Streetscape Committee seeks planning and design consultant
The Town of Bath Streetscape Committee is sending out a request this week to potential bidders for the design of a comprehensive streetscape plan and specifications for work on Wilkes, Congress and Independence streets as the first part of the project.
Committee members received approval to begin the process from West Virginia Division of Highways last week. A legal advertisement for consultant services is also being placed in local newspapers.
The town applied for and received a grant of $200,000 from the Federal Transportation Enhancement Program in November, 2004. The Division of Highways administers the program in West Virginia.
The Streetscape Committee received approval to start spending the grant in September. The delay was partially due to streetscape proposals changing and having to be resubmitted to the state because of the Morgan County Courthouse fire.
The "Request for Proposal" ad says the town is "seeking qualified applicants to provide planning and design services to prepare a Streetscape Plan . . . and will include recommendations that will serve as the basis for engineering and design of phased streetscape improvements over the next several years."
It specifies the delivery of two documents; a Streetscape Plan to form the basis of streetscape improvements for the town and Plans and Specifications for Phase I Construction covering Wilkes Street from Fairfax Street to Route 9 and the adjoining blocks of Congress and Independence streets.
Streetscape Plan
The plan will be developed through a series of tasks to be accomplished by the consultant.
Task One - Data Collection and Analysis
The consultant will gather existing plan and map information from the town and other sources and interview local government leaders, institutional property owners, and community groups. The intent is to identify design features that should be considered in developing the plan.
Task Two - Community Input
The consultant will work with the Streetscape Committee and the Town Planning Commission to develop a community participation plan that is expected to include focus meetings to gather community input.
Task Three - Streetscape Plan Development
Based on information from tasks one and two, the consultant will develop a plan for Wilkes, Congress and Independence streets.
Task Four - Presentation and Refinement
A final draft of the plan will be presented at a public meeting. The plan will provide design recommendations which will be the basis for engineering plans and specifications for phased construction of streetscape improvements.
Phase I construction plans
Based on the overall Streetscape Plan, the consultant will prepare plans and specifications for Phase I construction on three blocks of Wilkes Street between Fairfax Street and Route 9 and the adjoining blocks of Congress and Independence streets.
The consultant will supervise and inspect Phase I construction.
The ad provides a list of the general scope of construction activities:
–Major and minor repairs to existing sidewalks and installation of new sidewalks, pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths,
–Design of street side parking,
–Curb and gutter construction,
–Installation of handicapped crossings at intersections and crosswalks where appropriate,
–Installation of new streetlights and repair/replacement of existing streetlights,
–Installation/replacement of street trees and other landscaping,
–Addition/installation of street furniture, including benches, waste receptacles and appropriate signage,
–Expansion and improvement to the Town Square and other centrally located public open space,
–Improvement of existing roadway stream crossings and addition of new pedestrian steam crossings,
–Minor repairs to storm water management facilities.
Proposals must be submitted to the Town of Bath no later than 5 p.m. on October 19.
The Streetscape Committee will make its report and recommendations to the Town of Bath at the November 6 council meeting.
