Transportation Commission tables rail multimodal agreement, reviews dozens of highway and transit contracts

The Mississippi Transportation Commission moved to table a proposed rail multimodal agreement and took up dozens of contract and program authorizations at its meeting. Commissioners reviewed work assignments, supplemental construction agreements and transit program actions affecting projects across multiple counties, and approved a motion to enter an executive session to discuss two workers' compensation matters and a property matter.

Commissioners deferred action on a proposed rail multimodal agreement with the Rail Authority of East Mississippi, which had listed a not-to-exceed fee of $350,014.21 for FY2024 site selection, preliminary engineering and property acquisition tied to a new rail car storage area. A commissioner moved to "table. Table. Second. Subject to call," and the chair said the item would be sent back for further review.

The meeting included presentations of numerous authorizations and contract actions. Staff presented work assignments and supplemental agreements for bridge and highway work: a roadway design work assignment (not to exceed $147,954.46) for replacement of three bridges on Mississippi Highway 354 in Tippett County; a hydraulic engineering work assignment (not to exceed $366,440.12) for three bridges on Mississippi Highway 7 in Grenada County; and a class 3 supplemental agreement with L. Carson Construction Co. for bridge replacement on MS 184 at White Sands Creek in Jeff Davis County, compensating the contractor $123,072.70 and revising the contract to $4,699,142.48 with an additional 30 working days added to the schedule.

Staff also described a class 3 supplemental agreement with Key LLC for bridge preservation on I-20 East to I-55 North that adds $182,816.88 for hydro-demolition of the bridge deck, revising that contract to $25,251,176.95. When a commissioner asked what "hydro demolition" meant, Jenny, a field operations representative, said, "They actually use water to demolish the top of the concrete bridge deck, high pressured water."

Transit and mobility actions included a one-year, no-cost extension of the Greyhound Lines Section 5311 intercity bus contract to Sept. 30, 2026; a supplemental agreement with Mississippi State University SMART adding up to $39,204 for administrative and capital cost increases for a regional mobility manager position (revising that contract to $2,975,952); and a work assignment with Mississippi State University for systemic pedestrian crash analysis statewide (not to exceed $165,280.57). The commission also heard staff requests to adopt amendments to the 2025–2028 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.

Other items presented included a $559,513.52 work assignment with Duval Decker Architects for construction documents on a commissioner hospitality station in Warren County, a Terracon geotechnical supplemental agreement not to exceed $120,920.58 on US 72 in Marshall County, and a construction manager/general contractor preconstruction contract with W. G. Yates & Sons (preconstruction not to exceed $298,244.21) for the US 72/Red Banks Road interchange in Marshall County. The finance report listed accounts payable totaling $76,321,404.97 for periods March 19 and March 26, 2025, and a payroll docket not to exceed $5,000,000 for the March 16–31, 2025 pay period. A number of routine service agreements (mowing, janitorial, pest control and solid waste disposal) and equipment purchases were also presented.

Commission counsel and staff reported an internal investigation into a safety complaint about brush-clearing work near outdoor advertising signs; staff told commissioners the work was not on state right of way, not performed by MDOT crews or contractors, and that district staff had notified the complainant. Counsel then requested authority to file suit and hire experts to pursue a claim of approximately $231,000 against SRT Oilfield Service over damage to a bridge at the US 49/59 overpass in Forrest County.

At the close of the open session commissioners approved routine meeting business and moved to go into an executive session. The chair stated the closed session would address settlement of two workers' compensation matters and a property matter "as permitted by statute." The meeting adjourned the open portion and prepared to enter closed session.

Votes at a glance: Approve minutes of the previous meeting — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Table proposed rail multimodal agreement (item 2) — motion moved and seconded to table "subject to call"; outcome: tabled and to be sent back for further review. Approve meeting agenda — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Authorize executive session to discuss workers' compensation and property matters — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.

Several items were presented for authorization or approval on the commission agenda; commissioners discussed timelines for hydraulic design and construction schedules and asked staff to confirm schedules and next steps before work proceeds.