For years, it has been a strategic initiative to provide a gateway, monument, or other aesthetic improvement to the US75 corridor that announces and establishes the community identity along the US75 corridor. Over $500,000 in Governor's Achievement Award funds (from two separate awards) has been set-aside for this initiative; however, progress has been delayed by the US75 Widening Project three-year construction activity.

The Engineering department has developed a concept and idea to accomplish this aesthetic goal, while implementing an innovative and practical solution to enhance traffic flow for the near- and long-term horizon.  Reconstruction of the Allen Drive interchange will provide an opportunity to eliminate the three-way stop condition and create islands within the intersections that can potentially be used for public art.  The height of the Allen Drive bridge over the US 75 main lanes presents an opportunity for vertically-oriented artwork, in order to create a sense of place and identity for the community. This scope of work will explore opportunities for decorative enhancements to the overpass parapet walls alongside the bridge.

This contract for schematic-level analysis and design will look at three options which will include the existing stop condition, a signalized condition, and a roundabout.  The engineering consultants will establish the design criteria and calculations to submit our concept to TxDOT for review and approval.  Since this project lies within the TxDOT right-of-way, the state agency has final approval authority on any concept.  The landscape architect consultants will establish landscape and hardscape renderings and concepts. Once the schematic-level drawings and concepts are approved by TxDOT, the engineering department will bring another contract to Allen City Council for approval, in order to complete detailed construction drawings for bidding and also manage the artist selection process required for public art.

Requests for Qualifications were received and evaluated in May 2013 for various categories of engineering professional services.  From that process, the City of Allen generated a shortlist of qualified consultants, in which Huitt-Zollars, Inc. has been identified.  

Funding for the schematic design will come from project ST0316/non-bond ($178,153) and Governor's Achievement Award Funds ($47,800).

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services contract with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. for the Schematic Design of the Allen Drive/US75 Interchange Improvements in the amount of $225,953.

I make a motion to authorize the City Manager to execute a professional Services Contract with Huitt-Zollars, Inc. for the Schematic Design of the Allen Drive/US75 Interchange Improvements in the Amount of $225,953.