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Middletown approves design contracts to study undergrounding utilities in Atlantic Beach district
Summary
Council authorized spending up to about $127,000 from the town's TIF fund for design work by Rhode Island Energy ($103,000) and an amendment to VHB ($24,000) to develop plans and cost estimates for undergrounding overhead utilities along Lower Quinick Avenue.
The Middletown council voted June 9 to fund engineering and consulting work to design an undergrounding project for utilities in the Atlantic Beach/Lower Quinick Avenue area.
Town staff presented two proposals: a Rhode Island Energy engineering and design contract for $103,000 to produce buried-utility plans and a proposed $24,000 amendment to a VHB consulting contract to coordinate with non‑electric utilities (for example, cable and phone providers). Town staff said the design work would take about eight months and that a completed plan would include a construction cost estimate that must be rechecked once detailed procurement occurs.
Town staff and consultants cautioned the council that construction to bury utilities would be substantially more expensive than design work. One staffer said prior high-level estimates (several years earlier) had put similar work in the low tens of millions; during the meeting officials suggested construction could be in the range of $30 million to $40 million depending on scope, timing and market conditions.
Funding for the contracts was proposed from the town’s tax-increment financing (TIF) fund. The finance director confirmed roughly $229,000 remained in the TIF account; councilors approved using that fund source for the design and VHB amendment. The council also discussed the need to coordinate undergrounding work with a Rhode Island Department of Transportation paving project scheduled in the area and noted the timing and funding for full construction remain open questions.
Public commenters urged the council to show “skin in the game” by setting aside TIF revenues for the project to signal commitment and attract private and philanthropic contributions; others asked for clarity on whether the town would commit to construction once the plan is complete. Town officials said the design contract will produce the information necessary to pursue construction funding but that construction cost and funding commitments would be decided later.
The council passed a resolution authorizing the Rhode Island Energy design agreement and the VHB contract amendment and directing the finance director to execute the amendment on behalf of the town.
