A Richland County committee voted to increase the Broad River Road widening project budget to $73,445,000 and to award the primary construction contract to Palmetto Corp of Conway for $48,382,691.10, plus a 15% construction contingency that brings the approved construction allowance to $55,640,094.80. The vote was recorded as unanimous by roll call: Pugh, Livingston, Weaver, Aline and Mackey/Maki all voting yes.

Staff (Speaker 4) told the committee the project covers about 2.6 miles and will widen the corridor from two lanes to a five-lane section with sidewalks for part of the route. Staff presented updated Transportation Penny program forecasts, noting the program has received roughly $32 million in grants and about $6 million in wetland-credit revenue; staff reported $675 million expended to date with a net remaining program balance of about $497 million. Using forecasted amounts, staff said there remains about $396 million in roadway projects and an estimated $77 million shortfall specific to roadway work that the requested amendment helps address.

On procurement, staff said two bids were received for the construction contract and that the low bid was about 2% lower than the other bid and roughly 16.9% below the engineer's estimate. Staff also noted a 5% Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) goal for this project and reported the low bidder committed to meeting that goal.

A committee member asked whether the funds proposed are from the existing 2012 transportation penny or the new penny; staff replied the amounts under discussion are from the current (2012) penny, not the new penny. The committee approved the budget amendment and contract award by voice/roll call; the clerk recorded the roll call votes and the chair announced the motion approved.

The committee did not list additional conditions or contingencies in the public remarks recorded in the transcript. The next procedural step is implementation and contract administration by staff; no further public hearing or committee vote was recorded on this item in the provided transcript.