Introduction

On behalf of the region's metropolitan planning organization, the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is soliciting proposals from qualified engineering consulting firms to implement Phase II Part B of the Transit Stop Access Project. Consultant teams should demonstrate experience and qualifications in transportation planning and engineering, with particular expertise in transit, multi-modal design, and knowledge of best practices in the design of facilities that improve access and safety for all users, including riders of bus transit, pedestrians and bicyclists, and drivers of motor vehicles.

About GPCOG and PACTS

The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) is the state's largest metropolitan planning organization (MPO). Pursuant to federal statute, PACTS was established in 1964 as a collaborative effort of municipal, regional, state and federal representatives responding to the transportation-related goals and objectives of the Greater Portland region and its citizens. The purpose of PACTS is to identify travel patterns in the area, forecast future needs, and develop plans for improvements necessary to maintain a transportation system that will provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods in the Greater Portland area.

The PACTS area includes 18 member communities with 7 public transportation providers. The public transportation providers are Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit (also known as Shuttlebus-ZOOM), Casco Bay Island Transit District, City of South Portland Bus Service, Greater Portland Transit District (also known as Greater Portland METRO), Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Regional Transportation Program, and York County Community Action Corporation.

The Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) is a regional planning agency and economic development district. In 2018, PACTS and GPCOG voted to combine their staffs to better serve the region. The agreement, approved by the governing boards of both organizations, set up a process for a complete merger of GPCOG and PACTS over a three-year period. PACTS will continue to program federal highway and transit funds.

Project Information

Background

The Transit Stop Access Project (TSAP) seeks to (1) improve transit stop accessibility at high-priority stops around the PACTS region, (2) develop new regional transit "mini-hubs," and/or (3) improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities within ½ mile of existing transit stops. Three regional fixed-route transit services are participating in the project: Greater Portland METRO, City of South Portland Bus Service (SPBS), and Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit (BSOOB Transit, also known as ShuttleBus-ZOOM, SBZ).

The project is divided into three phases:

1. Phase I was completed in December 2017. The Phase I report identifies high-priority bus stops for accessibility improvements, defines amenities for and possible locations of new regional transit mini-hubs, and provides a menu of bicycle and pedestrian improvements for implementation within 0.5 mile of existing transit stops. It also develops recommendations for a project management structure to be used in Phase III. The Phase I report can be found on the GPCOG website at https://www.gpcog.org/175/Transit-Stop-Access-Project.
2. Phase II is further divided into Part A and Part B.
   1. Part A was completed in December 2019. The Phase II Part A report, which can be found on the GPCOG website at https://www.gpcog.org/175/Transit-Stop-Access-Project, identifies the following:
      • Proposed accessibility improvements at approximately 120 bus stop locations.
      • Proposed improvements at 2 mini-hub locations — The Maine Mall and Redbank Village.
      • Proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements at approximately 20 locations. (This list is a subset of the list of 120 locations for accessibility improvements.)
      • Conceptual design plans and construction cost estimates for the above improvements.
      • Decision on the budget split for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5307 funds and the local match share of each of the three transit agencies.
   2. Part B, to which this RFP applies, includes preliminary and final site design and engineering, and development of project bid and construction documents.
3. Phase III will implement the bidding process and administer the construction contracts.

The project is overseen by the GPCOG and the TSAP Project Management Team, which includes the GPCOG Project Manager and representatives from the three participating transit agencies.

Purpose and Need

As stated above, the purpose of the Transit Stop Access Project (TSAP) is to improve access to fixed route bus service by focusing on three areas: improving accessibility at high-priority transit stops, developing new regional transit mini-hubs, and/or improving bicycle and facilities within ½ mile of existing transit stops. The need in each of these areas is explained below.

• Improve Accessibility at High-Priority Transit Stops in the PACTS Region

There is considerable need throughout the PACTS region for improved access to transit stops for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Many of the approximately 650 unique transit stops around the PACTS region have accessibility challenges including non-ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant or absent curb ramps, landing areas, and adjacent sidewalks, and safety concerns over pedestrian crossings to access bus stops.

The project anticipates making such improvements — including rehabilitating sidewalks and curb ramps — at up to 120 stops. The stops, which are identified in the Phase II Part A report, are in the cities/towns of Biddeford (10 stops), Falmouth (5 stops, 2 of which are pairs), Old Orchard Beach (1 stop), Portland (69 stops, 34 of which are pairs), Saco (1 stop), South Portland (22 stops, 10 of which are pairs), and Westbrook (9 stops, 6 of which are pairs).

• Develop New Regional Transit Mini-Hubs

One of the final remaining capital improvement recommendations of the 2007 Regional Transit Coordination Study is to further improve transit provider coordination by building or designating transit centers (or mini-hubs) at minor transfer areas.

The TSAP initially included the construction of one to three mini-hubs. Two locations were selected in Phase II Part A — the Maine Mall and Redbank Village in South Portland. Due to a limited construction budget, the participating transit agencies have elected to focus on accessibility improvements rather than mini-hubs; however, there is interest in pursuing the possibility of a significantly scaled down "micro-hub" at the Maine Mall.

• Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities at and to Existing Transit Stops

Pedestrian facilities at select stops can be enhanced through improvements such as safer street crossings, pedestrian refuges, street furniture such as covered seating, lighting, trees, and traffic calming measures. Better facilities for cyclists at transit centers or mini-hubs would also improve customer service. Such accommodations include adding or improving bicycle storage such as by adding racks, covering racks, and increasing security around bicycle parking locations through lighting and security cameras. In some cases, it might be appropriate to add dedicated locked bicycle parking rooms paid for by user fees.

The project anticipates improving bicycle and pedestrian (bike/ped) facilities within 0.5 miles of existing transit stops at approximately 20 locations. The locations,[1] which are identified in the Phase II Part A report, are in the cities/towns of Biddeford (2 locations), Falmouth (1 location), Old Orchard Beach (1 location), Portland (8 locations), South Portland (7 locations), and Westbrook (2 locations). The approximately 20 locations are a subset of the 120 stops identified for accessibility improvements. The actual improvements, which were identified in Phase II Part A, will include bicycle parking, integrated bus stop and bicycle facilities, crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, curb alignment modifications and extensions, pedestrian signals, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), and sidewalk improvements that may be more extensive than at a typical bus stop.

The TSAP will utilize up to $1.8 million of FTA 5307 funding to make capital improvements to accomplish the goal of improving access to fixed route bus service.

[1] With regard to bicycle/pedestrian facilities, "location" refers to a stop or pair of stops.