Agenda Item Name:
Title
RTS Bus Stop Improvements in Unincorporated Alachua County
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Presenter:
Ramon D. Gavarrete, P.E.
Description:
Staff has developed plans and cost estimates to construct shelters at RTS bus stops in Unincorporated Alachua County.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Make a legislative finding that the construction of the bus stop shelters identified in this agenda item are expected to increase RTS ridership along SW 8th Avenue, which will mitigate transportation impacts caused by developments with the NW transportation mobility district; and move approval of Budget Amendment, authorize staff to bid and prepare construction contract, and prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with RTS regarding maintenance for Board approval at the proposed bus shelter locations as included in this agenda item.
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Prior Board Motions:
2/19/2019:
– Investigate the feasibility of bus shelters at stops on County’s roadway network meeting RTS’s criteria for shelters;
– Develop final design plans for feasible stops (feasibility meaning R/W or retaining wall not required) and obtain cost, quote or bids to construct shelters;
– Return to Board with final cost information for direction and direct OMB to return to the Board with budget amendments to identify potential funding to fully fund the bus stop improvements if project budgets cannot cover the improvements.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
The estimated total project construction cost is $344,130. Five (5) stop locations qualify for MMTM funding for an estimated total cost of $65,037.50. One (1) stop would come from the 354 Fund-MMTM/NW for $19,208 and the remaining four (4) stops would come from the 355 Fund-MMTM/SW for $45,829. The remaining estimated $279,092.24 would be funded from remaining balance in fund 350-5-Cent Local Option Gas Tax from the NW 16th Avenue resurfacing project. The estimated construction cost includes RTS furnishing materials for 14 shelters. Since none of these shelter improvements exceed $50,000 individually, these improvements do not meet the capitalization threshold so if the Board chooses to move forward to construct these shelter improvements, the identified funds from fund 350, 354, and 355 would need to be transferred out to a non-capital fund during the June mid-year adjustment.
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Background:
After receiving the above direction from the Board, Public Works Staff along with an engineering consultant coordinated with RTS regarding RTS’s ridership criteria for shelters and which shelter types and sizes were recommended for qualifying stops. The Phase 1 Study was conducted to evaluate 26 stops. Phase 1 included: site inspections to document existing conditions, identification of ADA accessibility issues, and an evaluation of the feasibility of shelters specified by RTS at each site.
After reviewing the Phase 1 Study Staff directed the consultant to continue with the Phase 2 engineering services which included construction plans, cost estimate and FDOT permit coordination.
Five shelter pads along the SW 8th Avenue Connector project were designed and constructed with the SW 8th Avenue Connector. These locations are prepared for the installation of shelters.
During the process of reviewing the Phase 2 deliverables Public Works Staff coordinated again with RTS regarding the design deliverables and impacts to stops due to COVID and the completion the SW 8th Avenue Connector. One stop which previously met the criteria for a shelter has been discontinued by RTS due to COVID.
Should the Board move forward with the Bus Shelter Improvements, RTS has offered to supply the shelter materials for 14 of the stops that were studied. RTS has materials available for all six Type I (smallest) shelters, three of the eight Type II shelters (medium) and five of the ten Type III (largest) designed. The value of these materials is estimated to be $156,960.