City of Appleton Valley Transit Joint Development Request for Expressions of Interest and Qualifications

The City of Appleton, through its Department of Valley Transit, is seeking qualified private developers for a joint development project located at 100 E. Washington Street in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. The procurement is a Request for Expressions of Interest and Qualifications (RFEI) for constructing a new transit center with 14 bus bays and multi-family residential housing above the facility. The primary deliverables include a ground-floor transit facility with passenger waiting areas, secure bike storage, restrooms, a ticketing office, an Appleton Police Department substation, and utilities for EV charging stations. Developers are expected to construct five to seven stories of residential units above the transit facility, with the structure permitted to reach 200 feet in height under city zoning ordinances. The project timeline indicates design and permitting from May 2025 through May 2026, with construction scheduled from July 2026 through July 2028, and project completion by September 30, 2028. The submission deadline for expressions of interest is June 21, 2024, with the Request for Proposal and developer selection process occurring from October through December 2024.

The project is located in Census Tract 101, which is designated as an Area of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Community. The City is requesting $25 million in 2024 RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) Program funds for a total eligible project cost of $26.8 million. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed, the project emphasizes social and economic goals, including environmental justice and equitable accessibility. The development will integrate with existing infrastructure, including a skyway connection to the adjacent Yellow Ramp municipal parking facility and the vacation of Oneida Street to create a pedestrian zone connecting the Transit Center to the Appleton Public Library. The project is supported by Valley Transit's partnerships with nine municipalities and three counties, with endorsements from community stakeholders like VPI, Inc., and Appleton Downtown Inc. The primary contact for the project is Ron McDonald, Valley Transit General Manager, who can be reached at 920.832.5800 or Ronald.McDonald@appleton.org.