Scope of Work

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor’s Office is soliciting proposals from qualified Offerors to develop the Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan (RCFCP). The intent of this project is to develop an updated version of the existing FNSB Comprehensive Road Plan that establishes future physical transportation linkages, and the functional classifications of roadways throughout the borough, for both constructed and future roadways. The selected consultant will conduct research, data collection, analysis, and develop maps for future roadways and roadway functional classifications, with an ongoing public involvement process.

The Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan will reflect and promote the intent of existing plans including the Fairbanks North Star Borough Regional Comprehensive Plan, City of North Pole Land Use Plan, Eielson Regional Growth Plan, and the Salcha Badger Road Sub-Area Plan. The impacts of a functional roadway network is felt far and wide, so the geographical coverage of this RCFCP is borough-wide with emphasis on areas expected to be developed through the subdivision process.

The following is a scope of work for the Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It attempts to capture all the tasks that will be necessary to create a plan intended to be implemented through the FNSB subdivision process (Title 17). Requiring the dedication and construction of planned road corridors ensures that major collectors and arterial type roadways are not compromised by allowing direct lot access when lots are subdivided, establishing a backbone of the Borough’s transportation system. The RCFCP will consider but is not limited to the following tasks:

1. Work Plan
2. Data Collection, Analysis and Document Review
3. Public Involvement, Outreach and Participation Strategy
4. Vision, Goals, and Strategies for Transportation
5. Future Road Network and Functional Classification Map
6. Plan Development
7. Adoption of the Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan as an element of the FNSB Regional Comprehensive Plan.

The consultant shall propose a completion schedule of the below tasks to ensure that tasks 1-6 are completed within 12 months of the contract award. Specific tasks that must be completed include the following:

Task 1 — Work Plan
Establish a systematic process before the study commences to guide the plan from initiation to completion. This brings together elements of the Project Scope, contract, and the consultant’s own RFP response. This document should detail the proposed steps and resources to complete each task, scheduled meetings and teleconferences, project milestones, assumptions, timeline, and critical path for completing the project on-time and within budget.
Deliverable(s):

1. Project Work Plan

Task 2 — Data Collection, Analysis, and Document Review
There are several parts to documenting existing conditions. First would be a literature review of plans in the Borough that impact transportation in a significant way. Review of these documents will be necessary to set the stage for the development of the plan. This should include existing functional classifications (DOT and FNSB) and corridors that have already been dedicated and constructed, which were identified in the existing Comprehensive Road Plan. Plans and documents to review include, but may not be limited to:

• FNSB Comprehensive Road Plan
• FNSB Regional Comprehensive Plan
• FAST Planning Metropolitan Transportation Plan
• AKDOT&PF Functional Classification Plan Map and Process
• Salcha Badger Road Sub-Area Plan
• City of North Pole Land Use Plan
• FNSB Trail Plan
• FNSBC Title 17 – Subdivision Code
• FNSB GIS road and road plan feature classes

Deliverable(s):
1. Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum summarizing the planning environment and existing condition/functional classification of the road network in the FNSB.

Task 3 — Public Involvement, Outreach and Participation Strategy
The consultant shall propose a comprehensive process by which appropriate agencies and the FNSB Planning Commission are communicated and coordinated throughout the planning process. In addition, there shall be a public outreach element that makes use of technology but also understands its limitations in some of the more remote areas of the borough. The structure of this outreach should, at a minimum, include the use of a steering committee to help guide the planning process, as well as a project web site. All other aspects of public outreach will be proposed by the consultant, who will develop a process by which the public is appropriately engaged throughout the plan development process. The Steering Committee will be developed by the FNSB with input from the selected consultant.

Minimum Deliverable(s):
1. Public involvement plan that identifies public participation opportunities and methods as proposed by the consultant. (This can be combined with Task 1 Work Plan if desired)
2. Project Web Site
3. Attendance and presentations at regular meetings with the project Steering Committee
4. Public survey
5. Digital public participation opportunities or in-person public open houses (if health mandates allow)

Task 4 — Vision, Goals, and Strategies for Transportation
The FNSB Regional Comprehensive Plan emphasizes protection for private property rights, while the FNSB Comprehensive Road Plan emphasizes both development of new roadways as well as functional classifications of existing and future road corridors. A broad vision shall be established that can help guide the planning for future roadways, connectivity, and their classifications. It should also look to the most appropriate ways to preserve the function of those roadways over time through the development of goals and strategies. Information gathered through public involvement and the Steering Committee shall be considered in this task.

Deliverable(s):
1. Draft Plan vision statement, Plan Goals and Strategies

Task 5 — Future Road Network and Functional Classification Map
A main component of this planning process will be the development of maps of the borough that show the functional classification of both existing and proposed roadways. With the rugged terrain across the borough, finding appropriate routes for roadways can be challenging. The Borough has flown a LIDAR layer that will be instrumental in placement of future roads. It is imperative that the consultant has the expertise to use these resources to develop a future road layer as well as display material and a graphically based final product. In addition, the consultant will be required to provide a GIS layer for each geographic element of the plan.

Functional Classification of Roads
A hierarchy of roads helps with decision making, particularly regarding the subdivision process. The consultant, in coordination with staff, will develop a functional classification system that works for the specific needs of the FNSB. A logical network that considers the State roadway classifications, while simultaneously meeting borough needs for roadway classification, will be an essential element of the RCFCP. The consultant, with coordination from FNSB Staff and the Steering Committee, will develop access control recommendations for each classification of roadway for future subdivisions. The functional classification map is expected to be an adopted element of the final plan and implemented through the subdivision process.

Future Roadway Corridors
The current Road Plan needs an update as the borough continues to grow and properties are developed. There is much better geographical data now, compared to 1991 when the Plan was originally developed. These maps will take advantage of improved technology for ensuring proposed borough roads are practical and can be developed efficiently. The mapping of future corridors is expected to be an adopted element of the final plan and implemented through the subdivision process.
Deliverable(s):
1. GIS compatible Functional Classification Map for subdivision access purposes and technical memorandum recommending subdivision access management strategies for each type of functionally classified road.
2. GIS compatible Future Road Corridor Map and technical memorandum recommending subdivision access management strategies for each type of functionally classified road.

Task 6 — Plan Development
Draft Plan product will be produced within twelve (12) months of the contract award. The plan will go through revision and refinement, in consultation with FNSB Staff and the project Steering Committee, prior to the development of the Final Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan. After a Draft Plan has been approved by FNSB Staff and the project Steering Committee, another public input opportunity shall be held. The Plan shall include goals, strategies, and implementation actions as well as the Functional Classification Map and Future Road Corridor Map. There shall be a public involvement component for review of the final version of the RCFCP.

Deliverable(s):
1. Draft Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan
2. Final Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan

Task 7 — Adoption of the Road Corridor and Functional Classification Plan as an element of the FNSB Regional Comprehensive Plan.
The adoption process will require at least two meetings with the FNSB Planning Commission and at least two meetings of the FNSB Assembly. This task will be completed by existing FNSB staff, but the consultant will be required to provide support. This support may require up to four on-site meetings depending on the status of health mandates.

Deliverable(s):
1. Support for FNSB Staff for plan adoption meetings, including document edits and presentations at Planning Commission or Assembly Meetings.