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Council hears updated estimate for Walnut Street Smart Growth project; staff to seek additional county funding
Summary
Engineering staff told Columbia Borough Council the Walnut Street project’s December 2023 cost estimate rose with inflation and added PennDOT inspector costs, and staff expect to request roughly $200,000 more from the county to cover a shortfall.
Council engineering staff updated the Columbia Borough Council on the Walnut Street project during the Jan. 14 meeting, saying cost estimates prepared in December 2023 are now likely north of prior figures and the borough will need to coordinate additional funding through county and PennDOT processes.
Public Works/engineering staff said the project was scheduled to be advertised for bid through PennDOT’s ECMS system with a planned bid date in June. The December 2023 cost estimate of approximately $1.345 million (as reported at the time) has shifted upward — staff estimated the project is now “a little north of the $1,400,000 range” when accounting for inflation and updated unit costs. Staff said they will request an additional approximately $200,000 from the county to cover the increase; a portion of the extra cost also reflects the requirement for a PennDOT inspector (estimated at about 10% of construction cost) since the project is funded through PennDOT.
Staff noted the grant funding arrangement is a reimbursement model: the borough pays contractors and then requests reimbursement through the relevant grant program (project-specific earlier payments to National Gunite were cited as reimbursable via DCED). Council discussed the mechanics of revised estimates and bid timing; staff said they will coordinate revised quantities and an updated estimate with the county and PennDOT and that bids will ultimately determine final costs.
Why it matters: the Walnut Street project is funded in part through Smart Growth funding administered by the county with PennDOT oversight; inflation, inspection costs and unit-price shifts can increase the borough’s need for additional grant funds or alternate financing. Bids that come in higher than the revised estimate would trigger further funding discussions.
Next steps: staff will present a revised estimate to the county and coordinate required PennDOT bidding and inspection arrangements; council expects a recommendation on additional funding and finalized bid documents ahead of the June bid date.
