City of Rochester, Minnesota : Hot Topics

Design Build, Best Value Project

Reconstruct 2nd Street SE from S Broadway to Civic Center Dr / 3rd Ave SE
Project: S.A.P. 159-106-19, City Project J-7270
2011 Update (August 22, 2011)

The City of Rochester has been selected to participate in a Design Build Pilot Program for Local Transportation Projects. This authority was passed as part of the 2009 State Transportation Bill. The legislation requires the MnDOT Commissioner of Transportation to select projects for participation in the Pilot Program. The Pilot Program is intended to demonstrate the value to the public that can be realized if cities and counties have the statutory authority to use the design build delivery method for local transportation projects.

The City has selected the reconstruction of the two (2) block segment of 2nd Street SE between Broadway and Civic Center Drive as the Pilot Project. The Project includes street reconstruction as a 10-ton concrete pavement street, decorative sidewalk and other streetscape features such as lighting, and watermain replacement. The tentative schedule (refer to web site for updates / changes) for the Project is as follows:

Request for Qualifications issued August 19, 2011
Proposer Educational Meeting September 22, 2011
Statement of Qualifications due October 11, 2011, 2 p.m.
Request for Proposals issued October 18, 2011
RFP Educational Meeting November 3, 2011
Request for Proposals due January 11, 2012
Notify Potential Best Value Team January 26, 2012
Construction begins July 5, 2012
Construction completed in 2012

The City will provide training for Design Build Teams on the Best Value Design Build procurement process. Specific dates will be set forth in the RFQ and RFP documents. The mandatory training sessions are tentatively scheduled (refer to web site for updates / changes) for:

Proposer Educational Meeting September 22, 2011
RFP Educational Meeting November 3, 2011
Request for Qualifications *Due Oct 11, 2011, 2 p.m.*

Short-List of Submitters of Statement of Qualifications (SOQS)

C.S. McCrossan Construction, Inc.
Elcor Construction
Pember Companies
SL Contracting, Inc.

A Preliminary Design Utility Meeting will be held on:

Friday, December 9, 2011

Contact: Public Works Project Manager for this project is. Doug Nelson, 328-2423 or email at dnelson@rochestermn.gov

Northern Rochester Transportation Study

The City of Rochester and MnDOT are working on a "unified transportation improvement plan" to better serve the transportation needs of northern Rochester as the area continues to develop. The area considered in this study is generally defined by 55th St NW to 75th St NW and 18th Ave NW to 50th Ave NE. Click here to reach the project's website.

Reconstruct 2nd Street SW, Phase II, from 6th Avenue to 11th Avenue

Project: S.P. 159-106-18, J-7265

2011 UPDATE (As of March 30, 2011)

The Project: This is the first project that will adopt the guidelines that were outlined in the 2nd Street SW Corridor Plan, adopted by the City Council in February 2009. The project will improve the corridor by providing a street that is safe, comfortable and convenient for motorists, pedestrians and transit users.
Complete reconstruction of 2nd Street SW from 6th Avenue to 11th Avenue including removal of existing concrete pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalk, signal system improvements and lighting. Work will include rehabilitation to storm sewer system, minor sanitary sewer improvements, and other miscellaneous utility work. The project will construct new concrete pavement, curb and gutter and sidewalk. Additional work includes installing decorative street lighting, signed and striped pedestrian crosswalks, trees, landscaped median islands, boulevard planting areas seating areas, and new bus / transit shelters.

Background: The 9-ton design unreinforced 8” concrete pavement was originally constructed in 1969. A Concrete Rehabilitation Project (CPR) was completed in 1994. Traffic signals and pedestrian crossings are in poor physical condition, with deteriorated signal interconnect conduit. Second Street SW in this area is a 9-ton urban design with an ADT of 17,800. This project will replace the pavement and increase the load rating to 10-ton. 2nd Street SW is also designated as a City Bus route. The Project will improve the flow of traffic and reduce the travel times by implementing access management principles such as medians that will eliminate left turns from through traffic lanes, minimizing and smoothing the transitions from 4-lane to 5-lane segments, and by providing an improved pavement surface. Improved travel times and reduced congestion will enhance transit operations of the fixed route bus schedules. Mayo Clinic facilities, business centers and industrial facilities will have improved customer access as a result of the Project. The Project would replace the 40-year old faulted, deteriorated and polished concrete pavement and include medians for access management improvements. The project will reduce the number of intersection accidents upon the installation of new traffic signal control equipment and the signal interconnects. A more efficient, reliable traffic signal timing plan can then be implemented to provide better vehicle progression through the corridor. Count down and vocal pedestrian crossing heads will be provided for safer pedestrian crossing. The project will reduce the number of trip and fall accidents in this heavily traveled pedestrian area of the downtown by replacing failed/faulted/heaved sidewalk and roadway sections. The project will include improved long-life retro-reflective pavement markings to improve lane delineation and increase prominence of pedestrian crossings.

Project Schedule: The Project is scheduled for construction in the summer of 2012. A public information meeting was held March 15, 2011. Concepts of the work planned were presented and are available below:

Contact: Public Works Project Manager for this project is. Doug Nelson, 328-2423 or email at dnelson@rochestermn.gov

Sanitary Sewer Infiltration And Inflow Studies

2011 UPDATE (As of October, 2011)

PRIVATE SECTOR I&I REMOVAL POLICY DISCUSSION:

The Rochester Public Works Department will be presenting the City Council with information pertaining to the removal of I&I from the private sector area of the sanitary sewer system. The following Issue Paper and background material (attachments A – D) is the basis of this discussion:

Oct 10, 2011 Committee of the Whole Presentation

Background Information:

Following the historic rain event of August 2007, the Rochester Public Works Department took on the task of providing a detailed analysis of the public and private segments of the sanitary sewer system in the Kutzky and Slatterly East and West sewer shed areas. Field data was gathered and analyzed in 2008, 2009, and 2010 by Public Works’ consultant team (CH2M Hill and WHKS, Co.).

Periodic updates have been provided to the City Council and at neighborhood meetings. The next council update is tentatively scheduled for late April / early May 2011.

I&I removal projects are underway. In 2010, Public Works contracted with 3 firms to rehabilitate more than 200 manholes in the study area. Manhole rehabilitation work will continue in 2011 and future years. In addition, the Kutzky sanitary sewer siphon crossing Cascade Creek at 11th Avenue will be replaced. A new siphon will be constructed east of the current siphon (approximately 8 ½ Ave). A public meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 2011 with the abutting property owners in this area of Kutzky Park Neighborhood.

I&I Study Background data, slides and information can be viewed at the following links:

Kutzky Sanitary Sewer Relief Line Project

Lenwood Heights

On July 10, 2008 several Rochester City Council Members and City staff conducted an Informational Meeting for the Lenwood Heights / Brook Lane neighborhoods to discuss the possible extension of city sanitary sewer and watermain to serve the neighborhood. At the meeting the neighborhood requested that the City establish a web-site containing the information presented at the meeting, subsequent inquiries with City responses and other pertinent information related to the neighborhood regarding the possible extension of city sanitary sewer and watermain to serve the neighborhood.

This web-site is established to serve that purpose.

Contact Information
James M. Loehr
Project Manager
City of Rochester, MN
Department of Public Works

507-328-2419
contact Jim Loehr

Meeting Minutes and Other Documents:

Results of Feasibility Study Petition as of 8/15/2008
       Number of Responses             Response
                      29                                  Yes
                       7                                    No
                     18                              No Response
                     54                                   Total

Fleet Maintenance Facility

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS DOCUMENTATION- JOINT PUBLIC WORKS/ PUBLIC TRANSIT GARAGE This report as prepared by Earth Tec documents the various social, environmental and economic impacts of the proposed project. The analysis documented that the proposed facility will not result in any significant social, economic, or environmental impacts.

CATEGORICAL EXCLUSIONS DOCUMENTATION

PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED SITE FOR THE JOINT PUBLIC WORKS/ PUBLIC TRANSIT GARAGE - This report prepared by Earth Tec inventories and assesses the environmental impacts. The Phase I Environmental Assessment “revealed no evidence of environmental conditions (as that term is defined in ATSM Standard Practice E1527-00) in connection with the property.”

PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT FLEET MAINTENANCE PLANNING AND CONSOLIDATION EVALUATION – This is a preliminary draft report on the consolidation of the City’s fleet services. The report was prepared by Chatham Consulting Inc. The final report is subject to a review currently being conducted by the City Finance Department.

PRELIMINARY FINAL REPORT

Traffic Calming In Rochester

Neighborhood associations, property owners or others that are considering or would like to have the city consider “implementing Traffic Calming” measures should first contact the Public Works department (328-2430). The City Traffic Engineer, will be available to neighborhood groups interested in implementing Traffic Calming measures.

Traffic Calming background information can be viewed by clicking below: