In 2014, the City engaged the services of James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) to prepare a Master Plan for the Lincoln Road District. The vision of the Master Plan is to enhance the aesthetic and social experience of Lincoln Road by creating an integrated district that can effectively accommodate the interests of stakeholders and visitors. The scope of the Lincoln Road Master Plan encompasses the Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall and adjacent Lincoln Lane North and Lincoln Lane South from West Avenue to Collins Avenue and all connecting streets that feed into Lincoln Road from Lincoln Lane South to 17th Street, but not including 17th Street.

Based on the Lincoln Road Master Plan, which was approved by the City Commission in October 2015, the types of improvements being proposed along the district include enhancement of pedestrian walkways and café zones, modifications to existing planters and water features, new landscape and irrigation, cosmetic repairs to historic Lapidus structures, new storm and sewer drainage, new lighting and signalization/wayfinding, performance/multipurpose areas in the 500 and 600 Blocks, outdoor furnishings at selected locations, gateway trellis at the 400 Block, replacement of underground infrastructure, crosswalk enhancements, and milling and resurfacing of pavement surfaces.

The total funding for this project, inclusive of design, construction, and other related costs is $32 Million. Furthermore, the funding was specifically allocated to revitalize the following three components within the Lincoln Road District:
• Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall: Renovation and refurbishment of the Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall from Washington Avenue to Lenox Avenue with a budget of $20 Million.
• Convention Center/Lincoln Road Connectors: Pedestrianizing of Drexel Avenue from Lincoln Lane South to Lincoln Lane North; Street Improvements on Pennsylvania Avenue between Lincoln Road and Lincoln Lane North; and Street Improvements on Meridian Avenue between Lincoln Road and 17th Street with a budget of $10 Million.
• 17th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Washington Avenue: Sidewalk and Landscape improvements with a budget of $2 Million.

Of the $32 Million project budget once design and other related costs are assumed, the available construction budget amounts to approximately $22.5 Million.

On March 9, 2016, the City Commission selected JCFO to provide design and engineering services for the Lincoln Road District Redevelopment Project. The scope of this project only encompasses the components described above. The remaining areas that were part of the Lincoln Road Master Plan were deferred to a second phase and not included in JCFO’s design scope.

JCFO began working on the pre-design phase of the project in July 2016, and held a series of community meetings in August 2016, to present the project scope, answer questions, and collect feedback. JCFO also prepared a Conceptual Order of Magnitude Construction Cost Estimate in the amount of $41.5 Million which indicated a projected budget deficit of $19 Million in construction and $2 Million for additional soft costs and fees.

The available budget and estimated cost for each component of the project is as follows:

JCFO started the Schematic Design Phase, which commenced the development of the design documents, as well as the incorporation of community feedback and cost savings measures. In the last two months, JCFO has been working closely with City staff to resolve the projected budget shortfall while maximizing impact on user experience and deliver the vision of the approved Lincoln Road Master Plan.
The City staff directed JCFO to explore value engineering options as well as construction phasing options with the goal of reducing project costs.
• The Lincoln Road Master Plan includes:
o Demolition of paved surfaces, existing planters, lighting, landscape understory, and street signage within proposed project limits.
o High quality pavement with exposed aggregate and decorative stamping.
o Four new surface trench drains.
o Planter edges to provide public seating.
o Landscaping.
o Lighting.
o Interactive directory and street signage.
o Site furnishings including garbage receptacles, bike racks and custom public seating.
o Footings for café umbrellas and electrical feeds.
o Cosmetic restoration and upgrades to Lapidus follies and water features.
o 500 Block Water Feature.
o Euclid Oval.
o 400 Block Trellis.
o Conceptual construction cost estimate of approximately $32.5 Million.
JCFO explored and presented three value engineering options with reduced scope for this project. The value engineering options are as follows:
• Option 1 (Face of Bldg. to Face of Bldg.):
o Alternate paving materials.
o Reduced drainage improvements.
o Significantly reduced landscaping.
o Reduced lighting and electrical upgrades.
o Cosmetic restoration of Lapidus follies.
o Does not address planter edges, street signage, site furnishing, footings for café umbrellas and electrical feeds, repairs and upgrades to existing water features, 500 Block Water Feature, Euclid Oval, and 400 Block Trellis.
o Conceptual construction cost estimate of approximately $14,171,000.

• Option 2 – (Face of Bldg. to Face of Bldg.):
o Topping coat to the existing pavement.
o Repairs to planter edges.
o Reduced lighting and electrical upgrades.
o Reduced street signage package.
o Cosmetic restoration of Lapidus follies.
o Long bench feature on 500 Block in lieu of water feature.
o 400 Block Trellis with a significantly shortened span.
o Does not address drainage improvements, and footings for café umbrellas and electrical feed, and repairs and upgrades to existing water features.
o Conceptual construction cost estimate of approximately $14,157,000.

• Option 3 – (Central Spine – “Piano Keys”):
o Pavement replacement along the black and white (“Piano Keys”) central spine only.
o Reduced drainage improvements.
o Limited modifications of planter edges to provide public seating.
o Reduced lighting and electrical upgrades.
o Cosmetic restoration of Lapidus follies.
o Reduced landscaping.
o Does not include signage, site furniture, footings for café umbrellas and electrical feed, repairs and upgrades to existing water features, and 400 Block Trellis.
o Conceptual construction cost estimate of approximately $14,095,000.

Of the three presented options, JCFO does not recommend the implementation of Option 2 as the placement of a topping coat over the existing pavement will wear easily due to heavy traffic along Lincoln Road, leading to extensive maintenance and a shortened life expectancy of the topping material. City staff agrees with this assessment.

Furthermore, JCFO analyzed the current condition of the surface drainage and grading cross slopes along Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall. JCFO advised that the drainage does not have sufficient capacity to meet the requirements of the Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) agency. With regards to the grading cross slopes, JCFO advised that the cross slopes along most of the pedestrian mall exceed the minimum requirements of the American Disability Act (ADA). As such, JCFO recommends that the existing pavement and trench drains be fully removed and upgraded as suggested in the Lincoln Road Master Plan. Based on these findings none of the three presented options addresses the current condition of the cross slopes to fully comply with ADA requirements.

At the October 19, 2016, Commission Meeting, there was a referral item to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (FCWPC) for this project. At this meeting, Commission was informed that further direction was required to continue the development of the design documents as a result of a projected budget shortfall to complete the Lincoln Road District Redevelopment Project and referred this item to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee.

At the October 28, 2016, FCWPC meeting, JCFO and CIP staff presented a summary of the intent of the Lincoln Road Master Plan elements and the associated budget shortfalls. JCFO also presented three value engineering options that could meet the current available construction budget. The Committee discussed the different options presented and directed JCFO to continue the design of the project in accordance with the vision of the Lincoln Road Master Plan and they agreed that the funding shortfall will need to be resolved at a later date.