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Town discusses Washington Street/CSX project: TDOT funding, contractor selection and subcontractor concerns
Summary
Council considered awarding construction and inspection contracts for the Washington Street crossing/sidewalk project funded mostly by Section 130 railroad-highway funds; discussion focused on scope, 90/10 federal match, sidewalks, roundabout curb changes and prior subcontractor performance.
Town staff presented terms for a construction agreement with Sessions Paving Company for the Washington Street and CSX project and a related construction engineering and inspection (CEI) contract with Hayworth Meyer Boland Professional Engineers.
"This is a railroad highway crossing program section 130 funding," a staff member identified as Charles said. He confirmed Federal Highway (through TDOT) will pay 90% of construction with a 10% local match and that TDOT had reviewed and approved the Sessions bid. The project scope described adding sidewalks from Front Street to Lowry, a pedestrian crossing across railroad tracks and minor adjustments to the roundabout including a 2-inch curb (truck apron) to discourage lane cutting.
Council members asked whether Sessions would use subcontractors. Charles said Sessions will subcontract concrete work and pavement marking and that specific subcontractors would be identified at the pre-construction meeting. Council members raised concerns about a subcontractor that had caused schedule and quality problems on earlier projects. Charles and other staff said that particular subcontractor's work type would not be needed for this contract and that, because the project is TDOT-funded, the town cannot specify all subcontractors when TDOT standards apply.
Council members also discussed liquidated damages, weather-day allowances and the challenge of securing contractor attention on short projects when contractors juggle bigger state work. Charles said TDOT scheduling, CSX flagging and railroad coordination are the main schedule variables.
The CEI contract was presented as the professional inspection/engineering supplement to construction; staff noted Hayworth Meyer Boland is a TDOT preapproved firm that took over Weiser's local office. The transcript does not record a final roll-call vote on either contract.
