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Kenosha council approves Sheridan Road streetcar track replacement after debate; vote 15-1
Summary
The Common Council awarded a contract for streetcar track replacement on Sheridan Road, citing a one-week work window and full coverage by the city’s Harper COVID-era fund; one alderman voted no, citing cost and oversight concerns.
The Kenosha Common Council voted 15 to 1 to award a contract for replacement of streetcar track on Sheridan Road, approving the project after questions about oversight, funding and traffic impacts.
The council approved the award to Volkmann Railroad Builders Inc. for the Sheridan Road streetcar track replacement. Transit staff said the contractor will coordinate traffic control with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the county, and that the work will affect both directions of traffic. City staff told the council the project has a one-week construction window.
Council members pressed staff about bid competition and committee review. Alderman, 16th District, asked whether the project had been brought to the Public Works Committee; transit staff and other council members said the item had gone to the Transit and Finance committees and could have gone to Public Works but was routed based on the project type.
Nelson, the city’s transit director, told the council that "all the tracks need to be replaced at some point. It's more than 20 years old," and that the city obtained the state's permission to work on the state highway. Nelson said the project is being paid for with the Harper Fund, an emergency COVID-era grant, and that for this section the fund covers 100 percent of the cost: "Due to the safety of the track we're using the Harper Fund. Harper Fund was part of the COVID 19 grant that we got. So it's 100% covered for this project through the Harper fund." He added that subsequent track replacements will follow an 80/20 grant match model.
One alderman said he could not support the project, citing reliance on ARPA funds and questions about year-round ridership; that alderman cast the lone no vote. Council members also noted the project drew a single bid because track replacement is a specialized scope of work.
The council recorded a 15-1 roll call in favor of the contract. The director of transit said the contractor will employ a traffic contractor approved by the state and county, and staff pledged neighborhood and aldermanic notification before work begins.
The project is part of ongoing maintenance of the streetcar system and city staff indicated additional track segments will be scheduled for replacement in future capital-improvement planning.
