1-Suntran Service Study RFP.pdf

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Public Transit Service Study

City of St. George, Utah

REFERENCE NO: 26-281

Issue Date: May 8, 2026

Questions Due Date: May 29, 2026, 2:00 pm

Proposal Due Date: June 5, 2026, 2:00 pm

1. Introduction

The City of St. George invites qualified transportation consulting firms to submit proposals for a Public Transit Service Study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and enhance the existing SunTran system to support planned growth, improve mobility, and align public transportation with the St. George metropolitan area long-term infrastructure and economic objectives.

This study will build upon existing plans and incorporate input from stakeholders, the public, and regional partners to develop a 5-year Transit Development Plan (TDP) focused on improving system efficiency, increasing ridership, and identifying realistic short-term improvements and long-term service strategies.

Funding for this project may include Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5304 Planning Funds and Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Funds, administered through the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Accordingly, all applicable federal requirements and clauses shall apply.

2. Background

The City of St. George operates SunTran, the fixed-route and paratransit public transportation system serving St. George and surrounding municipalities. SunTran currently operates seven fixed routes and one commuter route using a fleet of clean diesel vehicles, along with complementary paratransit service in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA).

Transit service currently operates Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The system is structured as a “spin wheel” network, with buses rotating through routes throughout the service day. Under the current system design, the typical travel time to complete a single route is approximately 40 minutes. The city currently employs 29 full-time and 12 part-time drivers to provide transit services.

The most recent significant system update occurred in winter 2024 with the introduction of the Zion commuter route. Outside of the Zion route and the addition of the Ivins route, the SunTran system has not experienced a comprehensive restructuring or major service redesign in more than ten years.

Total SunTran ridership was approximately 314,784 passenger trips in 2023, 368,425 passenger trips in 2024, and 383,274 passenger trips in 2025, underscoring the importance of evaluating current operations and planning for future service needs. The primary goals of this study are to improve system efficiency, increase ridership, address identified service gaps, and ensure that transit resources are deployed effectively.

Passenger data by stop and route will be available as well as initial staff studies of the routes, timing, and reliability to provide selected consultants for the study.

The St. George metropolitan area has experienced significant population growth, economic expansion, and increased tourism in recent years. These trends have increased demand for reliable, efficient, and flexible public transportation while also highlighting the need to ensure existing transit resources are deployed effectively. Additional funding will likely be limited to support major service expansion; therefore, it is anticipated that many recommendations will rely on retooling and optimizing existing services.

This study is intended to support near-term operational decision-making as well as longer-term planning over the next ten years. The city is seeking a Transit Service study to:

● Evaluate current system performance and productivity, including route structure, to inform potential service adjustments.

● Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and address service gaps through retooling existing routes and service design.

● Identify service gaps and connectivity opportunities, with particular focus on:

o St. George core route o Tech Ridge o St. George Regional Airport o St. George Regional Hospital o Utah Tech and Dixie Tech Colleges o Major employment and business centers o Downtown St. George o High-density residential areas and mixed-use corridors o Other key activity centers identified during the study; and o Align transit planning with regional land use, housing, and economic policies.

o Tie-in to the city’s Trail network.

o Identify alternative means of service delivery as applicable (micro-transit, etc…)

3. Scope of Work

The selected consultant will provide professional transit planning services to deliver a focused, data-driven, and cost-effective Transit Study that updates the City’s transit development strategy and positions the SunTran system for continued and sustainable growth over the next five to ten years. It’s expected the study to be completed within six months. The study shall rely primarily on existing data and targeted analysis of new data collected during the study.

Task 1: Project Management and Coordination

● Develop a concise work plan and schedule consistent with a six-month study duration.

● Facilitate monthly progress meetings

● Coordinate as needed with UDOT, FTA Region VIII, and local jurisdictions.

● Provide brief monthly progress updates and invoices.

Task 2: Existing Conditions and System Performance

● Review and summarize existing SunTran data, including ridership, route performance, farebox recovery, operating costs, and on-time performance.

● Evaluate current route structure, service frequencies, span of service, and stop spacing.

● Review existing regional mobility services relevant to system coordination.

Task 3: Needs Assessment and Service Gaps

● Identify key service gaps and unmet travel demand based on existing data, City input, and targeted stakeholder input.

● Evaluate opportunities to improve efficiency through route restructuring, stop consolidation, or service reallocation.

● Assess compliance with applicable federal requirements, including Title VI and ADA.

● Focus analysis on priority activity areas, including:

o St. George core route o Tech Ridge o St. George Regional Airport o Major employment and business centers o Downtown St. George o High-density residential areas and mixed-use corridors o Other key activity centers identified during the study o Trail network Tie-in

Task 4: Service and System Alternatives

● Develop one highly recommended service strategy, with up to two conceptual alternatives, focused on:

o Improving efficiency and ridership o Addressing identified service gaps o Retooling existing routes where feasible

● The Zion commuter route shall be excluded from major restructuring.

● Provide order-of-magnitude cost and ridership estimates sufficient to support decision-making.

● Conduct limited, targeted stakeholder and public engagement.

Task 5: Financial and Implementation Plan

● Prepare high-level capital and operating cost estimates for the recommended service strategy.

● Identify realistic funding sources, including available and anticipated FTA and UDOT funding.

● Develop a phased implementation plan covering:

o Short-term (1–2 years) o Mid-term (3–5 years) o Long-term (6–10 years)

● Include a concise set of performance measures to track implementation success.

Task 6: Final Deliverables

● Draft and final Comprehensive Transit Study Report.

● Executive summary suitable for City Council and Stakeholder presentation.

● Final route maps and supporting digital materials.

● PowerPoint presentation summarizing findings and recommendations.

● Guidance on next steps for implementation

All deliverables must be provided in both digital (editable) and PDF formats. GIS datasets must be provided in ArcGIS-compatible format.

The City of St. George reserves the right to limit scope elements during contract negotiations to ensure the study remains cost-effective and consistent with the intended six-month schedule.

4. Proposal Submittal Requirements

Proposals shall not exceed 15 pages and must include:

1. Cover Letter and Authorized Signature

2. Project Understanding and Technical Approach

3. Proposed Scope and Work Plan

4. Project Team and Key Personnel

5. Firm Qualifications and Relevant Experience

6. Schedule and Project Management Approach

7. Cost Proposal

8. References (at least three recent similar projects)

5. Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Factor Weig ht Project Understanding and Technical Approach

25%

Experience and Qualifications of Key Staff 20% Work Plan and Schedule 15% Cost Proposal 30% References and Past Performance 10%

The City reserves the right to conduct interviews with top-ranked firms before making a final selection.

6. Schedule

Milestone Date RFP Release 5/8/2026 Deadline for Questions 5/29/2026 Proposal Deadline 6/5/2026 Interviews (if conducted) 6/8-6/9/2026

7. Submission Instructions

All BIDS must be submitted via sgcity-utah.bonfirehub.com. Any BID may be edited or withdrawn prior to the above scheduled time for the opening of BIDS. Any BID received after the time and date specified shall not be considered. No BIDDER may withdraw a BID within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof. Should there be reasons why the contract cannot be awarded within the specified period, the time may be extended by mutual agreement between the CITY and the BIDDER.

Submissions must be received no later than 2:00PM June 5th. Late proposals will not be accepted. Questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted in writing via the MESSAGES section within the opportunity on sgcity-utah.bonfirehub.com

8. Terms, Conditions, and Compliance

● The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive minor irregularities.

● All costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal are the responsibility of the proposer.

● The successful consultant will be required to enter into a Professional Services

Agreement with the City of St. George. (See attached)

● Federal and State requirements apply, including but not limited to:

o FTA Circular 4220.1F (Third-Party Contracting) o Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 o Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) o Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation (49 CFR Part 26) o Buy America and debarment clauses as applicable