersection turning movements.
Engineering Experience: 3 years; Experience at FHU: 3 years; Availability: 50%
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Evan Kirby, GISP– GIS
Evan Kirby applies 16 years of professional GIS experience to transportation and environmental projects
throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Evan is highly skilled in GIS application design and development, spatial
analysis, database design, and project management. Evan has a broad array of GIS knowledge and expertise in
both the public and private sectors. This includes projects completed for the Colorado Department of
Transportation, the United States Forest Service, and multiple Colorado counties, municipalities, and
metropolitan planning organizations.
GIS Experience: 16 years; Experience at FHU: 6 years; Availability: 10%
Jan Campbell – Graphic Design
Ms. Campbell brings 25 years of experience in media and graphic design, 20 of which with FHU, to every project
effort requiring graphics support. Jan and her team of graphic design professionals create all the graphics
needed for FHU reports/deliverables, business development materials, open houses/public meetings, and
presentations. They produce the full range of materials needed to support our planning and design projects,
including handouts, report graphics, wall displays, flyers, interview boards, sign-in sheets, comment sheets,
PowerPoint presentations, and direct mailers.
Graphic Design Experience: 25 years; Experience at FHU: 20 years; Availability: 15%
Team Organization Chart
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SCHEDULE
We can begin work immediately upon receipt of Notice-to-Proceed and anticipate that the project can be completed within the
15-month schedule laid out in the RFP. The schedule below details anticipated time commitments for each project task. We anticipate
meeting with the TAC approximately bi-monthly (not depicted), and the public meetings are proposed to coincide with the major task
milestones, as described in the approach.
BUDGET
We have provided an initial assessment of work hours to complete the tasks indentified in our proposal; an assessment that meets the
City’s noted budget. Upon selection, we look forward to working with you to refine the work elements and to establish a reasonable
project budget.
BUDGET
$160 $160 $145 $130 $120 $105 $90 $110 $70 $135 $187 $171
- Finalize Scope and Schedule $0 $0 $0 $0
- Develop Public Involvement Plan 4 $520 $0 $0 $520
- TAC Meetings (8 Assumed) 20 16 32 8 $10,880 16 $2,160 16 $2,992 $16,032
- Meeting Summary 16 4 $2,360 $0 $0 $2,360
- Open House Attendance/Prep. (3 Assumed) 12 12 18 12 $7,500 18 $2,430 $0 $9,930
Tasks 1 Sub-Total 32 28 0 70 8 0 0 12 4 $21,260 34 $4,590 16 0 $2,992 $28,842
- Corridor History 4 $520 4 $540 $0 $1,060
- Regional Context 4 $520 $0 $0 $520
- Existing Plans 2 $320 $0 $0 $320
- Existing Conditions
- Inventory Physical/Environmental Attributes 4 4 8 $1,900 $0 $0 $1,900
- Conduct LOS Calculations (All Modes) 8 $720 $0 $0 $720
- Analyze/Summarize Crash Data 4 $360 $0 $0 $360
- Future Conditions
- Obtain Dev., CIP and Transit Plans from City 2 2 $580 4 $540 $0 $1,120
- Coordinate Transportation Modeling w/ City 2 4 $620 2 $270 $0 $890
- Develop Corridor & Intersection Traffic Projections 2 16 $1,760 $0 $0 $1,760
- Conduct LOS Calculations (All Modes) 8 $720 $0 $0 $720
- Prepare Technical Reports 4 8 4 2 16 4 2 $4,700 2 $270 $0 $4,970
Task 2 Sub-Total 4 14 4 16 6 8 56 4 2 $12,720 12 $1,620 0 0 $0 $14,340
- Purpose & Need Statement 2 4 16 $2,760 $0 $0 $2,760
- Develop Corridor Vision, Goals & Objectives 2 8 $1,360 4 $540 4 $748 $2,648
Task 3 Sub-Total 4 0 0 12 16 0 0 0 0 $4,120 4 $540 4 0 $748 $5,408
- Develop Baseline Alternative (Obtain FTA Approval) 4 2 8 $1,620 $0 4 $748 $2,368
- Tier 1 Alternatives Development 8 12 8 4 8 24 8 $8,600 4 $540 20 8 $5,108 $14,248
- Tier 1 Alternatives Analysis and Screening 8 2 8 2 4 40 $7,100 12 $1,620 24 8 $5,856 $14,576
- Tier 2 Alternatives Development 4 4 2 40 12 $6,820 4 $540 16 4 $3,676 $11,036
- Tier 2 Alternatives Analysis and Screening 4 12 4 20 $4,660 12 $1,620 20 8 $5,108 $11,388
- Develop Locally Preferred Alternative 8 2 2 20 $3,960 24 $3,240 8 $1,496 $8,696
- Prepare Technical Reports 2 8 4 2 $1,620 4 $540 4 2 $1,090 $3,250
Task 4 Sub-Total 38 20 20 16 12 68 112 12 2 $34,380 60 $8,100 96 30 $23,082 $65,562
- Identify Potential Funding Options 4 $640 $0 8 4 $2,180 $2,820
- Develop LPA Phasing Plan 8 16 8 $4,560 $0 16 8 $4,360 $8,920
Task 5 Sub-Total 12 16 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 $5,200 0 $0 24 12 $6,540 $11,740
- City Council/Board Presentations (3 Assumed) 12 $1,920 8 $1,080 $0 $3,000
- Final Report Assistance 4 8 16 4 4 $3,840 $0 $0 $3,840
Task 6 Sub-Total 16 0 0 8 0 0 16 4 4 $5,760 8 $1,080 0 0 $0 $6,840
Labor Sub-Total 106 78 24 122 42 76 192 32 12 $83,440 118 $15,930 140 42 $33,362 $132,732
Other Direct Costs (Travel, Reproductions, etc.) $4,000 $100 $3,000 $7,100
Project Total $87,440 $16,030 $36,362 $139,832
TASK 6 - Plan Adoption/Documentation
TASK 1 - Work Plan/PM and Public Outreach
TASK 2 - Corridor Understanding
TASK 3 - Corridor Vision
TASK 4 - Master Plan Development
TASK 5 - Implementation Plan
TOTAL
PROJECT
COSTS
BHA Total N\N Total
Senior
Designer
Felsburg Holt & Ullevig BHA Design Nelson\Nygaard
TASK
FHU Total
Admin.Principal Principal Principal
Engineer
II
FELSBURG
HOL T &
ULLEVIG
engineering paths to transportation solutions
6300 South Syracuse Way, Suite 600 | Centennial, CO 80111 | tel 303.721.1440 | fax 303.721.0832
www.fhueng.com
Engineer
III
Env. Scien.
IV
Trans.
Planner V
Sr. Env.
PrincipalAssociateScientist I
5. Adopt a Locally Preferred
Alternative: The Core Connector
Study will conclude with the
adoption of a locally preferred
alternative that will define the
community’s goals.
Nelson\Nygaard’s role in the project
is to develop streetcar and bus
operating plans, and to determine how to best integrate
streetcar with planned BRT service and the rest of the RIPTA
system.
Reference: Amy Pettine, City of Providence, 401-784-9500
documents included:
Transportation Specialists in:
Campus Planning
Parking
Transit
Climate Action and CO2 Reduction
Pedestrian and Bicycle Plans
Transportation and Land Use
Paratransit and Community Transportation
Traffic Engineering
Transportation Demand Management
City departments; obtain FTA
approval on land use assumptions
Refine corridor and intersection
improvement features for transit,
pedestrian, traffic and bicyclists
users; establish urban design
themes
All
Task 5
Implementation Plan
Collaborate on development of
phasing scenarios and potential
funding options
Develop potential phasing
scenarios; summarize potential
FTA and Non-FTA funding
opportunities
All
Task 6
Plan Adoption and Project
Documentation
Organize board and commission
presentations; schedule City
Council workshop and adoption
meetings; compile project
materials into final report; conduct
final report editing
Attend/present project information
to boards, commissions and City
Council; provide support materials
including text, graphics, plans, etc.
for final report
All
Conduct travel demand modeling;
provide traffic and ridership
projections; conduct scenario
testing; provide PnR space
requirements; Coordinate with
FTA for modeling approval
Provide input on travel demand
model coding; review model
outputs; coordinate alternative
model development; support FTA
discussions/approval process
FHU
Future Conditions Reporting
Provide plans of known new
development, capital project
plans, Transfort service plan, land
use projections, and
socioeconomic projections;
provide report input and review
comments
Develop intersection turning
movements; conduct vehicle,
pedestrian and bicyclist LOS
calculations; prepare Technical
Paper
FHU
Summary Report of Travel Needs Provide report input and review
Compile travel needs data and
compile into Corridor
Understanding report
FHU
Community College and the new South Transit
Center.
We will work collaboratively with City and Transfort staffs to
develop a phasing plan that meets the City’s objectives.
Task 5 Deliverables
Implementation Plan for the LPA
Task 6: Plan Adoption/Report
The FHU Team will work alongside City staff to present the
project alternatives and final recommendations to the
appropriate City boards and commissions. These groups can
be quite diverse, but we are adept at presenting to City
Councils, planning commissions and other city, county or state
boards. This project will likely be of interest to the City’s
Transportation Board, the Landmark Preservation
Commission, the Natural Resources Advisory Board, the
Economic Advisory Commission, and to the Art in Public
Places Board, among others. You’ll find that the materials we
prepare during the course of the project, be it concept
drawings, graphical displays, or public meeting boards, will
transfer well to a presentation setting.
During this step, we also recommend conducting a land use
sensitivity analysis to better understand how altering land uses
in the corridor might impact transit ridership and the resulting
transit analysis. This sensitivity analysis will look at increasing
density at key transit stations and is likely to be conducted
outside of the City travel model process.
The most favorite Build Alternative will be retained as the
Locally Preferred Alternative.
refined travel demand model will be used to compare each
alternative’s ability to attract ridership, improve travel time, and
to enhance overall corridor mobility.
As an example, screening criteria that Nelson\Nygaard
recently developed for an AA in Kansas City are shown on the
next page.
For Fort Collins, these measures will be closely linked with
Integrated Land Use and Transportation measures presented
in the City’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP). In addition, we
will supplement those measures with others that are more
specific to the vision, goals, and objectives of the Harmony
Road corridor.
Following the development of the screening process, we will
calculate and assess the associated measures for each
alternative, and combine the results in an evaluation matrix
that will present the relative results for each alternative. In
collaboration with the TAC, and considering stakeholder input,
we will use the results to develop a short list of alternatives for
more detailed analysis. The most promising Build Alternatives
will be retained for further consideration.
setback requirement. As a result of this requirement, buildings
along the corridor tend to be oriented away from the street,
centered on internal parking areas. There may be opportunities
to create Transit Oriented Development (TOD) overlay districts
which could allow for infill mixed-use development with closer
frontage to the street and to future transit stations.
The corridor vision will build upon previous work in the corridor,
including the Harmony Corridor Plan and the Harmony Access
Control Plan. It should be contextually-sensitive to the
identified opportunities and challenges and should provide:
An understanding of the desired modal components
of the corridor,
A vision for the interaction between land uses and the
transportation system, and
A basis for setting goals and objectives that reflect the
values of the community and that will translate into
evaluation criteria for use in the analysis of
alternatives.
As described in Task 1, input from corridor stakeholders will be
essential to developing the Corridor Vision.
Task 3 Deliverables
Purpose and Need Statement
Corridor Vision and supporting Goals and Objectives
location of historical properties or other environmental
resources, right-of-way availability, floodplain boundaries, and
the location and use of existing roadway irrigation ditches to
name a few, can have an impact on what alternatives will be
considered.
Future Baseline Conditions – The next step in
understanding the Harmony Road corridor will be to document
the future demands on the corridor. With current traffic
volumes in the range of 30,000 – 40,000 vehicles per day
(vpd) and 2035 forecasts ranging from 50,000 – 60,000 vpd on
some segments, good transportation planning for future
infrastructure improvements is quite essential.
We will rely heavily on output from the travel demand model to
establish the baseline future conditions in 2035. We recognize
that the City has refined the North Front Range MPO’s model
to include land use forecasts and projected roadway elements
as part of the recent City Plan and Transportation Master Plan
preparation. We will work collaboratively with City staff to
review the coding of the model to make sure that land use,
laneage, speed limits, and centroid connector loadings are
reasonable within the Harmony Road study area. Spending
sufficient time during this phase of the project will provide you
with more reliable results that will provide you with a higher
level of confidence in project outcomes and alternatives
analysis.
Using outputs from the refined travel demand model, we will
document the baseline future conditions in 2035 for all modes
in the corridor as follows:
Future users and uses of the corridor (origins and
destinations, trip purposes, trip lengths, etc.)
Future intersection levels of service assuming only
those improvements that are currently planned for the
corridor
data and knowledge that will allow City staff, the public, and
concerned stakeholders, to effectively plan for the next
generation of Harmony Road needs? As one of the first steps
of the project, FHU will assemble the City and the Colorado
Department of Transportation resources to summarize a
historical development and improvement timeline of the known
progression of roadway and access improvements along
Harmony Road.
Regional Context – Harmony Road
serves as a regional corridor that connects
the City of Fort Collins with outlying areas.
From the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
to the Towns of Timnath, Severance,
Eaton and into the eastern Colorado
plains, Harmony Road is a major access
route for regional travel. Its regional
importance cannot be forgotten throughout
this project – good mobility is required to satisfy the needs of
all Larimer County and northern Colorado residents. From the
semi-truck deliveries of goods between communities, to the
recreational vehicle use of Harmony Road for movements to
Horsetooth Reservoir, Harmony Road’s value to the success of
Fort Collins must be recognized and properly planned for.
Existing Plans – To become better versed in upcoming
development and capital improvement plans, FHU will work
with City staff to obtain and understand what the known future
holds. This will include determining what the immediate
development scenarios are, i.e., those improvements that may
occur during the progress of this project, such as new
commercial or residential developments. But we will also
program:
Project website with a map-based commenting tool
that includes project information and regularly
updated survey questions
Social media (Facebook and Twitter)
Traditional public meetings
Focus group meetings with business owners and
community groups
The public involvement process should be ongoing through the
duration of the planning process; a project website will be not
only a clearinghouse for project-related information and
documentation, but it will also be a place where the public can
provide comments when it is convenient for them. The FHU
Team has successfully utilized a map-based commenting tool
on previous planning projects and we suggest using such a
tool for the ETC Master Plan. The map-based tool allows the
public to provide location-specific comments on the website
and to view others’ comments.
The City successfully used social media including Facebook
and Twitter in the development of City Plan. We recommend
continued use of these tools for this effort.
While web-based public outreach can substantially augment
the public’s role in a planning process, not all corridor