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H Street Bridge funding adjusted in FY26 budget; DDOT says bids, streetcar removal and PLA rules affect final cost
Summary
DDOT told the committee the H Street Bridge rehabilitation remains funded but the FY26 cashflow shows lower year-one spending; the agency said overall project funding remains above $300 million and that project labor agreements (PLAs) and streetcar infrastructure could materially change bid costs.
Councilmembers pressed DDOT on the H Street Bridge rehabilitation, which was reflected in the FY25 budget with a larger FY26 allotment than the mayors FY26 proposal includes. The proposed FY26 budget reduces year-specific spending for the H Street Bridge (for example, the FY26 line dropped from a previously estimated $69.4 million to $30.0 million), but DDOT said the total program budget remains "well over $300,000,000" when prior-year funds are included.
DDOT told the committee it has received bids and is reviewing solicitation responses; the agency expects to finalize contract selection in roughly a month and said construction work is likely to begin in 2027.
Project labor agreements and potential cost impacts Kirschbaum said the agencys industry contacts and cost estimators have told DDOT that project labor agreements (PLAs) can increase bid prices by 10% to 20%. When Councilmember Lewis George asked whether the lower FY26 number assumes changes to PLA or the removal of streetcar infrastructure, Kirschbaum said the revised FY26 funding estimate accounts for a scope without streetcar infrastructure and noted that a change in PLA requirements would also affect cost estimates.
"We have known from our industry partners that project labor agreements have increased cost by 10 to 20%." Kirschbaum told the committee.
Scope consequences of streetcar change Kirschbaum said that if streetcar infrastructure were to be removed from the bridge design, the project scope and cost estimate would change. She also said the agency would review solicitation packages and adjust scope if appropriate but emphasized she was cautious about discussing active solicitations in public.
Ending: DDOT committed to reporting final bid evaluations and timeline updates to the committee and confirmed the agency believes the current capital request will allow the project to proceed, with construction likely beginning in 2027.
