7173-20 - SH 119 Bikeway 100% Design

Purpose/Background
 
Boulder County (the County) is seeking to hire a Civil Engineering firm who is prequalified with The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)to prepare preliminary and final design plans, structure plans, subsurface utility engineering, drainage analysis, and environmental permitting and other items as appropriate to develop construction documents for the State Highway 119 (SH 119) Bikeway (SH 119 Bikeway). For the purpose of this SOQ the Bikeway extends from 47th Street in Boulder to Airport Road, an approximant distance of 7.6 miles. The path will be in CDOT right of way and adjacent to, or within the median of, State Highway 119. There are future plans to extend the Bikeway further into Longmont. If additional funding is obtained, the additional design may be added to the scope of work. The purpose of the Bikeway is to provide a hard surface bicycle and pedestrian path that can be maintained year-round along SH 119.
The 119 Bikeway project includes approximately six underpasses, seven pedestrian bridges, seven at-grade crossings, five path connections and five roadway connections. The 119 Bikeway will provide an important bicycle and pedestrian connection between the City of Boulder and the City of Longmont, and the communities in between. This project supports the County’s goal of connecting communities within the County with off-street multiuse paths that are Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.
Concurrently, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will be completing design of corridor improvements for the SH 119 roadway including improvements and solutions for increased capacity, safety, and transit facilities.
This project area is the same area covered by the RTD SH 119 Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study that was completed and approved by Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration in 2019, and includes the vision for SH 119, including regional Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), managed express lanes, and a commuter bikeway.
In July of 2019, the Colorado Department of Transportation released the SH 119 Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Study for the SH 119 Bikeway (The Study). The study has two parts: the Concept Plan, located in and the Basis of Design Memo. The Study was a companion piece to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) study led by the Regional Transportation District (RTD).
The design for the Bikeway must be compatible with the forthcoming Roadway and Transit Design improvements. This includes coordination of location of BRT infrastructure in relation to the Bikeway, Park-and-Rides, underpasses, and other connections. CDOT is leading the Roadway and Transit design project. The Consultant for the Bikeway project will be expected to work closely with CDOT and its Consultant(s) to ensure design compatibility of the Bikeway with the Roadway and Transit project. It is also anticipated that certain design requirements may be combined with the Roadway and Transit Design project, including survey and some permitting. The Consultant will also need to coordinate with the first and final mile study led by Commuting Solutions, which is currently in progress.
Although the County is leading the design of the Bikeway project, the project will be in the CDOT right-of-way. The Bikeway project must comply with CDOT’s design standards and criteria, and all draft deliverables will be reviewed by CDOT and the County. In addition, the Bikeway project is funded with federal funds and must meet all federal requirements. the project survey work will be required to be tied into CDOT’s High Accuracy Reference Network Station stations (HARN). Some trail connections may tie into the City of Boulder or City of Longmont’s trail systems. Therefore, their design standards may need to be incorporated as well.
 
Design Goals:
Success of the SH 119 Bikeway will be determined based on how well the design meets the goals of the project. The SH 119 Bikeway should:

• Be compatible with the goals and actions identified in Boulder County’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP)
• Ensure safety for all modes
• Enhance County identity as a place that is welcoming to active transportation
• Provide a direct, low-stress and safe bicycling and walking connection between Longmont and Boulder
• Provide a cost-effective transportation option
• Provide cyclists safer connectivity, thus reducing vulnerable road user fatalities and help to meet the County Vision Zero goal
• Increase travel options
• Provide a quality facility that minimizes maintenance costs
• Protect safety of workforce and public
• Be accessible by all ages and abilities
• Designed using national and international best practices
• Consider potential future technologies in the design, such as increased use of electric bicycles