Design Services for the Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvements Project

{
  "id": 139935,
  "_slug": "escambiacountyfl",
  "title": "Design Services for the Pensacola Beach Gateway Improvements Project",
  "status": "closed",
  "summary": "<p>The Escambia County Engineering Department, in collaboration with the Santa Rosa Island Authority, requests 100% construction plans to be developed for an improved northern gateway to Pensacola Beach. The new gateway design should include a welcome structure with an electronic toll system, new landscaping, and pavement improvements to be located between the south end of the Bob Sikes Bridge and the north end of the ECUA water storage tanks. The existing toll booth facility visually cues motorists to stop in spite of the signage to the contrary increasing traffic congestion. These changes seek to improve traffic efficiency entering the island while collecting the toll and providing an aesthetic greeting to keep tourism thriving on Pensacola Beach. The 2023 Summer Tourist Season saw 8 of the top 25 highest recorded vehicle count days since recording began in 2016.&nbsp; In 2024, 16 of the top 25 highest recorded vehicle count days were recorded.&nbsp; The increase during the 2024 season demonstrates the project need. The project design will include three (3) main components:</p><p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Gateway Design:</strong></span> The gateway design will start with a concepting phase which seeks to gain stakeholder feedback and ultimate selection of a preferred design.&nbsp; The consultant shall provide two (2) engagement meetings with the public and stakeholders.&nbsp; The first engagement meeting shall be workshop-style and present visual preference ideas in order to solicit further ideas and feedback regarding the gateway design. This includes, but is not limited to, a gateway/signage structure, site/area lighting, pavement markings, ADA upgrades, landscaping, etc. &nbsp;Utilizing input from the meeting, the consultant shall produce three (3) concepts which will be presented at a second stakeholder engagement meeting for final input. Concept themes should be thoughtful and consider visual cues that reflect the local past, present, and/or future of Pensacola Beach. Themes should be able to be replicated in the future for other areas of Pensacola Beach such as for wayfinding or other future improvements.&nbsp; The County will select a final concept for consultant design based on the results of the stakeholder meetings. Design should consider maintainability and meets all applicable state and local codes and standards.</p><p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Toll System Design:</strong></span> It is the intent of the County that the toll system design be secondary to the gateway design from an aesthetic standpoint while maintaining accurate tolling.&nbsp; The toll system design shall consider the gateway design elements and roadway design elements with respect to location planning. Design must comply with the latest Florida General Tolling Requirements (GTR) while keeping the current toll-by-plate options in place.&nbsp; Design shall consider the size and location of ancillary equipment associated with the toll system and other systems in place at the current facility.&nbsp; The proposed design shall consider the tolling of two (2) southbound travel lanes in the proposed condition. Design shall consider that tolling remain operational during construction with any minor downtime required to be approved by the County during the design phase and clearly communicated in the design contract documents. Demolition of the existing toll facility shall be included in the design with the same consideration that new tolling and other existing systems are in operation prior to demolition. Design should consider maintainability and future technology and meets all applicable state and local codes and standards.</p><p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Roadway Improvements:</span></strong> Roadway improvements associated with the gateway and toll system design should result in a reduction in travel lanes in the vicinity of the existing toll plaza.&nbsp; The intent of the design is two (2) southbound travel lanes in the proposed condition.&nbsp; Geometric design of the travel lanes to remain should consider the gateway design and tolling needs. Roadway improvements shall meet the latest version of the FDOT Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Street and Highways (Florida Greenbook), the Escambia County Technical Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (County Specs), and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and Latest edition for ADA requirements.&nbsp; A shared-use pathway shall be designed from the south end of the Bob Sikes Bridge to the beginning of the existing shared-use pathway which officially begins near the existing toll plaza.&nbsp; Pavement design shall be provided in conjunction with the proposed tolling location and where pavement does not currently exist, if applicable.&nbsp; Milling and resurfacing, stormwater design, utility relocation, and signing &amp; pavement marking design will be required as applicable.&nbsp; Barrier walls, guardrail, and curbing should be considered where necessary for existing and proposed elements located within the clear zone.&nbsp; Creative ways to utilize existing pavement for roadway improvements should be considered in order to minimize project costs.&nbsp; Maintenance of traffic (MOT) design phasing shall be provided which minimizes traffic disruption during peak travel times and special events. The consultant shall indicate appropriate MOT limitations in the plans.</p><p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Fiber Optic Design:</span></strong> Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC) intends to install a new fiber optic communication line along U.S. 98 through Gulf Breeze.&nbsp; It is the intent of the County that this project include the install of a separate fiber optic communication line from the southside of U.S. 98 to the existing traffic signal located at Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road on Pensacola Beach.&nbsp; The communication cable will be spliced at the new Gateway to provide secure, reliable transactions for tolling.</p><p>The design effort shall include three - 2&rdquo; HDPE conduits with a single direct buried tracer wire with splice boxes as needed. One conduit shall include a 24-ct. single-mode fiber optic backbone and the other 2 conduits shall be spares. System resilience and its role in disaster recovery shall be considered in the design of this and all phases of the fiber backbone. These facilities shall be dedicated to the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) network to be owned, maintained, and operated by the local maintaining agencies and/or FDOT after installation.</p><p>Provisions for connection to the existing traffic signal at Via De Luna Drive and Fort Pickens Road shall be included in the design including splice diagrams into the signal cabinet.</p><p>Ultimately, the installation consisting of fiber, conduit, splice boxes, and the network, upon final acceptance, shall be immediately dedicated to the appropriate local maintaining agencies and/or FDOT to be owned, maintained, and operated. These facilities to be owned, operated, and maintained by the local maintaining agencies and/or FDOT are to meet the latest version of the FDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, the FDOT Standard Plans for Road and Bridge Construction and the Florida Department of Transportation Design Manual. The Engineer shall be responsible for final design and permitting of all aspects of this ATMS facility installation and as-built plans for the ATMS installation shall be in accordance with FDOT Specifications 611.</p><p><strong><u>Identify and Pursue Grant Funding:</u></strong> The consultant will be required to identify and pursue grant funding for construction of the project, including but not limited to, submission of the grant application and administration of the grant through both design and construction phases</p>",
  "isPaused": false,
  "template": {
    "title": "Request for Qualifications"
  },
  "addendums": [
    {
      "id": 62547
    }
  ],
  "copyCount": 0,
  "isPrivate": false,
  "comingSoon": false,
  "created_at": "2025-01-09T18:55:22.890Z",
  "department": {
    "id": 3530,
    "name": "Purchasing"
  },
  "government": {
    "code": "escambiacountyfl",
    "organization": {
      "city": "Pensacola",
      "logo": "https://assets.procurement.opengov.com/logo-uploads/f74174ba-9c52-4537-b971-4234bc0af6eb_download.jpg",
      "name": "Escambia County",
      "phone": "(850)595-4980",
      "state": "FL",
      "website": "https://myescambia.com/our-services/purchasing",
      "zipCode": "32502-5822",
      "address1": "213 Palafox Place",
      "address2": "2nd Floor",
      "phoneExt": null,
      "timezone": "America/Chicago",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "phoneCountry": "1"
    }
  },
  "financialId": "PD 24-25.054",
  "closeOutReason": null,
  "closedSubstatus": "awarded",
  "proposalDeadline": "2025-02-10T16:00:03.306Z",
  "releaseProjectDate": "2025-01-10T19:52:39.123Z"
}