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City manager reverts to galvanized poles for Maguire corridor after site walk; decorative streetlight purchase found cost-prohibitive
Summary
Staff told council that a site walk showed existing traffic-signal poles would interfere with ADA ramp and sidewalk work on the Maguire corridor, prompting a return to the original plan for galvanized poles; a separate vendor analysis found owning decorative streetlights would cost about $500,000 and was not recommended.
City Manager Michael Scraig told the council staff removed an agenda item to allow more time after a site walk found existing traffic-signal poles would interfere with sidewalk and ADA ramp work on the Maguire corridor.
Scraig said the city had explored switching from galvanized steel signal poles to black powder-coated poles as a decorative option, and that the contractor and subcontractor had provisionally planned for a last-minute change. The site walk revealed, however, that leaving existing poles in place until the end of construction would obstruct critical concrete and ramp work and could extend the project schedule and cost beyond the incremental price of powder coating. For that reason staff reverted to the original plan to use galvanized poles.
Scraig also reported staff asked Schneider Electric to run a business-case model to compare renting lights from the electric utility versus the city purchasing and owning decorative streetlights. He said Schneider’s analysis identified potential energy-efficiency measures and guaranteed-performance services but that the purchase/own model tested for the Maguire corridor was in the neighborhood of half a million dollars. That cost did not close the gap sufficiently to recommend ownership over continued rental from Evergy, so staff did not advance an ownership proposal to the council.
Scraig said Evergy is proceeding with corridor work in phases (south to north, Grover to Market Street), tree trimming has begun, some temporary concrete has been poured on the north end and ongoing underground utility work is still being completed. Staff reported remaining property easements are under discussion with owners; capital-projects staff are coordinating driveway access and sequencing with Evergy and the contractor.
Council did not take formal action; staff said it would continue to coordinate sequencing and provide updates as the corridor project advances.
