Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the execution of a contract with HNTB Corporation for continued passenger rail study services. The costs of these services will not exceed $350,000 and are funded within Transportation's 2023 adopted capital budget. No additional appropriation required.
Title
Authorizing the Negotiation and Execution of a Contract with HNTB for continued Passenger Rail Study Services
Body
WHEREAS the Imagine Madison Comprehensive Plan Land Use and Transportation element has Strategy 4, which includes improving transit access to nearby cities, such as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Minneapolis through maintaining the viability of rail corridors and advocating for passenger rail connections with state officials; and
WHEREAS extending passenger rail Hiawatha service to Madison was recommended by Amtrak in 2021 through their Connects US plan; and
WHEREAS the United States Department of Transportation through the Federal Rail Administration issued the Midwest Regional Rail Plan. This report included extending passenger rail to Madison, stating that Madison was a significant market “critical to operational viability of Core Express corridor between Chicago and Minneapolis-St Paul” and should be “included on any mainline route alignment”; and
WHEREAS the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law includes unprecedented funding for passenger rail expansion; and
WHEREAS the Common Council included money for Passenger Rail Station Location and Planning in the 2022 and 2023 Capital Budgets; and
WHEREAS City Purchasing in 2022 issued a Request for Proposals where HNTB Corporation was a successful proposer and met the qualifications desired, having national and local rail experience; and
WHEREAS in that Request for Proposals it was noted that the city could negotiate with the successful proposer should additional funding become available; and
WHEREAS the Common Council in resolution RES-22-00407 (legistar 71175) authorized the City to negotiate additional servi...
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