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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/18/2015 Busse Ave and Rt 83 Pedestrian Crossing improvementsVillage of Mount Prospect Community Development Department MEMORANDUM TO: DAVID J. STRAHL, ACTING VILLAGE MANAGER FROM: NELLIE S. BECKNER, SENIOR PLANNER DATE: AUGUST 11, 2015 SUBJECT: BUSSE AVENUE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FEASIBILITY STUDY — CONSULTANT SELECTION BACKGROUND Various stakeholders have inquired about the possibility of constructing a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Busse Avenue and Main Street/Route 83 to improve the safety of this movement. A concept design for a crossing in this location is included in the 2013 Downtown Implementation Plan. The Community Development Department has reserved $200,000 in the TIF budget for the research, design, and potential installation of a crossing. With assistance from the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Department distributed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to qualified engineering consulting firms to conduct a feasibility study to understand if a crossing is appropriate at this location, and if so, which design should be installed. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS The Department of Public Works invited six firms to respond to the RFQ to provide engineering services for potential crosswalk improvements across Route 83 at Busse Avenue. Three firms were interviewed on July 16 - 17, 2015, with Gewalt Hamilton Associates presenting the strongest response. The Village negotiated the cost to $34,933.71 that includes the following scope of work: • Gather vehicle and pedestrian counts at Busse Ave/Route 83 and nearby intersections, including turning movements. • Gather origin/destination data of vehicles turning left from southbound Route 83 onto eastbound Busse Avenue. • Perform a topographic and right-of-way survey of the Busse/Route 83 intersection. • Develop a three conceptual pedestrian crossing designs, based upon data analyses and taking into account current and potential use of the triangle site. • Coordinate and present to IDOT the alternate crossing designs for initial feedback. • Provide 12 copies of the final report, which includes crossing designs, findings and recommendations, articulating the pros and cons of each concept supported by quantitative data. PROJECT TIMELINE The process will last approximately ten weeks: • September, 2015 will entail traffic counts, origin/destination data collection and field surveys. • Concept plans for the crossing will be completed by early October, 2015. • Draft report with preliminary analyses and recommendations will be presented to staff by the end of October, 2015 • Final Report completed by mid-November, 2015. Busse Avenue Crossing Feasibility Study August 11, 2015 Page 2 CONCLUSION Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. addressed all of the Village's requested elements in the Statement for Qualifications, and provided the most thorough response to data collection and analyses. Staff recommends retaining Gewalt Hamilton Associates to complete the Busse Avenue Crossing Feasibility Study. Sufficient funds are available in the TIF account 022.40.90.00.0.710.636.029 on page 313 of the Budget. Please forward this memorandum and attachments to the Village Board for their review and consideration at their August 18th meeting. Staff will be present to answer any questions related to this matter. I concur with the above recommendation. William J. Cooney, Jr.,;AICP Director of Communit Development