Jefferson City and Cole County officials report progress on joint transportation projects, note funding and schedule issues

Cole County commissioners heard an update March 25 on a series of city–county cooperative public‑works projects, with staff reporting that most work is underway but that several items still hinge on funding timing, railroad requirements and final design and permitting.

The update, presented by David Bagney, city engineer, and Al Bremer, the city’s new public works director, covered the Capital Area Rail Terminal, the Wildwood Drive extension, Monroe Street reconstruction, the High Street viaduct, proposed roundabouts on West Edgewood and the Chestnut Street and Madison Street projects.

Bagney told the commission the Capital Area Rail Terminal (CART) is effectively closed out and in its contractor warranty period; railcars have begun deliveries and “everything’s up and going like it should,” he said. The CART effort was described as a county‑led project with multiple grants and city partnership on operations and regional economic development.

On the Wildwood Drive extension, staff said the project came in slightly over estimate but a local contractor is on site and clearing is under way. The city has approved sending $2,000,000 toward the county’s agreement for that work; staff said those funds “are approved and on the way.” Project representatives warned that habitat‑clearing work must be finished by the end of March to meet permit requirements. The construction contract is more than $6,000,000 and the contractor’s completion period is 330 days from the notice to proceed; staff estimated the road would appear complete by Thanksgiving or early December, with final cleanup afterward.

Monroe Street construction is under way in phases, the presenters said. Access points along the expressway and driveways serving nearby businesses have been shifted for the work; staff said crews expect to close the Dunklin Street intersection later in April for about 50 days while Meyer Electric installs a signal, with an overall target to reopen by late summer.

The High Street viaduct remains in design. Bagney said geotechnical and archaeological investigations have been completed and that railroad requirements for retaining walls where the project approaches the siding will affect wall design. He reported the proposed retaining wall is roughly 25 feet from the tracks and that the design team is evaluating whether heavier MSE panels or a cast‑in‑place wall will be required to meet railroad standards.

Staff also described progress on West Edgewood roundabout design. The commission was told the county purchased a corner parcel at Creek Trail Drive from a private owner to preserve the footprint needed for future roundabouts; design work is expected to proceed and construction funding would be sought from a future sales‑tax cycle.

On Chestnut Street, staff said final plans should be delivered by the end of the month and that construction could be ready to begin in July, but cautioned that the schedule will need coordination with other nearby projects such as the River Market work. The Chestnut Street project’s January estimate was about $2.8 million; staff said the state had agreed to pay half but that “exactly what they meant by half” is still under legal review.

Why it matters: the county and city said several of the projects are either county‑led or jointly funded and that their sequencing will affect how remaining sales‑tax proceeds are allocated and whether items move into the next public‑improvement sales‑tax cycle. Officials noted the county’s current sales tax for public improvements expires Dec. 31, 2026, and that the city’s collection timing for a new sales tax would differ slightly if a new measure were to pass.

Officials directed limited questions to the presenters and did not take separate formal votes on the project updates. Commission members asked for follow‑up on cash‑flow timing for Wildwood and on the railroad’s retaining‑wall requirements for High Street.

Speakers listed in meeting record: David Bagney, city engineer (government); Al Bremer, public works director, Jefferson City (government); John Ferrer, developer (business); Brian McMillan, Bartlett West (consultant); representatives of the firm ES and S (consultant). The presentation was given during the cooperative projects update portion of the agenda.

Outstanding clarifications requested at the meeting included a precise accounting of Wildwood drawdown timing from the city’s $2,000,000, railroad specifications that will determine retaining‑wall type for the viaduct, and the final agreement language with the state for Chestnut Street cost‑sharing.

Provenance: presentation begins where the commission agenda moves to a “Jefferson City, Cole County, Cooperative Project Update” and continues through staff’s summary of Chestnut and Madison/Chestnut schedule and funding.