Title
South Main Street Improvements (B)
Explanation
Today’s agenda item is focused on providing a summary and update on the next iteration of the project plan’s development process and recommending a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal for the construction of the proposed improvements.
Improvements to the South Main Street corridor have been the subject of discussions and planning exercises for a number of years in anticipation of the opening of Depot Park, the Cade Museum, the Power District, and other existing or planned development opportunities in the area. During this period numerous milestones have been accomplished furthering the broad redevelopment goals for this area of Gainesville. Significant changes to the area have occurred that directly impact the functional needs of the street. These include new commercial oriented businesses, the Depot Avenue streetscape and roundabout, construction of the Cade Museum, and the opening of Depot Park. With these recent improvements being fully realized, CRA Board directed Staff to advance the design and, ultimately, construction process forward so that the South Main Street corridor responds to its changing context while still supporting its existing businesses and users.
Beginning in 2014, the CRA began facilitating discussions with area stakeholders, hosting community engagement events, and learning about the area related to possible improvements to the corridor. The result was the collaborative stakeholder process of adopting a Guiding Vision Statement & Guiding Principles for the project that we would rely on throughout subsequent planning, design, and engineering processes. Throughout the month of September 2016 the CRA facilitated a series of participatory community workshops and engagement exercises that explored various street design alternatives related to reimaging the corridor by prioritizing the various streetscape elements. On October 17, 2016 the CRA Board considered several alternative cross-sections and ultimately approved two basis-of-design concept cross-sections that were representative of the diverse prioritizes of participants. The October 2016 presentation outlined how each concept uniquely balanced and addressed the Guiding Principles of: improving safety and connectivity, increasing parking opportunities, preparing the area as a destination with a unique identity, while addressing the accessibility, flow, and balance of the corridor.
The next step in the process was to translate the two conceptual cross-sections to the existing conditions of the actual street and its many diverse adjacent land-uses with 30% schematic plans. This effort was challenging because of the unique existing and planned users being accommodated through the approved design. From 18-wheelers to baby strollers, the team begun the process of working through the various technical aspects of balancing the layout of the corridor that preserves the vision, supports additional users, while also considering the numerous operational needs of the existing businesses along South Main Street.
On March 20, 2017 the CRA Board approved the 30% schematic plans, Construction Manager At-Risk selection, and directed Staff to proceed with undergrounding utilities along the entire corridor. At the request of the Board, the CRA hosted a community workshop on Tuesday, May 9 at the GRU Multipurpose Room to provide detailed information on the various aspects of the project and to gather feedback and input from stakeholders. The CRA’s project manager along with representatives from each discipline of the design team (engineering, traffic, electrical engineering, urban design, landscape architecture, construction management, and communications) engaged with attendees to gather feedback and provide background on the technical decision making process a project such as this requires. The design and project management team evaluated the feedback received and incorporated many of the suggestions into the plans.
Other stakeholder recommendations were explored and analyzed, and considered by Staff to adversely compromise the adopted Guiding Principles of Safety + Connectivity, Parking Opportunities, Accessibility + Flow + Balance, Destination + Identity, and Visual Character and are therefore recommended unadvisable. Additionally, CRA Staff continues to meet to work through property owner requests to determine the overall impacts to safety and design integrity, and what accommodations can be made to address their concerns.
Go to this link <https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jlgdyb0bvjx9ur5/AACfm6LGUARPF-WB4IqZzq5Ba?dl=0> to view the following documents:
(1) GMP Proposal
(2) 90% Plans and Documents
(3) May 5, 2017 Community Workshop Comments
(4) Project Summary
(5) Auto Turn Exhibits
Fiscal Note
Funding for the South Main Street Improvement project design and construction has been budgeted for in the CPUH Trust Fund account W752 in the amount of $3,700,000.00. Funding for the balance of the project costs will be appropriated during the FY18 Adjusted Budget presentation on July 17, 2017.
Recommendations:
(1) CRA Executive Director to CRA Board:
a. Approve the South Main Street Improvement project plans as presented.
b. Approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal from Oelrich Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed amount of $7,000,000 and authorize the CRA Executive Director to execute all necessary documents, subject to review and approval by the CRA Attorney as to form and legality.
c. Approve $1,500,000 to fund the GRU portion of the undergrounding project.
(2) CRA Board to City Commission: Recommend the City Commission review, approve, and authorize CRA to act as its agent for the construction of the South Main Street Improvement project and approve proposed plans for undergrounding of utilities along the corridor.
(3) CPUH Advisory Board to CRA Board:
a. Motion to approve the northern portion of the South Main Street project from the proposed roundabout at SW 11th Place north to Depot Avenue.
b. Motion to consider options for South Main Street that would minimize the adverse impact of the South Main business owners including the elimination of the undergrounding of utilities.