Gold Rush Circulator Study Charlotte, North Carolina REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Gold Rush Circulator Study Charlotte, North Carolina REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

September 25, 2012 for the Gold Rush Circulator Study A. Purpose Charlotte Center City Partners (CCCP) and the City of Charlotte (City) seek to engage a Transit Planning Consultant (Consultant) to provide a comprehensive evaluation and recommendations to the existing urban circulator service operating in Charlotte s Center City. CCCP and the City are seeking consultants whose combination of experience and expertise will provide timely, cost-effective and quality professional services. B. Project Study Area The Study Area focuses on Charlotte s Center City, generally defined as the area within and adjacent to the I-77/I-277 loop. The Study Area is the region s largest employment destination and is home to a growing residential community. With over 100,000 employees that work in Center City and over 70,000 residents within a 3-mile radius of Independence Square, Charlotte s Center City is the economic heart of the region. The map below is a general representation of the study area, but does not indicate study area boundaries. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 2 of 7

C. Background and Existing Conditions OVERVIEW: The Gold Rush is a free circulator shuttle that operates two perpendicular routes in Center City Charlotte on weekdays. The Red Line travels Trade Street, the Orange Line Tryon Street. Combined, the two lines offer over one million trips per year. Gold Rush service is important to Center City employees as it supports the ability to park once each day and move between Uptown meetings and events without driving. The service also offers visitors access to Uptown s various cultural and entertainment amenities. Center City has changed considerably since the Gold Rush began operations over a decade ago. The LYNX Blue Line, a 9.6-mile north-south light rail segment, opened in November 2007, part of the 2030 Transit Corridor System Plan that proposes to supplement bus service with light rail and commuter lines as part of the LYNX system. Charlotte has become the second largest banking center in the United States and is a burgeoning energy hub, furthering Center City s position as the region s employment center. The number of residential units has steadily increased, with over twenty skyscrapers built, in construction, or in planning. In addition to growth in employment and housing, new entertainment and cultural destinations now attract more evening and weekend trips to Center City. Gold Rush expands the urban living zone; it establishes better connectivity to and between Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods through this interconnected transit plan, offering Charlotteans reduced vehicle trips and increased amenities. In the past decade, ridership has more than doubled to over 1.3 million riders per year while operations costs have more than doubled from $1 million in 1999 to $2.4 million in 2009. Currently, the Orange Line totals approximately 30,000 riders per month while the Red Line totals approximately 65,000 riders per month. Ridership varies based on season and events in the Center City and has also been affected by recent expansions on both routes. The 2011 expansion of the Red Line to serve Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) and Presbyterian Hospital positively impacted ridership, but frequency on the route has been cut to 15 minute intervals down from 7 minute intervals at its peak service. In August 2011, the Orange Line service was extended to the Charlotte School of Law, southwest of Center City, with 6 daily trips. Incidentally, a 2011 on-board survey of Gold Rush riders revealed fewer Gold Rush riders identified as Center City employees compared to a similar study conducted in 2008. The difference is likely attributable to the increase in student populations served. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 3 of 7

FUNDING: Gold Rush presently relies on a labor-intensive and unsustainable funding model requiring 50% cost-share between Charlotte Center City Partners and the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS). Center City Partners collects voluntary corporate contributions to compose its half of the funding. These contributions are not guaranteed long-term and don t represent all of the interests who are benefitting from the service. Gold Rush is a free service and existing vehicles are not equipped with fareboxes. Other neighborhood circulators such as the CATS Hidden Valley Shuttle charge $0.70 per ride. Funding partners have discussed adding a farebox to the Gold Rush or transitioning to some sort of fee-to-ride model, but have not yet determined the best way to proceed. VEHICLES: Gold Rush faces an aging vehicle fleet. Of the 19 Gold Rush vehicles, up to 7 are due to be retired as 10-year old vehicles well past the 350,000 mile threshold and approaching the 500,000 mile threshold. CATS is willing to discuss purchasing different vehicles and several options have been discussed including the addition of low-emission alternatives, leasing vehicles, or contracting with a private operator that would procure its own vehicles. Retired vehicles will not go offline until replacements are secured. Charlotte is soon breaking ground on a 1.5 mile starter segment of streetcar that will overlap about half of the Red Line (from Presbyterian Hospital to the Charlotte Transportation Center). The rest of the Red Line (west to Johnson C Smith University) is also planned for streetcar service at a future date. A decision on a fare structure for the Charlotte streetcar has not yet been made. D. Study Participants Study participants include, but are not limited to, representatives from: the City of Charlotte City Manager s office, Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT), Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), Charlotte Center City Partners and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA). In addition, there are 7 Gold Rush funding partners whose needs and interests will need to be considered. Other key Center City employers, institutions and attractions will also be involved as necessary to benefit decisionmaking. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 4 of 7

E. Key Tasks 1. Analyze existing information, provided by client, such as: Residential and employment density Location of trip attractors/activity centers On-board survey of riders (2008 and 2011) Gold Rush ridership figures Traffic counts Historical Context (past route adjustments) 2. Conduct a review of best practices for urban circulator operations, focused especially on: Funding mechanisms Operations best practices 3. Collect stakeholder input about the existing service and circulation needs. 4. Develop and present recommendations for Gold Rush circulator study committee. Recommendations should address: Route Schedule Funding Operating entity Fare Vehicles Current & future conditions F. Products/Deliverables 1. Written report and accompanying presentation that summarizes the existing conditions, best practices and stakeholder input received and presents recommendations for the future of Center City Charlotte s urban circulator 2. Kickoff and monthly meetings with client team (4 meetings) 3. Community participation program to include at least two meetings with Gold Rush stakeholders and the design and implementation of a broader community participation program, which will be augmented by strong staff support from client team 4. Minutes and/or summaries of all monthly meetings as well as any interviews with project stakeholders 5. Electronic files of all project documents, spreadsheets, GIS data, and PowerPoint presentations 6. Presentation of findings to Charlotte City Council or designated Council committee G. Project Funding The budget for this project is not to exceed $50,000. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 5 of 7

H. Timeline Request for Proposal Posted September 25, 2012 Questions about RFP submitted in writing October 8, 2012 Proposals Due October 19, 2012 Interviews October 31 November 2, 2012 Consultant Hired November 8, 2012 Project Complete March 15, 2012 I. Proposal Format/Requirements Proposals should be as thorough and detailed as possible so that the involved parties can properly evaluate your capabilities to provide the required services. Proposals should be limited to a maximum of 20 pages, excluding qualifications. 1. Organization, Understanding, and Approach: A written narrative statement describing the Consultant s organization and experience in providing services similar to those anticipated with this study. This should include a description of the firm, its size and organizational structure, as well as the firm s background, resources (financial and personnel), and capabilities in the relevant areas. Provide a brief description of the Consultant s qualifications for this project including a short history of the Consultant s experience in similar projects. Consultant should outline its approach to completing the work as required by this solicitation. This statement shall illustrate the Consultant s overall understanding of the project. 2. Work Plan: Provide a detailed description of the Consultant s proposed services which explains how the Consultant will carry out the project. In the work plan, describe each project task and proposed approach to the task as clearly as possible. 3. Schedule: Include a preliminary schedule for the project. Indicate all work plan tasks and their durations. The chart should also include a preliminary meeting schedule that clearly identifies all project deliverable dates. 4. Staffing: Include a staffing plan for the project listing key project team members and sub-consultants by name, field of expertise, specific responsibilities on the project, and estimated number of hours they will work on the project. Include any relevant experience each project team member has directly participated in. 5. References: Proposal should include at least three (3) references from recent clients for whom similar services have been provided. References should include the name, address, and telephone number of the client contact person. Identify when work was performed and the type of work and services performed. These references may be contacted. 6. Federal, State, DBE and SBO Requirements: Consultant must show that it is certified to do business in the State of North Carolina and that it can comply with all standard federal and state contracting requirements. The Consultant should also indicate whether the firm or any Sub-Consultants for the study have status as a certified minority/women-owned/disadvantaged business enterprise in the State of North Carolina. In FY2003, the City of Charlotte implemented the Small Business Opportunity (SBO) Program. The SBO Program seeks to enhance competition in City contracting and procurement opportunities as well as promote economic growth and development of small businesses in the Charlotte MSA. This program is designed to increase market access and capacity of small businesses. The SBO Program includes the purchases of goods and services including IT services, office supplies, consulting services, catering, market research, equipment, construction, and more. The Consultant should indicate whether the firm or any Sub-Consultants for the study have status as an SBO contractor with the City of Charlotte. 7. Price Proposal: The Price Proposal should set forth the fee for services and method of calculating the rates for the different services to be provided. This Price Proposal shall not exceed the project budget. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 6 of 7

J. Proposal Submittal 1. Please transmit one digital copy by 5pm October 19, 2012 by email to proposals@charlottecentercity.org. The digital copy should be either in MS Word or pdf format. 2. Please submit 5 hard copies by 5pm October 19, 2012 to: Charlotte Center City Partners Attn: Gold Rush Circulator Study 200 South Tryon Street, Suite 1600 Charlotte, NC 28202 3. The outside of the package should be clearly marked Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study. Each firm is fully responsible for the timely delivery of its Proposal. Reliance upon mail or public carriers is at the firm s own risk. 4. Proposals received after the time and date specified will not be considered. 5. This RFP does not commit Charlotte Center City Partners to award a contract, to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal, or to pay for any costs incurred in the preparation of a contract for services. 6. Questions regarding clarification of the RFP must be submitted in writing on or before Octob er 8, 2012. Responses will be provided to all parties who request a copy of the RFP. Any questions should be submitted via email to Charlotte Center City Partners at proposals@charlottecentercity.org. Subject line should read: Gold Rush RFP 7. Proposal evaluation: The Evaluation Team will review and rank the proposals based on the experience and qualifications of personnel assigned to perform the services (40%), specific plans or methodology to be used to perform the services (40%), firm expertise and/or references from other clients (20%). After selecting the preferred Consultant, the price proposal will be checked to make sure it does not exceed the maximum available project budget. In the event that the preferred Consultant s price proposal exceeds the maximum available budget, the Evaluation Team will select a new preferred Consultant based on the factors listed above. This process will be repeated until a preferred Consultant whose price proposal does not exceed the maximum available budget is selected. Charlotte Center City Gold Rush Circulator Study Page 7 of 7