Opening of Proposals - Safe Roads to School Kennedy School - Volkert, Inc.

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07 City of South Bend, Indiana | Safe Routes to School (SRTS) – Kennedy Academy | February 14, 2023 PROJECT APPROACH ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTATION CFS environmental staff reviewed the project area for potential environmental red flags. They completed a project study using IndianaMap, Indiana StreamStats, National Park Service data and the Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD). The exhibit and information generated will serve to assist the City of South Bend in the planning process for potential route locations. CFS will work closely with Volkert to discuss route alternatives and associated environmental impacts that may result. CFS staff are experts in the completion of documentation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and will navigate the process so that construction will begin as scheduled. The most abundant environmental resource identified within the study area are historic structures. The presence of historic structures will potentially initiate the Section 106 process to evaluate if the characteristics of these structures make them eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Structures designated as Notable or Outstanding will be given high priority. Careful consideration of design elements will be required when construction is planned to occur adjacent to these resources so that adverse effects are avoided or minimized. Based on the preferred route(s) chosen, impacts to environmental resources present will be identified and evaluated in the appropriate level of NEPA document. A Programmatic Categorical Exclusion (PCE) or Categorical Exclusion (CE) level document is anticipated. The document will be prepared and submitted to the appropriate INDOT district and/or central office for final review and approval, allowing the project to move forward with the construction letting process. WATER RESOURCES AND PERMITTING Minimal jurisdictional wetlands, waterways or mapped floodways have been identified in the study area. A field investigation will confirm the presence or absence of these resources. Should impacts occur to a feature present, applicable regulatory permits for IDEM and the USACE will be prepared for agency review and approval prior to construction. Should new land disturbance for the project exceed 1.0 acre, not including impact to existing roadway or sidewalk surfaces, an IDEM Construction Stormwater General Permit will be required for sediment and erosion control. PLAN DEVELOPMENT Our team has designed hundreds of ADA curb ramps to INDOT standards over the last several years. The Volkert advantage is as follows: • We are very familiar with the INDOT ADA Technical Advisory Committee. We know that curb ramps that are borderline to meeting ADA compliance need to be reviewed by the ADA committee. • INDOT requires the use of stricter standards than the federal ADA PROWAG Guidelines. Engaging a firm that knows the difference between a 1.5% preferred INDOT cross slope and a 2.0% maximum PROWAG cross slope is extremely valuable to successfully completing the project to INDOT’s standards. • While vehicular maintenance of traffic on a project of this type should be straight forward, consistent maintenance of ADA accessible pedestrian routes DURING construction can be a challenge. Volkert will enlist ingenuity and “out of the box thinking” to adequately maintain pedestrian movements while providing a project site that is constructable for the contractor. Meade & Bertrand: Curb ramps missing, no Detectable Warning Surface (DWS).Olive & Kenwood: Curb ramps missing, no Detectable Warning Surface (DWS), slopes exceed maximum allowed.