Transportation commission approves multiple contracts and is warned of possible stop‑work notices if state budget lapses

The Mississippi Transportation Commission approved a broad package of contracts, work assignments, supplemental agreements and legal authorizations and heard an update from staff warning that a state budget impasse — and a possible drafting error in House Bill 1 — could require MDOT to send stop‑work notices and could reduce department revenues by millions of dollars.

Commission members voted to adopt the agenda, which included authorization for multiple consultant and construction‑related contracts across the state and several legal and real‑property actions. The commission also heard from a staff member who outlined federal requirements that would follow if the state does not pass a budget before the fiscal year begins July 1.

The agenda items approved included small purchase and work assignment contracts for preconstruction and design services, ratifications of class 1 and class 2 supplemental agreements, a pavement condition survey contract, purchases for intelligent transportation systems, vehicle disposals under Federal Transit Administration procedures, and multiple legal authorizations. Notable line items read into the record included an authorization not to exceed $29,738.28 for a phase A build inspection contract with Radcliff Engineering LLC for the I‑10/Mississippi Highway 605 interchange in Harrison County and a professional services contract with Pathway Services for a statewide pavement condition survey not to exceed $6,044,026.54.

Brent, a staff member, told commissioners the department must follow federal rules if the legislature fails to adopt a budget. “The first of that being sending out a stop suspend work notice due to no appropriation of funds to all of our vendors and contractors,” he said, explaining the department could be required to issue a preliminary notice about 45 days before July 1. He said a later, more definitive stop‑work notice could follow nearer the fiscal‑year deadline if appropriations remain unresolved.

Brent also described a recently discovered drafting error in House Bill 1 that may affect the timing or amount of state aid distributions. He said the error could be interpreted to shift roughly $50 million in fuel‑tax distributions away from MDOT’s regular allocation and that the department is consulting the commissioner of revenue, the legislative budget office and legislative leadership to clarify the intent and options. He said no commission action was required at the meeting.

Commission staff presented a number of consent‑agenda items with specific dollar amounts read into the record, including:

- A small purchase contract with Radcliff Engineering LLC for up to $29,738.28 for inspections and plans on the I‑10 and MS‑605 interchange (Harrison County).

- A work assignment under a roadway design master contract with Garver LLC to provide phase A design services and phase B final construction plans for I‑20 in Warren County (noted in the transcript with a not‑to‑exceed amount that was read as “700,000, $416.64” and therefore is recorded here as stated in the meeting record).

- A supplemental agreement with TL Wallace adding $405,179.74 for interchange reconstruction on I‑10 at Diamondhead in Hancock County, bringing that contract’s revised amount to $20,427,244.74 and adding 20 working days.

- Ratifications authorizing district engineers to execute up to an additional $100,000 in class 1 and class 2 supplemental agreements on several bridge and roadway preservation projects.

- A supplemental agreement with RidgePoint Consultants, LLC adding $14,000 for appraisal services for four additional parcels on US‑72 in Marshall County (revised contract total reported as $113,947).

- A supplemental geotechnical services agreement adding $29,627.85 for additional subsurface investigation for a proposed multiuse path along US‑90 in Jackson County (revised contract total reported as $133,048.15).

- A professional services contract with Pathway Services for a pavement condition survey statewide, not to exceed $6,044,026.54.

- A Department of Information Technology Services procurement for traffic cameras and accessories for MDOT’s traffic network totaling not to exceed $149,670 (competitively bid by ITS).

- A small contract with Ken Weed and Associates to assist MDOT in establishing Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals for federal‑aid projects, not to exceed $28,671.

The agenda also included authorization for legal master agreements to provide title examinations and closings (flat fees per parcel and a total contract cap reported), a replacement public trust tidelands lease to the Secretary of State for culvert work on US‑90 in Jackson County (40‑year term beginning July 1, 2025, with an option to extend), and several items asking the attorney general to file suit and retain experts to pursue claims for damages on specific projects (claims were described in the record with estimated amounts, including approximately $2,000,000 for damage to the Pearl River bridge on Highway 28 and about $211,000 for damage on I‑55 in Lauderdale County).

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the agenda and the package of listed items as read into the record. The meeting record shows the agenda motion was moved and seconded and carried; individual roll‑call tallies for each line item were not read aloud in the transcript.

Commission staff and presenters flagged a range of follow‑up items for monitoring — including the unresolved House Bill 1 drafting issue, the timing of potential stop‑work notices and further contract closeouts and supplemental agreements that may be executed by project engineers and district engineers under the ratifications the commission approved.

The meeting adjourned after the approvals and the budget update; no additional commission action on the House Bill 1 issue was requested at the meeting.