Title
Bus Shelters (B)
Explanation
The CRA is working with the RTS (Regional Transit System) to replace bus shelters in the CRA redevelopment areas. The existing bus shelters are of a variety of different styles and ages. Many of the shelters have maintenance issues (accumulated leaves, fading paint, lack of visibility) that have arisen due to the shelter's design. Other sites lack shelters and may present opportunities for installing them. The hodge-podge of design styles and maintenance issues creates aesthetic problems that detract from the CRA's efforts to improve primary corridors such as University Avenue and SE Hawthorne Road. CRA staff discussed these issues concerning shelters on West University Avenue with the CPUH advisory board on August 1, 2007. The board agreed to pursue a unified approach to shelters that coordinates with CRA enhancements and recommended moving forward with developing a new design.
Staff is planning to install 3 test sites in the CPUH redevelopment area to evaluate the bus shelters. These sites are 1402 and 1826 West University Avenue and at the new Wildflower apartment complex on SW 13th Street. After an evaluation period, a decision will be made concerning the expansion of the bus shelter installation to other CRA redevelopment areas.
On August 20, 2007 staff gave a presentation to the CRA, including the CPUH recommendation, highlighting the need to enhance the shelter design. Staff discussed the design criteria developed by CRA and RTS staff. These criteria consist of several design points, including removing roof gutters, improving paint finishes, modernizing the design, providing solar powered lighting, enabling scalability to different sites, enhancing visibility, providing rain protection, and improving passenger comfort. The CRA authorized staff to develop a scope of work and issue a Request for Qualifications for architectural services according to the CCNA procurement process. A budget of $25,000 was established for design services.
On April 16, 2008, the consultant selection committee reviewed qualifications and interviewed three firms, with Bentley Architects and Engineers as the committee's top ranked firm. The CRA approved the ranking on April 21st. Staff attempted to negotiate a fee with Bentley, but after several rounds of negotiations that included modifying the scope of work, an agreement was reached to end negotiations, which failed to produce a fee under the $25,000 budget.
Staff immediately began researching ready-made bus shelter designs. During the course of this research, staff learned that the firm Landscape Forms based in Kalamazoo, Michigan manufactures a line of shelters designated as the "Kaleidoscope" series. The Kaleidoscope model embodies many of the characteristics contained in the CRA and RTS design criteria. The manufacturer also produces a matching bench that is coordinated with the design of the Kaleidoscope bus shelter. Staff feels that the close match between the Kaleidoscope design and the desired design criteria is advantageous for achieving the project objectives. Staff members from the CRA and RTS met on July 16th to review the design and an agreement was made to pursue the Kaleidoscope shelter and Plexus bench for approvals for use within the CRA redevelopment areas.
Staff is in the process of reviewing the Kaleidoscope shelter and Plexus bench designs with each individual advisory board. On August 4, 2008 the FAPS advisory board reviewed and approved the bench and shelter designs. On August 6, 2008 the CPUH advisory boards reviewed and approved the designs and authorized the purchase of shelters and benches for the pilot project described above. The ERAB and DRAB advisory boards meet later this month.
The backup to this agenda item consists of product literature and photographs of the Kaleidoscope bus shelter installed in various urban settings in other cities. Staff will give a brief presentation to explain the product and implementation plan.
Fiscal Note
Costs for the CPUH pilot project will be paid from account 9999-618-790-W724-W30 (Primary Corridors-Univ Ave). This account currently has $125,000 budgeted. The costs for two of the shelters will be paid from CPUH. The third shelter on SW 13th Street is anticipated to be funded by a private developer. Additional funding will need to be appropriated in the FY09 budget for the costs to purchase and install the bus shelters after the initial three selected locations. The CRA Project Number is CPUH-09.04-SC-9999: CPUH Primary Corridors - SW 13th Street Bus Shelters.
Recommendation
Executive Director to the CRA: 1) Hear presentation from Staff; 2) approve the recommendation to adopt the Landscape Forms Kaleidoscope bus shelter and Plexus bench product for the FAPS redevelopment area; 3) approve the recommendation to adopt the Landscape Forms Kaleidoscope bus shelter and Plexus bench product for the CPUH redevelopment area; and 4) approve the recommendation to purchase and install three Kaleidoscope bus shelters and three Plexus benches for a test project in the CPUH redevelopment area.