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Committee approves $210,366 change order to accelerate South Water Street multimodal design
Summary
The Providence City Committee on Finance approved a change order to move advanced survey and utility locating work earlier in the South Water Street multimodal project so construction could begin sooner; members pressed staff for clearer cost breakdowns and community outreach materials before full design.
The Providence City Committee on Finance approved a change order Wednesday to accelerate early design work on the South Water Street multimodal pedestrian-and-bike project, authorizing $210,366.58 to move surveying and subsurface-utility locating work into the current contract.
Committee Chair Helen Anthony opened the meeting and introduced the item. Director Mulligan of the Department of Planning and Development told the committee the change order is intended “to expedite, in advance the design, for the South Water Street Multimodal, pedestrian bike path,” so that consultants can bring survey teams and do subsurface utility work earlier in the schedule and avoid future unanticipated change orders.
The change order funds work that would otherwise have been part of a later contract phase, staff said. The city is using federal Safe Streets for All grant funding for the broader program; Mulligan said the grant has a multi-phase approval and the change order will help the city meet a federal benchmark so it can draw down later phases of funding.
The committee’s discussion centered on finances, schedule and public outreach. Councilors asked for clearer line-item breakdowns showing how the overall Safe Streets for All program budget — which Mulligan said totals $27,000,000 citywide — maps to individual projects. Staff provided a construction estimate of $4.5 million for the South Water Street construction segment but said the full project package covers multiple corridors, including Broadway and Valley Street.
Councilors also pressed for more detailed graphics for public review. Mulligan said the design is at roughly 30% and that additional renderings and community meetings are being prepared; the accelerated survey work will inform final design and help identify unforeseen subsurface conditions.
On schedule, staff said the accelerated work could allow the city to start construction “right at the end of the year,” with substantial completion likely in the summer of the following year, though they cautioned those dates remain preliminary and dependent on federal approvals.
A motion to approve the change order passed (yes: 3, no: 1). Councilor Sanchez made the motion; Councilor Randle seconded. Committee members who raised concerns asked staff to return with clearer cost splits and updated visuals prior to major public outreach.
The committee’s vote advances procurement work under existing contracts and authorizes the amendment needed to commission the earlier surveying and utility-locating work.
