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City examines burying Main Street alley utilities; staff estimate ~$1.5M per block
Summary
Project manager David Ford outlined the technical, physical and cost challenges of moving overhead power and communications lines underground in downtown Main Street alleys; staff called the study an initial conversation and estimated roughly $1.5 million per block for full alley reconstruction and conversion.
Project Manager David Ford briefed the council on March 24 about a preliminary feasibility review for moving overhead utilities in Main Street alleys to underground infrastructure. The conversation covered physical constraints in the alleys, private-property impacts, franchise agreements and a high-level cost estimate.
Ford said the downtown alleys east and west of Main Street are narrow — many originally platted at 12 feet — and already contain a mix of underground and overhead infrastructure for power, communications, natural gas, water, sewer and sanitation. "Our office is not currently looking at putting these utilities on the ground. This is truly just to start the conversation," Ford said, describing the presentation as a conversation-starter rather than an active construction program.
Ford explained several constraints to burying utilities: limited physical space in the alleys for pedestals and transformer banks (some pieces of electrical equipment can be "as large as 8 foot by 6 foot by 6 foot" with clearance zones), the presence of existing underground utilities that leave little room for additional equipment, and privately owned meter and service equipment that might need replacement if services are converted. He also noted that some power voltages served from overhead transformers cannot be provided with existing underground equipment and would require building- or customer-side upgrades.
Ford said full alley reconstruction would be required in many locations — an open cut reconstruction rather than a single bore — and that phasing and night work would be necessary to maintain business operations during cutovers. He estimated a high-level cost of about $1.5 million per block to place overhead utilities underground and rebuild the alley surfaces. Ford said the downtown area includes about six blocks on the west side and four on the east side that would be involved in a full conversion.
Council members asked whether franchise fees or the public-benefit fund could be applied; staff said franchise fees flow into a public-benefit fund that can be used for right-of-way enhancement, easements, undergrounding and beautification, but that the franchise fee fund would not cover the full cost. Members also asked about widening alleys; Ford said widening would be possible but would likely require right-of-way acquisition and could be difficult on Main Street.
Ford closed by reiterating that the presentation was an early-stage feasibility discussion; further work would require coordination with utilities, formal design and a funding plan before any commitments or construction.
