Garner staff recommends Bolton & Mank for transportation-element update; council to consider contract Oct. 21

A draft contract to update Garner’s transportation element would task a consultant with origin–destination data analysis, multi‑modal recommendations and funding identification, town staff told the Town Council on Oct. 7. The council heard that Bolton & Mank was selected through an RFQ and interview process and that staff expect to return Oct. 21 with a contract for the council to consider.

Julian Griffey, senior planner for the Town of Garner, told the council the project will build on the town’s 2010 transportation plan, the 2018 update and the transportation chapter of the 2023 comprehensive plan. "One fundamental piece that we really wanted to harp on within the RFQ … is the origin and destination element," Griffey said, describing work to show where people travel to and from and how that information will feed recommendations about fixed routes, bus rapid transit, microtransit or road improvements.

Griffey said the RFQ drew four submissions, three interviewees and a selection panel that included planning, engineering, parks and rec staff and a CAMPO representative. After vetting, staff selected Bolton & Mank as the most qualified firm and refined a draft scope of work that is in the council packet.

The draft scope emphasizes public engagement through advisory and stakeholder groups and both in‑person and digital outreach; an updated data inventory including demographic and travel‑pattern analysis; a policy assessment that considers the town’s adopted pedestrian plan and regional plans; and the identification of potential funding sources. Griffey said the selected consultant indicated they would provide grant‑writing assistance for at least one project stemming from the plan.

Council members asked detailed questions about timing, corridor‑level analysis and alignment with the town’s capital improvement plan. "If the scope is coming up where there's a sizable amount of traffic that could potentially be offset by a fixed route … then that data will be reflected into that," Griffey said. Councilmember Dellinger asked whether corridors such as New Bethel Church Road would receive detailed capacity and growth projections; Griffey said smaller‑area analysis is possible within the scope.

Several council members urged that the transportation plan be explicitly linked to CIP and budget conversations. Griffey and other staff said they plan to involve budgeting and finance staff in the latter half of the study and noted the consultant’s stated ability to help pursue grants. Mayor Pro Tem Elmo Vance said he supported moving forward: "The transportation plan update is well overdue," he said.

The council did not approve a contract at the Oct. 7 meeting. Staff indicated the item will be on the Oct. 21 agenda for the council to consider awarding the contract; staff estimated the final plan could be targeted for adoption in late 2026 depending on the project schedule and public engagement timeline.