TIGER grant implementation moves forward: Second of two RFPs issued by Lee MPO

 On Aug. 27th, the Lee MPO announced the major "design-build" RFP for the TIGER complete streets initiative grant, with bids due by Oct. 27th. The smaller Construction Engineering Inspection (CEI) services contract was awarded earlier this summer. We can't wait for construction to start!

Background on TIGER Grant

In September, the USDOT awarded the Lee MPO a $10.5 million TIGER grant for the Lee County Complete Streets Initiative project. The project scope includes construction of a shared use paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, sidewalk connections, way-finding signs, bicycle parking, bus shelters and ADA compliant infrastructure.  These improvements and enhancements are proposed along the Lee Tour de Parks Route and the University Loop identified in the  MPO's Countywide Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan,  and along LeeTran's LINC and 60 bus routes. The result will be a connected corridor of biking and walking facilities linking downtown Fort Myers across Lee County south to FGCU and Bonita Springs, and ultimately to Collier County by transit. Click here to see Lee County 9/5 press release with map of the planned facilities.

Improving safety is a key goal of this project.  Lee County's traffic safety record for bicyclists and pedestrians is one of the worst in the state.  Twenty-two percent of recent roadway crashes involved injuries or fatalities to bicyclists or pedestrians--nearly double the national average.

See BikeWalkLee's September 10, 2013 blog post for background on the TIGER grant.

See BikeWalkLee's March 28, 2014 blog post about the first RFP issued.

TIGER Implementation Next Step

TIGER grants are national demonstration projects with stringent requirements, rigorous performance measures and reporting systems, since USDOT is trying to look at long term benefits from these projects. Since September 2013, Lee MPO staff have been working with FDOT and FHWA to plan for successful implementation of the TIGER grant.  

There will be two contracts for implementation of this project: the first is the Construction Engineering Inspection (CEI) services package (about 10% of the grant), which was awarded to the Atkins group (a global design, engineering and project management consultant firm) earlier this summer; and the second is the Design Build Criteria Package (about 90% of the grant), which is the RFP just announced.

Design-Build Request for Proposal (RFP)

On Aug. 27th, the Lee MPO issued an RFP from qualified design/build firms to design and build the "concrete sidewalks and asphalt multi-use paths as indicated in the conceptual design plans and 11 bus shelters." Interested firms must submit their proposals by Oct. 27th.  and there is a mandatory pre-bid conference call at 9 am on Wed. Sept. 17th.  Click here for the RFP notice and details.

This is a national invitation RFP, so we hope that some of the best firms in the business will submit proposals.

BikeWalkLee will keep you posted as the TIGER project moves forward.

USDOT Secretary Foxx statement at the Fort Myers press conference on Sept. 5th:

"Lee County's Complete Streets initiative will complete a safe, integrated bike and pedestrian network, increasing economic activity for local businesses. It's investment in safety, it's investment in community, it's investment in mobility and its investment in transportation choice." "Thanks in part to DOT's TIGER program, Lee County, Florida, is on the brink of transformation." 

Report by Darla Letourneau