JOSH DAVIS/BAYSIDE GAZETTE
Signs downtown point to public parking in Berlin. The Town Council last week approved funds for a new parking and mobility study.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Oct. 18, 2018) Plans for a parking and mobility study moved forward last week as the Berlin Town Council agreed to award a $24,480 contract to Sabra & Associates Inc. of Columbia, Maryland.

Town Administrator Laura Allen said the study amounted to “a very comprehensive review of the town’s parking situation,” as well as an appraisal and recommendations based on pedestrian and bicycle accessibility.

That included “potentially making some streets one-way,” Allen said.

Details on the work Sabra was contracted to do was included in the Oct. 9 Town Council meeting packet, which includes a 21-page proposal from the company. Allen said the initial work included in the contract was spelled out in the “Task A” summary in the proposal, titled “Recommended Short-Term Mobility and Parking improvements.”

Based on that, Sabra will look at existing parking configurations, circulation and parking lot layout modifications, new pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, satellite parking, shared parking arrangements for special events, new wayfinding signs for public parking lots and “implementation of peak period paid parking.”

Allen said five companies responded to a request for proposals issued several months ago.

Two finalists were selected and interviewed by a committee that included Berlin directors of planning, finance, economic development and human resources.

“The interview process resulted in their recommendation to hire Sabra & Associates, based on the completeness of their presentation and some of the examples that they gave [that the committee] felt were a really good fit for Berlin,” Allen said, adding references for the company were also strong. “One community I spoke with said you get a huge value for your dollar.”

If all goes well, Allen said additional work by Sabra could be contracted during the next fiscal year.

Councilman Dean Burrell said he was surprised Police Chief Arnold Downing was not included in the review process.

Allen said Downing did have input in reviewing a request for qualifications.

“It was his recommendation to have them look at converting some streets to be one-way,” she said.

The vote to approve the contract was unanimous.

Work on the project “will be substantially completed by June 30, 2019,” according to a professional services agreement included in the meeting packet.