City approves large paving and trail payments; Blue River Trail project still faces railroad-crossing cost dispute

On July 22 the Board of Works and Safety approved payment requests tied to major public-works projects, including $570,662.15 for the Community Crossings matching grant project and $86,724.12 to Pulver Asphalt Paving for the Blue River Trail South project under a Next Level Trails grant. City staff told the board that paving under the Community Crossings project is complete, contractors left town last Friday, and restoration around 31 ADA ramps is under way. The board approved the pay request unanimously. The board also approved Pulver Asphalt’s contractor application for the Blue River Trail South project. Staff said much of the trail work is complete but the project still faces an unresolved railroad crossing issue: an initial solution was quoted at about $500,000, which staff rejected as infeasible, and engineers are working on alternate designs and options, including the Main Street pedestrian island and coordination with INDOT on traffic lanes. Chip (staff) had approved the contractor application administratively and staff asked the board to authorize the payment; the board voted unanimously. No new funding sources or ordinances were cited on the record.