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City weighs options for faster pavement markings; staff to issue RFPs testing market interest
Summary
Facing contractor constraints and weather windows, Traverse City staff presented several pavement-marking approaches (contracted single deadline, two-phase, in‑house, hybrid). Staff recommended issuing RFPs to get firm pricing and vendor interest for a priority-area deadline by July 1 and a later phase.
City streets staff on Oct. 20 laid out options to speed repairs and repainting of legends, crosswalks and parking markings — a program the city has struggled to complete early in the season because of contractor availability and weather.
Streets Superintendent Chris Weber described five options: a fully contracted single-deadline model (citywide completion by July 1), a two-phase contracted model prioritizing high-pedestrian and downtown areas, bringing the work entirely in-house (large upfront capital and staffing cost), in-house with a strict deadline, or a hybrid in-house/contractor model. Status quo (annual contracted service) is also an option.
Staff supplied initial cost estimates: the contractor said guaranteeing a citywide June/July deadline could raise current contract cost ($148,000) to roughly $250,000–$300,000. Bringing the full program in-house with a strict July 1 deadline would require substantial capital and staffing investments (year-1 estimates in the mid $600,000s and ongoing costs thereafter), while a hybrid approach would need a smaller initial investment (~$225,000) and lower recurring costs (~$127,000).
Weber emphasized operational tradeoffs — night work, possible block closures for efficiency, paint curing-temperature limits (around 50°F for standard waterborne paints), and contractor market constraints: there are few qualified pavement-marking firms in the state, so bid interest can be limited.
Given these uncertainties, staff recommended issuing RFPs that reflect the most viable models (single-deadline contracted option and two-phase contracted option, with a separate RFP for long-line painting) to gather real-market prices and vendor feasibility before committing to an in-house or other long-term approach.
Commissioners asked for a prioritization framework tied to safety (e.g., crosswalks and high-pedestrian areas first), and staff said priorities could be adapted annually or per-contract. The commission did not take an immediate procurement vote; staff will return with RFP results and firm quotes.
