Agenda Item Wording:
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Contract Award for Active Transportation Plan Update - Authorize the City Manager to award the contract to update Visalia’s Active Transportation Plan to TDG Engineering, Inc affiliate of Toole Design, in the amount of $297,760.00; authorize the appropriation of $100,000 of additional Local Measure R funds (131) funds; authorize an appropriation of $200,000 from Fund 281 for funds to be reimbursed by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
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Prepared by:
Diego Corvera, Senior Civil Engineer, Diego.Corvera@Visalia.City, (559)713-4209
Chris Crawford, City Engineer, Chris.Crawford@Visalia.City, (559)713-4331
Jason Huckleberry, Engineering & Building Director, Jason.Huckleberry@Visalia.City, (559)713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to award the contract for RFP 24-25-06, Update Visalia’s Active Transportation Plan to TDG Engineering, Inc affiliate of Toole Design in the amount of $297,760.00.
2. Authorize the appropriation of additional Measure R Local funds (131) in the amount of $100,000.
3. Authorize an appropriation of $200,000 from Fund 281 (State Transportation) for funds to be reimbursed by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
Summary:
City staff issued RFP 24-25-06 to hire a professional consulting firm to update the City’s Active Transportation Plan. This update will create a plan that incorporates current state and federal design guidelines, evaluate City wide pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, capture current community feedback on the City’s transportation system and prioritize new active transportation projects. The plan will include detailed recommendations for design changes to City streets and programs that support transportation safety for those who walk, bicycle, and utilize transit programs City wide. Project timeline is anticipated to begin in October 2025 and be completed by June 2027.
Background Discussion:
The current City Active Transportation Plan was adopted in 2017, a significant number of prioritized projects and proposed improvements have been implemented or are currently programed for implementation. This update will serve to evaluate the remaining proposed improvements within the current plan, identify what has been completed, what is still pending and what new or revised projects are to be programmed for the future based on community feedback and engagement.
The consultant will be responsible for gathering feedback from the community, establish advisory groups, as well as stakeholder groups to ensure the plan development and recommendations are consistent with the City of Visalia’s goals and interests and as representative of the City as possible.
The plan will be developed through a robust public engagement process known as a community design charrette that includes multiple opportunities for residents to participate and an iterative process for feedback. The outcome will be an Active Transportation Plan with detailed recommendations for design changes to City streets and programs that support traffic safety and active transportation. The plan will also identify projects that can be undertaken at low cost and in the short-term that will build support and momentum among community members.
The plan update will also incorporate robust design recommendations consistent with the evolving and emerging best practices at the state and federal level as it pertains to active transportation infrastructure. These recommendations and design guidance will take state and federal recommendations and tailor them to be consistent with the City of Visalia community values, needs and feedback.
Bidding Process
The City received six (6) proposals in response to the RFP. A four-person selection committee was established to review, rate and rank the proposals. After the initial ranking was developed, the top two consultants were then invited to interview with the same selection committee that reviewed the proposals. The selection committee again rated the consultant firms to establish the final ranking of the consultants. Following is a list of the final consultant rankings:
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Consultant |
Location |
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1 |
TDG Eng, Inc affiliate of Toole Design |
Oakland, CA |
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2 |
Alta Planning + Design |
Los Angeles, CA |
City staff then opened the fee envelope for the selected consultant and began the negotiation process. The City and the consultant reached an agreement on the fee, and is ready for City Council to award the project to TDG Engineering, Inc affiliate of Toole Design. If the project is awarded by the City Council, the consulting team will immediately begin work after execution of the agreement.
TDG Engineering, Inc affiliate of Toole Design is a leading multimodal transportation planning firm that specializes in the planning and design of safe and active transportation facilities and communities. Toole Design understands the unique challenges and opportunities present in central valley communities like Visalia as they have recently performed work with adjacent communities such as Corcoran’s Active Transportation Plan, Reedley’s Active Transportation Plan and City of Fresno Vision Zero Action Plan.
Fiscal Impact:
The Active Transportation Plan Update is currently funded through local Measure R funds. Additional funds in the total amount of $300,000 are needed to award the consultant contract. Staff recommends the additional appropriation of $100,000 from the Measure R Local Fund. TCAG has committed to provide funding of $200,000 to address the city’s budget shortfall for this project. See below project funding breakdown.
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Budget Summary (CP0557): |
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Project Funding Source: |
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Measure R Local funds (131) |
$100,000 |
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Total Project Funding |
$100,000 |
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|
|
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Project Budget |
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Consultant Fee - Tool Design |
$297,760 |
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Contingency (~15%) |
$50,000 |
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City Staff Costs |
$50,000 |
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Total Project Cost |
$398,760 |
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|
|
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Remaining Budget (deficit) |
($298,760) |
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|
|
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Appropriation of Funds |
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Measure R Local Funds (131) |
$100,000 |
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Funding from TCAG (281) |
$200,000 |
Prior Council Action:
None
Other: N/A
Alternatives: None recommended. Should the consultant contract not be awarded, the City would delay any future active transportation project development and prioritization with potential negative impacts to future ATP grant applications.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to award the contract for RFP 24-25-06, Update Visalia’s Active Transportation Plan Update to TDG Engineering, Inc affiliate of Toole Design, in the amount of $297,760.00; authorize the appropriation of $100,000 of additional Local Measure R funds (131) funds, authorize an appropriation of $200,000 from Fund 281 for funds to be reimbursed by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG).
Environmental Assessment Status: NEPA Environmental Assessment does not apply.
CEQA Review: Not applicable
Deadline for Action: 11/3/2025
Attachments:
1. Consultant Ownership Disclosure Form
2. Sample Consultant Contract
3. Consultant Proposal