Seattle's bustling streets are set to undergo a major makeover as the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) launches a search for specialized consulting firms to craft the Harrison & Mercer Transit Access Project (HMTAP). Announced yesterday, the move is a leap towards enhancing connectivity between the Uptown and Cascade neighborhoods, with the transit artery set to wind through the dynamic South Lake Union area.
Expertise in a vast array of fields, including Project Management and Civil Engineering to Urban Design, is being sought after by the SDOT, looking forward to propel the project from blueprints to tangible reality. Upon completion, the HMTAP aims to showcase a reliable transit corridor punctuated with bus lanes, optimized signals, and pedestrian-friendly spaces—the whole nine yards for a futuristic mass transit solution.
With a scoped-out procurement schedule, SDOT intends to kick off the planning phase by the second quarter of 2024, as seen on the City of Seattle solicitation notice. Should the design phase proceed, that stretch of the project is slated for a 2025 start, aiming for completion by early 2026. Yet, all eyes are on the funding, as construction greenlights hinge on whether federal dollars will flow.
Underlining the project's commitment to inclusivity, a chunky 20% slice of the contract pie is reserved for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE). As bus lanes flank the streets and signals sync up to give buses the upper hand, the project will also see the spade hit the ground for new bus stops, with a budget-conscious eye on enhancing urban public spaces and safety.
For firms that excel in the initial phases, SDOT is open to extending their involvement through to the construction management phase, ensuring continuity for a smoother project completion. With federal funds from the FHWA expected to support part of the project, the chosen consultancy will play a significant role in shaping Seattle's urban landscape..
