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Commission approves $300,000 change order for Innis Underpass amid concerns about scope and future costs
Summary
The City Commission approved Change Order No. 6 for the Innis Underpass project, adding $299,986.20 to the contract to update specifications, remove green‑ribbon landscaping from the bidding set, and add seismic and temporary shoring work tied to railroad requirements; one commissioner voted no.
The City Commission on July 15 approved Change Order No. 6 to the Innis Underpass construction contract, increasing the contract by $299,986.20 to a new total of $6,543,736.89.
City staff and the project consultant described the work as four discrete items: updating plan specifications to TxDOT 2024 requirements, removing green‑ribbon landscaping items from the bid package so those elements can be funded and contracted separately, completing seismic analyses for railroad structures, and adding temporary shoring design for the bridge drill shafts. A staff presentation said the changes respond to UPRR and TxDOT comments and are intended to move the project to final approval.
Commissioners pressed consultants about the timing and costs. One commissioner raised an earlier on‑record comment attributed to a third party (John Polster) claiming that the company would cover future change orders; staff said they could not confirm that assertion from the dais. Tom (consultant) and LAN representatives described the design history, noting some items were advanced to a 95% level under older specifications and later required rework to meet current rules.
Commissioner concerns focused on recurring change orders, project schedule and whether utilities and green‑ribbon landscaping will be coordinated so the city does not later incur extra work. Staff said TxDOT approved green‑ribbon funding but that federal/state timing requires separating that work as a follow‑on project, and that TxDOT will handle many construction‑phase inspections and related services. LAN said it expects to submit 100% plans to TxDOT and UPRR in the coming months and is targeting 90 days to close the design package, subject to UPRR review.
The motion to approve the change order passed by voice vote; the meeting minutes note Commissioner Jones voted no and the mayor did not vote.
The commission directed staff to continue coordination with UPRR, TxDOT and project consultants and to provide clearer documentation about which items were removed for green‑ribbon funding and how utilities and landscaping will be phased to avoid rework.
