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Council awards design contract for Downtown "peanut" roundabout; project funded largely by active‑transportation grant
Summary
Council authorized the city engineer to execute a not‑to‑exceed $1,449,008 contract with GHD for engineering, environmental and project management services for the Downtown Peanut‑shaped roundabout; staff said the work is mostly grant-funded and estimated design at 16 months.
Grass Valley City Council on Feb. 25 authorized the city engineer to sign a contract with GHD for environmental and engineering services for the Downtown roundabout project, approving a not‑to‑exceed amount of $1,449,008.
City Engineer Bjorn Jones summarized the procurement: staff issued a request for proposals in November, interviewed two firms and selected GHD after panel interviews. The contract covers grant management, environmental review, traffic analysis, surveying, geotechnical and hydrology, and other services needed to complete design and permit approvals.
Jones said the scope is complex and the schedule in the RFP anticipates roughly 16 months for design; the firm indicated it might complete work sooner. The project is funded primarily by an Active Transportation Program grant; the total project estimate included a contingency and staff acknowledged there is a budget gap from initial grant estimates but said there are funding and design options to evaluate during the design phase.
Members of the public who spoke urged moving the project forward, citing safety concerns at the existing intersections, improved walkability, economic benefits for downtown businesses and the opportunity to create a highly visible gateway to the city. Cyclists and walking advocates noted roundabouts generally reduce high‑severity crashes and improve traffic flow.
Council voted unanimously to authorize the contract after brief discussion about project scope and budget oversight. Staff said they will continue to review cost‑saving opportunities in design and consider alternative intersection treatments in related nearby intersections to ensure cost‑effective results.
