Title
Advanced Schematic Design (ASD) Approval of the RTS Bus Fleet Maintenance & Operations Facility (B)
This is a request for the City Commission to approve the ASD design documents for the design of the Regional Transit System (RTS) Bus Fleet Maintenance & Operations Facility located at the intersection of SE 1st St. and Veitch St. on Parcels #15702-000-000 (owned by the City) and Parcels #15702-004-000 and 15702-006-000 (Under Contract) and waive the future 30%, 60% and 100% design reviews for this project.
Explanation
On November 3, 2011, the City Commission directed the City Manager's office to begin contract negotiations with CPPI (Charles Perry Partners Inc.) for the Design/Build Services. Since that date, CPPI has held numerous design Charrettes and multiple meetings with staff and RTS personnel to ascertain the project's scope and to ensure that the City and RTS's expectations are met with the design of the new Bus Fleet Maintenance & Operations Facility. The Design Team held two neighborhood workshops (12/6/2012 & 12/13/2012) with members of the community to gain input and to provide them with an understanding of what the project would entail and how it would affect the surrounding areas.
The Design/Build Team and staff then conducted Benchmarking Trips to three other Transit Facilities [PSTA (Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, St. Petersburg), PalmTran (West Palm Beach), and Lynx (Orlando)] to ascertain the positives and negatives about each facility from the personnel who work there every day and to ensure that their mistakes are not repeated. The Benchmarking Trips also provided the Design/Build Team the opportunity to receive feedback and comments on RTS's conceptual plan from the various end users of each facility.
All of the input from the various consultants, the FTA, and the end users, has gone through a thorough and detailed analysis by the Design/Build Team. Each building individually and the site plan as a whole had to be evaluated to ensure that the most viable and functional site plan and building configurations could be ascertained. The Design/Build Team has strived to balance the estimated budget, to achieve LEED Silver for the Operation & Administration Building, comply with all of the FTA requirements and regulations, and still meet the needs of the end users. The Design/Build Team and staff will continue to work with the various City Departments, State, and Federal agencies as the project continues through the approval process.
The basis for the design of the RTS Bus Fleet Maintenance & Operations Facility was derived from the criteria outlined in the RFQ, which subsequently has been modified based on the information obtained from the design processes that have occurred to date.
The project will consist of the following: an Operations & Administration Building (29,650 SF), Maintenance Building (85,040 SF), Fuel Center (6,380 SF) & Fuel Tanks (3,200 SF), Bus Wash Center (12,728 SF), Parking Area for 200 Busses, Parking Spaces for 70 Non-revenue Vehicles, Parking Spaces for 292 Employee, and Parking Spaces for 10 Guests.
As part of a request by the FTA to utilize emerging clean fuels and advanced technologies into the project, staff and the Design/Build Team are researching how solar energy could positively affect the project long term.
Fiscal Note
This agenda item has no fiscal impact unless the City Commission recommends major changes to the building design. Funding for this project is from grants through the FTA Section 5309 discretionary grants (State of Good Repair and Livability grants).
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) approve the ASD design; 2) direct the Design/Build Firm to continue progress on the construction drawings; and 3) waive the 30%, 60% and 100% design reviews by the Commission.
Alternative Recommendation
The City Commission rejects the recommendation and direct staff to obtain a new design plan.