DuPage County transportation panel approves multiple equipment and service contracts, concurs to increase Darien retaining-wall participation

The DuPage County Transportation Committee on an unspecified 2025 date approved multiple equipment and professional-services contracts, accepted several contract-close amendments that reduced final county costs, authorized overnight travel for the county engineer to a regional conference in Schaumburg and agreed to increase DuPage County’s share of a retaining-wall project in Darien after staff reported unanticipated design and right-of-way costs.

The committee approved purchase and service contracts for the Division of Transportation including small equipment and vehicles, professional traffic design and architectural services, and a managed-application services contract for permitting software. Committee members voted by voice on each motion; staff described the Acela contract as a sole-source, proprietary support agreement exempt from competitive bidding.

Why it matters: The approved contracts fund vehicles and engineering work the county uses to maintain roads and facilities, and the committee’s concurrence to increase participation in the Darien retaining-wall project adjusts the county’s exposure to a single local infrastructure repair that staff said the county will ultimately be responsible for if the project is deferred.

Most important actions

- Equipment and vehicle purchases: The committee approved three procurement contracts to furnish a tack cart trailer, two Ford Broncos and one semi tractor for the Division of Transportation, with contract totals not to exceed $37,108.40; $64,421.08; and $187,012, respectively.

- Professional services: The committee approved a contract with DLZ Illinois for professional traffic design engineering services (period through 10/31/2026) not to exceed $400,000, and a contract with FGM Architects Inc. for architectural and engineering services for a highway maintenance facility not to exceed $3,330,863.

- Contract-close amendments: The committee approved amendments to reduce and close several existing contracts, including reductions that resulted in final county costs of $215,017.52 (Burns & McDonnell, Grand Avenue improvements), $331,964.41 (AECOM, Gary Avenue Trail construction engineering), $168,470.33 (Christopher B. Burke Engineering, East Branch DuPage River Trail preliminary engineering) and $478,195.94 (Superior Road Striping, 2022 pavement marking maintenance). The committee also approved an amendment to reduce a Local Public Agency agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Green Brook Boulevard improvements, reducing the county portion to $248,207.58.

- County engineer travel: The committee approved overnight local travel for the county engineer to attend the National Association of County Engineers annual conference in Schaumburg from April 13–17, 2025. Staff described hosting responsibilities by regional county engineers as the reason for the overnight lodging request despite the conference being within the Chicagoland area.

- Permitting software support: The committee accepted and placed on file a purchase order to Acela Incorporated for managed-application services to support permitting software used by building and zoning, transportation, stormwater and public works departments for February 21, 2025, through February 2026, with a contract total not to exceed $203,674.38. Staff described the purchase as exempt from bidding as a sole-source proprietary software maintenance and support agreement.

Darien retaining-wall: committee concurs to increase county participation

Staff briefed the committee on a retaining-wall replacement project along Plainfield Road east of Cass Avenue in Darien. Bill, a staff member, said the village of Darien is the project lead and that unanticipated design issues and a previously unusable easement across private yards had more than doubled estimated project costs from the original $375,000 estimate to roughly $876,000.

"Ultimately, this wall is the county's responsibility," Bill said, noting the village had requested county collaboration and that if Darien did not proceed the county would eventually bear full replacement costs. Staff provided a proposed cost breakdown: about $733,000 for construction, $48,000 for land acquisition, $20,000 for specialty fence lighting and $75,000 for engineering.

Staff recommended the county pay the land-acquisition cost in full, decline responsibility for the decorative lighting, and pay half of the construction and engineering costs, which would raise the county’s participation to about $452,000 — an increase of $264,500 over the county’s earlier commitment of $187,500. The committee voiced concurrence and asked staff to prepare an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the village.

Votes at a glance

(Voice votes unless noted)

- DTP-00725: Approve contract to KC Equipment to furnish and deliver 1 tack cart trailer for Division of Transportation, period 02/11/2025–11/30/2025, total not to exceed $37,108.40 — approved (voice vote).

- DTP-00825: Approve contract to National Auto Fleet Group to furnish and deliver 2 Ford Broncos, period 02/11/2025–11/08/2025, total not to exceed $64,421.08 — approved (voice vote).

- DTP-00925: Approve contract to CIT Trucks LLC for 1 semi tractor, period 02/12/2025–11/30/2025, total not to exceed $187,012 — approved (voice vote).

- DTP-001010025: Approve contract to DLZ Illinois for professional traffic design engineering services, period 02/11/2025–10/31/2026, total not to exceed $400,000 — approved (voice vote).

- DTP-001125: Approve contract to FGM Architects Inc. for architectural and engineering services for highway maintenance facility, period 02/11/2025–10/31/2026, total not to exceed $3,330,863 — approved (voice vote).

- 250371 (amendment to DTP-0261A19, Burns & McDonnell): Decrease funding $15,357.19, close contract, final county cost $215,017.52 (decrease 6.67%) — approved (voice vote).

- 250376 (amendment to DTP-033819, AECOM): Decrease funding $16,513.19, close contract, final county cost $331,964.41 (decrease 4.74%) — approved (voice vote).

- 205375 (amendment to DTP-90422, Christopher B. Burke Eng.): Decrease funding $38,039.58, close contract, final county cost $168,470.33 (decrease 18.42%) — approved (voice vote).

- 205380 (amendment to DTR-13422, Superior Road Striping): Decrease funding $18,786.42, close contract, final county cost $478,195.94 (decrease 3.78%) — approved (voice vote).

- 250383 (amendment to DTR-039118, Local Public Agency agreement with IDOT for Green Brook Blvd): Decrease funding $54,181.42, amended total $248,207.58 (decrease 17.92%) — approved (voice vote).

- County engineer travel (National Association of County Engineers conference, Schaumburg, 04/13/2025–04/17/2025): Authorized overnight local travel and associated expenses (approximate total $22,359) — approved (voice vote).

- TEP000325: Accept and place on file purchase order to Acela Incorporated for managed application services (permitting software support), period 02/21/2025–February 2026, total not to exceed $203,674.38; described as sole-source/proprietary and exempt from bidding — accepted (voice vote).

- Darien retaining-wall: Committee concurred with staff recommendation to proceed with an updated IGA reflecting county payment of land acquisition and half of construction and engineering costs, county participation estimated at $452,000 (increase $264,500) — committee consensus; staff directed to prepare updated IGA.

Clarifying details and financials

- Darien retaining-wall: Staff reported the total updated project estimate of $876,000, comprised of approximately $733,000 construction, $48,000 land acquisition, $20,000 specialty lighting (staff recommended county not pay lighting), and $75,000 engineering.

- Acela contract: Described by staff as sole-source proprietary software maintenance/support; contract total not to exceed $203,674.38 for roughly one year.

Speakers and attributions

Direct quotes and attributions below are limited to speakers identified in the meeting record.

- John (staff member) said that about 60 people had signed up for a PACE–Uber partnership initiative in the ZIP code where staff had conducted outreach.

- Bill (staff member) said, "Ultimately, this wall is the county's responsibility," while outlining cost changes and recommending the county pay land-acquisition costs and half of construction and engineering.

Ending

Committee members closed routine business after voting on the listed motions and amendments and directed staff to prepare an updated IGA with Darien reflecting the committee's guidance. No public comment was received during the meeting.