ODOT_Planning___Research_557-26_Michael_Baker.pdf

SUBMIT TED BY

MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL,, IINNCC..

250 West Street ⋅ Columbus , OH 43215

P R O P O S A L F O R

TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH,

AND DATA REPORTING

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

May 14, 2025

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 1

SECTION A. UNDERSTANDING AND APPROACH

ABOUT MICHAEL BAKER

Michael Baker is a leading global provider of engineering and consulting services. The firm specializes in planning, civil engineering, architecture, environmental, construction, program management, and full life cycle support services.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Michael Baker provides engineering, operations, and maintenance services worldwide. With more than 4,500 employees in nearly 90 offices across the United States (including Columbus, Ohio) and internationally, Michael Baker is consistently ranked by Engineering News-Record among the top 10% of the 500 largest U.S.

design firms. Since 1940, Michael Baker has supported thousands of clients, including many state highway and transportation departments, toll authorities, airport authorities, and local governments. Michael Baker provides services across the entire life cycle of transportation facilities, from highway and bridge design, planning, and environmental support to facility design, aviation, and construction management.

Michael Baker is an industry leader in rail and transit services. We understand the intricacies of moving people and goods safely and efficiently. With complete projects across the country, our expertise encompasses everything from station area facility plans to the design of freight rail yards. Our work has included transit research, statewide transit planning, feasibility studies, ridership forecasts, and supporting our clients’ studies and applications under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) programs. Our successful development of the important modes of rail and transit transportation always includes comprehensive planning with the end goal of implementation, as evidenced by the 40 transit and rail passenger stations our team successfully delivered on the East Coast alone.

INTRODUCTION

For the last decade, Michael Baker has provided critical technical assistance to Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and local communities in planning for high-quality, efficient, and effective public transportation. We have a highly regarded planning practice with regional experience, nationally known leaders in the industry, and a multidisciplinary team well-versed in land use, multimodal transportation, economic development, urban design, community engagement, and public funding. We are trusted advisers to the communities we serve, making them safer, more accessible, more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous.

Our transit planning practice has a firm understanding of FTA and FRA programs including but not limited to Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities (§5310), Formula Grants for Rural Areas (§5311), and Urbanized Area Formula Grants (§5307).

M I C H A E L B A K E R H A S N A T I O N W I D E E X P E R I E N C E P R O V I D I N G S A F E R , M O R E A C C E S S I B L E P U B L I C T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

Michael Baker’s experience partnering with DOTs includes:

▬ Michael Baker currently provides on-call grant management support to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in relation to both Federal and State transit programs. In addition, our team also supports the Department with statewide transit planning, commuter assistance program support, and the management of the Department’s transit research program.

▬ Michael Baker has been providing National Transit Database (NTD) consulting services for 3rd consecutive years to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), including managing the data collection and reporting submission for every Tier II agency in the state, and assisting the Department with the inclusion of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data in their submissions.

▬ Michael Baker has served as the primary consultant for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Bureau of Public Transportation (BPT) since 2008, providing a range of services to support BPT staff priorities as well as providing technical assistance to address specific transit agency needs throughout the Commonwealth. Through seven successive on-call agreements, Michael Baker and its team of subconsultants have completed nearly 400 transit projects in Pennsylvania and have worked with every transit provider in the Commonwealth, from small rural fixed-route and demand response agencies that operate less than a handful of vehicles to large urban systems that operate more than 1,000.

▬ Michael Baker has been under contract with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for three successive periods and has successfully completed dozens of public transportation projects ranging from Transportation Demand Management, Transit Development Plans (TDPs), Transit Visioning Plans, and others.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 2

PROJECT APPROACH

TASK 1: CONTR ACT MANAGEMENT

The contract management task will be critical to the success of the project in terms of schedule, budget, communication, and teamwork. Michael Baker’s project management team will focus on maintaining open lines of communication and fostering coordination between the project team, ODOT staff, and the project stakeholders, including ODOT’s 40 Section 5311 subrecipients. The Project Manager, Christopher Zdanis, MBA, and the Principal-in-Charge, Sonja Simpson, DBA, will be available to the ODOT staff throughout the life of the project to ensure expectations are exceeded.

CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

Michael Baker’s full-time, dedicated Contract Administrator, Julie Dougherty, is responsible for tracking project management items and is dedicated to working collaboratively with the ODOT administrative staff. Julie is well-versed and highly proficient, and she is responsible for assisting Christopher Zdanis with and maintaining Michael Baker’s custom-developed contract-specific database. The database is used to track all work order information and associated deliverables and to create custom reports. Our proactive management includes both internal meetings and contract review meetings with ODOT project management and administrative staff. Recognizing that ODOT staff’s time is limited, these meetings are set up to run a maximum of one hour, have a defined agenda, and are intended to cover all contract statistics/tracking. In addition, Julie will be attending and participating in Consultant Meetings.

WORK ORDER MANAGEMENT

Each work order is set up with a work order manager and a contract administrator/liaison on the front end, and with the identified Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) Manager Derrick Johnson on the back end, in addition to the technical staff. This management style ensures projects are set up correctly from the beginning and deliverables are thoroughly checked and approved before submission.

STAFF WORKLOAD MANAGEMENT

Through our daily communications and interactions with ODOT staff, Michael Baker continuously assesses the ODOT technical needs and evaluates those needs against staff resources and capabilities. As a result, Michael Baker proactively identifies staffing requirements and expertise to meet the ODOT Office of Transit program as it evolves.

PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS AND COLLABORATION

Using collaboration software, such as Microsoft Teams or SharePoint, for file sharing and storage can help streamline the completion and submission of deliverables. This will allow the project team to stay organized, edit and share documents in real-time, and invite collaboration from ODOT staff. Although the usage of such tools may be dependent upon individual organizations’ access and user knowledge, during the Kick-Off Meeting, the Michael Baker team and ODOT staff will discuss various communication options that can help ensure that all parties remain engaged and connected.

KICK-OFF MEETING

To commence the contract, the Michael Baker project team will facilitate a virtual Kick-Off Meeting with ODOT staff. The agenda of this meeting will cover, at minimum, a discussion of the project work plan/timeline, outlining expectations, clarifying project goals and data needs, and determining project success factors. The overall goal of this meeting will be to ensure that, from a high-level standpoint, ODOT staff and the Michael Baker team agree on how the project will be executed.

PROJECT PROCESS REPORTING

Contract management for a task with an anticipated duration of two years will require periodic reporting via progress reports, invoices, and other project management documents. The Michael Baker team will provide monthly progress reports that outline major activities, progress toward deliverables, and any issues requiring the attention of ODOT staff.

PROGRESS MEETINGS

Contract management check-in meetings will be held to review progress, discuss issues/concerns, and confirm the next steps.

These meetings are proposed to be held virtually, biweekly, for 30 to 60 minutes each, throughout the duration of the project.

We have found this format often balances the need for communication while being respectful of clients’ time constraints. The Michael Baker team will provide a brief written summary of each meeting, noting any identified issues and action items. These meetings can be held in person or in a hybrid format, as required.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 3

PROJECT SPECIFIC QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN (PSQMP)

All projects at Michael Baker are required to have a PSQMP, which specifically addresses the quality requirements and processes to be followed by all team members. The PSQMP ultimately comprises a key section of the Project Management Plan (PMP), which is a written document that clearly outlines the procedures necessary to effectively manage the project. At the project kick-off meeting, the Michael Baker Project Manager, Christopher Zdanis, MBA, will provide the PMP to each team member, outlining the scope, schedule, budget, deliverables, project accounting information, and each team member’s roles and responsibilities.

The roles and responsibilities memorandum will be signed by everyone who has a significant role in the project and the managers who have committed resources to the project, underlining the importance of staff continuity and availability for the entire planning process.

QA/QC PLAN

Michael Baker’s commitment to making a difference begins with delivering projects that exceed our client’s expectations for quality.

This requires a robust QA/QC process that promotes consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. Michael Baker has fine-tuned its QA/QC processes on similar projects across the company throughout the years. Michael Baker will establish QA/QC requirements that are tailored to the specific needs of this project, leveraging tried and true processes that have delivered high-quality results on similar past projects. Quality management is the art of guiding the actions of the team to move toward the final vision of a product with the highest level of quality possible. In addition to establishing rigorous QA/QC protocols, some aspects of Michael Baker’s efforts to deliver quality are built into the way Michael Baker plans to deliver the work.

QC Procedures. QC refers to the procedures required to confirm that the work performed by the project team is correct, complete, consistent with project criteria, and in conformance with the client’s expectations. For all key activities, the Michael Baker Project Manager will assign QC checkers who have appropriate levels of experience to review all deliverables.

The PSQMP will define specific requirements for tracking and resolving all comments and revisions and maintaining records of reviewed documents. The PSQMP will establish protocols for checking, which will apply across all disciplines and include all work performed by subconsultants.

QA Procedures. QA refers to the activities necessary to carry out QC activities thoroughly and consistently project-wide and to confirm that all requirements of the PSQMP are enforced. Michael Baker’s Quality Manager will be responsible for directing all QA activities. Before the submittal of any deliverable, the Quality Manager will ensure and sign off that all appropriate QC activities, per the PSQMP, have taken place, comment resolution has been finalized, and all QC documentation is in order and properly saved. The Quality Manager will also be responsible for incorporating any necessary revisions to the PSQMP as the project progresses and implementing any corrective actions (CA) on the project. CAs are intended to resolve any recurring problems that may compromise the quality of the team’s activities or the effectiveness of our QC reviews. CAs and other revisions to the PSQMP can only be implemented with the concurrence of the Michael Baker Project Manager and ODOT staff.

The source of many errors and quality deficiencies can be traced back to poor coordination and misinterpretation between different disciplines working on the project. For this reason, an important element of Michael Baker’s PSQMP is the requirement for Interdisciplinary QA Reviews. The Michael Baker Project Manager will assign highly qualified staff to review plan sheets and deliverables to ensure that assumptions and conclusions made by different disciplines are consistent. This review includes not only technical accuracy but also conformance with the overall project goals and coordination of the project.

INVOICING

The Michael Baker Project Manager will prepare and submit invoices to the ODOT staff at the conclusion of each task identified in the project schedule.

While no formal deliverables are required for this task, the Michael Baker team will provide the following:

PROJECT SPECIFIC

QUALITY

MANAGEMENT PLAN

PROJECT CONTROLS

WORK STANDARDS

QUALITY ASSURANCE

PROJECT REVIEWS QUALITY AUDIT

QA QC

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 4

TASK 2: RESEARCH

For this task, Michael Baker will lead research and planning efforts on various topics as identified by ODOT staff, with an emphasis on assisting ODOT’s rural transit agencies with operational efficiencies, improved service coverage, strategic development, and decision-making. Research tasks may include, but are not limited to, transit fare policies, transit technology, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), workforce development and regional coordination efforts etc. Based on the findings from said research, Michael Baker will provide policy recommendations that, in turn, can be used by ODOT to make targeted investments and help improve regional transit service across the state.

Our team has prior experience working with numerous agencies in performing transit research and benchmarking-related tasks to help identify national best practices. For example, Michael Baker is currently supporting the MDOT with a two-year-long research project related to the Marketing and Education Budget for Implementation of New Transit Technology. Transit agency involvement has been at the forefront of this research project from the beginning including agency workshops, surveys, stakeholder interviews, etc. The research results will be presented as a strategic guidebook/manual that will inform transit agencies on how to successfully implement and deploy transit technology including budget optimization for marketing and education.

Michael Baker is also assisting the FDOT Central Office by providing in-depth client support in relation to statewide transit research. Technical assistance includes identifying and determining transit needs and research priorities including the development of FHWA-funded transit research proposals; planning, designing, and executing research projects including providing guidance and directions to university researchers; disseminating research results to transit agencies across the state in the form of research reports, webinars, and presentations; as well as developing policy language for the implementation of research outcome initiatives.

Two recently completed research projects include a Low-Income Fare Study for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and a Safe Access to Transit Study for FDOT, focused on how transit agencies and government entities can work together to develop a safe, inclusive design for all mode users. Further, the Michael Baker project team has experience leading and conducting research projects in various environments and settings and has authored publications and industry recommendations for organizations such as the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) as well as peer-reviewed scientific journals.

TASK 3: PL ANNING

The Michael Baker team has assisted multiple state departments of transportation with their statewide, local, and regional planning needs. For more than 12 years, Michael Baker has supported PennDOT’s BPT through multiple successive planning and finance on-call contracts. We are currently providing the same level of support to FDOT’s Public Transit Office and Connecticut DOT’s BPT. Michael Baker also provides the same level of planning support to urban and rural systems including Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT), Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), and the Maryland Transit Administration. Through these on-call contracts, we have provided a wide range of planning services to support the entire state, individual agencies, and groups of agencies. Our team will be prepared to assist ODOT and the State’s transit agencies with planning tasks, including but not limited to the following:

Michael Baker has been at the forefront of emerging transportation programs and initiatives. We have assisted clients with planning for micro-mobility, micro-transit, connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), innovative funding initiatives, mobility-as-a-service, workforce hiring and retention, and alternative vehicles. We have worked with clients across the country to address these complex topics in the unique environments in which they operate.

For example, Michael Baker worked with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) in Southeast Michigan to evaluate their existing micro transit pilot program and developed a system redesign to expand the service to complement to its fixed route system. That project has gained significant public, political, and advocacy support based on its intensive public engagement and transparent technical approach.

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Michael Baker helped to manage the delivery of several of the projects in the Smart Columbus portfolio and provided technical expertise to ensure their success. As the winner of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) first first-ever Smart City Challenge, Columbus was awarded $50 million in grant funding and the designation as America’s Smart City to embrace the reinvention of transportation to accelerate human progress. Michael Baker staff managed the Smart Mobility Hubs and Connected Electric Automated Vehicles projects while providing regular input into the Multi-Modal Trip Planning Application / Common Payment System, Prenatal Trip Assistance, Mobility Assistance for People with Cognitive Disabilities, and Connected Vehicle Environment projects.

Michael Baker supported two major metropolitan areas in developing sustainable transportation funding solutions. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), PRT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission partnered with Michael Baker to engage regional stakeholders across Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and form the Sustainable Transportation Funding for Southeastern and Southwestern Pennsylvania advisory councils. Both councils included elected and appointed officials, as well as leaders from major private sector employers and community organizations. The studies explored potential issues with the future of public transportation, considered best practices of national peers, developed solutions to solve these issues, and established recommended paths forward toward sustainable funding structures and plans. That project was awarded an American Council of Engineering Companies Diamond Award in the Studies, Research, and Consulting category in 2021. Recommendations from that project form the basis for several legislative initiatives in Pennsylvania today.

In 2023, FDOT was directed by the state’s legislature to conduct a review of the organizational structure of HART and consider a potential merger with a peer transit agency. Michael Baker was charged with conducting a thorough assessment of HART’s organizational structure along with possible transformative changes to promote operational efficiencies, effectiveness, and long-term organizational sustainability. It objectively considered the agency’s governing structure and board policies and examined its financial assets, obligations, facilities, and operations. The study concluded with the identification of a series of potential governing scenarios and recommendations for consideration by state officials, and HART’s board of directors. The report was accepted by HART’s Board of Directors, FDOT, the Governor’s Office, and the Florida Legislature.

These projects reflect the Michael Baker team’s capabilities, and more importantly, the trust we have built with your peers. There is no greater honor as a consulting firm than to earn the trust of your clients. In every project, we will collaborate with your team to develop solutions that are appropriate to your unique needs. We understand that a solution that is appropriate in Florida or Texas may not be appropriate in Ohio. We believe that our national expertise enhances our ability to solve complex problems and know that we must customize those solutions to meet your unique political, economic, social, and technological factors.

TASK 4: ALTERNATIVE FUELS OPER ATIONS

ALTERNATIVE FUELS - TRANSIT AGENCY SUBTASKS

For this task, the Michael Baker team will work with ODOT to identify which rural transit agencies are interested in adding alternative fuel vehicles to their fleets. The team will engage with the rural transit agencies to collect information on its existing vehicles, identify the routes and vehicles to be replaced through conversations, and work to fill gaps in the data collected.

Michael Baker has completed studies with similar scope items including: PennDOT’s I-78/I-81 Alternative Fuels Deployment Plan and the Statewide Alternative Fuels Study; PRT’s Alternative Fuels Study which looked as renewable diesel, battery electric, and hydrogen; and the City’s of Marysville’s EV Master Plan which evaluated fleet transition and facility feasibility for electrification which looked at state fleet vehicle alternative fuel options. Similar to our work on these past projects, for ODOT, the Michael Baker team will document all existing conditions, fleet needs, and general mission characteristics and will propose the alternative fuels that are feasible.

Understanding that each agency will be a separate subtask, the Michael Baker team will engage with the rural transit agency to collect information on its existing vehicles, facility capacity, staff capacity, operations, training needs, and maintenance requirements. The purpose of the interview will be to discuss findings and to learn about current practices, operations, and needs that will help guide vehicle recommendations. This effort will likely entail site feasibility assessment at the transit facilities.

Value Add: Michael Baker’s Ed Heydorn, a national expert in hydrogen fueling, has deployed seven hydrogen refueling stations in California and supported transit agencies with temporary hydrogen facilities while they evaluated their pilots. He can offer technical guideance to our team on this task.

Based on the analysis of the existing fleet, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) options will be identified and recommended that can meet the demands of the routes, and the number of vehicles required. We understand the economics of fleet conversion extend beyond the sticker price, and our comprehensive cost analysis will provide the agency with a clear picture of the total cost of ownership

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 6 for each recommended vehicle. This will include conducting an analysis of applicable electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment options and speeds to provide information and specifications related to the acquisition and maintenance costs for various types and providers of charging equipment, tailored to meet the needs of the agency’s future fleet required electrical upgrades, proximity to vehicle storage areas, and the potential for the infrastructure to be utilized by other agencies, agency employees, or the public at each location.

The utility cost implications of the increased demands of the site will be built into the financial evaluation and will included vehicles and facility upgrades. Once the recommendations are compiled, we will develop training and workforce requirements needed for the agency to operate and maintain the equipment and vehicles. Additionally, workforce considerations will be critical to the deployment of the fleet. The vehicles will need to be maintained and operated, therefore identifying the necessary training and capabilities will be a factor in determining what is feasible.

The deliverables will include a summary report for each transit agency inclusive of existing conditions, vehicle and equipment needs analysis, facility evaluation, and financial evaluation with product recommendations, a comprehensive budget, maintenance recommendations, and a workforce training plan.

GENERAL PLANNING, GRANT, AND RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS

As part of Task 5, the Michael Baker team will support ODOT staff with planning, grants, and research of alternative fuels best practices and funding opportunities and strategies on an as-needed basis. The team will be available to support ODOT in the development and submission of grant applications, as we have a successful track record in supporting agencies in technology and alternative fuel grants. The team has both local and out-of-state staff that will be available to conduct in-person visits to Ohio rural agencies. Michael Baker has prior experience supporting states with grant funding including the State of Alaska National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Plan and Maryland’s NEVI Formula Program Plan.

TASK 5: DATA AND REPORTING

The Michael Baker team has supported countless clients in meeting the requirements set out by various USDOT and FTA-specific requirements. We are trusted by multiple departments of transportation to provide these services. Through Michael Baker’s long-term relationship with Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation, we have conducted compliance reviews of transit agencies, their plans, and their projects for consistency with state and federal requirements. The team provided support as needed during their 2021 triennial review by the FTA. Michael Baker also provides ongoing support to review and update Title VI policies and procedures, as well as audits of complementary paratransit services across the Commonwealth.

Similarly, Michael Baker is currently supporting FDOT’s Transit Office by serving as the grant management support consultant, providing in-depth client support in relation to all aspects of transit grant management and federal/state compliance requirements. As part of this project, our team supports the Department with the completion of various data and reporting requirements including Federal Financial Reporting, project Milestone Progress Reporting, and Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) reporting. Our team also assists with the review of sub-recipient data and preparing the FTA annual program performance reports and supported FDOT through their FTA State Management Review including making updates and revisions to FDOT’s State Management Reporting, and standard operating procedures.

In addition, Michael Baker has been providing NTD consulting services for three consecutive years to the MDOT, including managing the data collection and reporting submission for every Tier II agency in the state, and assisting the Department with the inclusion of GTFS data in their submissions.

Our experience has shown that one of the major challenges for transit agencies is staying abreast of FTA’s rulemaking changes.

The Michael Baker team monitors sources such as the Federal Register, FTA, and USDOT internet sites for proposed rule changes and announcements of new policies and regulations. Further, as part of our on-call support to FDOT, our team provides technical assistance to FDOT district staff and transit agencies on all aspects related to grant management and oversight for FTA’s formula-based programs.

Prior to commencing with data and reporting of the 40 rural Section 5311 Program subrecipients in Ohio, Michael Baker will review ODOT’s SMP for the Administration of Section 5311-Nonurbanized Area Formula Grant Program and Rural Transportation Assistance Program and any related documentation. The focus of this review will be to gain an understanding of current ODOT technical assistance, oversight, and monitoring processes as well as any current reporting formats utilized by the Department.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 7

TASK 6: PROJECT MANAGEMENT

The Michael Baker team will serve as the task lead and will provide Project Management services for this task. The ODOT Office of Transit requires project management assistance on special projects. This may include facilities, discretionary grant applications, research projects, or other opportunities that arise during the contract. Our team understands that ODOT has at least nine facility projects requesting Section 5311 funding and the majority of Task 6 will focus on that program of projects. ODOT does not have in-house experience building facilities; therefore, a consultant project manager is needed to assist with the process, provide oversight of the projects and technical assistance, and to confirm that the facilities are being built according to design specifications.

The Michael Baker team will provide project management services as required. Christopher Zdanis has more than 15 years in transportation and seven years as a Chief Operating Officer and a Tier II transit agency that covered 11 counties. He also served as the project manager for multiple projects and initiatives. This expertise will be critical to successfully meeting ODOT’s project management needs for this contract.

As lead for Task 6, Christopher will serve as an extension of the ODOT staff as Project Manager. The Michael Baker team understands the importance of coordinating with ODOT, FTA, and subrecipients to communicate project requirements, expectations, and status. ODOT will benefit from the continuity of Christopher’s management of the facilities projects due to his prior transit project management experience.

In working with state agencies, including ODOT, on rural facility projects funded by formula and discretionary grants, the Michael Baker team understands the time-sensitivity of obligating the funding. Our team has developed and is implementing a workflow process that prioritizes the ODOT facility projects to move them through FTA environmental review to grant awards, with the goal of having funds obligated to all eligible projects by deadlines. This will ensure that ODOT uses lapsing Section 5311 funds for these much-needed facility projects before they expire.

Michael Baker understands the importance projects funding; effective execution including third-party procurement, design, and construction; and easy operation and maintenance once implemented. As ODOT is challenged with in-house experience overseeing facilities projects, many of the subrecipients do not have experience implementing these kinds of projects. This requires proactive technical support, management, and oversight to ensure the projects are being implemented according to the established scope, schedule, budget, and federal/state requirements.

Michael Baker will deliver exceptional project management assistance to the ODOT Office of Transit, ensuring the successful execution of special projects across various domains, including facilities, discretionary grant applications, research projects, and emerging opportunities.

For facilities work, Michael Baker’s Project Manager and team will provide meticulous day-to-day oversight, expertly managing scope, budget, and schedule. They will lead technical work, conduct thorough site visits, and ensure compliance with all applicable Federal requirements. Their role will encompass monitoring and reporting on construction progress, supporting environmental assessments, and aiding in contract development and execution. With a strategic approach, they will guide projects to fruition, leveraging their profound understanding of FTA rules, regulations, policies, and project management oversight.

Beyond facilities work, Michael Baker’s project management services will extend to other critical areas, including technical writing, independent research, information gathering, data collection, and data analysis. Their expertise will ensure effective management of project scope, budget, and schedule, driving successful outcomes for the ODOT Office of Transit.

By combining their technical acumen with strategic vision, Michael Baker will transform challenges into opportunities, delivering impactful results that align with the goals and objectives of the ODOT Office of Transit.

Michael Baker is renowned for its comprehensive project management capabilities, demonstrated through successful collaborations with various transit authorities and infrastructure projects. For example, their work on the SEPTA RailWorks and Market Street Elevated Reconstruction Programs showcased their ability to manage complex urban transit projects. Similarly, their involvement in the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Asset Data Collection project highlighted their proficiency in handling large-scale data collection and analysis tasks. Additionally, their strategic planning and execution in the Harrisburg Transportation Center Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan exemplified their capacity to integrate transit solutions with urban development.

With a proven track record in managing complex projects, Michael Baker stands out as a leader in the field, ensuring that every project is executed with precision and excellence. Our team is equipped with advanced skills in program planning, master scheduling, cost management, and QC making Michael Baker the ideal partner for the ODOT Office of Transit.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 8

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PHASE

This phase is a critical first step in federal funding approval. Michael Baker will conduct brief (15-30 minute) weekly meetings with ODOT to discuss the status of environmental reviews and any action items needed to progress the projects. Tasks performed in this phase will include:

» Coordinate with each subrecipient and submit the required documentation to FTA for a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) determination.

» Meet with ODOT and its subrecipients regarding any issues that arise during the environmental review process; provide mitigation options to resolve issues, with the goal of having all eligible projects funded.

» Perform independent research, information gathering, data collection and analysis, and technical writing as needed regarding specific projects or subject matters.

FUNDING/GRANT AWARD PHASE

After FTA environmental approval, the projects will move forward with ODOT submitting grant applications in FTA’s Transit Award Management System (TrAMS), development/execution of subrecipient grant award contracts, and obligation of funds. Tasks performed in this phase will include:

procurement phase.

PLANNING PHASE

This phase is critical to ensure the projects have sufficient staffing and processes to effectively implement the project. Michael Baker will apply their experience and lessons learned from past projects, knowledge of FTA oversight procedures, and project management best practices, to provide guidance and recommendations to subrecipients. Tasks performed in this phase will include:

» Assess each subrecipient’s capacity to effectively execute the project and provide strategic guidance on gaps that should be addressed to ensure the project is effectively implemented.

» Provide guidance and technical assistance to ensure proper project planning, including a well-defined and realistic baseline scope, schedule, and budget for each project.

» Provide guidance on the development of project plans, including PMPs and supplemental management documents that will help effectively plan and execute the projects.

» Provide guidance to each subrecipient regarding the risk assessment and risk management process to ensure high-level risks are identified early and managed throughout the life of the projects.

PROCUREMENT PHASE

As the projects move into procurement, there are federal requirements the subrecipients must comply with regarding third-party procurement. The project team has developed templates and checklists to assist with this process. They stand ready to coordinate with each subrecipient and provide guidance on FTA third-party procurement requirements. Tasks performed in this phase will include:

» Confirm applicable procurements, including A&E and other professional services, are conducted according to Federal requirements.

» Provide technical assistance to subrecipients regarding the development of procurement documents, including Request for Qualifications, Invitation for Bid, qualifications-based evaluation procedures, and bid advertisement.

DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION

As the projects move from procurement into design and construction, Michael Baker will draw on years of experience providing project management oversight and technical assistance to ensure the projects are effectively executed. The team will provide day-to-day oversight, manage scope, schedule, and budget, lead technical work, conduct site visits, ensure compliance with all applicable federal requirements, and monitor and report on construction progress.

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DESIGN PHASE

Project management oversight in this phase is critical to ensure a workable 100% design is produced. Changes during construction due to design errors are a common cause of cost overruns. The project team’s proactive approach to oversight will provide technical assistance and guidance to help identify and address project risks which will reduce the likelihood of preventable issues and cost overruns. Throughout this phase, Michael Baker will:

» Attend design meetings to ensure the design progresses according to the agreed-upon terms and conditions, including scope, schedule, and budget.

» Coordinate with Michael Baker’s Facilities Engineering team to review designs, identify any fatal flaws, and confirm constructability.

» Provide technical assistance for completion of a risk assessment and development of a project risk register.

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Oversight in this phase is critical to identifying and addressing issues with scope, schedule, or budget, ensuring the project is being implemented according to federal, state, and local requirements, and ensuring the project is built according to design specifications. Projects often exceed schedule and budget during construction due to various issues specific to each project.

Michael Baker will apply their experience in project management oversight, and lessons learned from previous projects, to continually monitor construction progress, identify issues, and work with the appropriate parties to resolve the issues to keep the projects in compliance and on track. Throughout this phase, our team will:

areas for improvement.

budget, risks, and changes for each project.

» Meet with ODOT monthly to review the status, findings, and any recommendations for each project.

TASK 7: 5307 GOVERNORS APPORTIONMENT SUPPORT

Our project team has extensive experience in transit technical assistance. Our Project Manager, Christopher Zdanis, has over seven years of experience as a Chief Operations Officer for a Tier II transit agency in Central Pennsylvania. State DOTs in California, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia rely on our transit experience daily.

Over the last 18 years, Michael Baker has completed more than 300 task work orders for PennDOT’s BPT and MDOT’s Office of Public Transportation. Our projects span various disciplines to meet diverse needs, including compliance reviews, NTD training, software training, service performance, auditing, construction management, plans involving route planning, Title VI compliance reviews, and project implementation. Our team understands ODOT’s unique needs and are prepared to leverage our expertise to drive your initiatives forward.

Similarly, Michael Baker is providing in-depth client support to FDOT’s Transit Office in relation to all aspects of transit grant management and federal/state compliance requirements. This includes providing technical assistance to FDOT district staff and transit agencies in relation to FTA compliance, financial management, procurement, data gathering, and reporting.

Michael Baker team member Forward Momentum, LLC has extensive experience with Financial Management for ODOT Subrecipients. Mandy K. Bishop has provided oversight and management of formula funding at ODOT (e.g., STP, HSIP, 5307, 5311) as well as grant awards through Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and direct awards through USDOT. Further, for this task, our team will leverage Mandy’s expertise with third-party contracting, procurement and buy America requirements.

Forward Momentum, LLC is currently providing Intelligent Transportation Software Project Management support to Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority. Mandy is part of the core team leading the evaluation of the system replacement or upgrade plan for Computer Aided Dispatch/Automated Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) hardware and software, finance and payroll software, and any associated hardware to implement timekeeping, and asset management and maintenance software. Mandy’s expertise in public contracting for both the ODOT and the City of Columbus is being leveraged to help perform peer reviews for third-party service and equipment providers as well as the development of requests for information and requests for proposals all in compliance with both local and FTA requirements including Buy America.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 10

SECTION B. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND EXPERIENCE

STAFFING PL AN

Michael Baker’s Project Manager, Christopher Zdanis, has more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning and transit and maintenance operations. He has worked on a variety of transportation studies requiring the data management, project management, and research skills required to complete this project. Supporting Christopher is a team of experienced research and planning experts with a diverse portfolio of transit projects throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the East Coast. We will leverage our team’s extensive knowledge and experience to bring safety improvements and mobility to the State of Ohio’s project. Below is the organization and reporting structure of our proposed team. We have provided resumes for our key personnel demonstrating their experience on similar assignments or projects.

PROJECT MANAGER

CHRISTOPHER ZDANIS 1*

Principal-in-Charge

SONJA SIMPSON, DBA 1

Transit Planning Emily Webb 1

Biance Panunto 1

GTFS

Elizabeth Bechtel, AICP 1

Facilities Pat Gardner 1

NEPA

Angela Welt 1

Outreach and Engagement Kaitlin Davidson 1

Janalle Lance 1

Financial Planning Rick Williams, AICP 1

S U P P O R T S T A F F

QA/QC

DEREK JOHNSON, PE 1

RESEARCH

KRISTIN GLADWIN, PHD 1*

PLANNING

AARION FRANKLIN, PHD, AICP 1*

ALTERNATIVE FUELS OPS

JEFF KUPKO, PE, PTOE 1*

DATA & REPORTING

MATT BODNAR, AICP, PP 1*

Alternative Fuels Ops, Procurement & Planning Support

MANDY K. BISHOP, PE, SI 2*

Contract Administrator

JULIE DOUGHERTY 1

L E G E N D

1 MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2 FORWARD MOMENTUM

* RESUME INCLUDED

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ▬ TRANSIT PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND DATA REPORTING ▬ PAGE 11

Christopher is a seasoned and results-oriented manager with over a decade of progressive experience in transportation development and execution. His tenure as Chief Operation Officer for a Class III transit system encompasses a diverse skill set including strategic planning, transit and maintenance operations, service and system planning, contract negotiation, financial planning, policy and procedures development, Title VI compliance, customer experience enhancement, performance benchmarking, product and service implementation, process optimization, workforce design, problem-solving, and project management.

Total Years of Service

Educational Background M.B.A., Business Administration, University of Phoenix

B.M., Business Management, University of Phoenix

Availability 80%

R E L E V A N T E X P E R I E N C E

SMARTer Mobility Program, Detroit Metro Area Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties, Michigan.

SMART - Daniel Whitehouse, 248-419-7952. SENIOR TRANSIT PLANNER. Performed an in-depth staffing level analysis for the new service ensuring that the strategic recommendations were rigorously aligned with fiscal constraints, collective bargaining agreements, and operational imperatives. This involved utilizing advanced analytical methodologies to assess workforce requirements, integrating budgetary data, and adhering to labor contract stipulations to optimize staffing efficiency and operational effectiveness.

Radcliff/Elizabethtown MPO Transportation Study, Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Radcliff Radcliff/ Elizabethtown MPO - Mike Skaggs, 270-769-2393. TECHNICAL MANAGER. Provided expert technical assistance for the work assignments of planning staff, ensuring strict alignment with client standards and project scope. Collaborated closely with the project manager and client to maintain high-quality performance. Delivered technical insights on service routing, multimodal transportation connections, and the strategic placement of stops and amenities. Developed detailed cost projections for future operations and service expansions, utilizing advanced financial modeling techniques. Identified and leveraged diverse funding sources, including alternative revenue streams, to address operating shortfalls and ensure financial sustainability. Implemented data-driven strategies to optimize resource allocation and enhance overall project efficiency.

Loudoun County Countywide Transit Plan, Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County – Gladys Hurwitz, 703- 737-8821. SENIOR TRANSIT PLANNER. Delivered expert technical support for microtransit service assignments, ensuring compliance with client specifications and project scope. Engaged in close collaboration with the project manager and client to uphold superior performance standards. Provided specialized technical guidance on service design, routing, and Title VI.

Additionally reviewed cost projections for future operational activities and service expansion initiatives.

PennDOT BPT On-Call, Statewide Pennsylvania. PennDOT BPT - Danielle Spila, 717-787-1208. VARIOUS ROLES.

Michael Baker is providing on-demand support for PennDOT BPT for environmental and/or cultural resources efforts which include statewide support for environmental screenings, transportation decision-making, NEPA compliance screenings and related documentation, cultural resources studies and coordination, hazardous materials investigations, meeting facilitation services, technical management support or other support, as requested by BPT.

• Building Maintenance and Inspection Assessment. PROJECT MANAGER. Developed a comprehensive building maintenance and facility inspection assessment procedure for evaluating public transit agencies. Developed a tool that tracked and identified performed maintenance to facilities, ensuring that assets’ use of life can be met.