Introduction

The City of Bowling Green, Ohio, is seeking proposals from engineering firms to work with the Planning Department, City administrative staff, the Planning Commission, elected officials, and the public to update the City's Access Management Polices and Guidelines ("AMPAG"). The AMPAG takes a proactive approach to maintaining the integrity of roadways within the City through managing access and projected roadway needs. The document was last updated in 2007.

Community Profile

The City of Bowling Green, home of Bowling Green State University and the County seat, is located in the northwest region of Ohio in Wood County and is about twenty (20) miles south of Toledo. The community encompasses approximately 13 square miles and has a population of 30,808 based on 2020 Census data. Bowling Green was first settled in 1832, was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became a city in 1901. With the discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th century, Bowling Green experienced a boom to its economy. The wealth can still be seen in the downtown storefronts, and along Wooster Street, where many of the oldest and largest homes were built.

The City's form of government, as described in its Charter, is known as the "Mayor-Administrator Plan" and is a home-rule city. The City has municipally-provided utility services, full-time police and fire services (both nationally accredited), provides numerous City services, has a local public transportation system (B.G. Transit), and several active and passive parks and recreational opportunities. The City has a diverse industrial base, with a mix of commercial at the northern, eastern and southern edges of the City limits, along with a vibrant, historic downtown. The City is home to Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm and the largest solar installation in Ohio, in addition to the nationally-known Black Swamp Arts Festival and National Tractor Pulling Championships. Bowling Green has been twice named "Best Hometown" by Ohio Magazine.

Background

The City adopted the Access Management Polices and Guidelines in 2001, with minor updates in 2007 and 2009 to mirror Ohio Department of Transportation standards. Since the adoption of the AMPAG, the City has created and/or updated several planning documents as follows; Future Land Use Section of the Comprehensive Plan (2014), East Wooster Street Corridor Study and Concept Plan (2015), Community Action Plan – a neighborhood revitalization plan (2018), East Wooster Development Plan (2019), and new Zoning Code and Zoning Map (2023). The City also adopted a Complete Streets Policy in 2015 in support of the recommendations of the Future Land Use Plan.

This information is important, since it provides a focus of the community to define the uses of the roadway to include all forms of transportation.

It is recommended firms review the City's planning documents on the City website in preparation of the qualifications --

Comprehensive Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/273/Comprehensive-Plan-Information

East Wooster Street Corridor Study and Concept Plan
https://www.bgohio.org/472/East-Wooster-Street-Corridor-Study-Round

Community Action Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/547/Community-Action-Plan-PDF?bidId

East Wooster Development Plan:
https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/1248/White-Paper-February-2019-PDF

Zoning Code Update information:
https://www.bgohio.org/666/Zoning-Code-Update

Access Management Polices and Guidelines:
https://www.bgohio.org/DocumentCenter/View/546/Access-Management-Policies-and-Guidelines-PDF

Scope of Work

The City of Bowling Green is requesting interested and qualified firms to submit proposals for qualifications to update the AMPAG. The firm chosen will work primarily with the Planning Department, who will serve as the point of contact throughout the project and will be responsible for coordinating and implementing the proposed update. Meetings with City Administrative staff, the Planning Commission and elected officials will be critical. There would likely be a core steering committee for the update.

The following is a list of key components of the AMPAG update:

• Evaluating and performing an in-depth analysis of the current existing functional roadway classes, future functional roadway classes, and right of way needs. This will likely lead to re-classification of various roadways.
• Reviewing for alignment with the Ohio Department of Transportation Access Management Manual, including but not limited to driveway and intersection standards, visuals for the various types of drive designs, and the general guidelines.
• Reviewing TMACOG's Long Range Transportation Plan for consideration of any future roadway needs.
• Updating the document to include all modes of transportation, with specifically the addition of accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians where appropriate (i.e.: implementing the Complete Streets Policy)
• Updating the document for alignment with current and planned shared use paths for clarity with future development.
• Modernizing regulations to include visuals and maps where appropriate.
• Connecting with the new Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations to create cohesion and updated standards with future developments for all users and to meet community goals.
• Developing, as needed, an engagement strategy with various stakeholders – internal and external.

Deliverables

The selected firm will prepare the AMPAG in a format agreed upon by the City. Throughout the course of identifying proposed updates, the firm will provide draft versions at various stages throughout the project period. The specific deliverables will be subject to further discussion, such as a proposed timeline and meetings with a core committee.

Submittal Requirements

The City is requesting the following information for the submittal of the proposal:

1. Cover Letter: One page letter that includes the business/consultant name, address, phone number, name and e-mail for the primary contact. If the proposal will include other partners, please identify the name(s) and contact information.
2. Proposed Approach: Provide a summary of the consultant's understand of the project and a proposed work plan that includes specific approaches and methods for achieving the goals of this project. The work plan should include major task and time required to complete, deliverables for each task, outreach and engagement approaches, required meetings, communication methods, City responsibilities, and a projected schedule from start to completion.
3. Qualifications and Experience: Provide the following information to demonstration qualifications of the consultant and personnel
   1. Consultant background (and any subcontractors) - Statement of qualifications, company history, size of the firm, description of services provided by the organization, experience and history providing similar services related to preparing subdivision regulation, list of comparable projects the company has worked on in the last 5 years, and provide a statement verifying your firm's workload and capacity to complete the project within the timeframe provided.
   2. Identify the project team (included subcontractors) and provide the following information – Name and title of the individual who will lead and mange the project, name and title of key staff who would be assigned to the project, resumes for proposed lead and associated team members involved. Include educational background, years of professional experience in respective field, certifications, and recent similar projects worked on and the role in said projects.
4. Cost Proposal: Provide a "not to exceed" cost for completion of the project. This can be listed in the proposed approach, if desired.
5. Examples: Provide at least 3 examples of subdivision regulation work samples recently completely (within last 10 years) by the firm that exhibit the team's ability to successfully complete the proposed project. Include location, date, scope, contract amount, project team, and client contact information for each work example. Project samples can be digital.
6. References: Provide at least 3 references of municipal clients where similar professional services were recently provide by the frim. Include the name, email, and phone number of each reference listed.
7. Submission Packet: The entire response needs to be submitted in a sealed envelope marked "City of Bowling Green, Ohio, Subdivision Regulations Update" on the front.
8. Deadline: Responses to this RFQ are due no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2023 and need to be delivered to:

Lori Tretter, Municipal Administrator
City of Bowling Green
305 North Main Street
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

Questions regarding the RFQ may be addressed to Heather Sayler, Planning Director, at (419) 354-6218 or hsayler@bgohio.org.

Selection Process

A selection committee will review all proposals. In evaluating proposals, the committee will consider all factors in response to the proposals, including: price, consultant qualifications and *experience, project team, response to this request, schedule for completion, and references.

*The City will be looking in particular for experience with small to mid-sized university communities and extensive experience with writing recent Access Management policies and guidelines.

The City is not obligated to accept the lowest priced proposal, but will make an award in the best interest of the project. Following the evaluation, the City of Bowling Green will enter into contract negotiations with the most highly qualified firm.