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Award Contract for East-West Bank Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 30% Preliminary Engineering and NEPA Clearance
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DESCRIPTION: Request Board authorization to award a professional services contract to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for East-West Bank Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 30% Preliminary Engineering and NEPA Clearance |
AGENDA NO: 25-131 FILE ID: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to award a contract to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM), for the completion of East-West Bank Bus Rapid Transit Preliminary Engineering and NEPA Clearance in an amount not to exceed $5,700,000
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The East-West Bank Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project is an initiative of the RTA’s Strategic Mobility Plan (SMP) and represents a significant investment in high-capacity, high-frequency transit for the region. This 15.1-mile corridor is designed to provide a fast, reliable, and efficient transit connection, improving mobility and access to key destinations across the region.
The project advanced through an earlier Alternatives Analysis phase, which concluded with the identification of a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). The RTA Board formally adopted the LPA for the East-West Bank BRT project in January 2023 (Resolution No. 23-008), affirming the recommended BRT alignment and technology. This adoption was a critical milestone, enabling the project to proceed into the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.
The SMP and the Agency’s 5-year Capital Investment Program (CIP) prioritize this project to reduce travel times, improve service reliability, and increase access to jobs and other community-serving uses. The completion of 30% Preliminary Engineering (PE) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) clearance are the essential next steps required by the FTA to ultimately secure FTA funding for the project.
This phase of work will develop the project to a 30% design level, secure environmental clearance under NEPA, and position the project to receive FTA capital funding and advance to 100% design.
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DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the Brooks Act, the procurement was structured as a Qualifications-Based Selection process. Request for Qualifications No. 2025-018 was publicly issued on Friday, May16, 2025 with a proposal receipt deadline of Thursday, June 26, 2025. AECOM’s response was the only response to the RFQ that RTA received. After the deadline but prior to reviewing AECOM’s proposal, staff reached out to other consultant firms that had expressed initial interest in the solicitation but had not ultimately submitted proposals. These firms confirmed that they did not pursue the solicitation for their own business reasons, and not as a result of any aspect of the solicitation. Upon confirming this, RTA assembled a technical evaluation committee to review the qualifications and quality of the single proposal. The panel determined that the AECOM team is exceptionally qualified to perform the required services and received a strong overall score.
The Capital Projects team prepared an Independent Cost Estimate (ICE) of $5,322,955 for the 30% preliminary engineering design and NEPA process. This estimate was derived from an overall BRT Project Budget that was developed during the prior planning stage in 2023. After initial discussions with AECOM, a not-to-exceed price of $5,700,000 was found satisfactory by staff to accomplish RTA’s goals, deliverables, and schedule for this project. While slightly higher than the ICE, the budget for these services is within a reasonable range of the ICE (7%) and also comes two years after the 2023 Project budget was completed.
The project schedule anticipates project kickoff in December 2025, with completion of preliminary engineering and NEPA Record of Decision in November, 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The East-West Bank BRT Preliminary Engineering and NEPA Clearance contract will not exceed $5,700,000 and is funded entirely through American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds with no local match.
These funds are included in the FY2025 Budget and draft FY2026 Budget and the 2025-2029 Capital Investment Program under Project 2021-FG-01, budget code 01-0000-00-1501-000-00-00-00000-00000-00.
NEXT STEPS:
Following award, staff will execute the contract with AECOM that will include refined scope and cost details, issue a Notice-to-Proceed, and kick off the project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Procurement Summary - RFQ No. 2025-018
3. Independent Cost Estimate
4. RFQ No. 2025-018
5. AECOM Proposal in Response to RFQ No. 2025-018
6. RFQ No. 2025-018 Solicitation Routing Sheet
7. Resolution 23-008 (adopting the Locally Preferred Alternative)
Prepared By: Rafe Rabalais, rrabalais@rtaforward.org
Title: Director of Capital Projects
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton, dnorton@rtaforward.org
Title: Chief of Planning and Capital Projects Officer
Reviewed By: Gizelle Johnson Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
10/31/2025
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer