PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation and Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Kimley Horn & Associates, Inc. for the development of the City of New Braunfels Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels Strategic Plan directed staff to create a sidewalk inventory, assess pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to establish a baseline for measuring progress, and increase bikeway, trail, and sidewalk miles within the city. Staff determined that the most effective way to capture this data and identify projects that promote these goals is to create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan that includes an inventory and connectivity assessment of current facilities, as well as identifying project areas for future implementation. Within the structure of a planning document, it also creates materials that can be referenced by staff, residents, and the development community to understand what facilities are preferred for a given street. It will be developed to complement and support the existing Hike and Bike Plan that was adopted in 2019 and has a stronger project development focus.
There are four primary deliverables for this plan:
1. An Enhanced Pedestrian Network Map that identifies our existing facilities and includes what streets require additional facilities to improve the safety and quality of the pedestrian experience in the city, which reflects areas and destinations that attract pedestrian use.
2. A Bicycle Network Map that identifies our existing facilities and includes what streets require additional facilities to improve the safety and quality of the bicycling experience in the city and creates an All Ages and Abilities network that promotes a safe and comfortable experience for all road users.
3. A Project List that identifies project areas that the community would like prioritized for implementation. It will include recommendations for projects to be completed in the near-term, and other areas to pursue in the future.
4. An Implementation Plan that identifies projects, policies, and programs that promote the community’s goals for active transportation, potential funding mechanisms and grants that could fund those items, and goal markers to measure success as the plan is implemented.
City Staff issued a task order through the City’s Professional Services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) list, which resulted in six proposals being received. City staff evaluated the proposals and Kimley Horn & Associates, Inc. (Kimley Horn) was deemed most qualified. Staff worked with Kimley Horn to develop a thorough statement of work and negotiated a total fee of $250,000. A 12-month timeline is anticipated from July 2025 to July 2026.
ISSUE:
Create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan to develop materials to achieve goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☒Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
The contract amount of $250,000 is included in FY 2025 Transportation and Capital Improvements Budget, therefore sufficient funds are available.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a contract with Kimley Horn & Associates, Inc. for the development of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan.