In December 2015, the Agency approved two contracts for consultant services to complete the Monterey-Salinas Scenic Highway Plan; one with Kittelson and Associates to conduct the travel analysis and evaluate concepts for improving travel through the corridor, and one with Pathways for Wildlife to conduct a wildlife connectivity study.
Key elements of Pathways for Wildlife’s scope of work include:
- Mapping existing wildlife habitats, connectors, and crossings,
- Collecting species specific wildlife crossing data for existing connectors and crossings,
- Recommending potential wildlife mobility features and conceptual designs for new connectors, and
- Providing a wildlife connectivity report with supporting graphics for improved wildlife connectivity.
The contract with Pathways for Wildlife is set to expire on February 28, 2017. The Agency had originally planned on the wildlife connectivity report being completed in advance of the full Monterey-Salinas Scenic Highway Plan, and then having the connectivity findings integrated into the final report by Kittelson and Associates. However, after a year of productive collaboration developing the Monterey-Salinas Scenic Highway Plan, staff recommends extending the contract with Pathways for Wildlife so that Pathways for Wildlife can assist in integrating the wildlife connectivity study into the Monterey-Salinas Scenic Highway 68 Plan, which is anticipated to be completed in August 2017.
Amendment #1 will only affect the duration of the agreement, and all other terms of the agreement, including the “not to exceed” cost amount, remain in full effect. The extended termination date was selected to conform to current TAMC contracting practices of having agreements end either at the end of a fiscal year or the end of a calendar year, to assist in tracking.