RFQ Questions and Answers

The Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization issued an RFP in July 2007 for Traffic Signal Optimization in South Burlington, Vermont. Below is a list of questions and answers received from consultants interested in submitting proposals. For more information on these questions, or to ask a new question, please contact David Roberts ~ 802.660.4071, Ext. 16.

Questions will be accepted until July 20, 2007 to ensure all interested parties have adequate time to review responses.

1. The first paragraph on Page 8 of the RFP calls for a completion date of August 2007 - is that correct?

August 2007 is the target completion date for agreement on the scope of work for the project. The overall project deadline is anticipated to be approximately 16 weeks from project initiation (see page 10, last paragraph).

2. Who will serve as project manager for this effort?

David Roberts at CCMPO will be the project manager. Bruce Hoar at the South Burlington Public Works department will be the municipal contact. Jason Charest on the MPO staff will also assist in coordinating project tasks.

3. The suggested project schedule of 12 weeks to a draft project report suggests the timings may be implemented close to the holiday season. Is this intended?

If possible, we would like to complete the project prior to the holiday season. However, we will work with the selected consultant to adopt a reasonable schedule once agreement is reached on a final scope of work.

4. What is the budget for this project?

CCMPO has a Local Transportation Facility Agreement with VTrans for this project with a total budget of $45,000 in federal transportation funds. CCMPO's management will require approximately $5,000, so the available consultant budget is approximately $40,000.

5. What kind of controller equipment is in the field along the Dorset St corridor?

All of the controllers are Econolite. There is a hard-wired interconnect along Dorset St from Kennedy Dr up to and including the Williston Rd (US 2) intersection. Also included is the I-89 northbound off-ramp to eastbound Williston Rd. There is a master controller for this system and the city has Econolite Aries software to assist in system management.

6. We noted that the scope of work is requesting multiple "time of year" timing plans for which there does not appear to be sufficient count data available. Has this been thought through as to whether any of the local CTC station data can be applied to Dorset Street? If not, it would seem that multiple ATR and/or TM counts taken during different times of the year would be required.

The methodology for developing timing plans for different seasonal variations has not been identified at this point. The MPO is interested in hearing what may be feasible to accomplish this by consultants submitting proposals. If this is not feasible with the current count set available, then this aspect of the scope of work could be revisited prior to issuing a notice to proceed to the selected consultant.

7. With Kennedy Drive still under construction, could that lead to questions about whether the count data that has been collected is truly representative?

The effects of the Kennedy Drive construction project are a concern. The selected consultant will need to review the available count data to ensure the count data has not been skewed significantly by this event. This signal optimization project is part of a wider effort to do regular updates and checks on signal optimization and coordination in Chittenden County, so as the effects of the Kennedy Drive project result in changes to the traffic flow, we hope to revisit the signal timings to make any necessary changes in the future.

8. We would also be leery about using a 2004 TM count at Dorset & Kennedy knowing that once Kennedy Drive is completed traffic patterns and volumes though this intersection are likely to change.

See response to question 7 above. In addition, the change in volumes at the Dorset St / Kennedy Dr intersection resulting directly from the project may be minimal, since we understand there are no additional lanes included in the construction project at the intersection approaches.

9. The scope of work is also requesting timing plans for school peaks and special events. We note that many of the TM counts listed in the RFP were collected during the summer months. Also please elaborate on what special events are envisioned.

The counts at the High School entrance were collected while school was in session, but many of the other counts were performed while school was on summer recess. We will be looking for consultant assistance in determining the best means of establishing timing programs in response to school peak traffic. Special Events would include major sporting events or other major activities at the school. A firm list of special events will be determined prior to finalizing a scope of work with the selected consultant.

10. Does the MPO want to retain the format of the existing signalized intersection diagrams (see page 9, item 4 of the RFP)? Are copies of these diagrams available?

The existing signalized intersection diagrams were hand drawn by an intern several years ago. These diagrams are intended to be a starting point for the selected consultant, but the MPO would anticipate field verification of any data in the existing diagrams as part of this project. Changes to the diagram format to include additional information on the intersection geometry, traffic control devices, and traffic signal equipment will be necessary. The diagrams may be done in CAD or other computer drawing programs, but hand drawings would also be acceptable. The existing drawings are available in Adobe PDF files created from scanned documents. The diagrams are alphabetized by intersection id number. A ZIP file containing all of the inventories completed in Chittenden County along with a master index of locations and intersection id codes is available for download at this page on the MPO website (look for the first item on the upper left entitled "Intersection Data Records"):

http://www.ccmpo.info/data/download/

11. Is a Vermont Registered P.E. a requirement or necessary to conduct the scope of work outlined in the RFP?

A Vermont registered PE is not required for signal timing work, although we will likely show some preference for this in the qualifications and experience criteria of our selection process. Any final plans would need to be stamped or signed by a Vermont registered P.E.

12. The Route 2 / Windjammer traffic signalized intersection was deliberately not included in this optimizaton plan. Correct?

The City of South Burlington is already working on a project at this intersection and so it was not included in the specific list of signals to be optimized. However, in developing the final scope of work with the selected consultant there may be some minor revisions to the scope proposed in the RFP to include this intersection in the analysis of coordinated timing plans.

13. Can a design firm be pre-qualified with VTrans to do work in the middle of the year or must this occur at the beginning of the year?

Yes, a design firm can be pre-qualified in the middle of the year.

last updated: 23 July 2007