Title
Authorization for the Town Manager to Award a Contract for Planning Services to Update the Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan
PURPOSE: The Town has received a Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure grant from NCDOT and is in the process of finalizing an RFP for consultant services to assist with updating the adopted Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan. The purpose of this item is to authorize the Town Manager to select and award a contract to a transportation planning firm to complete this work.
end
Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
end
Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
__X_ Race/Equity __X__ Climate _X__ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
This is an administrative step in the process for engaging consultant services. Safe Routes to School is an important national program that promotes walking, biking, and rolling to school to encourage physical activity and healthy lifestyles at a young age, activities that further the Town’s efforts toward racial equity and climate action. Racial equity pocket questions have been provided as Attachment B.
end
Information
INFORMATION: In 2012, the Town adopted a Safe Routes to School Action Plan with recommendations for programing and infrastructure improvements for Carrboro Elementary School and McDougle Elementary School. The plan is ready for an update to add Morris Grove Elementary and McDougle Middle schools, to collected current demographic data for students and their families, and to re-evaluate infrastructure improvements to reflect current design recommendations and technologies. The Town has received an award of just under $90,000 and has used a nominal amount (approximately $850.00) to purchase portable equipment for a traffic garden/bike rodeo. Staff has also updated the Town’s websites on the SRTS Strategic Action Plan, with updated data on student travel counts for Walk, Bike and Roll Days in May and October. Work is also underway to compile the earlier parent survey data and student tallies on travel modes for getting to and from school that was collected during the development of the 2021 plan.
Staff is now ready to enlist the services of a consultant team to update the existing action plan. The scope of work would include leading public engagement and walk/bike audits, and the development of school programs relating to pedestrian/bicycling safety, concept plans for infrastructure projects and prioritization of infrastructure projects. Staff is finalizing a draft RFP for NCDOT review/approval prior to advertising. The identified cost for consulting services is $75,000, would be covered by the project budget.
end
Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: The identified cost for consulting services in the RFP is $75,000; there is sufficient funds in the project grant to cover this amount.
end
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council consider adopting the resolution provided (Attachment A) authorizing the Town Manager to select and award a contract not to exceed $75,000 to update the Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan.
end