I-25 Interchange _ Multimodal Study FINAL RFP.pdf

Request for Proposal

I-25 Interchange & Multimodal Study Federal Project Number – STU M400-013

Town of Erie 645 Holbrook Street Erie, Colorado 80516

April 22, 2025

Table of Contents

Invitation to Propose

Project Background and Description

Project Study Area Map

Project Manager Information

Scope of Work

Submittal and Evaluation Criteria

Selection Process

Selection and Performance Schedule

Invitation to Propose

Electronic Proposals will be received by the Town of Erie (the “Town”) via e-mail.

Proposals may be sent to mobility@erieco.gov, until May 16, 2025, 3:00 PM for the I-25 Interchange & Multimodal Study (Federal Project Number STU M400-013).

Proposal Submittals: All bids must be submitted electronically.

The required Proposal documents must be received on or before the Proposal due date and time. Hardcopy submittals will not be accepted. It is the Proposer’s sole responsibility to ensure all required Proposal documents are submitted via e-mail by the submission deadline.

To verify that a Proposal has been submitted successfully, a confirmation receipt/email will be sent to the email address the proposal was sent from.

A brief summary of work for which the Proposal is requested consists of:

Consultant to provide a final report with population & traffic volume projections, cost estimates, conceptual plans, scenarios, multimodal and transit improvements, and recommendations for I-25 between and including the two interchanges of Colorado State Highway 52 and Erie Parkway. The project is expected to occur over 12 months.

Question Submittal Timeline

• Request for Proposal documents will be posted by April 28, 2025.

• Questions to be sent to Project Manager by May 5, 2025

• Response to questions sent in a formal addendum by May 7, 2025 All questions related to this bid should be submitted in writing via e-mail to maguilar@erieco.gov

A virtual pre-proposal conference with representatives of prospective Proposers will be held at 10:00 AM MDT, on May 12, 2025 via MS Teams. Information for this meeting will be sent to prospectives via email when requested. Representatives of the Town will be present to discuss the Project. Prospective Proposers are invited to attend and present questions relative to this Proposal. Attendance at this meeting is not a requirement for presentation of a Proposal.

The Town assumes no responsibility for payment of any expenses incurred by any Proposer to this Request For Proposals.

The Town of Erie is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Dated this April 22, 2025 Town of Erie, Colorado

Project Background and Description

A. Location and Growth The Town of Erie and the North Denver Metro area are experiencing rapid growth which is impacting the transportation network. Erie’s population grew from 30,038 in 2020 to just over 40,000 in 2025. Other municipalities experiencing similar growth include, City of Dacono, the Town of Frederick, City and County of Broomfield, and Weld County. The area will continue to see drastic growth in the next 10 years.

The Town of Erie will see developments along Erie Parkway and the I-25 corridor, including the I-25 Gateway South, Westerly, North Westerly, and North Station with about 10,000 homes planned or entitled. One neighborhood is in development already and the others are in the planning stages. Erie’s 2050 projected population is estimated between 70,000 to 80,000, with the majority of growth in the Weld County section of the Town. The regional growth will impact the two interchanges for the local municipalities at I-25 & Erie Parkway and I-25

& CO SH 52.

I-25 is a north-south Interstate corridor managed by CDOT with three lanes in each direction. I-25 North is undergoing improvements including an express lane in each direction, and mobility hubs along the corridor between Denver and Fort Collins. To implement the improvements, the plan is phased into several segments. The study area is in CDOT’s I-25 Segment 4 spanning between Broomfield and Longmont. The express lanes in this segment are planned with future funding (DRCOG 2030 Staging Plan) and expected beyond CDOT’s 10-year plan. The study area includes two existing interchanges: I-25 at Colorado State Highway 52 (CO 52) and I-25 at Erie Parkway.

The study area is influenced by the following agencies:

• Town of Erie to the west

• Town of Frederick to the north

• City of Dacono to the east

• City and County of Broomfield to the southeast

• RTD to the west and south

• Fully lies within North Area Transportation Alliance (NATA)

• Fully lies within Weld County

• Fully lies within DRCOG

• Fully lies within CDOT’s Region 4

B. Studies and Plans

Several studies and plans were developed over the last decade. Those include:

• Town of Erie Comprehensive Plan

• Town of Erie Transportation & Mobility Plan

• Town of Erie Gateway Developer Book

• Town of Erie Corridor Analysis

• Town of Erie PROST

• Town of Frederick Comprehensive Plan

• Town of Frederick Transportation Master Plan

• City of Dacono Transportation Plan

• City of Dacono Comprehensive Plan

• City of Dacono I-25 Sub Area Master Plan

• City of Dacono Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master Plan

• Broomfield Transportation Master Plan

• CDOT North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement

• CDOT CO 52 PEL

C. Regional Coordination

With many agencies surrounding I-25 in the study area regional coordination is critical. Currently several regional organizations influence I-25 in this area, those include the I-25 Coalition, the SH-52 Coalition, NATA, and DRCOG’s SW Weld County subregional Forum. These organizations’ contributions will be critical to the improvements on I-25.

D. Multimodal, Transit & Wildlife

The Town of Erie plans include a transit center for the Gateway development along I-25 given its connectivity to the existing RTD Right-of-Way that traverses across the interstate. The RTD ROW connects to the N Line in Thornton.

Several transit lines are planned on or near this section of I-25. Currently, CDOT’s Bustang operates on I-25 from Fort Collins to downtown Denver. Future plans include, RTD operating a North I-25 BRT to the Highway 7 Mobility Hub, RTD reinstating the LD route, Boulder County operating a transit service on CO 7, Erie working with RTD to extend the JUMP route to the Gateway transit center, Erie operating a flex ride service in late 2025, and RTD has funding to expand the N Line to CO 7 as identified in their FasTracks Plan. In addition, the RTD ROW opens opportunities at the Gateway development.

The Gateway development will include trails and Erie identified the need for a trail crossing over/under I-25 along the RTD ROW.

Given the barrier that I-25 creates for wildlife, there is an interest to address the wildlife concerns, if any. With a focus on the need for a trail crossing, RTD ROW opportunities, and addressing wildlife concerns, the idea of adding an overpass/underpass on I-25 to accommodate these three focus points is of interest.

Project Study Area Map

Project Manager Information The Town of Erie Project Manager for this project is Miguel Aguilar, AICP. All questions related to this bid should be submitted via e-mail to maguilar@erieco.gov by 5pm Mountain Time on May 5.

Scope of Work The awarded Proposer (“Contractor”) shall provide applicable services consisting of, but not limited to, the following including a list of deliverables:

Task 1 - Project Management The Contractor shall designate a Project Manager (PM). The PM shall manage and track their project activities and hours. The PM shall coordinate with the Town Project Manager on a monthly basis. It may be necessary to have additional Contractor staff and Town staff during the monthly coordination meetings. If additional Contractor staff is attending, the Contractor will provide an agenda to Town staff for the meeting and identify what additional Contractor staff will be discussing, exception will be for the kick-off meeting. When mailto:maguilar@erieco.gov additional Contractor staff has completed their purpose in the meeting that staff will exit the meeting.

The Town PM and Contractor PM will schedule a kick-off meeting together after a contract is signed by all parties. During the kickoff meeting, the project schedule will be better defined and milestones set. This will provide an opportunity for solidifying approach and outcomes, discuss data needs, brainstorm concepts, and identify key public engagement activities. The Contractor shall work with the Town’s Communications and Community Engagement ("CCE") Department to match the look and feel of the project’s logo, plan name, and tagline with the Town’s style guide and messaging. This project branding will be used for all communication material throughout the process to have an attractive and recognizable look in consistent messaging and format. This task will also solidify the community engagement approach.

The PM will provide monthly progress reports and invoices for billing. The invoice will consist of one month’s worth of completed work. Meeting minutes will be provided with next action items identified.

Deliverables:

• Kickoff meeting agenda, materials, facilitation, and summary

• Project schedule & budget including key milestones and public engagement activities

• Roles & Responsibilities

• Monthly progress reports

• Agendas for meeting with additional Contractor staff

Task 2 - Existing Conditions The Contractor shall research and identify a baseline of conditions of the corridor including a two-mile buffer around the corridor. Additionally, spatial data, socioeconomic, demographic and development trends will be assessed. An assessment of the region’s impact on this section of the I-25 corridor and interchanges will be included in the existing conditions.

The Contractor shall provide an existing conditions report utilizing infographics and establishing baseline indicators. The report will provide an overview of baseline conditions and define how those conditions influence the corridor. Data will be contextualized to relate directly to what stakeholders need to know about the state of the corridor over the next two decades and opportunities beyond.

2.1 - Review of Regional & Municipal Plans

With multiple agencies in and around the I-25 corridor and interchanges, there are multiple plans and documents that will inform the impact on the study area. These documents will be reviewed to encompass a comprehensive understanding of development and trends. Maps will be developed for each item under this task. The following documents will be reviewed:

▪ Town of Erie Comprehensive Plan

▪ Town of Erie Transportation & Mobility Plan

▪ Town of Erie Gateway Development Plan

▪ Town of Erie Corridor Analysis

▪ Town of Erie PROST

▪ Town of Frederick Comprehensive Plan

▪ Town of Frederick Transportation Master Plan

▪ City of Dacono Transportation Plan

▪ City of Dacono Comprehensive Plan

▪ City of Dacono I-25 Sub Area Master Plan

▪ City of Dacono Parks, Trails and Outdoor Recreation Master

Plan

▪ Broomfield Transportation Master Plan

▪ CDOT North I-25 Environmental Impact Statement

▪ CDOT CO 52 PEL

2.2 - Natural Resources & Environment Review The Contractor shall summarize and map natural hazard risks, oil and gas facilities, air and water quality, and resource management. The Contractor shall incorporate the new data and information provided by the recently updated Hazard Mitigation Plans by Weld County.

The Contractor shall summarize and map all wildlife habitats, species, natural resources, and the natural environment within the study area.

From this summary, the Contractor shall provide Local, State, Federal regulations, restrictions, and impacts to the wildlife and environment.

2.3 – Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Open Space The Contractor shall provide an inventory of the parks, recreational facilities, trails, and open space and build off all Parks & Rec Master Plans to identify projects and strategies that have yet to be completed.

2.4 – Economic Development Review

The Contractor shall provide an overview of the economic conditions including but not limited to commercial development, industrial development, freight impact, outdoor recreation, and entertainment.

2.5 - Transit Review The Contractor shall conduct a review of all existing transit services in and around the study area and research future transit plans to occur in the study area. The Contractor shall research and understand the process and standards of the regional transit providers’ operations.

2.6 – Traffic Data The Contractor shall review traffic volumes and vehicle type along the corridor, the interchanges and arterial roadways in the buffer area. The Contractor shall provide a review of crashes in the study area and summarize crash types.

2.7 – Interchange Review The Contractor shall provide an assessment of the two interchanges, including their state of condition, recent inspections, life expectancy, and any risks.

Deliverables:

• Existing Conditions Report on task items listed

• Maps, data, GIS files, traffic volumes, transit ridership

• A mapped overview of development and roadway improvements

Task 3 - Public Outreach & Stakeholder Coordination The Contractor shall create a list of events including a schedule and talking points for the events. Events will occur in all involved municipalities. All public outreach activities will contribute to the development of the vision of the study area.

3.1 - Public Outreach Events Contactor shall develop a public outreach list of events and schedule.

Public Outreach events will encompass a variety of events such as attending Town hosted events, pop up events, surveys/questionnaires, etc.

3.2 - Transportation Workshop The Contractor shall host a transportation workshop to include the involved municipalities, the Regional Transportation District (RTD), the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG), and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The coordination between all agencies will include adding this study to those larger transportation plans. The consultant will work with those larger agencies to understand their process to include this study in their plans.

3.3 - Stakeholder Meetings The Contractor shall host a variety of meetings with the involved municipalities including staff, boards, committees, coalitions, regional organizations, departments. These meetings will help inform the study.

• Public Engagement Summary Report

• A total number of interactions with the public

• Materials used during all engagements

• Goals and outcomes of workshop and stakeholder meetings

Task 4 – Modeling & Analysis The Contactor shall develop a model of the regional growth and traffic volumes.

4.1 - Regional Growth Projections & Timeline

The Contractor will collect and analyze traffic volumes and development plans that will impact the study area, including roadways in the buffer area. The Contractor will work with Town/City Engineers and Planners to understand the occurring development and traffic impacts. Based on development plans and timelines, the Contractor shall develop a comprehensive timeline of the stages of each development such as when development will be 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% complete in the study area. The model shall show what growth looks like over the next 40 years.

4.2 - Corridor & Interchange Traffic Volumes Based on development plans and timelines, the Contractor shall develop a comprehensive timeline of the stages of development such as when development will be 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% complete or when developments are completed based on milestone years (10 year increments) and what traffic volumes will exist during each stage of development in the study area and at the two interchanges. The model shall show what traffic volumes will look like over the next 40 years.

The interchanges currently do not have meters on the on-ramps. The Contractor will evaluate the current conditions and provide a timeline of when meters will be needed at the on-ramps.

4.3 – I-25 Managed Lanes CDOT is constructing managed lanes on I-25 from Fort Collins to Denver.

The project is broken into segments for implementation. The study area is within Segment 4 which is the last segment to receive the managed lanes.

The Contractor will evaluate the impact of the existing managed lanes on either side of the study area. The contractor will evaluate when I-25’s Segment 4 will reach its capacity without the managed lanes and provide a timeframe for when the managed lanes are to be constructed.

4.4 Transit Ridership Projections

The Contractor shall provide projections of transit ridership for the regional transit services from CDOT, RTD, and local municipalities.

• Modeling report or task items listed

• Maps, data, GIS files, traffic volumes, ridership projections

• Inputs used for model

Task 5 - Interchange Reconfiguration Scenarios The Contractor shall use the current interchange configurations and include the traffic volumes at the milestones of 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, and 40 years out. The Contractor shall analyze and develop interchange reconfiguration scenarios of the two interchanges in the study area and identify a timeframe for when the interchanges shall be improved. These reconfigurations will include, keeping the interchanges as (improved) diamond interchanges, converting them to diverging diamond interchanges, or converting to single point unified interchanges. The Contractor will analyze what additional ROW is needed for the improved or reconfigured interchanges.

Deliverables:

• Conceptual designs of interchanges

• Interchange/Bridge traffic volumes of each year milestone

• Report on ROW needed

Task 6 - Underpass/Overpass Analysis The Contractor shall analyze and evaluate a crossing, either underpass or overpass, for the RTD ROW, trail connections, and wildlife across I-25. A crossing for all three connections will be planned together and it is anticipated that the RTD ROW will be active in the future with a rail connection to the N Line.

The Contractor shall identify the length and width of the underpass/overpass and locate the connections to the underpass/overpass from either side of I-25. The Contractor shall provide a timeline for when the underpass/overpass shall be constructed based on development and growth. The timeline will also include anticipated construction costs for today’s standards and another for inflated costs at the time for improvements for the underpass/overpass. The Contractor will provide a general conceptual design of what this will look like.

Deliverables:

• Conceptual designs for underpass/overpass

• Report on analysis of underpass/overpass

Task 7 - RTD ROW Improvement Needs & Transit Improvements RTD owns a Right-of-Way that crosses I-25 just north of the Erie Parkway interchange. On either side of I-25 are RTD rails. Eastward the rails eventually connect to the N Line’s State Highway 7 Station in Thornton and toward the west the ROW passes through the heart of Erie. The Contractor will evaluate the conditions of the ROW and rails and determine what improvements are needed to bring the rails to operational conditions. This will include new rails and replacement of any rails. This analysis will include costs (today’s costs and inflated costs at 40 years out) estimates to improve the rails and estimates to extend the N Line from the SH 7 Station in Thornton to the Gateway development in Erie.

Based on regional transit plans, the Contractor will evaluate and provide scenarios for transit connections to the Gateway Transit Center from Erie Parkway and one from I-25. This will include a conceptual design of a Transit Center at the Gateway development including a Park-n-Ride, bus bays, and amenities.

Deliverables:

• Transit report

• Projected transit ridership

• Inputs used for model

• Improvements needed to connect RTD ROW

Task 8 - Identifying Challenges, Obstacles, & Conflicts Based on existing conditions and completed analysis, the Contractor will provide a Challenges, Obstacles, and Conflicts report summarizing the challenges, state the obstacles, and identifying conflicts. This will encompass challenges, obstacles, and conflicts on a variety of topics including but not limited to, the natural environment, municipality plans, regional plans, transit plans and operations, financial, social, economic, development, policies, and political.

Deliverables:

• Challenges, Obstacles, & Conflicts report

• Maps, GIS files

Task 9 Economic & Fiscal Impact Based on the model results and development plans, the Contractor shall develop an economic impact on the surrounding area and shall provide a fiscal analysis of the costs associated with the scenarios, improvements, development, and analysis for each of the milestone years. This will include an economic & fiscal impact if there is a no build scenario.

Task 10 - Recommendations All recommendations for improvements shall be forwarded to CDOT, RTD, and DRCOG in anticipation of including this study in any DRCOG and/or CDOT plans.

Recommendations will be developed through regional consensus from all municipalities and organizations.

10.1 – Vision The Contractor shall create a vision for the study area based off public outreach events and all completed tasks. The vision will guide improvements for the study area.

10.2 - I-25 Improvements The Contractor shall outline and provide a set of recommendations of improvements for I-25 and when those improvements should occur. The recommendations will include how to coordinate with CDOT, RTD, DRCOG, and regional municipalities and organizations to proceed with the set of recommendations. This will include next steps and a financial outlook plan.

10.3 – Overpass/Underpass The Contactor shall provide scenarios for the overpass/underpass and a preferred scenario that works best combining the RTD ROW, a multiuse trail, and wildlife crossings. A cost estimate will be provided for the scenarios.

10.4 - Interchange Improvements The Contractor shall provide scenarios for the two interchanges including an improved diamond, diverging diamond, or single point unified interchange including metering the on-ramps. These scenarios will include cost estimates and a timeline of when improvements should occur, if any.

10.5 - Transit Opportunities The Contractor shall recommend transit improvements and identify opportunities with the regional transit providers and municipal transit providers. The Contractor shall provide a rendering of a transit center at the Gateway development and the preferred transit connections to the transit center.

10.6 – Multiuse Path & Wildlife Connections The Contractor shall provide recommendations for a multiuse trail and wildlife connections across I-25 and to/from surrounding development.

10.7 - Implementation Plan The Consultant shall provide an implementation plan outlining the improvements, when they should occur, and the fiscal impact. The implementation plan will identify current funding opportunities, including anticipated funding contributions from all stakeholders.

• Final Study/Report

• Recommendations for each task above

• Timeline of all recommendations

• Fiscal impact of recommendations including projected costs

Submittal and Evaluation Criteria All Bids shall be submitted to mobility@erieco.gov by the Proposer and must include the Proposer’s contact name, business name, address and telephone number. Bids by partnerships must be signed with the partnership name followed by the signature and designation of one of the partners or other authorized representative. A complete list of partners must be included with the bid. Bids by a corporate firm must be signed in the official corporate name, followed by the signature and designation of the president, principal, or other person authorized to bind the corporation, and shall display the corporate seal. Corporate firms must designate the state in which they are incorporated, the address of their principal office, and the name and address of their agent for service of process. All Bids must be submitted.

Please Note: Addenda may be issued for this RFP and will be sent to company contact provided for this RFP. Proposers shall ensure all addenda issued are acknowledged and responses thereto submitted along with the required Bid Documents. Failure to submit such responses may result in disqualification of the respective Bid.

The Town does not guarantee accurate information obtained from sources.

In order to simplify the review process and obtain the maximum degree of comparability, the proposal must follow the outline described below, and at a minimum, contain the required information. Respondents are encouraged to include additional relevant information. Respondents must also include a signature page with company name, address, phone number, contact name, authorized signature and date.

The Proposal should not exceed 25 Pages.

Experience

1. Understanding of the project

2. Four Examples of Related Work

3. List of three clients for whom similar work has been done. Include contact name and phone number.

4. Identified key staff and their experience for Tasks or Items.

Fees The proposal does not need to include a scope and fee. The fee and associated costs will be negotiated with the selected vendor.

Selection Process The Town’s selection committee will evaluate all proposals received based on qualifications and approach. Upon review, the committee will prepare a short-list of firms.

The attached sample Professional Services Agreement will be used by the Town as the contract document for the work. By submitting a Proposal, you accept the terms of this Agreement as stated. Any deviations from this Agreement must be requested in your submitted Proposal.

Selection and Performance Schedule The following is the anticipated schedule of events for the RFP process. Dates after the Proposals Due deadline are subject to change and all proposers will be notified.

Request For Proposals Available April 28, 2025 Last Day for Questions May 5, 2025 Final Addendum (if needed) May 7, 2025 Preproposal Meeting May 12, 2025, 10:00 AM Proposals Due May 16, 2025 Interview Notification (if needed) May 30, 2025 Interviews (if needed) June 3, 4, & 5, 2025 Selected Proposer Notified June 10, 2025 Selections and Negotiations Complete June 18, 2025 Anticipated Award of Contract July 8, 2025 Anticipated Notice to Proceed July 9, 2025 Kick-off Meeting Late July 2025 Anticipated Completion Date June 30, 2026