******PLEASE SEE LINK FOR FULL RFP*******

INTRODUCTION

The Watsonville Vision Zero Corridor Study (VZCS) aims to address a critical and long-standing safety issue that the City of Watsonville (City) has struggled to resolve despite repeated efforts. Watsonville has experienced a significant number of pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries on its roadways, as highlighted by data from the Vision Zero Task Force. Most of these incidents occur along several high-collision corridors.

A public outreach campaign, led by Ecology Action, will aim to solicit initial input on community goals and vision for the selected corridor, as well as input on the initial concept plans and design options/trade-offs. Some proposed changes may be new to the community, requiring explanation and adaptation, but all aim to create safer, more user-friendly streets. The project will explore a wide array of proven, harm-reducing infrastructure improvements from around the world. Once a final design is developed, it will be presented to the community for feedback. Conceptual design drawings will then be prepared, providing the City with the tools needed to secure funding for implementation.

The ultimate goal is to create a plan that not only significantly reduces injuries and fatalities on the chosen corridor but also serves as a model for addressing high-collision corridors throughout Watsonville. There is strong support from both City staff and the community for a transformational approach that enhances pedestrian safety and contributes to a more livable, walkable city.

This project is funded through a Caltrans Sustainable Communities Transportation Planning Grant. The selected consultant will be required to track and document their activities in accordance with Caltrans requirements.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. Existing Conditions Analysis

Document Collection: Collect relevant policy documents, such as transportation plans, city development plans, and zoning maps, to gain an understanding of the broader policy framework and long-term objectives. Gather engineering documents, including road design plans and infrastructure proposals, to assess current and future project scopes.

Data Compilation: Compile traffic-related data from various sources. This should include:

• Traffic counts, which would need to be collected by the consultant, to understand vehicle flow and usage patterns.
• Mode splits to determine the distribution of various transportation modes (e.g., cars, bikes, pedestrians, public transit).
• Travel speeds to identify areas with high-speed variations.
• Collision history to examine the frequency and types of accidents.
• Public comments from past planning efforts to gauge community concerns and suggestions.

Data Analysis: Analyze the compiled data to identify trends and patterns related to traffic safety and mobility. Specific focus should be on:

• Collision analysis to identify hotspots with high incident rates and investigate common causes of accidents.
• Design solutions that could mitigate risks, such as traffic calming measures, pedestrian crossings, or improved signage.
• The impact of existing and proposed land uses on traffic safety and congestion.

This comprehensive analysis will provide a foundation for developing targeted recommendations to improve safety and reduce injury rates in high-injury corridors. The insights gained from this analysis will inform the next steps in designing and implementing effective infrastructure solutions.

Deliverables: Existing Conditions Analysis, including a summary of existing policy, planning, and engineering documents, summary of existing traffic data and collision data analysis.

Task 1 Not to Exceed: $10,000

2. Analysis and Concept Plan

The consultant will be responsible for collecting and analyzing a variety of traffic data to support safety improvements in high-injury corridors, including Airport Boulevard, Green Valley Road, Freedom Boulevard, Main Street, East Lake Avenue, and Riverside Drive.

Data Collection: Gather additional traffic data, including Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts and pedestrian and bicycle counts on high-injury corridors. The consultant is expected to use a platform that specializes in analyzing traffic and mobility trends using location-based information. This data will be used to identify current usage patterns and potential safety risks. Examine historical collision data to identify high-collision areas and determine underlying causes.

Long-Range Network Planning: Conduct a comprehensive analysis focused on opportunities for infrastructure changes that can improve safety on high-collision corridors. This analysis should be coordinated with the City's General Plan update, which is currently in process, to ensure alignment with broader planning efforts. Analyze potential improvements, considering existing and future traffic flow, land use, and public safety.

Corridor Selection: Based on the collected data and the long-range network planning analysis, the project team will identify one of the top collision corridors in Watsonville for detailed study and concept plan development. The selection process will also account for available right-of-way and the potential for infrastructure changes.

Concept Plan Development: The consultant will develop design alternatives for the selected high-collision corridor. The conceptual plans will incorporate Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) -compliant design elements in the alternatives. This will include illustrative sections with detailed plan areas to highlight key intersections and specific safety measures. Design focus will be on reducing severe injuries and fatalities, while also incorporating elements for urban greening and stormwater mitigation. We expect the consultant to use innovative transportation design principles that emphasize cycling infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly streets, and efficient public transit. The consultant will analyze the proposed design alternatives, including potential traffic impacts, and present options that demonstrate the trade-offs in corridor design (e.g., parking, bicycle facilities, planted medians). The consultant will also create a standalone summary list of potential infrastructure recommendations that could be applied to other high collision corridors in the City.

Design Renderings: The consultant will create visual renderings of the proposed design for the selected corridor. These renderings will showcase various design options and the associated trade-offs. These visuals will be used for public outreach efforts to engage the community, gather feedback, and build support for the proposed changes.

Deliverables: Additional traffic data, including ADT counts, bicycle and pedestrian counts; summary of long-range network planning analysis; conceptual design alternatives; standalone summary list of potential infrastructure recommendations; visual renderings of proposed concept plans.

Task 2 Not to Exceed: $50,000

3. Public Outreach

An outreach strategy will be developed by Ecology Action and the City, with input from the Advisory Committee. Ecology Action will develop bilingual outreach materials to support the outreach strategy. The Consultant will be responsible for planning and conducting bilingual outreach with Ecology Action in accordance with the outreach strategy.

Possible outreach activities will be based on the outreach strategy and may include:

• Conduct initial visioning workshop with residents, business owners, and other stakeholders along the selected high-collision corridor.
• Conduct initial visioning workshop with City's Community Development Department to discuss compatibility with the General Plan update.
• Conduct initial visioning workshop with elected officials.
• Host capacity building workshop to introduce new design principles, including stakeholders such as Fire Department, Police Department, elected officials, and community leaders.
• Create visioning document that outlines the goals and values for the selected corridor.
• Host co-design workshop with general public.
• Host co-design charrette with local engineers and agency partners.
• Present first concepts to elected officials.

Deliverables: Visioning document that outlines the goals and values of the selected corridor; community workshop materials; meeting summaries.

Task 3 Not to Exceed: $50,000

4. Develop Preliminary Design Drawings

Development of Conceptual Design Drawings: The consultant will create conceptual design drawings for the preferred concept alternative on the selected high-collision corridor. These drawings should include key design elements and detailed layout information that reflects the community's input and the project's safety objectives. The design drawings must clearly indicate proposed road modifications, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, traffic control features, and other critical components. The project requires the use of design methodologies that promote a balanced approach to road usage, with dedicated lanes for cyclists and efficient pedestrian pathways.

Planning-Level Cost Estimates: The consultant will prepare planning-level cost estimates for the selected design alternative. These estimates should be developed using the latest unit costs provided by the City, supplemented by data from comparable communities in California to ensure accuracy. The cost estimates should include a breakdown of key components, such as materials, labor, and other project-related expenses, to facilitate budget planning and approval processes.

Deliverables: Conceptual design drawings of selected concept design; planning-level cost estimates for selected concept design.

Task 4 Not to Exceed: $60,000

5. Draft and Final Plan Presentation

The project team will create a set of evaluation criteria in line with the California Active Transportation Program, the Regional Transportation Plan, and the City's updated General Plan. These criteria will guide the identification of high-priority projects that support local, regional, and State health and safety objectives. Ecology Action will assess the remaining high-collision corridors using this framework to generate a prioritized list for further study and public outreach. Additionally, the project team will devise an implementation strategy that outlines a timeline, estimated costs, and potential funding sources. Ecology Action will take the lead in preparing the plan.

To ensure broad stakeholder engagement, the project team will present the draft plan to the Vision Zero Task Force, Planning Commission, and City Council. The consultant will be required to attend these meetings to provide technical expertise.

Deliverables: Assistance with evaluation criteria and implementation strategy; attendance and participation in meetings with Vision Zero Task Force, Planning Commission, and City Council.

Task 5 Not to Exceed: $5,000

Total Not to Exceed (Tasks 1 through 5): $175,000

Tasks 1 through 5 should be completed by February 28th, 2026.

TIMELINE (subject to delay)

Consultant Selection Process

Release RFP —May 29th, 2024

Deadline for questions— June 19th, 2024

Responses due— July 19th, 2024

Select consultant— End of July 2024

Conclude contract negotiations— Early August 2024

See link included for full RFP, including Project Timeline, proposal Content and Organization, and Considerations.

Please submit proposal by 5:00 p.m. (PST) on Wednesday, July 19th, 2024 to:

Attn: Shelby Cramton
Ecology Action
877 Cedar Street, Suite 240
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
shelby.cramton@ecoact.org

PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION

Each proposal will be reviewed to determine if it meets the minimum proposal requirements. Ecology Action may reject any proposal if it is conditional, incomplete, fails to meet the requirements of the RFP, or contains irregularities. A selection committee will review all proposals and will make final recommendations based on the proposal and references check.

RFP Response Evaluation — Criteria Points

Responses will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Firm's demonstrated experience in similar project work — 30

Key staff experience with similar projects — 20

References — 10

Proposed project approach — 40

Total — 100

Final Selection and Protests

The RFP process is considered concluded when a letter is sent to all participating consultants indicating which consultant has been selected.

Protestants shall submit a detailed written statement of protest to:

Attn: Shelby Cramton
Ecology Action
877 Cedar Street, Suite 240
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
shelby.cramton@ecoact.org

Statements of protest must be submitted no later than five (5) business days after receipt of the award notice described above.

Thank you for your consideration of this RFP. Ecology Action looks forward to receiving your proposal. If you have any questions, please contact Shelby Cramton via email at shelby.cramton@ecoact.org by Wednesday, June 19th, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (PST).