Council splits over adding Manhattan/Franklin bike-lane design contract to agenda; debate centers on safety and grant conditions

The Jersey City Municipal Council on Wednesday debated whether to add a resolution to the agenda to authorize a professional-services contract for engineering design of a protected-bike-lane project on Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street.

The proposal, introduced as a resolution to award a contract to French & Pirella Associates, P.A., would authorize up to $162,000 for design and construction-management services tied to a New Jersey Department of Transportation grant the administration said is worth about $670,000 for construction. Council members split over adding the item to the agenda after extensive questions about public-safety objections and whether the administration could redirect design funds to another street if the council later chose a different location.

Councilperson Parker Patel (identified in the record as Director Patel) told the council the $162,000 figure reflected the vendor’s quote assuming a full build-out, and that the vendor would bill only for work performed. “If we say that we are not covering that full length and they're only covering part of it,…