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Union County Transportation - Contract for Development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Theresa Torres, Human Services Agency, Transportation Director, 704-283-3598
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement substantially consistent with this agenda item.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
Union County Transportation (UCT) is developing a five-year strategic plan to evaluate Union County's current and future transportation needs and establish a clear direction for the growth and improvement of public transportation services. Union County continues to experience population growth and changing transportation needs. Over the next five to ten years, UCT expects continued increases in the number of older adults, individuals with disabilities, residents without access to a vehicle, and other residents who rely on public transportation to access employment, medical appointments, shopping, community services, and other essential destinations. As the County grows, UCT must also evaluate how to improve existing services and where additional or alternative transportation options may be needed. The strategic planning process will assess UCT's current services, operations, fleet, facilities, technology, funding, partnerships, and staffing needs. The plan will also consider future service needs, including the option of evaluating potential use of microtransit and other flexible transportation options to better serve areas and populations where traditional demand-response service may be less effective. The microtransit work will be $30,000, and staff recommend proposing a 50/50 partnership with interested municipalities to help pay for the additional analysis. This cost is significantly less than the estimated $120,000 for a stand-alone study. The planning process will include input from Union County, municipalities, community partners, transportation stakeholders, and UCT customers. Population projections and other available data will help identify emerging needs and set priorities for the next five years. The completed strategic plan will provide UCT and Union County with a practical roadmap for future service, funding, capital investments, partnerships, and operational improvements, while helping ensure that transportation resources are directed toward the areas of greatest need. Kimley-Horn has been selected to provide Consulting Services for Transportation's Five-Year Strategic Plan. Kimley-Horn was chosen from a list of vendors previously selected from RFP 2025-046 to provide these services for Union County projects
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total cost of the contract with Kimley-Horn is up to $219,156.