Committee approves KDOT grants, contracts and procurement actions including $3M HSIP award for Metcalf/70th; multiple 5-0 votes

The Public Works Committee recommended City Council approval of a package of transportation, construction and procurement items on motions that passed by voice vote, each recorded as 5–0 in committee. Major items included receipt of federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for a signal at 70th Street and Metcalf, a $1 million KDOT-participating grant for a Hemlock mini-roundabout, award of turnkey electric-vehicle charging equipment and installation, a $3.20 million contract for concrete curb-and-sidewalk repairs, consultant authorizations for transportation planning and a preliminary engineering study, and a short-term procurement addition to secure salt supplies for winter operations.

Votes at a glance

- Metcalf Avenue and 70th Street traffic signal (City State Agreement No. 89224; city project ST2953/ST2952): the committee recommended approval to accept $3,000,000 in federal HSIP funding administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to construct left-turn lanes and install a new signal at the intersection. Committee discussion noted this action is to accept funds (the project is already in the CIP), and members asked about right-of-way impacts and street trees. Outcome: recommend approval; committee vote 5–0.

- Hemlock mini-roundabout (City State Agreement No. 92624; city project ST2952): staff recommended accepting $1,000,000 in HSIP grant funding for a mini-roundabout between 130th Street/130th Fifth and 130th Third on Hemlock (between two commercial entrances). Outcome: recommend approval; committee vote 5–0.

- Rejection and rebid of Eightieth Street and Metcalf signal reconstruction (project MT3110): staff opened bids and received a single bid 19% above the engineer’s estimate; staff recommended rejection of all bids and rebid after reevaluating the estimate. Outcome: recommend rejection and rebid; committee vote 5–0.

- Electric vehicle supply equipment at public facilities (project SC2992): staff recommended award to the lowest responsible bidder listed on the bid tabulation, shown in committee action as Delo North Construction Inc., for $429,255 for turnkey equipment purchase and contractor installation and programming; staff noted federal grant funds covered a majority of project cost. Outcome: recommend award; committee vote 5–0.

- 2025 Street Improvements (concrete repairs) (project MR3096): staff recommended award to Sunflower Paving Inc. for $3,199,760.05 for curb and sidewalk repairs across multiple neighborhoods. Outcome: recommend award; committee vote 5–0.

- South Overland Park Transportation Plan update (On-demand Task Order No. 3 with HNTB Corporation; project ST3036): staff recommended approval of an on-demand task order for engineering services to update the 2015 South Overland Park transportation plan; fee not to exceed $234,841. Outcome: recommend approval; committee vote 5–0.

- 170th Street (170th/170th Ninth to Antioch) supplemental engineering agreement (project TH3026): staff presented a supplemental agreement with HNTB for extending the project scope to Antioch Road; supplemental fee $853,005, bringing the total contract to $22,402,915. Outcome: recommend approval; committee vote 5–0.

- Consultant selection for preliminary engineering study of New Kent Road bridge over a creek and the Union Pacific Railroad (project 2H2508): staff reported one proposal and recommended selection of Olson Inc. to negotiate a scope and fee for a preliminary engineering study. Outcome: recommend selection and authorization to negotiate; committee vote 5–0.

- Waiver of formal bid process and short-term addition of Central Salt LLC (winter rock salt): staff requested authorization to add Central Salt as an additional salt vendor under a short-term agreement so the city could purchase up to 7,000 tons of salt at a not-to-exceed price of $369,810 to restore inventory; staff said the vendor honored 2023 pricing and the short agreement would run until the formal bid cycle in July. Outcome: recommend waiver and agreement; committee vote 5–0.

Committee discussion highlights and clarifications

- Metcalf/70th signal: council members queried whether street trees or streetscaping would be included; staff explained the funding approval is only to accept the HSIP grant and that street trees are typically installed by property owners under form-based code during redevelopment. Staff noted the project includes right-of-way acquisition and is limited to intersection improvements rather than full corridor redesign.

- Hemlock mini-roundabout: committee members asked for a location description; staff said it sits between 130th Third and 130th Fifth on Hemlock in a commercial corridor where crossing is presently difficult.

- 80th & Metcalf bid rejection: staff said the lone bid was 19% over the engineer’s estimate and recommended rejection and rebid after adjusting the estimate.

- EV charging award: staff said the recommended contractor would handle equipment installation and programming and that a federal grant covered the bulk of project cost. Committee confirmed the city would purchase the equipment and the contractor would install it.

- Concrete repairs: staff said the low bidder, Sunflower Paving, has worked for other municipalities and the bid price compared competitively with other responses.

- Salt procurement: staff said the current contract runs through July and adding a second vendor was a short-term measure to secure supply; the quoted not-to-exceed amount is about $370,000 for up to 7,000 tons.

All committee motions were recorded as passed by voice vote with a committee tally of 5–0 for each motion. Each recommended approval or action will be forwarded to City Council per the normal legislative process.