DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Consultant Contract With SRF Consulting Group, Inc., For Professional Services, And Amend 2025 Adopted Budget For County State Aid Highway 56 And 28 In City Of Inver Grove Heights, County Projects 56-14, And 28-69
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
• Authorize execution of a new consultant contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. in the amount of $186,902 for final design services related to pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 56 and multi-use trail construction on CSAH 28, as part of County Projects (CP) 56-14 and 28-69 in Inver Grove Heights. The previous contract (Contract #C0035774) expired on December 31, 2024.
• Authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Adopted Budget for the construction of County Projects (CP) 56-14 and 28-69 in Inver Grove Heights.
SUMMARY
Dakota County is advancing two coordinated projects to support a safe and efficient multimodal transportation system. County Project 56-14 focuses on pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements along CSAH 56 from Chestnut Street in South St. Paul to Coffman Path in Inver Grove Heights, including intersection upgrades, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and accessibility improvements. County Project 28-69 addresses a critical trail gap by constructing a multi-use trail and making associated crossing improvements along CSAH 28, from 500 feet east of Cahill Avenue to CSAH 56, thereby strengthening the County’s trail network connectivity (See Attachment: Project Location Maps)
Additional Contract Request
By Resolution No. 22-354 (August 23, 2022), By Resolution No. 23-149 (April 11, 2023), and By Resolution No. 23-485 (October 24, 2024), the County Board authorized the execution of a contract and subsequent amendments with SRF Consulting Group, Inc., for design services related to CP 56-14 and CP 28-69. The original contract scope included public engagement, evaluation of pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements along the corridor, and final design of basic crossing enhancements.
Amendment 1 expanded the scope based on preliminary engineering findings that identified additional safety improvements well-suited to the corridor. These elements were innovative within the Dakota County Transportation system and required additional coordination and iterations for staff approval. It also included roadway improvements not originally scoped, such as turn lane removals, which necessitated further preliminary and final engineering.
Amendment 2 was initiated following the award of a $2,300,000 RAISE grant and $500,000 in Active Transportation funding. These funds enabled Dakota County to pursue the full scope of improvements identified in the preliminary engineering for CP 56-14 and to construct the trail gap on CSAH 28 from 500 feet east of Cahill Avenue to CSAH 56 (CP 28-69).
The current contract request includes work that was not part of previous agreements due to the expiration of the prior contract, increased coordination needs stemming from County staff turnover, and expanded communication requirements with the City of Inver Grove Heights. To address these factors, the contract scope now includes tasks necessary to complete the final design and prepare the project bid package.
Out-of-Scope and Additional Work Included in the Contract Request
• Task 1. Project Management - $14,555
Additional coordination and contract administration for new design elements and modification of plans.
• Task 2. Public Engagement - $4,988
One additional public open house to communicate recent project updates and construction schedules.
• Task 9. Plans, Specifications, and Estimates - $98,923
• Evaluation of additional pedestrian crossings and roadway geometry were completed based on feedback from the second open house.
• Plan changes were requested at three locations along the corridor:
• 66th Street: Modifications to address queueing during train events.
• North and South Dickman Trail intersections: Design revisions to accommodate heavy vehicle circulation.
• Task 12. 80th Street Trail - $21,090
• Development of a tree-clearing/removal plan set to meet environmental permitting deadlines.
• Evaluation of retaining wall alternatives and enhanced intersection crossings
• Task 13. Greenway Crossing Improvements - $9,420
Additional design for the greenway crossing on Nininger Road, added as part of the RAISE grant-funded improvements. This includes roadway paving and drainage modifications necessary to support the crossing
• Task 14. Construction Administration (Fixed Budget as Authorized) -$20,000
an additional $20,000 and representative hours for construction coordination activities, approval of shop drawings, preparation of change orders, supplemental instructions, and review of reports if such work is authorized by the county
• Task 15 Recent Plan Modification and Updates-$6,000
• Permit Fees - $400
• Previous Contract Unused Funds - $11,526
Contract Value and Funding Summary
To complete the final design and prepare the project for construction, a new contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. is required. The total value of the new contract request is $186,902. This includes $11,526 of funds from the previous contract and $175,376 for new services.
The total engineering cost for the project, including the new contract, will be $781,896.
In accordance with the County’s 2040 Transportation Plan cost participation policy, Dakota County will be responsible for 85 percent of the contract request for CP 28-69 multi-use trail construction and 100 percent of the cost-share for CP 56-14 pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends approving a new $186,902 contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. to complete final design work for pedestrian and trail improvements on CSAH 56 and CSAH 28 in Inver Grove Heights. The contract replaces an expired agreement and covers added scope due to staff turnover, public feedback, and grant-funded enhancements.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2025 Transportation CIP adopted budget includes $2,893,066 for CP 56-14 and $1,459,986 for CP 28-69, carried over from previous years, for a combined total of $4,352,652. However, these funds are primarily federal and state grant funds intended for construction costs and are not eligible to fund design costs. Therefore, a budget amendment is needed for the new contract scope of $175,376 . Project 56-14 needs an additional $80,145 coming from Transportation Sales and Use Tax and Project 28-69 needs an additional $95,231 funded with a combination of Wheelage Tax and revenue from the City.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, to support a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County and the City of Inver Grove Heights are advancing County Project (CP) 56-14 and CP 28-69; and
WHEREAS, CP 56-14 includes intersection, pedestrian crossing, and accessibility improvements along County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 56 from Chestnut Street in South St. Paul to Coffman Path in Inver Grove Heights; and
WHEREAS, CP 28-69 includes construction of a multiuse trail and crossing improvements along CSAH 28 from 500 feet east of Cahill Avenue to CSAH 56; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for both projects; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution Nos. 22-354 (August 23, 2022), 23-149 (April 11, 2023), and 23-485 (October 24, 2024), the County Board authorized a contract and subsequent amendments with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. for design services related to CP 56-14 and CP 28-69; and
WHEREAS, the previous contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. expired on December 31, 2024, and a new contract is required to complete the projects; and
WHEREAS, the expired contract had a remaining balance of $11,525.71, which may be used to help fund the new contract; and
WHEREAS, staff negotiated additional scope of services in the amount of $175,376 with SRF Consulting Group, Inc., and recommend a new contract not to exceed $186,902 to account for additional coordination and design needs; and
WHEREAS, a budget amendment is needed to execute the new contract.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a contract with SRF Consulting Group, Inc. for engineering consulting services for County Projects 56-14 and 28-69, in an amount not to exceed $186,902, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2025 Capital Improvement Program budget is hereby amended as follows:
Expense
CP 56-14 $ 80,145
CP 28-69 $ 95,231
Total Expense $175,376
Revenue
CP 56-14 (Sales and Use Tax) $ 80,145
CP28-69 (Wheelage Tax) $ 17,927
CP28-69 (City) $ 77,304
Total Revenue $175,376
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
22-354; 8/23/22
23-149; 4/11/23
23-485; 10/24/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location
Attachment: New Contract Tasks Contract Memorandum
BOARD GOALS
☒ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Keelee Roggenbuck