HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated June 9, 2026ITEM #:27
DATE:06-09-26
DEPT:PW
SUBJECT:PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TOOLE DESIGN GROUP,
LLC FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
The Ames Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's (AAMPO's) Metropolitan Transportation
Plan, Ames Connect 2050, and the City of Ames Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan, Walk Bike
Roll Ames , both identify the need to develop a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan for the
region.
The SRTS Plan will identify strategies, programs, and infrastructure improvements that
enhance safety and accessibility for students walking and bicycling to school. In order to be
eligible for federal funding for this project, the plan must include all 11 public primary
and secondary schools located within the AAMPO planning area, including schools in
both the Ames Community School District and Gilbert Community School District.
An AAMPO member agency is required to be the local sponsor for the project and
provide the funding for the required local matching. In this project the City of Ames is
identified as the local sponsor of the project. As such, Ames City Council approval is
required for the award of contract in order to authorize use of local funds for the
project. On May 26, 2026, the AAMPO Transportation Policy Committee unanimously
recommended that the Ames City Council approve this agreement.
Funding for development of the SRTS Plan is available as follows:
Source Amount
AAMPO Federal Planning Funds $48,000
City of Ames 2026/27 Transportation Planning Program
(Road Use Tax Fund)$12,000
Total:$60,000
CONSULTANT SELECTION:
Following applicable federal and state-mandated purchasing requirements to allow use of
federal planning funds, the AAMPO solicited proposals for the development of the SRTS Plan.
On January 8, 2026, staff released a Request for Proposals, with a due date for submittals of
February 5, 2026. The Request for Proposals required that no cost or fee be included
with the proposal submittal in accordance with federal requirements for a strictly
qualifications-based selection process.
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A project selection team reviewed the received proposals using the following criteria:
Proposal Evaluation Criteria Weight
Project Understanding & Approach 50%
Previous Experience 15%
Project Team & Key Personnel 15%
Understanding of the AAMPO 10%
Project Management 10%
The scores for the received proposals, utilizing the above criteria, are as follows:
Rank Firm(s)Score
1 Toole Design (Prime), HDR 93
2 MSA 86
Given the above rankings, staff has negotiated a contract (see attached) with the highest
ranked firm, Toole Design Group, LLC. The negotiated agreement has a not-to-exceed
amount of $60,000.
PROJECT SCOPE & SCHEDULE:
The key services the consultant will perform include the following:
Assess existing conditions around each public primary and secondary school within the
AAMPO planning area. This will include review of existing Safe Routes to School maps,
state and national best practices, student-related data as available, pickup/drop-off
circulation patterns, crossing guard locations, observed pedestrian and bicycle
behaviors, infrastructure gaps, and safety concerns.
Gather and review data within approximately one-half mile of each school, including
crash data, vehicle counts, speed limit data, pedestrian and bicycle counts, and existing
sidewalk, trail, and crossing locations and conditions.
Identify needs and opportunities around each school, including infrastructure gaps and
deficiencies, barriers, conflict points, crash trends, and priority Safe Routes to School
routes. The consultant will also identify education and encouragement program
opportunities and develop a prioritization framework for scoring and ranking projects.
Develop recommendations and an implementation plan, including a prioritized list of
infrastructure projects, planning-level cost estimates, potential funding sources,
responsible implementing agencies, sample policies and programs, and a high-level
framework for tracking progress after plan adoption.
Conduct stakeholder and public engagement, including interviews with school principals
and/or other school administrative staff, an online survey for students and parents, and
in-person public feedback opportunities.
Create a Safe Routes to School Plan based upon the aforementioned research,
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analyses, and outreach efforts.
The anticipated schedule for the project is:
July 2026: Begin Project
July-August 2026: Initial Outreach to Schools
January 2027: SRTS Plan Workshop with AAMPO Transportation Technical Committee
April 2027: Draft SRTS Plan Presentations to AAMPO Transportation Technical and
Policy Committees
May 2027: Final SRTS Plan Adoption
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the Professional Services Agreement with Toole Design Group, LLC of Silver
Spring, Maryland for creation of a Safe Routes to School Plan in an amount not to
exceed $60,000.
2. Direct staff to negotiate an agreement with the next highest ranked firm.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The development of a Safe Routes to School Plan will assist in identifying infrastructure
improvements, programs, policies, and implementation strategies that support safer and more
accessible walking and bicycling routes to schools within the AAMPO planning area.
Toole's proposal demonstrated a strong understanding of the project scope and the needs of
the AAMPO planning area. Its previous work on the City of Ames’ Walk Bike Roll Ames Plan,
along with HDR’s previous work on the AAMPO’s Ames Connect 2050 Plan and
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, will also be valuable for creating the SRTS Plan.
Given the project selection team's scoring identifying Toole's proposal as the most qualified,
and the AAMPO Transportation Policy Committee's unanimous recommendation of approval
of this agreement, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt
Alternative No. 1.
ATTACHMENT(S):
SRTS Plan PSA
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