Committee approves two project cost increases as demand outstrips LOTS allocations

The Capital Region Council of Governments Transportation Committee approved two funding increases for previously awarded local projects after staff and municipal representatives described design‑stage additions and safety enhancements that raised estimated costs.

For Summers’ sidewalk project, staff said the town had received a commitment to fund letter in October 2024 and advanced through preliminary design; the town requested an additional $795,833 to address added drainage, curb and traffic control needs identified in design, raising the project total from $1,128,000 to $1,923,833. Todd Rowland of the Town of Summers described the work as a first phase in a four‑phase town center sidewalk program, noting the project connects a school complex through Field Road Park where children currently walk along roads without sidewalks. The committee moved, seconded and approved the increase.

Windsor’s Prospect Hill pavement rehabilitation request sought $643,400 (a 38.5% increase) to raise the project from $1,671,600 to about $2,315,000. Staff said the council directed widening a concrete sidewalk from 5 feet to 6 feet and adding pedestrian safety improvements recommended by the town engineer; those changes and higher unit costs drove the request. The committee approved the increase after a second and brief discussion.

Earlier in the meeting, Gloria reported record participation in the 2026 LOTS solicitation: 36 projects requested funding that substantially exceeded available allocations in several categories (for example, $30 million allocated to roadway reconstruction while applicants requested roughly $64 million). Staff said project eligibility reviews and ranking would proceed and that preliminary rankings would be available for the April 29 subcommittee meeting.

Both approved increases will be reflected in staff’s TIP and project tracking materials and were recommended by the cost review subcommittee.