Jackson County advances SS4A consultant selection and considers LRSI guardrail grant resolution

Jackson County public works staff presented Nov. 24 on two roadway-safety items: the federal SS4A-related consultant procurement and a proposed Local Roadway Safety Initiative (LRSI) guardrail retrofit grant requiring a commission resolution.

On the procurement, staff said the SS 4A request for qualifications (RFQ) was reviewed by FHWA and advertised on the county website and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The RFQ’s scope includes clearing and grubbing, utility relocation, culvert extension, paved shoulders, striping, guardrails and FHWA reimbursement preparation. Staff described a two-step procurement (shortlist then proposals) and presented scoring sheets used to evaluate qualifications; they asked the commission to concur with advancing the shortlisted firms to step two.

On LRSI, staff said the program is a competitive 90/10 grant and ALDOT requested a county resolution to proceed with a funding agreement and site work (bridge rail retrofit and related demolition). Staff showed three candidate sites and explained the retrofit would remove noncompliant rails, saw and retrofit as needed, and not reduce roadway width.

Commissioners asked about durability of markers and farm equipment impact on delineators; staff said options include double-sided panels and that retrofits will be placed outside the traveled way so roadway width would not change. The commission agreed to consider the procurement step and the LRSI resolution at a follow-up work session and to move forward with the solicitation process.