AmesDesMoinesTransportationCorridorStudy

Budget:$100,000 Timeframe:912months ProjectDescription TheDesMoinesAreaMetropolitanPlanningOrganization(DMAMPO)issolicitingthisRequestfor Proposalstoselectaconsultantteamtoexaminethepotentialforandfeasibilityofpublictransitservice operatinginthecorridorfromDesMoines,IAtoAmes,IA.Thestudywillexaminetheexistingand potentialmarketsalongthiscorridor,landuseanddevelopmentpatterns,theridershippotential generatedbythesemarkets,anddevelopanoperatingplanthatwillincludeoperatingcostsandcapital costs,fundingalternatives,andmarketingstrategies.Othermembersoftheprojectteaminclude:Des MoinesAreaRegionalTransitAuthority(DART),HeartofIowaRegionalTransitAgency(HIRTA),CyRide, AmesAreaMPO,GreaterDesMoinesPartnership(GDMP),andtheIowaDepartmentofTransportation (IDOT).

ScopeofWork
Task1:MarketPotential.Assemblesufficientdatatounderstandthetravelpatternsofpotentialriders, determinetheoverallneedandmarketforservice,determineridershipestimates,andinvestigate logicalterminusandconnectionpoints.Determinethesustainabilityoftheservicebasedonfuture ridershipprojections,employmentdata,andtravelpatterns.Theconsultantteamwillobtainata minimumthefollowinginformation: EmployeeshomeaddressinformationformajoremployersinDesMoines,Ankeny,and Ames.TheemployerstobecontactedwillbebaseduponcoordinationwiththeProject TeamandcouldincludeIowaStateUniversity,IDOT,MaryGreeleyMedicalCenteraswellas othermajoremployers; TravelinformationwillbeobtainedfortripstoandfromdowntownDesMoines; JourneytoworkpatternsfromtheUSCensus; Laborshedstudiesfromcommunitiesalongthecorridor; Informationaboutmedicalandotherhumanservicetripsmadealongthecorridor; ExistingridershipfromDART,CyRide,HIRTA,andothertransitoperators;and, TravelmovementsfromtheIDOTandMPOtraveldemandmodelstodeterminetravel movementsinthecorridorandthenumberandfrequencyoftravel.

Task2:DevelopServiceConcepts.Transitservicescenarioswillbedevelopedtomatchneedsidentified inTask1fortheAmesDesMoinescorridor. Developarangeofhighlevelconceptsanddescribeintermsofmode,marketserved,route, frequency,servicecharacteristics,estimatedpublictransitridership,andgeneraloperating cost. Therangeofconceptswillbeevaluatedbytheconsultantandpresentedtothestudyteam. Specificconceptswillbeselectedbasedonthemarketpotentialformoredetailedstudyin Task3andTask4. Task3:OperatingPlan.Developanoperatingplanandscenariosthroughaprocessthatwillconsider operatingandcapitalcostsbasedonridershippotential. OperatingDetailsAnoperatingplanwillbedevelopedfortheselectedtransitscenarios.It willidentifytheoperatingentityandconsiderservicecoordinationandconnectivitywith localtransitproviders.Theoperatingplanwilldescribeoperatinghours,route,traveltimes, parkandridelocations,andnumberandtypeoftransitvehiclesbasedonprojected ridership. FacilitiesTheoperatingplanwillincludeidentifyingenhancedcustomerservicestools, frequencies,andotherfacilitiesoramenitiesneededtoeffectivelyoperatetheservice. MarketingTheoperatingplanwillalsoincludehighlevelmarketingstrategiesand suggestionsforpromotingtheproposedtransitservice. Task4:CostEstimates.DevelopcostsestimatesforeachscenariodevelopedintheOperatingPlan. OperatingCostsCostestimateswillincludestartupcostsandongoingoperationsand maintenance. CapitalCostsThisshouldinclude,busacquisitioncosts,costsassociatedwithservice implementation,transitfacilities,andpossiblyparkandridefacilitiesatidentifiedlocations. Task5:FundingAnalysis.Thistaskwilllookathowatransitprojectinthecorridorcouldbefunded. FundingSourcesCompileandanalyzeinformationregardingfundingsourcesandthelocal, state,andfederallevels.Thefarerevenueswillalsobeconsidered.Theconsultantwill examineandspecifyanapproachtoestablishasustainablefundingsourcefortransit operations. ProjectPhasesThefundinganalysisshouldincludecostanalysisforthevaryingphasesof theserviceincluding:startupperiod,shortterm(1to5years),andlongterm(6to20years). Theimpactoftheservicescenarioswillbedeterminedbytheeconomicandsocialbenefits toserviceusers.

Task6:LandUseandDevelopmentPatternAnalysis.Thistaskwillexplorethelanduseand developmentpatternsrequiredtomakealternativetransportationintheAmesDesMoinescorridor successful. AnalysisofexistingandpotentiallandusesalongtheAmesDesMoinescorridor. Analysisofexistingandpotentialdevelopmentpatterntypesandhowtheywouldimpact alternativetransportationalongtheAmesDesMoinescorridor.

Task7:ReportDevelopment.Afinalreportwillbeprepared. DraftReportAdraftreportsummarizingthefindingsofthestudywillbeprepared.The summarywilldescribethefeasibilityfortheselectedtransitservice.Theconsultantwill providethedraftreportinelectronicformattotheProjectTeam.TheProjectTeamwill reviewandprovidecommentstotheconsultant. FinalReportTheconsultantwillincorporatecommentsandcompleteafinaldraftreportto submittotheDMAMPO.TheDMAMPOmayprovideafinalreview,andifso,theconsultant willmodifyandpreparethefinalreport.Five(5)papercopiesandanelectroniccopyofthe finalreportwillbeprovidedtotheDMAMPO.

Task8:Meetings. MonthlyProjectTeammeetingswillbeheldbytheconsultantwithatleastthreeinperson. TheteamwillincludetheDMAMPO,DesMoinesAreaRegionalTransitAuthority(DART), HeartofIowaRegionalTransitAgency(HIRTA),CyRide,AmesMPO,GreaterDesMoines Partnership(GDMP),andtheIowaDepartmentofTransportation(IDOT). Administration.Projectandmeetingcoordination,includingpreparingmeetingnoticesand meetingminutes. MPOCommitteesupdatestotheMPOcommitteeswillbeprimarilytheresponsibilityof theProjectTeamrepresentatives.Thiswillincludeupdatestothesegroups:theMPO TransportationTechnicalCommittee(TTC),ExecutiveCommittee,PolicyCommittee,and PublicTransportationRoundtable. TheconsultantwillbeavailableatthestudysconclusionforonepresentationtotheMPO TTCandPolicyCommittee.

Timeline: July12,2013:RFPresponsedue. WeekofJuly15,2013:Reviewofapplications. WeekofJuly22,2013:Interviewsheld(ifdeemednecessary)andfirmselection. August1,2013:Issuedcontractforprofessionalservicecompleted. 3

March28,2013:Draftreportdue. May2,2014:Finalreportdue. Budget: The contract for professional services between the selected firm and the DMAMPO will be for a maximum amount of $100,000 to include all professional fees, travel, telephone, copying costs, and other expenses incurred for providing the scope of services. The negotiation of the fee for services will occuratthetimeofpreparationoftheContractforProfessionalServices.Ifafeecannotbeagreedupon between the selected firm and the DMAMPO, negotiations will be terminated and the DMAMPO will initiatenegotiationswiththenextpreferredconsultant. Directions: Selectioncriteriawillinclude,butarenotnecessarilylimitedto,thefollowing: Theconsultantsexperienceandqualificationswithsimilarplanningefforts; Theconsultantsunderstandingoftheassignment; Theconsultantsabilitytomeetthescopeofworkandtimelinesdetailedabove;and, Theproposedmethodologytoaccomplishtheintendedstudypurposeandscopeofwork.

The proposal should not exceed ten pages in length (excluding appendix) and is due at noon on July 8, 2013.Five(5)hadcopiesandadigitalcopyoftheproposalshouldbedeliveredto: ZachYoung SeniorTransportationPlanner 420WatsonPowell,Suite200 DesMoines,IA50309. ProspectivefirmsareadvisedthatnoobligationsorcommitmentsareincurredbytheDMAMPOin solicitingtheproposals.TheDMAMPOreservestherighttoselectthemosthighlyqualifiedfirmbased uponrecommendationsoftheselectioncommittee.