Town awards $16.6 million construction bid for Gregory Lane Complete Street; total project cost set at $18.56 million

The Jackson Town Council on March 3 awarded the construction bid for the Gregory Lane Complete Street project to Evans Construction of Jackson for $16,585,000 and approved a total project cost of $18,557,000.

The project will be constructed over two summer seasons and will extend the full length of Gregory Lane from High School Road to South Park Loop Road. The council voted unanimously to award the bid on a motion by Councilman Schechter. Council also unanimously approved a separate motion to adopt the total project budget and to increase allocations from the town's water and sewer enterprise funds and Fifth Cent capital, and later directed staff to request $2,130,558 from Teton County's 2022 Transportation Alternatives and Safe Routes to School SPAT allocation.

Staff said the project bid was publicly advertised and opened on Feb. 20; the town received a single bid from Evans Construction for $16,585,000. Staff reported a total project cost of $18,557,000 after adding owner contingency, easement payments, project design and project management. Staff described current FY25 funding as comprising the full amounts from the 2014 and 2019 Gregory Lane SPAT allocations and contributions from the water and sewer enterprise funds and other sources.

To cover the full project cost, staff proposed the following budget actions (as presented to council): use the full amounts from the 2014 and 2019 Gregory Lane SPAT allocations; increase the water fund by about $987,556 and the sewer fund by about $1,028,702; allocate $3,209,000 from Fifth Cent capital; and apply a recently awarded stormwater grant of roughly $281,210. Staff also requested council direct staff to seek a $2,130,558 allocation from the Teton County 2022 transportation SPAT; staff said that request will go before the county board of commissioners and that county approval is not guaranteed.

Council members asked detailed questions about funding sources, the capacity of the enterprise funds to absorb the increases, the project management contract and public outreach. Johnny Zim, assistant public works director, said project management (about $700,000) will be performed by Jorgensen Engineering, the town's design consultant; the firm will perform testing and daily on-site project management while a senior town engineer will be assigned to oversee the work.

Staff said the town has engaged stakeholders throughout the project's planning and showed designs to the public and businesses along Gregory Lane. Staff said it will provide weekly construction notifications during the build and work with the contractor to minimize disruptions.

Council approved three related motions unanimously: awarding the bid to Evans Construction; approving the $18,557,000 total project cost and proposed budget amendments; and directing staff to request the $2,130,558 county SPAT allocation. If the county declines the SPAT allocation, staff told council it would return with options to amend town funding and to adjust the budget.

No members of the public spoke during the council's public comment period on this item.