Transportation Commission reviews contracts and signal upgrades, schedules executive session on litigation

The Transportation Commission reviewed routine contracts and project agreements and discussed an expansion of traffic‑signal monitoring technology during its meeting. Commissioners approved the minutes from the previous meeting and voted to go into executive session to discuss a litigation matter.

The commission heard staff presentations on a series of roadway and right‑of‑way items, including a work assignment under the roadway design master contract with Michael Baker International Inc. to prepare right‑of‑way plans for a shoulder‑widening and the replacement of four bridges along U.S. 11/U.S. 80 in Lauderdale County (work assignment amount not to exceed $236,227.21). Staff also described a supplemental agreement under the roadway design master contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc. for revisions to plans at Mississippi Highway 305 at Bethel Road in DeSoto County (supplement amount not to exceed $14,504.74; revised total contract $310,738.66) and the conveyance of a 0.08‑acre remnant along Mississippi Highway 61 in Jefferson County in exchange for $880 to an adjoining property owner.

Commissioners were briefed on a supplemental (class 3) agreement with Key LLC for bridge‑preservation work on I‑20 East and I‑55 North to reimburse an additional hydro‑demolition pass on an existing deck. That amendment is for $200,324.80, bringing the revised contract total to $24,779,206.80; staff said any additional contract time “will be determined at a later date.”

Staff also asked the commission to authorize the transfer of titles for vehicles no longer needed by the agency to public entities; to accept $650 from Eric Price on behalf of driver Danny Gatwood for damage to a median cable barrier on I‑55 northbound near mile marker 70 in Kapai County; and to award construction bids per staff recommendations for recent lettings.

On technology and traffic operations, staff presented three related items. The commission was asked to approve the state's participation in the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Control Device Consortium pooled‑fund study at a cost of $60,000. Separately, a work assignment under the Intelligent Transportation Systems master contract with Stantec would provide design support and final plans for an upgrade to the traffic signal at U.S. 49 and Mississippi 16 West in Yazoo City (work assignment not to exceed $146,587.80). Staff also proposed memoranda of understanding with the cities of Clinton, Jackson and Pearl to assign signal‑maintenance responsibilities to the department for state‑maintained signals connecting I‑20 and U.S. 80 during an active traffic‑signal operations project.

An MDOT presenter characterized the signal upgrade work as a shift from reactive signal management toward automated performance measures. The presenter said the system will monitor “maximum flow” and arrival patterns so staff are alerted when performance drops and can “go out and take a look” proactively. The presenter added the capability will help manage diverted construction traffic on parallel routes such as U.S. 80 when an upcoming I‑20 project is active, and said the initiative could be expanded to other high‑traffic corridors statewide.

The commission was also asked to adopt a 70‑mph speed zone along the portion of Interstate 269 open between I‑55 and Mississippi 302 in DeSoto and Marshall counties, and to ratify accounts payable and payroll dockets including a $37,169,916.83 accounts‑payable payment for the periods covering Feb. 5 and Feb. 12, 2025, and a payroll docket “not to exceed the sum of $5,000,000 plus statutory withholding.” Asset management items included sales of decommissioned dump trucks to Franklin County and the town of Summerall for $18,000 and $15,500 respectively.

Legal staff described a proposed amended and restated cooperative agreement among the commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Federal Highway Administration to provide funding for supplemental staff to prioritize review of department projects. That agreement covers Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2029, with a total not to exceed $1,175,270.46; staff said the cooperative arrangement is intended to shorten permit and review timelines by assigning staff to prioritize MDOT projects.

On a separate legal item (agenda item 29), staff reported they will ask the Office of the Attorney General to hire expert witnesses or outside counsel if necessary to commence suit against the City of Holly Springs, seeking an order directing the city to adjust electric lines so MDOT can advertise and let a project on Highway 178 in Marshall County. A district representative said a contractor for the city had begun clearing work and indicated it would proceed further if paid; the legal presenter said the utility is owned by the city.

Before moving to executive session, commissioners asked clarifying questions about several items. Commissioner Caldwell noted recent overlay and mill‑and‑overlay contracts and observed that apparent allocations did not include work in North Mississippi. Staff thanked traffic‑control and public‑relations personnel for managing traffic impacts on I‑55 and U.S. 80 projects with relatively few complaints. Legal staff explained the purpose of the Fish and Wildlife cooperative agreement: to reduce delays that can occur when MDOT projects are placed in a broader review queue.

Commissioners approved the minutes of the previous meeting (motion and second recorded; voice vote) and later moved, seconded and approved a motion to go into executive session to discuss a litigation matter. The chair scheduled a short recess before the executive session.