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Council approves Spicer Group contract to study Harrison Road safety and design options
Summary
Council authorized up to $231,300 for Spicer Group to provide engineering services for Harrison Road rehabilitation, including a short‑term safety analysis for the Glencaron Elementary crosswalk and broader corridor design; residents had urged speed‑reduction measures and alternatives to removing the hill.
The East Lansing City Council on Tuesday approved a contract with Spicer Group not to exceed $231,300 for engineering services on the Harrison Road Rehabilitation Project, which will include a near‑term safety analysis for the Glencaron Elementary School crosswalk and full corridor design from Grand River Avenue to Saginaw Street.
Public comment at the meeting underscored neighborhood safety concerns. Carissa Buchholz, a Glen Haven Avenue resident and parent, thanked staff for accelerating the project timeline but urged engineers to prioritize measures that reduce traffic speed rather than solely lowering the hill. “Leveling the hill without putting measures in place to reduce traffic speed is problematic,” she told council, and recommended the city consider a HAWK pedestrian signal and other design options to slow motorists.
City staff said the project is federally funded through the Tri‑County Regional Planning Commission Transportation Improvement Program: the TIP lists $1.5 million total construction cost with a federal share of $1.2 million and a city share of about $305,000. Because of recent resident concerns, the city split the design RFP into three phases: a short‑term phase to identify measures that can be implemented before school starts in the fall; a phase focused on the segment from Saginaw to South Lawn addressing sight distance and the school crossing; and a full corridor design phase for Grand River to Saginaw.
Public Works Director Ron Lacoste and Engineering Administrator Stephen Clayton explained the selection process for the consultant: eight firms responded, and staff (three engineering staff and one finance reviewer) ranked Spicer Group highest based on experience, approach and accessibility. Lacoste said phase 1 and 2 of the contract — the immediate analysis and options work — represent about $27,000 of the total; the remainder covers final design and construction inspection services so the city can use the programmed federal construction funds in 2026.
Council members emphasized community engagement. Mayor Robert Bellman and the city manager said staff will reach out to residents and the school district; the city manager said a neighborhood meeting is being planned for late June or early July to gather input on alternatives. Council voted unanimously to approve the contract and authorized the city manager to sign.
The contract authorizes staff to evaluate a range of fixes — including traffic calming, sight‑distance modifications and, if necessary, grade changes — but Lacoste and Clayton said any construction decisions (for example, altering the hill) would return to council for later approval after public input and further engineering analysis.
