Passenger Rail Study RFP

Appendix A: Proposed Sub-Consultant Request Form

Appendix B: Consultant Self Certification of Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) Form

Appendix C: Certification and Restriction on Lobbying Form

Appendix D: Federal, State and Local Clauses

I. PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to provide interested consulting firms with enough information about the professional services desired by the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the following project:

Passenger Rail Station Siting Study

The MPO is requesting the services of a transportation engineering/planning firm to conduct a study to identify and evaluate station corridors and potential site locations for a new passenger rail service station(s) and platform(s) to serve the MPO area and surrounding region. The Study will be conducted in cooperation with the cities of Bismarck, Lincoln, and Mandan, along with Burleigh County and Morton County as well as the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

II. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

III. CONTENT OF PROPOSALS

Length of Proposals:

The main body of the proposal shall be no more than eight (8) pages and pages shall be numbered. The cover page, table of contents, and appendix will not count toward the proposal page limit of eight (8) pages.

Required Elements for Proposal:

The consultants are requested to be as brief and concise as possible. The main body of the proposal shall address the following major sections:

a) Description of firm

b) Organizational chart showing project team and general activities

c) Table of key individuals’ time-available for project/study

d) Understanding of project and proposed work approach

e) Brief examples of past, pertinent work projects

Required Elements for the Appendix:

The consultant’s appendix must include the following unless noted as ‘optional’. The items included in the appendix will not count toward the eight (8) page limit and may take as many pages as needed.

• Proposed Project Schedule: Proposed schedules may begin as early as July 1, 2026, and should detail all activities necessary to complete the study. Activities may include but are not limited to:

• Contract Negotiations

• Monthly updates (via Zoom or in person) to MPO TAC and Policy Board

• Data Acquisition (provided, as available, by the MPO, NDDOT, and local jurisdictions)

• Steering Committee Meetings/Activities

• Documents/Tech Memos for Study Milestones

• Stakeholder Interviews

• Public Input Meetings

• Public Outreach Activities (webpage, meetings, social media, news releases, etc.)

• Draft Report Development

• Draft Report Review by Steering Committee, MPO, NDDOT, FHWA, and/or FTA (required before presentation to all city and county commissions, city councils and MPO boards)

• Final Presentations to the Bismarck City Commission, Mandan City Commission, Lincoln City Council, Burleigh County Commission, Morton County Commission, and the MPO TAC and Policy Board

• Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) program: Detail the program that will be used on the project. This (QC/QA) program must identify the team members, their responsibilities, and stages of development at which each is to be responsible.

• Required Qualification Based Selection (QBS) Documents:

• Signed Proposed Sub-Consultant Request Form, if applicable (Appendix A)

• Signed Consultant Self Certification of Government-Wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement) Form (Appendix B)

• Signed and Notarized Certification and Restriction on Lobbying Form (Appendix C)

• Resumes or list of Personnel: Detail who will be assigned to work on the project (including titles, education, and/or work experience).

• Optional: The Federal Standard Form 330, “Architect-Engineer Qualifications”, is an NDDOT requirement, and proves the consultant is pre-qualified to provide architectural, engineering, and/or planning services. Consultants will not be penalized if the SF 330 is omitted in their proposal, but the MPO will verify a current version is on file with NDDOT after the consultant is selected for contract negotiations. Architect and Engineering firms must have an active SF 330 on file with NDDOT before the contract can be signed. See https://www.gsa.gov/system/files/2024-08/SF330-21a.pdf for a link to the SF 330. All SF 330 forms provided to the MPO will be kept on file by the MPO and forwarded to NDDOT.

Disclosure of Proposal Ownership:

At the conclusion of the selection process, the contents of all proposals will be subject to the City of Bismarck’s Open Records policy in conjunction with North Dakota Century Code 44-04 requirements and may be open to inspection by interested parties. Any information included in the proposal that the proposing party believes to be a trade secret or proprietary information must be clearly identified in the proposal. Any identified information documented as such and protected by law may be exempt from disclosure.

IV. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

State, Federal and Local Contract Requirements:

The City of Bismarck as the MPO’s Host Agency, the NDDOT, and FHWA require that specific clauses accompany federally funded projects executed by the MPO. Consultants should be prepared to abide by the necessary clauses which are included verbatim and unaltered in all potential MPO contracts. The clauses can be reviewed in Appendix D: State, Federal and Local Clauses.

Ownership of Work Product:

One additional clause not included in Appendix D but required due to the use of Federal Funds, is the “Ownership of Work Product” clause. Consultants and sub-consultants should be prepared to abide by the following:

Ownership of Work Product: All work products and copyrights of the contract, which result from the contract, are the exclusive property of Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMMPO) and North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), with an unlimited license for use by the federal government and its assignees without charge.

General Information:

Bismarck-Mandan MPO reserves the right to enter into a supplementary agreement to have the selected firm perform any additional work not currently assigned.

If the contract is terminated prior to completion of the final report, all work completed, which has been compensated for, shall become the property of the Bismarck-Mandan MPO and NDDOT, as per the ‘Ownership of Work Product’ Clause.

The final report will be submitted using the following formats and standards, if applicable:

• MS Word/ MS Excel/MS PowerPoint

• Adobe Acrobat (Standard or Compatible)

• NDDOT Data Collection Codes and Procedures

• NDDOT and/or City, as applicable, Drafting Standards

• NDDOT Design Manual

• ArcGIS Online

• GIS Shapefiles

V. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND PROCESS

The selection process will be completed in accordance with Bismarck-Mandan MPO policies. Written proposals shall address the firm’s ability to perform the necessary services in the allotted time with qualified personnel. Selection will be based on an array of measures chosen from the following criteria:

1. Recent, current, and projected workloads

2. Ability of professional personnel (staff experience and technical capabilities)

3. Related experience on similar projects

4. Location

5. Project understanding, issues and approach

6. Past Performance

7. Willingness to meet time and budget requirements

8. Recent and current work for the agency

9. Project schedule

The final selection will be based on written proposals along with interviews. All firms not selected will be notified in writing.

A final scope of work will be developed, and cost will be negotiated with the successful firm. An agreement will be executed with a single firm. If unable to arrive at a mutual agreement with the top ranked firm, the MPO retains the right to move on to negotiations with the second (then third, etc.) ranked firm. Approved sub-agreements for minor portions of the work will be permitted.

VI. REGIONAL CONTEXT AND EXISTING CONDITIONS

Bismarck-Mandan MPO Region:

The Bismarck-Mandan MPO consists of the cities of Mandan, Bismarck, and Lincoln, and the metropolitan portions of Burleigh and Morton counties. The MPO has a performance-based planning process that supports metropolitan community development and federal, state, and local transportation goals. These plans and programs are intended to lead to the development of an integrated, multi-modal metropolitan transportation system that facilitates the safe, efficient, and economic movement of people and goods.

The MPO planning area is roughly 394 square miles. It is bisected from north to south by the Missouri River and is generally comprised of rolling topography throughout. Within the MPO area, the city of Bismarck in Burleigh County has an approximate population of 75,500; the city of Mandan in Morton County approximately 24,522; and the city of Lincoln, also in Burleigh County, nearly 5,000. Burleigh County has seen an increase in its population to 103,107, making it the second most populous county in the state, while Morton County has likewise seen an increase over the 2020 US Census numbers and has approximately 34,000 residents. (Source: 2020-2024 5-year American Community Survey). One of the more noteworthy challenges facing the MPO planning area is the heightened level of growth experienced between 2011 and 2015, due largely to energy development in western North Dakota. The rapid growth rates during that time have now returned to more historic growth trends for the area which have traditionally hovered within a 1% to 1.5% annual rate of population growth. Currently, the adopted medium growth projection for the MPO area is a continuation of past trends, or a 1.1% annual growth rate for the period between 2025 and 2050.

While all growth within the region is generally perceived as positive, there are some concerns of particular interest, specifically: the residual impact of rapid growth on public service costs, the continued ability of the MPO region to grow in an efficient manner, and the ability to maintain the high quality of life enjoyed by residents of the communities. Heightened rates of growth strain many aspects of the region’s transportation infrastructure. Topography, man-made barriers, and historical development patterns have contributed to challenges regarding roadway connectivity in some areas of the region, leading to limited transportation options in those areas.

The railroad played an important part in the history of the state of North Dakota and in the communities within the MPO region. By 1890 North Dakota had two transcontinental railroads running east and west through the state: the Northern Pacific Railroad serving the southern portion of the state and the Great Northern Railroad in the northern tier of the state. Both railroads were instrumental to the settlement and growth of communities in what was then referred to as Dakota Territory, prior to North Dakota gaining statehood in 1889. The railroad replaced the steamboat as primary shipment mode of goods and materials by 1893, when the Northern Pacific Railroad reached the Pacific Coast and when construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge, spanning the Missouri River between Bismarck on the east and Mandan on the west, was completed. The railroad also became a fundamental form of transportation for passengers, affording them access within and beyond state borders, all the way to both the East Coast and West Coast. This study will be concerned with the east-west passenger rail service and track used to previously provide service to the southern tier of North Dakota.

Due to the establishment of commercial passenger air travel post-World War II and even more, the improvements to travel by car introduced by the interstate highway system in the 1950’s, passenger rail ridership declined significantly throughout the 1960’s, which prompted US Congress to pass the Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970. The act established the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, known as Amtrak. Amtrak maintained passenger rail service to the southern tier of North Dakota through the North Coast Hiawatha passenger rail route, a part of the 2,300-mile long-distance service route (routes over 750 miles) from Chicago, Illinois, to Seattle, Washington. The route entered North Dakota at the eastern border, with train depots at Fargo, Valley City, Jamestown, Bismarck, Mandan, and Dickinson before entering Montana. This route was discontinued by Amtrak in 1979.

Local Existing Conditions:

The largest urban community in the MPO area is the city of Bismarck. Located on the east side of the Missouri River, it serves as the center for government services, as the capital city of North Dakota, and as the Burleigh County seat. It serves as the highest concentration of employment in the metropolitan area and is a regional health care, educational, and retail center. The downtown core is home to the historic Northern Pacific train depot, located on the north side of the tracks and now under private ownership, which has been rehabilitated to support a restaurant and special events. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line that runs through Bismarck between Main Avenue and Front Avenue is a single track and transects the downtown north and south. There are several at grade railroad crossings, several of which are designated quiet zone crossings.

The city of Lincoln is a growing suburban community located southeast of Bismarck. While primarily residential, it has an expanding mix of retail, financial, and service businesses and an elementary school constructed in 2014 in response to the unprecedented growth the community was experiencing. The BNSF rail line, a single mainline track, runs north of Lincoln, on the south side of and roughly parallel to Apple Creek Road.

The city of Mandan is located on the west side of the Missouri River in Morton County. The second largest urban community in the MPO area, Mandan has a good mix of residential, retail, commercial and satellite health care facilities; however, residents still must seek many significant health care services at the major health care centers in Bismarck. Mandan serves as the county seat for Morton County and is the largest community along the I-94 corridor west of the Missouri River and east of Dickinson. The BNSF mainline runs on the south side of and roughly parallel to Main Street in Mandan, with a rail yard situated in the western third of the city. Abutting the railyard’s north side is the historic Northern Pacific train depot. The City of Mandan purchased this depot and is currently leasing it to private entities. The city hosts many community events in the Dykshoorn Park situated between the historic depot, the railyard, and the local library.

The BNSF Railroad Bridge connects communities on either side of the Missouri River by rail. The former bridge is being replaced, and the new bridge is designed to accommodate a double track. There is currently a single track mainline leading westward from the Bridge into Mandan and a single track mainline running east from the bridge into Bismarck.

Morton County, while having a population of slightly more than 34,000 residents in an area of 1,926 square miles, has one of the greatest distances from its east to west boundaries of North Dakota state counties. Along with Interstate 94 transecting the northern portion of Morton County, is the BNSF railroad, with a single track mainline. Founded during the height of railroad expansion in the state, Morton County communities sprang up or expanded. Often, the presence of the railroad accelerated population growth, especially with the establishment of branch lines to transport grain and livestock to markets. Aside from Mandan, most Morton County communities maintain a distinctly rural character with lower populations and many of the residents residing on farms and ranches in rural and surrounding areas. Many of these residents find themselves having to travel for healthcare appointments and medical treatments, as well as to shop for items not available in their smaller communities. The national trend to age in place applies equally to residents in small towns along and off the I-94 corridor as well as in the more remote rural locations.

Burleigh County, on the eastern banks of the Missouri River, has seen significant growth in its population not only due to growth occurring in Bismarck and Lincoln, but also to outlying areas of these communities. Rural subdivisions are popular housing choices for residents wanting to remain outside urban limits but retain the amenities they have to offer. Burleigh County also owes much of its historical growth to the railroad; for instance, even during the depression, Burleigh County continued to increase in population, which has been credited to the presence of the railroad. Towns along the North Pacific line to the east of Bismarck were Menoken, and further east, McKenzie, Sterling and Driscoll, which all exist today. East from the Lincoln area, BNSF maintains a single track mainline until reaching Menoken, a small rural community which is located 2 miles east of the MPO planning area boundary and has direct access to Interstate 94 to the north.

Passenger Rail Service is not new to the Bismarck-Mandan MPO region, although it does not exist here presently. The restoration of passenger rail service along the former North Coast Hiawatha line was identified by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in its Long Distance Service Study completed in 2024, as a “selected preferred route option for service restoration, enhancement, or expansion.” FRA received comments from people across the country who would use these route options to visit family, connect to higher education and job opportunities, get medical treatment, see national parks, and travel to and from military bases and installations. Travelers with disabilities, travelers who are unable to drive, and travelers who are concerned about affordability also submitted comments supporting the network of selected preferred route options. These comments accurately summarize transportation needs of residents and visitors within the MPO region.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority of Montana is sponsoring a project named Big Sky North Coast Corridor to advance the restoration of passenger rail service through the FRA Corridor Identification Program. The project, which would see the restoration of passenger rail service through the southern tier of North Dakota, likely using existing BNSF rail, has been awarded funding for three phases leading to completion/implementation. BSPRA has successfully completed Phase 1 and is beginning Phase 2 which includes creating the service development plan. As part of this phase, BSPRA will examine frequency and timing, including things such as timetable/schedule and turnaround time. BSPRA anticipates the return of passenger rail service to the region as soon as early- to mid-2030’s. The Bismarck-Mandan MPO and its partners are members in the BSPRA Government Partner Program to restore passenger rail as a transportation option to the residents and visitors of the MPO region.

VII. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to identify and evaluate station corridors and potential site locations for a new passenger rail service station(s) and platform(s) to serve the MPO area and surrounding region. Alternatives provided through this study should answer the following questions:

1.) Is the ideal solution to have a single station to serve all passengers in the MPO planning area and surrounding region or multiple stations within the MPO planning area?

2.) Using a matrix developed based on the evaluative criteria established through this study, how do the preferred passenger rail station/platform location(s) rank?

The consultant will identify station corridors along the BNSF rail line, the proposed passenger rail service line, from the western bounds of the Bismarck-Mandan MPO planning area in Morton County to the easternmost MPO boundary in Burleigh County. Within these station corridors, potential station sites will be identified and further evaluated to determine feasible station siting locations based on criteria developed through this study. A set of metrics will be established to assist in weighing location options and to use in ultimately determining station siting preferences for the MPO region.

Results from this study will prepare the MPO and its partners, as members in the BSPRA Government Partners Program, with alternatives to provide as recommendations for appropriate placement of passenger rail depot(s) or train station(s) within the MPO region.

VIII. STUDY AREA

The study area includes the cities of Bismarck, Lincoln and Mandan, and those portions of Burleigh County and Morton County, North Dakota, included in the Bismarck-Mandan MPO planning area, with a focus along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail line. This rail line runs laterally east and west, south of and approximately parallel to Interstate 94, as illustrated on the Study Area Map below.

IX. SCOPE OF WORK

The selected consultant will identify the existing BNSF mainline railroad track system including yards, wye, rip track, and sidings, and spur lines, along with projected need required to accommodate passenger rail service in the MPO region using the same BNSF rail line. The consultant will identify station corridors along the BNSF rail line from the western bounds of the Bismarck-Mandan MPO planning area in Morton County to the easternmost MPO boundary in Burleigh County. Within these station corridors, potential station sites will be identified and further evaluated to determine a final list of feasible station site locations based on evaluative criteria consisting of both technical and planning principles. A set of metrics will be established to assist in weighing location options and to ultimately use in determining station siting preferences for the MPO region.

Evaluation Criteria may include but not be limited to the following Technical Principles:

1. Train access and operation (including freight impacts)

a. Track availability

b. Track ownership/ROW

c. Rail curvature or tangent track

d. Wye, sidings, rip track, yards

2. Site size and configuration - minimum geometric requirements

a. Station area

i. Access

ii. Parking

iii. Amenities (i.e. restrooms, ticket kiosks, customer service/support stations, etc.)

b. Platform requirements, dimensions, and clearances

c. Track dimensions/spacing

3. Site size and configuration - rail amenity space

a. Multiple platforms or platform faces

b. Multiple station tracks

c. Level boarding

4. Site ownership and control

a. Agreements

b. Additional space/acreage for compatible facilities/uses beyond those required by Amtrak/RR operations

5. Safety and security

a. Operations

b. Site

Evaluation Criteria may also include, but not be limited to, the following Planning Principles:

1. Community focus - connections and proximity

c. People

d. Employment centers/jobs

e. Destinations

2. Community focus – corroboration

a. Compatibility with existing/future zoning

b. Compatibility with local plans

c. Community and stakeholder support

3. Equitable access and multimodal connectivity – existing and future

f. Bicycle & pedestrian infrastructure

g. Transit proximity

h. Connectivity to destinations

i. Safety opportunities

6. Environmental resources

a. Cultural

b. Historic

c. Natural

7. Land use and development

a. Amenities and facilities beyond the minimum requirements of Amtrak/FRA (mobility hub, etc.)

b. Transit Oriented Development

c. Visitor Destinations

8. Implementable Solutions

a. Time

b. Cost

c. Low-mitigation impacts

d. Acquisition complexity

e. Funding sources

Existing conditions, future forecasting, and public involvement will be utilized to identify and then evaluate station corridors and potential site locations for a new passenger rail service station(s) and platform(s) to serve the MPO area and surrounding region. The consultant will produce a range of alternatives with appropriate prioritization based on analysis and evaluation of data and public input, along with Steering Committee, Stakeholder, and MPO feedback. Alternatives should be organized into short, medium, and long-term actions, with benefits, feasibility, estimated costs, funding sources, and trade-offs provided.

Project Management

This task involves activities required to manage the project including staff, equipment, and documentation. It also includes the preparation of progress reports, documenting travel and expense receipts, and preparing and submitting invoices in a timely manner (monthly). This task includes monthly progress reports to the MPO, TAC, and Policy Board.

Monthly TAC and Policy Board Meetings:

The consultant will provide monthly updates to the MPO TAC and Policy Board. Updates will be provided through written progress reports along with verbal updates at each meeting if warranted (as determined by the MPO project manager) and with written memorandums as applicable, to briefly apprise board members on the status of the project.

Steering Committee:

The MPO project manager will assist the consultant in developing a Steering Committee for the study. The Committee may include but are not limited to the following agency and/or organizational representatives:

• City and County Planners

• City and County Engineers

• City and/or County Elected Officials

• Bis-Man Transit

• Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC

• BMMPO Staff

• Amtrak Government Affairs Representative or similar

• BNSF Public Affairs Officer or similar

• NDDOT - Local Government Division and/or Planning & Asset Management Rail Division

• NDDOT Bismarck District

• FHWA

• FRA

• FTA

The consultant shall meet with the Steering Committee periodically and as necessary during the study process to review data and recommendations. The consultant shall provide progress/technical memorandums at key points throughout the study process. Enough copies shall be provided for distribution to the Steering Committee.

Data Collection:

The consultant shall identify the data collection needed to support the Scope of Work. The consultant shall also identify times and methods in which the data will be collected. The MPO and its jurisdictions will provide datasets as available. The MPO may have the ability to obtain limited travel demand model runs for specific scenarios identified by the consultant within the scope of this study; however, it should be generally understood that any additional data collection needed to complete technical analysis will be the responsibility of the consultant.

Draft and Final Report

The consultant is responsible for providing the draft report and appendices in electronic format for review. The consultant should be prepared to provide up to six (6) paper copies of the final report as well as an electronic format. All graphics of preliminary and final alternatives within the report shall be easy to read and easy to reproduce. Summaries and technical analysis of important meetings shall be included in the appendix of the report. Comments received from public meetings and public comment opportunities shall be addressed and included in summarized form within the appendix of the final report. All deliverables, including PDFs, web pages, interactive features, and multimedia content, shall conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria, available here: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/ . Documents will require an accessibility check report from a tool such as PAC 2026 , Adobe Acrobat's built-in checker, or similar.

X. REVIEW AND COMPLETION PROCESS

A. Draft Development and Review:

A draft report shall be produced after all recommendations have been developed and approved by the Steering Committee. Electronic copies of the draft report shall be provided for the Steering Committee, the MPO project manager, NDDOT, FHWA and FTA for their review and comment. All comments from the MPO, NDDOT, FHWA, and FTA shall be addressed to the respective entity’s satisfaction prior to development of the final draft report and final presentations.

B. Final Presentations/ Completion:

The draft report shall be advertised and made available to the public for a minimum of fifteen (15) days before the final presentations. All comments received from public meetings and public comment opportunities shall be addressed, summarized, and included in the appendix of the draft final report.

The consultant will be requested to make a presentation to the Bismarck City Commission, the Mandan City Commission, the Lincoln City Council, the Burleigh County Commission, the Morton County Commission, and the MPO Technical Advisory Committee and MPO Policy Board for review and acceptance/approval of the draft final report. Approval of the draft final report by the MPO Policy Board, and subsequent distribution of study deliverables, will mark the completion of the study.

C. Deliverables:

The final report shall be produced after all comments on the draft report are addressed, final presentations are complete, and the report has been approved by the MPO TAC and Policy Board and shall be delivered as one (1) electronic version. All final products are to be delivered to the MPO project manager for dissemination to the appropriate City, County and MPO staff, TAC and Policy Board Members, and oversight entities.

D. Schedule for Contract Development and Final Project Deadline:

RFP Release/Posting April 24, 2026

Proposal Submittal Deadline May 15, 2026

Notification for Interviews May 27, 2026

Interviews June 8-11, 2026

Consultant Approval(s) June 15-16, 2026

Formal Notification of Firms June 17 18, 2026

Negotiation of Work Fee and Scope of Work June 17-24, 2026

Notice to Proceed June 30, 2026 (Approx.)

Draft Report Public Comment/Review Period March-April 2027

Presentation to NDDOT (if requested) May 2027

Final Project Report & Presentations June-July 2027

Project Completion July 31, 2027

XI. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN

It is imperative that residents, businesses, and stakeholders be involved in the development of the study. Direct effort shall be made to obtain meaningful input and broad-based support from disadvantaged or underserved populations and from the community at large. Consultants shall prepare a Public Involvement Plan that is consistent with the MPO Public Participation Plan and complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The following are the minimum public involvement activities the consultant should include:

1) The study will have two (2) public involvement opportunities for the general public, including residents, businesses, and stakeholders, at strategic times during the study. Each public involvement opportunity will consist of one (1) meeting in Burleigh County and one (1) meeting in Morton County. Public involvement opportunities may be in-person, online, or hybrid. Meetings should inform the community of the study’s purpose, extents, and progress; present existing conditions and alternatives; and engage the public to provide input. All input and attendance from the public meetings shall be recorded and addressed in the final document.

2) Consultants should also reach out to the community at large, as well as to interested or affected community members using novel and effective means to inform the public and gather their opinions. Suggested ideas could include, but are not limited to, flyers; paper, telephone, or electronic surveys; pop-up booths or other presence at appropriate community events; updates in City bulletins; radio or television PSAs; coordination with local public or commercial media outlets; or presentation to advocacy/community/business groups.

3) A website for the project that will be interesting, provide up-to-date information, and be ADA compliant and easy to use by the public. The consultant is encouraged to include recorded versions of public presentations and a map-based interface (interactive map) to provide additional opportunity for public comments.

4) The MPO requests that a member of the consultant team develops graphics for social media and other online engagement formats to enhance the public involvement process and encourage the public’s participation. These graphics and engagement tools, once designed, are to be shared with the MPO for dissemination to appropriate parties for posting.

5) Seven (7) final presentation meetings, with potential for each to be a public hearing. One meeting with each entity below. Final Presentations may be given in-person or remotely.

• Bismarck City Commission

• Lincoln City Council

• Mandan City Commission

• Burleigh County Commission

• Morton County Commission

• MPO Technical Advisory Committee

• MPO Policy Board

Other Engagement Notes:

Public meetings and final presentations will be advertised in the local newspaper(s). Consultants are responsible for preparing newspaper advertisements for public meetings and final presentations. The MPO reviews the ads, provides necessary modifications to language and formatting, and coordinates printing with the local newspaper(s). BMMPO is responsible for the cost of the print newspaper advertisements.

XII. INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE CONSULTANT

The following resources/data/information are available for the study from the Bismarck-Mandan MPO and its partners:

(The Fringe Area Roads Master Plan and the Transit Development Plan are currently being updated)

Available for Download:

1. Arrive 2050 (2025-2050 MTP)

2. Travel Demand Model Review and Socio-Economic Projections Final Report

3. 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program

4. 2023 Transit Development Plan

5. MPO Monitoring Report (2025)

6. Bismarck Together 2045 Comprehensive Plan

7. Downtown Bismarck Subarea Study

8. MPO Public Participation Plan

9. MPO Traffic Count Data (Provided through NDDOT)

10. Multi-Use Trails Map

11. Safe Routes to Services

12. Bismarck Mandan Regional Freight Study

13. Mandan Downtown Subarea Study

14. Burleigh County Future Land Use Plan

15. Fringe Area Road Master Plan – Burleigh County

16. Fringe Area Roads Master Plan – Morton County

17. I-94 Corridor Study

18. Bismarck Mandan Regional North South Beltway Corridor Study

Appendix A

PROPOSED SUB-CONSULTANT REQUEST

North Dakota Department of Transportation, Environmental and Transportation Services

SFN 60232 (09-2012)

Sub-Consultant firms that have been contacted and agree to be listed on a Prime Consultants Project Proposal for work with NDDOT must submit original form and one copy to be attached to the Prime Consultants Proposal. This form is used for informational purposes only.