Opening of Proposals - INDOT School Zone Flashing Beacon Assemblies Project No 117-075R - A&F Engineering

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V A&F ENGINEERING I CITY OF SOUTHBEND I SCHOOL ZONE FLASHING BEACONS I DES# 1801240 I 031*0all IIQ: 4:;►11r:1Z111= The City of South Bend would like to improve the safety of thirty-nine schools through the installation of school zone flashing beacons. The installation of flashing beacons for school zones is a cost effective and efficient tool for improving the safety for students, parents, and school personnel entering and exiting the schools. A&F Engineering recognizes the importance of both pedestrian and vehicle safety surrounding schools, particularly during school start and end times. A&F is familiar with the processes involved in both the design and installation of school zone flashing beacons through our experience with flasher design projects in communities such as Fishers, IN and Carmel, IN. A&F will meet with the City to finalize the scope of the project and identify any specific areas of concerns with the project. Our team will perform a thorough field inventory of the schools within the scope to assess the best locations for the flashers. Locations will be selected per the recommendations of the MUTCD, but will possibly be modified slightly working within the parameters of the MUTCD in order to coordinate with the power company (if the City chooses to use electric power) or based on surrounding trees and building locations to the south (if the City chooses to use solar power). As observed in our preliminary visit to some of the area schools on Monday, January 14, 2019, A&F observed that there is at least one school zone flashing beacon in place near the Thomas Jefferson Traditional School located along the ramp from E. Mishawaka Avenue to S. Eddy Street. This flasher as seen here is solar -powered. When using solar power for flashers, as in this case, the solar panel must always face the south. By facing the panels to the south, the panel is able to utilize the most sunlight possible during the winter season and maintain functionality. This is also why, if the City chooses to continue to utilize solar power, the locations used for the school flashing beacons will have to consider possible interference from the south in the form of trees or tall buildings. As a cost -savings method, A&F would suggest to not perform a topographical survey for this project. Our team would utilize GIS data and wheel measurements performed in the field to verify locations, as well as, work with the utilities companies in the area to verify that adequate geometry is available to place the foundations for the school zone flashing beacons in a manner that doesn't impact existing utilities. It is important to start the environmental process as soon as the initial layout has been identified as this will be the longest part of this project. Our environmental team will coordinate red flag analyses with INDOT and other interested parties to look for historical and archeological concerns. We will work within the environmental document to either mitigate the concerns or modify the initial location of the school zone flashing beacon. P