Route 5 Corridor Master Plan
This project will engage the community in a master
planning process for the Route 5 Corridor in the Village of Lyndonville for
the purpose of guiding future economic development, land use, and
transportation infrastructure decisions along Main, Depot, and Broad Streets
(Route 5). The Master Plan will create a blueprint for undertaking future
projects along the Route 5 Corridor including: multimodal transportation
improvements (streetscaping, wayfinding, bicycle and pedestrian
infrastructure, parking, and access management), revised land use regulations
and design standards, redevelopment and infill projects, marketing
initiatives, etc. The project will address the current lack of connectivity
between northern Main St. and the Designated Village Center, transportation
safety issues, land use issues, storefront vacancies, and redevelopment
opportunities. The Master Plan will provide specific strategies to guide
capital planning decisions and requests for future grant funding, based on
demonstrated community interest and need. In addition to guiding municipal
investment, the Master Plan will guide private investment along the Route 5
Corridor.
The Master Plan will specifically address connectivity and stormwater issues
in the Route 5/114/122 intersection to improve water quality in the
Passumpsic River, access to the Village from the north (East Burke Village,
I-91), and establish better linkages to local trail networks and bicycle and
pedestrian routes (Kingdom Trail Association, VAST, Paths Around Lyndon -PAL,
and NEK Gravel Rides routes). There are a multitude of community groups,
local businesses, non-profits, etc. in Lyndon that could better coordinate
efforts with the Town and a greater community vision. This process will bring
these various stakeholders together to begin implementation of the community
vision established through the 2020 Envision Lyndon Planning Process and
build partnerships and capacity for future initiatives.
Expected project outcomes include a Master Plan report and map, which will
include:
1) conceptual drawings and cost estimates for new multimodal transportation
infrastructure, streetscaping, and preferred parking alternatives throughout
the downtown area;
2) a land use analysis providing recommendations for zoning changes that
support a vibrant, walkable, and livable Village; and,
3) a downtown market analysis providing baseline economic data and strategies
for prioritizing infrastructure investments and attracting future investment.
4) Additionally, the project will identify opportunities to integrate green
stormwater infrastructure into downtown streetscaping and address key
stormwater runoff issues at the intersection of US RT5 and VT RTS 114 and
122.
The project will make recommendations for a Village capital plan and
necessary updates of the Town Zoning Bylaws in the near-term, which will have
significant long-term impacts, specifically, improved safety and
transportation connectivity and economic vitality in the downtown.
Context and Background
Envision Lyndon 2020, the newly adopted Municipal Plan, specifically calls
for the development of a "master plan for the designated village center
that includes strategies for complete streets streetscape enhancements,
economic development, and village revitalization" (Action 2.2, Envision
Lyndon 2020). Additionally, Action 3.1 highlights the need to work with
VTrans to improve traffic flow along VT Route 5 in and around the Village
Center and specifically calls for the study of a roundabout at the Route
5/114/122 intersection. Actions 3.2 and 3.5 identify specific circulation and
parking management improvements to be studied while Actions 3.6 and 3.12 call
for coordination with Rural Community Transportation, Inc., Kingdom Trails
Association (KTA), Northern Vermont University (NVU), and the Lyndon Area
Chamber of Commerce to evaluate the need and feasibility for additional
public transportation options and/or improvements to existing options.
Two key priorities identified through Lyndon's 2017 VRDC Community Visit were
downtown revitalization and support for business growth and economic
development. The Community Visit Report and Action Plan specifically calls
for the development of a master plan for the downtown that includes a
comprehensive strategy to boost economic development and implement
redevelopment of vacant properties. The Action Plan also mentions the
re-envisioning of the Route 5 Corridor. The Lyndon Economic Development Task
Force and the Lyndon Downtown Revitalization Corporation (LDRC), now a
501(c)(3), were formed to implement the priorities identified in Lyndon's
Community Visit Report and will both be active partners in this project!
Both the Town and the Village have participated in numerous other planning
efforts that the Master Plan will build upon. The Lyndon Planning Commission
worked with VHB in 2018/19 to develop an Existing Conditions Report for
Lyndon Design Guidelines, which highlighted examples of desirable aesthetic
elements along the Town's commercial corridors in addition to calling out
access management and parking issues and noting the need for human scale
streetscaping and wayfinding elements.
The Master Plan will build on this work to create more specific design
guidelines for properties along Lyndonville's Route 5 Corridor. The Town
worked with Local Motion and other consultants in 2015/16 to develop the
Lyndon Walk‐Bike Safety Action Plan (2016). The Plan identifies priority
infrastructure and non-infrastructure improvements and outlines a series of
next steps, many of which the Town has implemented such as applying for
Vermont Bike‐Ped Program grants (2018, 2019), establishing a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee (2017), and amending the Municipal Plan to
include Walk‐Bike goals and policies (2020). The identification of pilot
demonstration projects is the next identified step, which can be implemented
through this process (see Project Work Plan in Section 3). The Village of
Lyndonville worked with the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program in
2015/16 to inventory all municipally owned street trees and develop the
Village of Lyndonville Community Forest Strategic Action Plan, which outlines
goals and actions for ongoing maintenance and improvements to Lyndonville's
community forest. The Village continues to use this plan to guide street tree
maintenance and utilized a Caring for Canopies grant in 2017 to replace
several unhealthy trees in Bandstand Park and on Depot Street.
The Master Plan will synthesize many of the Municipality's past planning
efforts in a coordinated strategy for redevelopment along the Village Route 5
Corridor. This project is the critical link to tie these past efforts
together and to move the Town beyond the planning phase to focus on more
sustainable and structured implementation, i.e., capital budgeting,
fundraising, private investment, etc.
Detailed Project Work Plan
See attached Work Plan.
Project Funding
A total of $97,500 is available for consultant services from the Better
Connection Grant Program administered by Vermont Agency of Transportation and
Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. $30,000 of the total
must be used exclusively for the clean water element of the project.
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
Submission Requirements
All responses to the RFP shall include the following information:
1. Cover Letter - A cover letter of interest and general description of
recommended approaches, scope of work, processes, and deliverables for the
project.
2. Scope of Work – Provide a detailed scope of work based on the work plan
provided in the RFP for the project broken down by task. Describe the project
approach and overview of engagement. The consultant may also propose
additional supplemental items to the scope of work. While the work plan in
the RFP serves to illustrate a general process and structure for creating the
plan, we are very much open to and interested in hearing any new/creative
approaches to this type of plan and our approach.
3. Proposed Schedule – Provide a schedule that includes completion of work
task and deliverables, as well as key meetings, and complies with timeline
given in the RFP.
4. Project Budget – Provide a detailed budget broken down by task and team
member. Include your overhead and hourly rates for the individuals involved.
Also, provide an estimated budget with staff hours for completing each phase
of the proposed scope of work.
5. Qualifications and Staffing – Provide a qualifications profile of the lead
consultant and sub-consultants, including indication of the lead consultant,
the role of each consultant on the team with organizational staffing chart
and percentage of time devoted to the project by each consultant. Also
provide detailed information on each consultant, including the name of the
firm, year established, including a description of relevant experience on
similar projects for each firm and detailed resume listing of their
individual work experience in this role on similar projects;
6. References - A minimum of three (3) professional references for whom a
similar project has been completed within the last five (5) years.
7. Page Limit - The proposal, encompassing items 1-6 above, shall not exceed
20 double-sided pages (40 total pages) including cover letter, table of
contents and resumes.
All information submitted becomes property of the Town of Lyndon upon submission.
The Town of Lyndon reserves the right to issue supplemental information or
guidelines relating to the RFP as well as make modifications to the RFP or
withdraw the RFP. Once submitted, the consultant team (including specific
staff assigned to the project) may not be changed without written notice to
and consent of Town of Lyndon. The cost of preparing, submitting, and
presenting a proposal is the sole expense of the consultant. The Town of
Lyndon reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received as a
result of this solicitation, to negotiate with any qualified source, to waive
any formality and any technicalities or to cancel the RFP in part or in its
entirety if it is in the best interest of the Town of Lyndon. This
solicitation of proposals in no way obligates the Town of Lyndon to award a
contract.
Submission Requirements:
Respondents should submit one (1) digital copy (PDF) of the submittal via
email by July 9, 2021 to:
Annie McLean
Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA)
amclean@nvda.net
Please expect a confirmation email upon the Town of Lyndon’s receipt of your
proposal. If you have any questions about this project or the RFP,
please address them via email to Annie McLean. We will respond to all
questions in writing within 3 days. Both the question and response will
be shared with the other consultants.
RFP Schedule Summary:
Requests for Proposals due: July 12, 2021.
Interviews: July 12, 2021-July 22, 2021 (if needed).
Consultant selection: Week of July 26, 2021.
Project Work to begin: August 1, 2021.
Complete project on or by: December 1, 2022.
Proposal Selection
Proposals will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of
representatives from the municipality, RPC, VTrans, and ACCD. A short-list of
consultants may be selected for interviews.
Proposal Evaluation
Respondents will be evaluated according to the following factors:
1. Consultant Qualifications with Similar Projects and the Project Area - 25%
2. Scope of work, methodology, public engagement, and scheduling - 35%
3. Overall Quality, Completeness and Clarity in the Proposal - 25%
4. Consultant Costs and Fee Schedule – 15%
Interview Framework
The Town of Lyndon reserves the right to select the top two to three highly
scored consultants and invite them for an interview prior to awarding the
contract. In this process, the selection committee may ask the respondents to
give an oral presentation of their respective proposals. The purpose of this
oral presentation is to provide an in-depth analysis of certain
qualifications, experience in performing similar services, and an opportunity
for the consultant to clarify or elaborate on their qualifications without
restating the proposal. The interview and presentation is merely to present
facts and explanation to the review committee and allow the selection
committee to ask targeted questions of the consultant team. The interview and
presentation, if deemed necessary by the review committee, will be held at
the Municipal Offices in Lyndon, Vermont or remotely. The day and time will
be notified to the respondents at least 1 week prior to the meeting. Each
interview will last between 30 and 45 minutes, and will be comprised of a
presentation and Q&A. The interviews will be conducted by a selection
committee comprised of representatives from the municipality, RPC, VTrans,
and ACCD representatives. All costs and expenses incurred in traveling for
the purpose of interview and presentation shall be the responsibility of the
consultant.