TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
DATE: July 15, 2021
SUBJECT:title
A request to obtain bids for the reconstruction of the staircase from New York Street to the Fox River Trail on the east shore of the Fox River.
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PURPOSE:
In order to obtain competitive sealed bids for this project, approval from the Finance Committee is needed, as the project is currently not in the budget for 2021.
BACKGROUND:
This staircase from New York Street to the Fox River Trail is in substantial disrepair. The proposed reconstruction consists of replacing the stringers, treads, and railing (railing to match existing) and installing new precast concrete, removable, open treads. The existing concrete support piers, which are decorative and in good condition, will be left in place to be reused. This design was approved by the FoxWalk Overlay District Design Review Committee on October 10, 2019.
To help fund this project, the City applied for and received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Recreational Trails Program in Fall 2018. This grant, for which the executed agreement is attached to this memo, will reimburse the City 80% of up to $175,000 in design and construction costs.
DISCUSSION:
The design plans for this project (attached to this memo) have been finalized and staff is prepared to seek bids. With the Committee's approval, we will advertise for bids and will return to the Committee with a recommendation for award to the lowest responsible bidder by no later than September.
Funding for this project was originally included in the 2018 fiscal year budget as part of a decision package titled "East New York St Bridge Replacement", but was not carried forward to the current fiscal year. The account to be used to front fund (and be 80% reimbursed for) this project is 340-1830-465.73-76 (Capital Outlay-Improvement / FoxWalk).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This project will substantially improve safety for pedestrians using this staircase with minimal cost to the City and it's taxpayers. The lone negative impact of this project will be a temporary closure of the stairs and subsequent pedestrian detour during construction, which should not last more than a week or two.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request that the Committee authorize staff to obtain bids for the reconstruction of the staircase from New York Street to the Fox River Trail on the east shore of the Fox River.
cc: Finance Committee