The Town of Bethel, Vermont seeks a collaborative consultant team to work closely with local and state partners in completing an innovative village center and stormwater master planning process. The Bethel for All: Village Accessibility Plan and Stormwater Master plan will explore and plan for a variety of improvements that make Bethel Village accessible, inclusive, and welcoming to diverse people of all ages, races, backgrounds, and abilities while strengthening our economy, health, environment, and community.

The Village Accessibility Master Plan will have two primary focus areas:

1. A comprehensive plan for improving the accessibility and appeal of Bethel's core village business district on Main Street, including streets and transportation infrastructure, public spaces, private businesses, and historic buildings.
2. A conceptual design and plan for creating an appealing network of assets, facilities, public spaces, and attractions in Bethel's broader village center, accessible through multi-modal transportation connections.

The Stormwater Master Plan will identify and integrate projects and improvements to manage village stormwater flows along the White River and its tributaries, address problem sites, improve water quality, and boost flood resilience.

We anticipate that specific deliverables and project outcomes will be:

• Data and maps documenting village center and community existing conditions, needs, barriers, and opportunities around accessibility, mobility, economic development, and stormwater management/green infrastructure (including multimodal transportation infrastructure, public spaces and land use, community facilities and supporting activities)
• Economic data and study to identify economic opportunities, unmet needs, and options for economic and business development
• Recommendations, alternatives and prioritization of potential short-term and long-term projects and solutions (including infrastructure, policies, programs, information, and management) for improving accessibility and livability, multi-modal transportation, economic development, and stormwater management
• Pop-up demonstrations and experiments, educational activities and other creative events and channels for engaging community members
• Accessible final Village Accessibility Master Plan and Stormwater Master Plan documents and maps including conceptual designs, cost estimates, phased implementation plans and suggested funding sources for final priority projects:
  • Core village business district accessibility, multi-modal transportation, and economic development improvements
  • Developing a connected, accessible, appealing network of public spaces and amenities in the village center
  • Improving stormwater management in the village center
• Rural accessibility guide with recommended options, best practices, and universal design standards for private businesses and institutions, community facilities and public spaces

In addition to developing specific and actionable plans, this project will have important broader community outcomes including awareness and knowledge of accessibility issues, barriers and solutions; stronger working relationships between town groups and partners; and baseline data and resources to inform ongoing practices and actions.

A total of $105,000 is available in project funding for the Village Accessibility Master Plan and Stormwater Master Plan, with an estimated maximum of $98,020 available for consultant services. Funding is provided by the Better Connections Grant Program, administered by Vermont Agency of Transportation and Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, and local match.

Please visit the Bethel Better Connection RFP information page http://tinyurl.com/bethel4allrfp for more information, the full RFP, and background documents. For questions, contact Nicole Cyr at ncyr@vtc.edu