Jul. 17—ROCHESTER — A nearly $73.2 million contract for construction of key elements of Rochester’s Link Bus Rapid Transit project is spurring a call for added transit aid.
“This would bring the total project cost to approximately $173.9 million, which would utilize nearly all of the $175,493,515 in resources currently allocated to the project and leave (an) insufficient amount in the project contingency,” a report to the Rochester City Council states.
On Monday, the council will be asked to request an added $21.2 million from dedicated Destination Medical Center funds to cover a contingency fund required with the use of nearly $85 million in federal funds.
The added contribution would commit nearly $50.2 million in state DMC transit aid to the project, along with $45.7 million in county DMC transit aid to the project.
It will not change the $11.1 million in DMC infrastructure funds being used for the project, or the nearly $4.4 million from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The council will also be asked Monday to approve a $73.2 million contract with Elcor Construction Inc., for work that will include the creation of a pedestrian tunnel under Second Street Southwest, which will connect St. Marys Hospital with a planned transit station on the north side of the street.
Other work under the contract will include construction of station platforms and other infrastructure work along the 2.8-mile corridor.
The city report states the Elcor bid was the lowest received for the work but exceeded early estimates by $15.8 million.
“Based upon construction industry cost trends and project specific challenges, the city does not believe rebidding would result in a lower bid and rebidding would have an impact on overall pricing for project budget and schedule,” the report states.
City staff reports it plans to work to keep the final cost of all construction within the previously approved $174 million budget, which would leave the requested contingency available for future projects.
The project budget increased from $145 million earlier this year, based on contingency fund requirements and increased construction cost. The Link system was initially visualized with a $114 million price tag, but costs increased with a redesign to extend the route during the design phase.
Work on the project has started, with earlier contracts approved. When completed, the transit service is expected to provide fare-free rides along Second Street Southwest and Third Avenue Southeast, connecting the Cascade Lake area to new development planned near the intersection of Third Avenue and Sixth Street Southeast.
System buses will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m to midnight, with multiple electric buses on the route at a time. They will provide a chance to catch a bus at any of seven stations every five minutes during peak periods and every 10 to 15 minutes at other times.
If the City Council approved the planned request for added DMC transit funds during its meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, it will require a special meeting of the DMCC board for final approval of the request before work can start.
The special DMCC board meeting is slated for 9 a.m. Tuesday in suite 102 of the Mayo Civic Center.
Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of July 21 include:
Rochester
—City Council, 6 p.m. Monday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. The meeting will livestream at www.rochestermn.gov/meetings/council-meetings and be available on Spectrum cable channel 180 or 188.
—Public Utility Board, 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Rochester Public Utilities community room, 4000 East River Road NE.
—Planning and Zoning Commission, 5 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the Government Center.
Olmsted County
—Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments, noon Wednesday in conference room 186, 2122 Campus Drive SE.
—Soil and Water Conservation District Board, 8 a.m. Thursday in conference room 109 at 1188 50th St. SE Rochester
Destination Medical Center
—DMC Corp. Board special meeting, 9 a.m. Tuesday at Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Drive SE.
Rochester Public Schools
—School Board special session, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW.
—School Board study session, following the special session Tuesday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW.