City of Suwanee
Request for Qualifications Downtown Parking Study
City of Suwanee Attn: Brian Ford, AICP
Planning and Inspections Department
330 Town Center Avenue
Suwanee, GA 30024
Email: bford@suwanee.com
Phone number: 470.350.1218
Downtown Parking Study RFQ November 2026
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
PLANNING SERVICES RELATED TO
SUWANEE DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The City of Suwanee seeks Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) with fee proposals, until Friday, December 18, 2026 at 2:00 pm EST, for an individual, firm, or team of firms to develop the Suwanee Downtown Parking Study.
The purpose of this parking study is to better understand parking availability, utilization, and turnover of parking in order to identify approaches to managing and/or expanding downtown parking, as needed. The study will be used to make informed decisions regarding the need for creating additional parking and/or the strategic management of existing parking. The parking study should address the following questions:
⮚ What is the perceived parking availability in downtown Suwanee to stakeholders?
⮚ What is the actual parking availability in downtown Suwanee?
⮚ Where are visitors, employees, and residents parking in downtown Suwanee?
⮚ How well do the City's parking requirements provide for actual parking demand?
⮚ What parking management strategies could be employed to encourage the most efficient use of existing parking spaces?
⮚ Considering current and anticipated parking demand, is there a need for additional public parking? If so, how much, what type, and where should it be located?
⮚ What funding mechanisms and/or partnerships have other jurisdictions used to implement parking improvements in their downtown?
The selected consultant shall provide a parking study complete with the scope of work detailed in this RFQ, and will serve as the lead for stakeholder engagement, parking data collection, and the presentation of findings and recommendations to City Council. The study is anticipated to take approximately six months to complete, with adoption targeted for July 2027.
BACKGROUND
The City of Suwanee covers approximately 11 square miles and contains over 23,000 residents. Suwanee is centrally located between Interstate 85 and bedroom communities in Fulton and Forsyth counties and is served by multiple arterial roads, resulting in a steady flow of pass-through traffic. Since the late 1990s, the City has developed an identity as a place where people can enjoy abundant open spaces, engaging public art, and a vibrant, walkable downtown. As downtown grows, the City seeks to strike a balance between comfortable walkability and meeting the daily parking needs of residents, workers, and visitors.
Suwanee's downtown includes three distinct parking districts:
⮚ Town Center, located on the southeast quadrant of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, is a mix of shops, offices, and residences looking onto Town Center Park. This park is home to numerous events and serves as Suwanee's front porch, where residents, workers, and visitors come to live, work, and play. Parking is provided on-street, in surface lots located to the rear of buildings, and in a four-story parking deck. There are approximately 1,500 mostly publicly available parking spaces within Town Center.
⮚ Town Center on Main, located southwest of the intersection of Suwanee Dam Road and the newly relocated Main Street encompasses a large, urban park, a branch of the Gwinnett County library, PlayTown Suwanee, and Evergreen Presbyterian Church. This area provides opportunities for adults at Suwanee Circle, kids at PlayTown Suwanee, and everyone in between on the lawn or at the library. Parking is provided on-street and in surface parking lots, including a shared lot with Evergreen Presbyterian. There are approximately 390 publicly available parking spaces within Town Center on Main.
⮚ Historic Old Town, located along Main Street south of its intersection with Russell Street, is Suwanee's original downtown. For purposes of this study, the area also includes the future development of the three corners of the intersection of Buford Highway and Russell Street as included in the Roundabout Master Plan. This area is poised for growth with anticipated openings of shops and restaurants in the existing buildings and new development at the roundabout. Parking is located on-street and in surface lots, including parking shared with Suwanee First United Methodist Church. A small parking lot near the intersection of Main Street and Scales Road is currently in design. Construction of the lot may be complete prior to completion of the study. There are approximately 130 publicly available parking spaces within Historic Old Town.
Suwanee's downtown is expected to experience additional mixed-use development over the next five years, primarily along Buford Highway between Town Center and Old Town. The City is working with property owners to implement the concepts found in the Roundabout Master Plan for property surrounding the roundabout located at the intersection of Buford Highway with Russell Street. In addition, Town Center is expected to change with the relocation and adaptive reuse of the City's police headquarters as well as the possible development of a downtown hotel. Finally, the triangular property between Town Center on Main and Suwanee Dam Road has redevelopment potential that may be realized. The City recognizes that adequate parking is essential to the future success of downtown and welcomes professional guidance before investing in the construction of new public parking.
A. Relevant Studies
⮚ Roundabout Master Plan (2024)
⮚ 2040 Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated 2024)
⮚ Suwanee Pedestrian and Bicycle Loop and Sidewalk Feasibility Studies (2021)
⮚ Town Center West Master Plan (2016)
⮚ Downtown Suwanee Master Plan Update (2015)
B. Available Data
An Excel spreadsheet with the current inventory of parking within the study areas based on aerial and/or in-person counts and building permit data is available. The City can provide the building square footages and/or numbers of units within downtown Suwanee.
The City uses an ArcView-based GIS system. Readily available shapefile information includes parcel lines, aerial photography, planimetric data, existing land use, future land use, street centerlines, tax assessor and property ownership information, streams, lakes, topography, and zoning. Additional information, such as water and sewer lines, school districts, etc. may be obtained from Gwinnett County, if needed.
C. Available Staff
The City's Planning Division Director and the Economic Development Manager are available to assist as needed in the stakeholder engagement and collection of parking data as needed, both to reduce consultant travel expenses and to gain professional experience for future studies. Please incorporate collaborative efforts in your proposal.
SCOPE OF WORK
The work to be accomplished for the Suwanee Downtown Parking Study is divided into the following required and optional tasks. The City may add certain optional tasks to the scope of work during initial contract negotiations or during the course of the study if parking data/analysis reveals the need for the inclusion of other optional tasks. Cost proposals should break down costs by task and may include multiple options with different costs within tasks.
Task 1 - Project Launch
⮚ Initial meeting with City staff in Winter 2027 to introduce the team, discuss the scope of the study, and answer any questions.
⮚ Review available parking data, relevant plans, and development plans.
⮚ Present a project schedule to City staff for review and approval.
Task 2 - Stakeholder Engagement
⮚ Engage with the following stakeholders as part of the study: current elected officials, appointed DDA officials, and City staff, as well as, business owners, HOAs/Condo Associations/Apartment Managers, and institutional leaders/staff members within the study areas.
⮚ Conduct individual interviews with the Mayor, each City Council member, and the City Manager to learn about perceived parking issues, previous discussions of parking strategies, and reactions to various parking management approaches.
⮚ Design and lead one stakeholder follow-up activity in Spring 2027, after the gathering of data and development of recommendations, to present findings and recommendations and receive buy-in to proposed solutions.
⮚ Participate in a bi-weekly in-person Project Management Team meeting with staff.
Task 3 - Evaluate Existing Parking Regulations
⮚ Evaluate Chapter 54, Article IV. Parking of the City Code of Ordinances.
⮚ Evaluate Chapter 54, Article V. City Owned Parking Facilities of the Code of Ordinances.
⮚ Evaluate Article XV. Parking Requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
⮚ Consider the need for EV parking or bicycle parking requirements.
⮚ Recommend code modifications related to parking requirements, management, and enforcement based upon recognized best practices and stakeholder feedback.
Task 4 - Evaluate Existing Parking Demand
⮚ Build the parking evaluation upon the provided parking inventory spreadsheet with consultant-recommended modifications.
⮚ Collect parking occupancy and length of stay data using license plate readers during typical weekday and weekend conditions. Exact days and time periods should be recommended in the submittal but must be agreed upon with City staff. Data collection shall occur no earlier than March 2027.
⮚ Calculate occupancy at the street, lot/facility, district, and study area levels, or as otherwise recommended by the consultant and accepted by the City.
⮚ Prepare visuals that convey parking utilization and length of stay at these levels.
⮚ Determine where there are parking surplus/deficits in each study area.
⮚ Evaluate the ease of pedestrian access to surplus parking spaces to study area destinations.
Task 5 - Project Future Parking Demand
⮚ Review provided information regarding anticipated future development within the study areas.
⮚ Project future parking demand of anticipated development based upon established methodologies.
⮚ Develop parking demand scenarios reflecting typical weekday and weekend conditions in the next 5-10 years.
⮚ Prepare visualizations of projected future parking utilization, highlighting areas with a significant projected surplus or deficit.
Task 6 - Propose Parking Solutions
⮚ Prioritize parking management strategies over new construction unless existing parking within a comfortable walking distance of destinations is insufficient.
⮚ Propose strategies to manage employee and resident parking so that the most convenient spaces to destinations are available to visitors.
⮚ If additional parking is warranted, recommend the locations, type of parking facilities, number of spaces, and ideal time horizon for construction.
⮚ Detail the typical costs and funding mechanisms for all recommended parking management systems and new parking facilities.
Task 7 - Finalize Parking Study Deliverables
⮚ Submit Parking Study draft report to City staff for review and comments.
⮚ Address staff comments and finalize the Parking Study report.
⮚ Ensure all data is provided in a user-friendly, organized, and editable tool. Staff should be able to replicate the study or change assumptions in-house.
⮚ Prepare presentation for City Council.
Task 8 - Present to Suwanee City Council
⮚ Present to City Council and City leadership and address questions at a regular City Council workshop in Summer 2027.
Optional Task 1 - Evaluate Parking Wayfinding Signage
⮚ Evaluate effectiveness of existing wayfinding for parking.
⮚ Recommend new wayfinding solutions and/or modifications to existing wayfinding for parking. The goal of the wayfinding recommendations should be to increase utilization of underused parking facilities.
Optional Task 2 - Curb Management
⮚ Evaluate existing facilities for deliveries, loading, rideshare, passenger pick-up/drop-off, short term parking, etc.
⮚ Recommend curb management strategies and/or new facilities.
Optional Task 3 - Parking Deck Concept Plan
⮚ If a parking deck is recommended, develop conceptual plans for a parking deck that show the layout, spaces, and pedestrian/vehicular access and circulation.
⮚ Identify where (which district) a deck is recommended and potential locations. Expand on discussion of potential costs and cost drivers. Identify common funding mechanisms applicable specifically to parking decks.
Optional Task 4 - Additional City Council Presentations
⮚ Follow-up presentations at either a City Council workshop or meeting.
⮚ May be necessary if City Council desires additional information.
SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
The City of Suwanee hereby requests a Statements of Qualifications and a Cost of Services from professional firms to complete and undertake the above scope of work. The Statement of Qualifications must be submitted separately from the Cost of Services in separate sealed envelopes.
Part I. Statement of Qualifications
Please provide the City with the following information:
1. A cover letter expressing the consultant/firm's interest in the project, and identification of the specific individual(s) who will perform the work, including identifying the Project Manager. Inclusion of summary of current projects for individuals listed is appreciated. Any sub-consultants expected should also be listed.
2. A summary of why the consultant is well-qualified to conduct this work, and a description of the capabilities, experience, and availability of the project team members. Preference may be given to project teams located in the Atlanta region or those who have licensed PE or AICP-certified members.
3. An overview of how your team would approach the project, including public engagement strategies, data collection, use of technology/tools, and describe any competitive advantages that would bring exceptional value to this project.
4. At least two parking studies completed by the project team within the last seven years in a comparable jurisdiction with a similar scope. Contact information for the Project Manager for each organization must be included.
5. Confirmation that the project team can perform the work during the desired timeframe and/or a proposed alternate schedule for completing the work.
6. A list of at least three references with email and telephone contact information.
7. Submissions, excluding parking studies, should be no more than 15 pages in length.
Part II. Cost of Services
Please provide the cost of services as a breakdown of costs by task, which may include multiple options with different costs within tasks.
SELECTION PROCESS
Evaluation Criteria Points Available
⮚ Quality and completeness of proposal. 15 points
⮚ The firm's experience, expertise, and past performance. 30 points
⮚ Experience, qualifications, and availability of key staff. 20 points
⮚ Understanding of scope, proposed project approach, 35 points
proposed deliverables, and schedule availability.
TOTAL 100 points
This project is considered Professional Service for the City, which will evaluate proposals based on qualifications and quality of the firm and proposal. The proposals will be evaluated to select the Consultants that rate the highest according to the evaluation criteria. The selection committee will then "short-list" the highest scoring prospective Consultant(s) and eliminate the rest. If desired, the committee may request interviews or presentations with prospective Consultants, samples of work, and/or references. If necessary, the committee may again short-list the interviewed firms and eliminate the rest. Only after the most qualified firm has been selected will the sealed fee proposal be opened. If the City and said Consultant cannot come to contract agreement with the highest rated Consultant, the City reserves the right to negotiate and select the next rated Consultant, and so on until a Consultant is selected.
The City reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals, waive technicalities and informalities, change the scope of work, and amend said Request for Qualifications as it desires. The City reserves the right to negotiate with any Consultant and to select the Consultant that best meets the City's needs.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Action Date
Pre-submittal meeting (optional) December 3, 2026 @ 1:00 P.M.
Question submittal deadline December 10, 2026 @ 2:00 P.M.
RFQ Addendum released December 14, 2026
RFQ response deadline December 18, 2026 @ 2:00 P.M.
Response evaluation period December 21, 2026 to January 5, 2027
Staff Interview of Finalists January 11-12, 2027
Consultant Selection January 14, 2027
Project Negotiations January 15, 2027 to January 25, 2027
Contract Awarded by City Council January 26, 2027 @ 6:30 P.M.
SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Statement of Qualifications. Provide six hard copies and one electronic copy. Hard copies shall be unbound color copies on 8 ½" X 11" paper not exceeding 15 total informational pages (not including cover, organizational dividers, etc.). Separately, provide one color copy and/or one electronic copy of two parking studies completed by the proposed project team that are comparable to the requested scope of work.
Cost of Services. In a separate sealed envelope, provide an estimated cost to complete the required tasks as outlined in the Scope of Work. In addition, provide a menu with the line-item costs of optional tasks identified in the Scope of Work along with any additional recommended tasks with their associated costs.
The proposal must be sealed, and mailed or delivered to the attention of Brian Ford, AICP, Planning Division Director, at 330 Town Center Avenue, Suwanee, GA 30024. The submittal deadline is December 18, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Submittals received after the established deadline will not be considered. No faxed submissions will be accepted.
Staff Contact. Please submit questions to Brian Ford, Planning Division Director, at bford@suwanee.com by December 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A pre-submittal meeting will be held at the Suwanee City Hall on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Attendance at the pre-submittal meeting is highly encouraged, but not mandatory. An addendum with answers to all submitted questions will be released by December 14, 2026. Consultants who contact members of Suwanee City Council may be disqualified.
Insurance Requirements. The Consultant selected shall maintain, at its own expense, insurance coverage appropriate to the services provided under this contract, including coverages for Commercial General Liability; Professional Liability (Errors and Omissions); Automobile Liability; and Workers' Compensation. Prior to execution of the contract, the selected Consultant shall provide a Certificate of Insurance evidencing the required coverage. The Consultant shall maintain the required insurance throughout the term of the contract and shall ensure that any subcontractors performing services under the contract maintain appropriate insurance coverage.
No Assignment. The successful consultant will be prohibited from assigning, transferring, conveying, subletting, or otherwise disposing of the contract or its rights, title, or interest therein or its power to execute such contract to any other person, company, or corporation without prior written consent and approval by the City of Suwanee.
Ownership. All rights, titles to and ownership of the data, material, and documentation resulting from this project and/or prepared for the City pursuant to this RFQ shall remain exclusively with the City of Suwanee except that consultants may reserve the right to preserve the integrity of deliverables so that they are not misrepresented or misused.
The City of Suwanee reserves the right to accept or reject any and all submittals, waive technicalities and informalities, change scope of work, and amend said Request for Qualifications as desired by the City. The City reserves the right to negotiate with any firm and to select the firm that best meets the City's needs.
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Exhibit A: Study Area Maps
Town Center +/- 1,500 spaces
Town Center on Main +/- 390 spaces
Historic Old Town +/- 130 spaces
