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3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55416 763.475.0010 www.srfconsulting.com Marketing or promotional statements about SRF’s professional services are provided solely for general information and not as a contract commitment. Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer January 11, 2021 Todd Blomstrom City Engineer City of Arden Hills 1245 Hwy 96 W Arden Hills, MN 55112 Subject: Proposal For Mounds View High School Trail Improvements (PW-21-0105) Dear Todd Blomstrom and Members of the Selection Committee: Over the last decade the City of Arden Hills has made significant investment into the development of its community trail network with the intent of a making the City a safer and more enjoyable place to walk and bicycle. The extension of the trails along Snelling Avenue and Lake Valentine Road to connect to Mounds View High School is the latest project to further this effort. This is a challenging project with many traffic, design, utility and stakeholder issues to work through and requires a strong technical team with enthusiasm and a passion for trail projects. SRF Consulting Group is excited to take on this challenge and partner with the County, local stakeholders, and residents of Arden Hills to develop a safe, aesthetically-pleasing, and pedestrian-friendly trail connection to Mounds View High School. We believe our team can deliver outstanding results and an exceptional working experience that satisfies the technical needs, schedule requirements, and management chal- lenges generated by this highly visible project. Our strengths include: • Design Expertise. This project presents a variety of design and program challenges, including the potential to reduce pavement with alternative roadway lane configurations, slope and alignment challenges, and Watershed District/County coordination. The SRF team brings exceptional experience in regional trail design, with over 60 years of collective experience on dozens of complex trail projects within Twin Cities and the greater region. We will bring our creativity and technical experience to successfully address project constraints and opportunities. • Experienced Project Leaders. Mike McGarvey will lead the overall management of this project. He is highly regarded for managing proj- ects that foster an open and collaborative design process with multi-stakeholder projects and is currently managing the Bruce Vento trail for Ramsey County, which is a similar project near Bald Eagle Lake and White Bear Lake High School. Mike will be supported by Stewart Crosby, and Steve Prusak. Stewart, an expert in trail planning and former TRPD planner, will lead the evaluation of trail alternatives and the preferred alignment. Steve will lead the technical design and development of the preferred trail design. Mike, Stewart, and Steve will leverage their combination of management and design and technical proficiency to efficiently advance the needs of the project and ensure Arden Hills receives the best leadership and expertise throughout the project. • Creative and Collaborative Process. Engaging stakeholders will be critical to the success of this project. SRF will work closely with the City’s Project Manager to build upon previous public engagement efforts and to integrate the concerns of multiple agencies, residents, and the larger community into the design. Our work plan includes several cost-effective engagement strategies and tools that we can uti- lize to foster an open process and build project consensus among residents and the community. Collaborative design discussions with City staff are important for quality results. Outside the box thinking may result in alternatives that minimize the need for additional easements. • Sustainable Solutions. One of the key goals is to have the trail lay lightly upon the natural features so that it blends into the natural sur- roundings while enhancing the user experience. Our preliminary evaluation suggests that there are opportunities to reduce impervious surfaces and related stormwater management elements. We will also work to ensure that the design is constructible and that materials will be of high quality to minimize ongoing maintenance. Our preliminary evaluation suggests that there are opportunities to reduce impervi- ous surfaces and related stormwater management elements. We are confident the SRF team will bring immediate value to the City of Arden Hills and stakeholders by completing the project in a compre- hensive and professional manner. We can also help the City strategize an implementation and funding strategy for this project through its plan- ning and grant writing staff. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the project in greater detail and to showcase our enthusiasm for this unique and challenging project. Should you have any questions regarding this proposal, please contact Mike McGarvey at 763.475.0010 or mmcgarvey@srfconsulting.com. Sincerely, Michael McGarvey, PLA, ASLA Matt Pacyna, PE Project Principal Principal