DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Contract With Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. For Final Design And Engineering Services On County State Aid Highway 26 From Trunk Highway 3 To Cahill Avenue In Inver Grove Heights, County Projects 26-60 And 26-68
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize execution of a contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. for final design and engineering services for County Projects (CP) 26-60 and 26-68 on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 26 in Inver Grove Heights.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County and the City of Inver Grove Heights are proceeding with CP 26-60 and CP 26-68 on County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 26 in Inver Grove Heights. County Project 26-60 is a planned reconstruction of a 1.0-mile segment of CSAH 26, expanding it from two lanes to three and adding storm sewer and multiuse trail. County Project 26-68 will perform a pavement replacement on a 0.9-mile segment of CSAH 26, reduce the roadway from five lanes to three, and construct a multiuse trail on the north side of the roadway (Attachment: Project Map). Both projects will also address traffic safety, access management, and pedestrian accommodations, and include extensions of city utilities. Preliminary plans for both projects were completed in August 2025.
A request for proposals for design services was issued on July 29, 2025, to three qualified consulting firms. Two proposals were received by the deadline of August 20, 2025. County staff and City of Inver Grove Heights staff evaluated the proposals and reached agreement on the proposal submitted by Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn) as the most responsive to the scope of work. Kimley-Horn was selected as the preferred engineering consultant based on cost, project understanding, staff experience, and proposed approach to the work (Attachment: Consultant Evaluation Summary). The final design process is expected to begin in late September 2025, with completion by November 2026.
Two firms submitted proposals with the following estimated total and hourly costs:
- Kimley-Horn; $852,359; $171.50 per hour
- WSB; $611,542; $153.38 per hour
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends execution of a contract with Kimley-Horn for professional services for CP 26-60 and CP 26-68 based on the quality and cost-effectiveness of their proposal and ability to successfully complete the scope of work for final design.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The adopted 2025 Transportation Capital Improvement Program includes $510,000 and $340,000 for final design work for CPs 26-60 and 26-68, respectively, with an additional $150,000 match from Inver Grove Heights to provide sufficient funding for final design
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County has included County Projects 26-60 and 26-68 in its Transportation Capital Improvement Program to redesign County State Aid Highway 26 (70th Street) in Inver Grove Heights; and
WHEREAS, County Project 26-60 is a planned reconstruction of a portion of County State Aid Highway 26 between Trunk Highway 3 and County State Aid Highway 73 in Inver Grove Heights and includes an expansion to three lanes, construction of stormwater sewer, construction of multiuse trail, extension of city utilities, and traffic safety and access management improvements; and
WHEREAS, County Project 26-68 will perform pavement rehabilitation on a portion of County State Aid Highway 26 between County State Aid Highway 73 and Cahill Avenue in Inver Grove Heights and include a reduction from five lanes to three, construction of multiuse trail, extension of city utilities, and traffic safety and access management improvements; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for County Projects 26-60 and 26-68; and
WHEREAS, a request for proposals was released on July 29, 2025, to complete final design engineering for both projects; and
WHEREAS, two responses were received from qualified proposers; and
WHEREAS, Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn) was identified as the most responsive to the request for proposals; and
WHEREAS, staff from the City of Inver Grove Heights participated in the proposal evaluation and concurs with this recommendation; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends execution of a contract with Kimley-Horn for final design and engineering consulting services for County Project 26-60 and County Project 26-68 for actual costs not to exceed $852,359; and
WHEREAS, the funds allocated to County Project 26-60 and County Project 26-68 in the 2023 Capital Improvement Program Budget are not sufficient to cover costs for final design and engineering, and a budget amendment is necessary to proceed with a consultant contract.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Transportation Director to execute a contract with Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. to complete final design and engineering services necessary to complete the design of improvements to 70th Street in Inver Grove Heights in an amount not to exceed $852,359, subject to approval by the County Attorney's Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-153; 3/26/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Map
Attachment: Evaluation Summary
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: Joe Morneau