City signs three‑party engineering agreements with KDOT and Benesch for Unity and North Fifth sidewalks

The Atchison City Commission authorized the mayor and city staff to execute three‑party agreements with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and engineering firm Benesch for two pedestrian and sidewalk projects.

The Unity Street project will add sidewalks and lighting from Second to Sixth Street. KDOT awarded an 80% grant not to exceed $814,479 toward the Unity project; the city’s maximum local design match is $25,600 (the actual local cost is expected to be lower because the city’s engineering technician will perform some design work). The North Fifth Street project is a Safe Routes to School sidewalk improvement from Santa Fe to Unity that KDOT will fund at 100% for design, with a not‑to‑exceed KDOT amount of $924,389.

Staff said Benesch was selected through a qualifications‑based selection process and submitted turnkey design estimates for both projects. Because the city does not currently have a full‑time city engineer, staff will blend Benesch’s work with in‑house engineering support to reduce costs. The three‑party agreements formalize roles and funding responsibilities among the city, Benesch and KDOT.

The commission approved executing the agreements; staff said the worst‑case city match for Unity’s design phase would be $25,600, and any actual local expense should be less after in‑house work is accounted for.

Why it matters: Sidewalk and Safe Routes investments improve pedestrian safety near schools and downtown and leverage KDOT grant funding to deliver infrastructure upgrades with reduced local expense.

Quotations below come from staff presentation and contract discussion at the commission meeting.