Res 2019-090/approving and Interlocal Agreement with the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization relating to a Platinum Planning Study to enhance Multimodal Transportation in the City of San Marcos and Capital Area

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SCOPE OF WORK Project Name: San Marcos Platinum Planning Study Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Capital Area MPO) is seeking services from a qualified consultant to conduct a study and develop recommendations to further the goals of Capital Area MPO's Platinum Planning Program and advance the planning efforts of the City of San Marcos (Vision San Marcos Comprehensive Plan, San Marcos Downtown Master Plan, San Marcos Development Code, San Marcos Transportation Master Plan, etc.). The recommendations should address the immediate and future mobility issues which stem from population growth and development pressures prevalent in the region. The Consultant will develop strategies that apply the elements of the Platinum Planning Program to the study area and recommend projects and implementation plans that enhance multi -modal transportation safety, mobility and connectivity, enhance economic development potential, and establish the study area as dynamic and functional for the City of San Marcos. Capital Area MPO's Platinum Planning Program seeks to generate comprehensive and detailed multimodal transportation planning at the local level that will generate regionally significant benefits through projects and policies. The program aligns local and regional planning through a progressive, integrated, and inclusive process. Plans completed as part of this program meet shared goals and are inclusive of state of the practice elements. Specifically, these plans will outline synergies between transportation, land use, and other planning areas to better understand how the system performs. Recommendations from plans completed through this program will inform future iterations of the Regional Transportation Plan. The Platinum Planning Program includes three spatial areas: Subregions, Corridors, and Centers; since this study includes multiple corridors and centers, it is considered a subregional plan. San Marcos is a rapidly growing community about 30 miles south of Austin. The city has a population of over 60,000 people and serves as the county seat for Hays County. San Marcos enjoys a nice reputation due to its walkable downtown, family-oriented neighborhoods, the San Marcos River and Texas State University. The city also serves as the southern gateway for the Capital Area. This study seeks to help San Marcos and the region manage its growth challenges by creating environments that promote multiple travel options, enhance economic development and housing options near high-quality transportation investments, and position the urban core to become a premier center for the City of San Marcos and the Capital Area region. The Downtown/Midtown center is a major destination in San Marcos situated adjacent to Texas State University and containing the City's primary parks system and civic buildings. The Center includes two major grocery stores and the Historic Downtown, which has been a priority since the City adopted the 2008 Downtown Master Plan. Downtown and Midtown were included as High Intensity Zones on the 2013 Comprehensive Plan Map, but while not identified therein, the area between Downtown and Midtown is integral to the detailed study of the overall area as a center. The connecting area between Downtown and Midtown predominately consists of City 1