April 11, 2023 |
Photo – Saratoga Town Hall -Bigfoot99 file photo
Saratoga has chosen OV Consulting, an engineering firm, to develop the town’s sidewalk master plan.
Planning Commission member McCall Burau provided an update on the creation of a Transportation Alternatives Program master plan at last Tuesday’s town council meeting. Burau said she advertised for contractors to put together the plan and received five offers. Using a Wyoming Department of Transportation approved scoring matrix, Burau and the other members of the planning commission selected OV Consulting. The group says the firm best meets the needs of the community.
In 2016, Saratoga officials compiled a list of needed improvements called the Comprehensive Master Plan. A lack of sidewalks was one deficiency identified in the study.
Last year, Burau saw a need for a paved walkway from the center of Saratoga to the supermarket on the south end of town. Burau took it upon herself to apply for a WYDOT grant to build the sidewalk. She said she was informed the application would likely be denied if the town didn’t have a more encompassing walkway plan.
The town council voted to approve $20,000 for the grant match in October.
Burau said the next step is for OV Consulting to provide a draft agreement, outlining the scope of their work to WYDOT. If the WYDOT grant committee approves the agreement, the town and OV Consulting can begin the process.
Burau said the consulting firm would handle the planning phase of the TAP master plan. She explained to the town council what OV Consulting would accomplish.
The consulting firm will hold three public meetings during the design process. The first meeting, approximately two months into the project, will take public comments on what the pathway system should look like.
Two months later, a second public workshop would be used to further refine the scope of the project and determine what is realistically possible using the available funds.
About a year from the beginning of the project, the final public meeting will occur. During this workshop, people will be given a better understanding of the project and will be asked for last-minute recommendations.
When the public meetings are finished, OV Consulting will bring a finalized plan to the town council. Burau said the plan will be broken up into phases, with the first phase addressing the most important items.
Burau said the finished document will represent what residents want to see in the TAP master plan. With a detailed cost estimate for the project, the town would be able to set aside money and apply for future grants.
Burau said OV Consulting was selected because of their desire to get to know the townspeople and learn about Saratoga. Aside from the three public meetings, Burau said the consulting firm would like to participate in other town events.
Burau said the entire OV Consulting team is located within three and a half hours of Saratoga. One member of the team, Delbert McOmie, has more than 40 years of experience working with WYDOT. Burau said his skills have already made a difference.
Burau said the consulting firm comes highly recommended by people familiar with what the town is attempting to do. If approved by WYDOT, work could begin on the TAP master plan as soon as next month.
