Committee forwards $250k‑scale contract to update long‑range transportation plan to budget

Planning Director Doug DeMasi asked the committee to consider a contract with traffic consultant Veil Schafer to update the county's long‑range transportation plan (last adopted in 2004). DeMasi said the scope includes public and stakeholder engagement, a base‑year travel demand model, roadway cross sections, implementation costs and funding strategies.

"I think it was about 250,000 and change," DeMasi said when commissioners pressed on cost. He described synergies with the city's work and noted the firm already performs traffic‑impact‑study reviews for the county. Commissioners debated whether to solicit proposals versus using the existing consultant relationship and asked staff to gather comparable costs. Commissioner Dodd moved to accept the proposal and forward it to budget, with the request that the county attorney vet contractual language; the committee approved that motion.

DeMasi said staff will bring the plan through the planning commission and the county commission for adoption if the committee and budget process fund the study; he also said the work would produce prioritized short‑, mid‑and long‑term recommendations and funding strategies.