Transportation committee approves multiple contracts and resolutions; airport curbside contract prompts procurement questions

The Transportation Committee voted on multiple ordinances, resolutions and contract actions spanning airport services, grant acceptances, traffic and pedestrian projects, lighting agreements with the Georgia Department of Transportation, and citywide planning work. Two items drew extended discussion: a curbside management services agreement for Hartsfield'Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the two-year contract to develop the city's Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

Airport curbside management (Item 20, 25R4122) The committee considered a resolution authorizing the mayor or designee to execute an agreement for curbside management services with Last CCD Joint Venture on behalf of the Department of Aviation. The agreement description in the caption included an initial three-year term with two one-year renewal options, a management fee not to exceed $93,000 and a reimbursable operating budget described in the legislation as $29,091,544.80.

During the item, Council member Lewis referenced a public inquiry and asked the administration to explain why an apparent higher-priced proposal could be selected over lower-cost proposals. Tyronea Smith, senior deputy general manager for the Department of Aviation, described the paper as the curbside management solicitation and turned procedures questions to procurement staff. Topeka Howard, deputy chief procurement officer, said the procurement is an RFP (request for proposals) rather than an IFB and therefore evaluation is not based solely on price: "This particular project is currently in the blackout period," Howard said, "...the decision process isn't based solely on price. It is the whole package and what the vendors are offering." Howard also said the city was in the blackout period and could not answer detailed procurement questions publicly.

The committee approved the curbside management resolution as amended (vote reported as 5 yays, 0 nays). The motion and amendment were recorded and the item was listed as favorable on substitute.

Comprehensive Transportation Plan consultant (Item 30, 3025R4001) The committee took up an agreement with WSP USA Inc. to develop Atlanta's comprehensive transportation plan for a two-year term. The legislation caption listed an amount of $2,500,000; the IPRO report attached to the agenda listed $2,000,000. Committee members noted the discrepancy between the caption and the IPRO report and approved the item as amended with a condition that the discrepancy be resolved by the next business day (the committee recorded a condition to reconcile the difference by Monday). The vote to approve as amended was recorded as 5 yays, 0 nays.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Adopt agenda: passed (4 yays, 0 nays). - Approve minutes: passed (4 yays, 0 nays). - Public hearing (abandonment of portion of St. John's Circle, item 12501529): public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; item held in committee (vote recorded as held). - Accept and file MAF audit (225C0118): passed (6 yays, 0 nays). - Saab Aerobahn Airport Surface Management System amendment (captioned amount increase $142,780; new total $4,858,933.30): favorable (5 yays, 0 nays, 1 abstention). - Cleveland Avenue Pedestrian Mobility Improvements ratification (contract extension retroactive to 06/28/2025): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Surface Transportation Block Grant acceptance for North Highland/Joseph E. Lowry/McClendon/West Paces Ferry: favorable (6 yays, 0 nays); appropriation $453,908. - Ratify traffic communications project amendment with Lumen/Transportation Technologies LLC: favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Congressional directed spending application for "the Stitch" I-75/85 capping (up to $5,000,000): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Landscaping/grounds maintenance add Department of Aviation as user (Russell Landscape LLC, add $600,000): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Sponsorships/donations for Safe Routes to School program (substitute; sponsor funds up to $150,000): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Additional STBG award (Lenox Road project, $1,765,758): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Airport cooperative agreements (runway equipment, winter operations): favorable (votes recorded 6 yays, 0 nays on substitutes). - Lighting intergovernmental agreements with GDOT (State Route 14 and I-20 at Maynard Terrace): favorable (6 yays, 0 nays). - Curbside management services at Hartsfield'Jackson (Last CCD JV): favorable as amended (5 yays, 0 nays). - Comprehensive Transportation Plan contract with WSP USA (approved as amended on condition to reconcile funding discrepancy): favorable as amended (5 yays, 0 nays).

What the committee directed - For procurement-related public concerns about the curbside management RFP, procurement staff reiterated that RFP evaluations consider technical and other proposal criteria in addition to price and that the procurement was in a blackout period. - For the Comprehensive Transportation Plan award, the committee required reconciliation of the caption/IPRO dollar discrepancy before final execution.

Ending The committee completed its legislative items, heard brief announcements and adjourned. Several passed items included substitutes or amendments; the meeting record shows multiple votes recorded as unanimous or near-unanimous in favor.