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Award Contract for Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan
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DESCRIPTION: Request board authorization to award professional services contract to HDR Engineering for a streetcar System Modernization Master Plan |
AGENDA NO: 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 HDR Engineering, Inc. for the preparation of a Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000.00.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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Streetcars have been an integral part of transit in New Orleans and the city’s cultural and historical fabric for over 185 years. In addition to the St Charles line, considered the oldest continuously operating urban railway in the U.S., the RTA has added a number of newer streetcar routes-the Riverfront line (1988), Canal line and Carrollton Avenue spur (2004), and the Rampart/Loyola line (2013, 2016).
While streetcars are an iconic and charming component of the city’s transit system, regular riders are familiar with the system’s shortcomings. Challenges include:
• Slow travel speeds. By some measures, the RTA’s streetcars are the slowest in the United States. This affects customer satisfaction, the cost of operations, and service headways.
• Safety issues. Collisions between streetcars and automobiles are frequent. In 2024 alone, there were 69 of these collisions, or approximately 6 per month.
• Accessibility. The historic Perley Thomas streetcars on St. Charles Avenue are not wheelchair accessible, and the vast majority of the stops on the St. Charles line are not wheelchair accessible. While the RTA’s newer streetcar lines and vehicles are wheelchair accessible, the time involved in deploying the wheelchair lifts is considerable. Modern streetcar systems which offer level or near-level boarding provide greater convenience and accessibility.
These challenges are all noted in the RTA’s Strategic Mobility Plan (SMP), an agency-wide strategic vision directed by public and stakeholder input. The original SMP was completed in 2018 and was updated in 2023. The SMP calls for improvement of the speed, reliability and safety of the streetcar network through modernization (Action #UP2).
The SMP is the foundation for the Agency’s 5-year Capital Investment Program (CIP). The CIP is a 5-year roadmap that is updated annually in line with the annual budget process. The CIP has allocated funds for this modernization initiative beginning with this Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan and concurrent efforts to make the stops along the St Charles line wheelchair accessible.
In addition to the SMP’s and CIP’s call for this study, the RTA has also committed to this project in a recent settlement agreement that the RTA executed with a plaintiff in January of 2025. The agreement spells out a series of steps, including completion of a Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan, to make the St. Charles line more accessible.
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DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the Brooks Act, the procurement was structured as a Qualifications-Based Selection process. RFQ No. 2025-009 was publicly issued on February 12th, 2025, and closed on March 21st, 2025.
The RTA received multiple Statements of Qualifications, which were reviewed by a technical evaluation committee following an administrative screening. A selection panel convened on April 15th, 2025, and evaluated submittals based on criteria including technical experience, approach and methodology, and team composition. HDR Engineering, Inc. received the highest overall score and was deemed the most qualified firm.
The project schedule includes stakeholder engagement, alternative analysis, and presentation of a final plan and preferred scenario to the RTA Board. All technical analysis and planning work must be completed by the Fall of 2026, with the RTA Board reviewing the plan by November 2026.
The Capital Projects team prepared an independent cost estimate of $1,000,000 for the Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan. This estimate was developed using historical pricing from the RTA’s New Links project and the 2018 Strategic Mobility Plan, as well as comparable procurements conducted by peer agencies. After initial discussion with HDR Engineering a not-to-exceed price of $1,200.000 was found satisfactory with the staff to accomplish RTA’s goals, deliverables, and timeline for this project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Streetcar System Modernization Master Plan will not exceed $1,200,000 and is funded through a combination of American Rescue Plan Act funds (LA-2023-008) and local operating dollars for capital project planning (01-2800-02-7070-173-00-00). These funds are included in the FY2025 Budget and the 2025-2029 Capital Investment Program under CIP-2023-005.
NEXT STEPS:
Following the award, staff will execute the contract with HDR, issue a Notice-to-Proceed, and kick-off the project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Procurement Summary - RFQ No. 2025-009
3. Streetcar Modernization RFQ Ice Summary
4. Streetcar Modernization RFQ Solicitation Request Routing Sheet
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
6/6/2025
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer