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Award Contract for Climate Adaptive Transit Shelter Design
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DESCRIPTION: Request Board authorization to award professional services contract to Rome Office for design of climate-adaptive transit shelters and fabrication of one prototype shelter |
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 five-year contract to Rome Office for the development of Climate Adaptive Transit Shelter designs in an amount not to exceed $650,000.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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Transit shelters are a critical component of an accessible, comfortable, and climate-resilient transit system. The RTA maintains approximately 2,000 bus stops across Orleans Parish, but fewer than 17% of these stops currently include shelters. This leaves many riders exposed to extreme weather conditions, including high heat, frequent rain, and prolonged sun exposure.
To address this gap in the quality and quality of shelters across the transit system, the RTA’s Strategic Mobility Plan, updated in 2023, identifies transit shelter improvements as a systemwide policy. Action items under the SMP call for improving rider comfort and safety, especially in historically underserved areas, by expanding and enhancing passenger amenities. These goals are also reflected in the agency’s 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan.
The Climate Adaptive Transit Shelter Design project will establish a set of modular, scalable shelter designs that are climate-responsive, ADA-compliant, and easy to maintain. The designs will account for variable site conditions and incorporate features such as heat-mitigating materials, integrated lighting, stormwater management, and optional elements like real-time arrival signage or solar panels. It is anticipated that the shelter design coming out of this project will also be “uniquely New Orleans,” with a design that reflects the uniqueness, culture, and creativity of the city.
This is a task-order-based contract, with no guaranteed minimum. Task orders will be issued at the RTA’s discretion as shelter design needs arise. The first task order will likely focus on establishing a new standard bus shelter design along with fabrication of a prototype of the bus shelter design that will allow RTA staff and the community to experience the design firsthand.
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DISCUSSION:
The RTA Capital Projects team prepared an independent cost estimate of $650,000 for the Climate Adaptive Transit Shelter Design contract. This estimate was based on similar design projects undertaken by peer agencies and includes all anticipated design tasks over a five-year period. The initial task order, focused on the development of a standard shelter design, is estimated at $150,000.
The RTA received multiple Statements of Qualifications. A technical evaluation committee reviewed the submittals. Rome office received the highest overall score and was deemed the most qualified firm for this engagement.
The full scope of services will be delivered over the five-year life of the contract, with all work issued via negotiated task orders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Climate Adaptive Transit Shelter Design contract will not exceed $650,000 over a five-year term. Funding for this contract is from a combination of federal RAISE 21 grant funding (LA-2024-035) and local match (01-0000-00-1501-000-00-00-00000-00000). This project and these funding sources are included in the FY2025 Budget and the 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Program under project 2023-FA-04. The initial task order for the development of a standard shelter design is estimated at $150,000.
NEXT STEPS:
Following the award, staff will execute the contract with Rome Office, issue a Notice-to-Proceed, negotiate the scope and cost for the initial task order, and kick off work on the initial task order.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Procurement Summary - RFQ No. 2024-034
3. Independent Cost Estimate
4. RFQ No. 2024-034
Prepared By: Rafe Rabalais, rrabalais@rtaforward.org
Title: Director of Capital Projects
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton, dnorton@rtaforward.org
Title: Chief of Planning & Capital Projects Officer
Reviewed By: Gizelle Johnson Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
6/9/2025
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer