On-Call Traffic Signal Improvements Engineering

The City of Lawrence is seeking one or more highly qualified consultants or consultant teams to provide engineering services for a Traffic Signal Improvements On-Call. The objective of the contract is to provide comprehensive design, engineering, and implementation services for traffic signals for the City of Lawrence. Tasks include but are not limited to traffic signal timing coordination, safety review, and intersection timing analysis. The City expects to spend between $100,000 - $200,000 annually on this contract. Projects may utilize this contract at the discretion of the City based on future analysis and available funding.

The firm or firms selected will enter in an on-call engineering services agreement (ESA). The ESA will have a 3-year initial term with 2 additional 1-year optional terms. The City of Lawrence and the selected firm will execute Task Orders to the On-Call ESA with specific scopes for individual projects. The task order scopes will vary, adjusting to the needs of the City and the traffic signal program. Some task orders may be funded by federal grants and have special requirements. Engineering Services in this request include but are not limited to:

1. Signal Equipment Program Planning
2. Data Collection
3. Traffic Signal Timing Models
4. Traffic Signal Timing Plan Implementation
5. Project Effectiveness Reporting
6. Development of Seasonal & Special Event Plans
7. Review Current Specifications and Requirement for New Signalized Intersections
8. Public Outreach
9. Intersection Analysis for Intersection Control
10. Signal Timing Intersection Analysis
11. Traffic Impact Study review
12. Traffic Signal Design – Modification and New
13. Road Safety Audit

Proposals should not be longer than 15 pages, inclusive of cover pages and resumes and attachments.

There has been an ongoing effort to evaluate the City’s services and programs since the adoption of the City’s Strategic Plan. This evaluation process has achieved numerous improvements across the organization in how City services are provided and organized. Each success provides additional opportunities to foster a culture of continuous improvement in order to better align provided services with the goals of the Strategic Plan. The City has inventoried parts of the traffic signal system over the past 5 years. Signal coordination and synchronization has been implemented on most major corridors. Fiber optic communications equipment has been installed along various corridors as well.

There are several Strategies in the City’s Strategic Plan under the Connected City outcome that relate to traffic signals. These can be found on the City’s website here: https://lawrenceks.gov/strategic-plan/connected-city/

• Invest in multimodal infrastructure and services to improve mobility, safety and connectivity.
• Update and implement the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan to reduce barriers to access.
• Improve multimodal connectivity with an emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle demand and transportation for disadvantaged populations.

Since coordinating several corridors over the last 5 years, traffic volumes and traffic patterns have changed dramatically. Synchronization of Iowa St and Clinton Pkwy/23 ^rd St occurred in 2020 and need re-done with new traffic patterns. Additionally, the City has adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan in 2025, so safety and traffic speeds should be considered in new signal projects.

Improving traffic mobility and efficiency has a clear potential for yielding a measurable enhancement to the quality of life for the entire Lawrence Community.

Currently, the City of Lawrence’s traffic signal system includes 106 existing signalized intersections. The vast majority of the signals have TS1 cabinets with a combination of M52 and M60 controllers. The City has been upgrading the detection equipment from RZ3/RZ4 Video detection to Wavetronix Radar. Approximately 77 signals currently have the upgraded Wavetronix Radar detection equipment which is up from 12 in 2019. There are also a total of 19 pedestrian hybrid beacons or midblock crosswalk signals. More information is in the Traffic Signal Inventory spreadsheet attached to this RFP.

• 25 of the 106 traffic signals have been evaluated with new traffic counts in the last 4 years. 50 intersections are outdated (6 years) and 29 have not been evaluated.
• 10 of the 75 operate at LOS D at least 1 hour each day and one at LOS E.
• Two intersections are at LOS D in AM Peak: Clinton Pkwy & Kasold, N 2nd and KTA/I-70
• Two intersections are LOS D Midday: Clinton Pkwy & Kasold, Clinton Pkwy & Wakarusa
• Nine intersections are LOS D in PM: 6th & Kasold, 9th & Iowa, 31st & Iowa, Iowa & K-10 (WB), 23rd & Haskell, 23rd & Louisiana, Clinton Pwky & Kasold, Clinton Pkwy & Wakarusa, N 2nd & Locust
• One intersection is LOS E in PM: 6th & Champion